Online Identities
A very prominent Rubyist has disappeared off the face of the internet, which has started me thinking about how we reconcile our online and offline identities.
I tend to leave everything in a giant jumble and try not to expose anything inappropriate. It’s not too hard, as I don’t really do anything that would get me in trouble. There are, however, many people on both sides and everywhere in between.
It seems fairly common for prominent web 2.0 people to “bare it all” on the internet. Openness tends to become almost a given with success; we all want to pry into the lives of those few who are running things. It’s hard to control what leaks out to media and the internet in general.
It’s also common for younger or less computer savvy people to have a very open internet presence. It really makes me wonder about where the line is. At what point are you famous enough, in internet terms, to have a things overlooked. Or, are these people just really good at keeping their internet noses clean. Granted, things do surface and destroy careers, but, in this case, i’m talking about people in the web 2.0 industry, where things tend to be a bit more lax.
On the private end of the spectrum, you have the fellow mentioned above, Why the Lucky Stiff; _why for short. A very prominent member of the Ruby community, famous for his eccentric style and extreme talent, existing completely under his pseudonym. Even during conferences he’d stick to _why rather than his (unknown) real name.
caller asks, “should i use hpricot or nokogiri?” if you’re NOT me: use nokogiri. and if you’re me: well cut it out, stop being me.
@_why on twitter (now unavailable)
In contrast, David Heinemeier Hansson, who also happens to be a prominent Rubyist, tends to be quite uninhibited.
Blending like this isn’t free. You’re bound to upset, offend, or annoy people when you’re not adding heavy layers of social sugarcoating.
David via http://www.loudthinking.com/posts/39-im-an-r-rated-individual
Both extremes give you a certain degree of freedom. Personally, I’d rather not worry and go the same way that David has, but I can see the appeal in the mystique that a true pseudonym grants.
From a more general standpoint, it’s also easy to unintentionally reveal information, especially when the people around you are heavily engaged in social networking like Facebook and Twitter via smart phones; there have been many pictures that have caused trouble and it’s easier then ever to post pictures online with integrated applications and cameras.
For more information about _why and his disappearance, check out this awesome eulogy by John Resig.
I think the reason Younger people to be more open is because they’re used to the Idea of the internet since they grew up with it being more common; Sharing information, including yourself. Personally I have my real name online, but thats it. I have a facebook page but I don’t post my address, phone numbers, or a non-burnable e-mail address because I want to try and balance a professional online presence will a level of anonimity I can be comfortable with.
This can also be problematic, since if something did happen to me, only those closest to me would actually know about it; the large amount of people I converse with online under a “handle” would have no way of knowing I was gone and no other means of communication. The easyness of communication on the internet also provides a central point of failure in social communications. This can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you want to keep in contact with people.
The easyness to share information has also taken it to the above mentioned extreme; with pictures and events being digitally recorded and posted for all to see; but I think this is more of a problem with people who are trying to hide an aspect of themselves. I will agree there are some things that need to be kept personal unless you wish it to be shared (a certain picture on a friend’sfacebook in which I was tagged that my mom saw led to an interesting talk about drugs), but since the information is so easily shared, and moreover we all know it can be; it would stand to argue that anyone should know about the inherit risk and be ready for the “consequences”.