Yesterday I was looking back through my email and I found one from several months back (so sorry for the delay) asking if the author should use initials instead of her full name on her writing because she’s afraid of identity theft. I thought I’d throw out it here for discussion.
The way I see it, web writers have about the same chances of being a victim of identity theft as novelists, newspaper columnists, people who work in an office and Walt who packs my groceries. Yes our name is out there, but anyone who writes our parking tickets, makes out a check, types a memo or wears a name tag can also put their names out there. I don’t know that web writers have more of a risk unless they give out too many personal details.
Personally, I think my ego is too big for me to go with an alias. I like seeing my name in print and enjoy discussions such as this regarding the things I write. I know many bloggers and web writers who do use a pseudonym for the above mentioned reasons, or else they don’t want The Powers That Be at the day job knowing they have another gig. Many also might write on delicate topics and they’d rather remain private. There’s nothing wrong with using a pen name if it makes you more comfortable, it’s just not my thing.
Here’s something to think about though: I don’t know if I would be as trusting advice from someone who only lists initials as opposed to someone who uses a real name, but again, that’s just me. Honestly, I’m not really worried about having my identity stolen as I do try and be careful about the personal information I throw out there. I do my best not to give details that might give away where I live and never give out my address or phone number on forums or blogs.
What do you think? Do we have to protect our identities when writing for the web?
I tend to think that people are paranoid about identity theft over the internet yet will happily let a waiter walk off with their credit card in a restaurant or fill out a form with personal information and hand it to a receptionist. I can’t avoid my info being out there in some form or another.
Incidentally, the only time I do use a pen name is when I write short stories occasionally for erotica markets – that’s purely to keep my writing types separate, especially since I’ve also written for high school encyclopedias.
I’m with Deb on the ego thing. I wrote it and I want everyone to know I wrote it.
Fiona is right about the availability of personal information being a fact of life. You can try and take precautions, but ultimately you can’t protect yourself in every situation. I don’t think writers are any more at risk than any other professionals. The only way to completely avoid being a victim of identity theft is to live your entire life in a bell jar.
Identity theft isn’t always the primary concern. It’s that the world is filled with those unsuspecting types that become enthralled with a facial feature, a name, or a statement that stuck a hole in their life.
I would have to agree on this one. Using your real name doesn’t instantly make you an identity theft target. The only exception I can see is if you happened to be writing an article that revealed personal information that if connected you could be used for theft.
This might be in issue in your personal blog, but I doubt most writers will have need to mention personal specific in their professional works.
I’m not worried about identity theft. I’m more worried about retaliation.
I often write controversial articles that expose some of the environmental Beef Manure that groups like the Sierra Club, PEER and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) regularly print in direct contradiction of the very data they claim to be using to make their points.
I’ve also taken pot shots at eco-terrorism groups like ELF. Those freaks are the ones I should really be worried about.
don’t think there is much of a worry. i actually had quite of few people think i lived in the UK for the longest time.
Somebody stole my identity once …
They gave it back
I didn’t even think about identity theft. I did think about if I were writing something controversial. That would cause me to consider using another name – but initials, never.
I use a pseudonym when writing satire, simply because I don’t want to confuse my satire with my journalistic/column/fiction writing.
Believe it or not, fellow perusers of Jodee and Deb’s site, Richard Zowie IS my real name. My surname is an Americanization of my German-American grandfather’s surname Zahnweh (means toothache in German; don’t ask).
I don’t mind using my real name, though I didn’t at first with my personal blog. If you’re sending potential employers to your blog as a reference then I think it looks better with your real name.
Still though, I don’t give out details about where I live.
I’m with Richard. I think a pseudonym is ok if you want to keep your writing markets separate. All of the Manolo the Shoe Blogger’s bloggers do it, and they’ve still managed to get book deals through blogging.
Pseudonyms are a wonderful thing! As much as I’d like to see my “real” name in print, there are various reasons why it’s just not feasible– and, surprisingly, identity theft isn’t on the list.
For some, like myself, writing also serves as a catharsis. Occasionally, one writes a piece that is controversial or even offensive… (But it wasn’t on purpose, I swear!)
Anyhow, my pseudonym eventually became an alter ego of sorts, which has been fun. And for the sake of some of my friends and family, it’s been safer this way.
I usually don’t use my real name because for most people is actually difficult to pronounce. My name is Yindra, and the pronounciation is in Spanish so “Y” sounds like “G” in this case and the Spanish “r” is very hard to pronounce for a lot of people. Most of my English speaking friends chose to call me Yin or Yini, so I thought it might actually be a better idea just to use my pen name. I’m not worried at all about
identity theft, I’ve never suffer it and if I think about how many times I give all my personal information here in China, even my passport copies at the bank everytime I change money, I wouldn’t sleep
Great discussion! I use my maiden name and keep my married name private. That way I get the personal satisfaction of attaching my name but good luck tracking me down! For some reason I’m more worried about Internet stalkers than I am identity theft – go figure.
I use my real name. If I’m worried about putting my name out there, I just use my first name, but never on anything professional. I’m not worried about identity theft on the web. As many who’ve posted before me have stated, there’s plenty of offline places that have my information, and if someone’s hell-bent on stealing someone else’s identity, they’ll find a way to do it, regardless.
I’ve toyed with the idea of using a pen name, but, like Deb, that ego thing creeps in.
I plan to use both my current name and my new married name when I get married in a couple of months. I’ll continue to use my current name for stuff I’m already committed to, but any new gigs will most likely be done under my married name.
Identity theft doesn’t worry me at all–like others have said, I’d be more concerned about stalkers. But I’m not even that concerned about *that*, and I use my real name on everything. Some weirdo on the internet could google me and find out where I live, or some weirdo on the bus could follow me home–you can’t live your life in a bubble under the guise of safety.
The only time I would use a pen name is if I wrote something I didn’t want my parents to read, like erotica.
I don’t worry about it too much. I don’t post my address or anything like that, but I don’t hide, either.
I’ve been on message boards for years. If anyone wanted to find me, they probably could. Of course, it helps that my husband is a very big, very strong biker and I have posted his picture quite a few times. Heh.
I’ve met many great friends online and am fortunate that we haven’t really had any bad experiences. Some unpleasant ones (you know how it can be so high school sometimes), but nothing bad.
So yes, I write with my name most of the time. But there are a couple of things I could think of that would be better served under pen names.
I write using my real name, and don’t worry about whether it could result in ID theft. But, I never mention my daughter’s name on my blogs /post her pictures/ or do anything that would help my readers identify her.
There are sick people out in the world and I worry that info that’s in the public domain could be used to put her off guard long enough to take her.
I’ve also had an irate reader send me threatening emails, which included the classic I know where you live and I’m tempted to come over there and teach you a lesson.