Elisabeth Carvalho (EC)wrote: Historically nom de plumes were created by authors to disguise their true identities for whatsoever reasons. The usage of the term "nom de plume" is a bit of a misnomer in the cyber-age as is the term "fake id".
Cecil Pinto (CP) replies: I quote from Wikipedia: A pen name or nom de plume is a pseudonym adopted by an author. Nom de plume is a French-language expression. Some authors take on pen names to conceal their identity: for example the Brontë sisters, who felt they would either not be published at all, or not taken seriously as women authors. Others do so for fear of violence or harassment, for example Ibn Warraq. Others do so to segregate different types of work: Lewis Carroll took a pen name because as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson he wrote linguistic papers; Agatha Christie wrote romantic novels as Mary Westmacott. Many writers, particularly in genre fiction, are so prolific that they are forced to take pen names in order to sell their books to different publishers: this is the case, for instance, with John Dickson Carr, who, in the 1930s, was publishing two detective stories a year under his own name and another two, through another publisher, under the pen name Carter Dickson. Pseudonyms are not always secret: Stendhal's real name was known: at least one critic disparaged his pen name as an affectation. ---------- EC: What does it mean to use a "fake id"? An identification is called into question when one is entering into a contract of some sort, or is representing something or someone, perhaps an organisation or is expressing an opinion in the capacity of someone of merit. CP: An 'identification' is defined as "the condition of having your identity established". Contracts and merits are not necessary. ----- EC: When I post on Goanet, I am not entering into contract with anyone (as is say Bosco who is contracted to be part of the admin team), representing an official organisation (as is Floriano who is representing Go-Suraj and speaking on its behalf) or expressing an opinion in the capacity of someone of merit (such as Frederick Noronha, etc). CP: Are we to believe than that Elisabeth Carvalho then is not 'someone of merit'? ----- EC: I am merely expressing an opinion, which would be just as anonymous and irrelevant were it to be expressed in my own name of insignificance. CP: So Elisabeth is characterizing her own postings as 'irrelevant', and herself of a person of no merit. This is contradictory to earlier statements of hers. ------ EC: The reason I have used a nom de plume, is because unfortunately being a woman I have in the past attracted cyber-psychopaths, who have made very personal threats and I do not wish to jeopardise my family. CP: I sympathize with you as I am sure does everyone in this August forum, and next month too. I have had cyber-psychopaths make personal threats to me and have reacted in kind. Of course I am not a woman and so didn't think how the simple act of using a 'nom du plume' would solve the problem. I suggest that the other regular women posters on this forum too please stop using you real names and use 'nom du plumes'. Otherwise logically you are jeopardizing your families and are this being bad wives and bad mothers. Unless of course Elisabeth is under the Special Witness Protection Program and if she reveals her name the Mafia will kill her. This is getting more dramatic by the moment. Or maybe Elisabeth is the mole that Jaswant Singh was referring to? ------- EC: The reality of the cyber medium is that one is visible to a number of invisible posters and is in dialogue with people whose background, be in mental or otherwise you are unaware of. CP: All of which would not be threatening if people used their actual names and identities! --- EC: Given the ease with which one can locate addresses and other information even Social Security numbers, especially in the US, it did not seem prudent to me to use my real name. CP: Indeed yes. Please note from now on all posters on GoaNet are requested to use psuedo names by creating fake IDs. If you do not do this you run the very real risk of having Letter Bombs delivered to your address or losing all your Social Security benefits. Posters from Goa need not worry. Letters don't get delivered on time and will probably explode elsewhere and we don't get Social Security cheques anyway. -------- EC: I have discussed these fears with the "powers that be" as well as revealed my identity to them. I have never hidden my identity from anyone who has proven their own authenticity in private communication. CP: I have to give due credit to Elisabeth in that she has never portrayed herself to be any different from what she actually is. All she has done is use another name, for whatever reasons. There are some on these cyber forums who take on identities to disguise their true gender, location, ethnicity etc. The ethics of this practice are questionable. Elisabeth has not done that. ------ EC: However, I understand that the validity of this forum is important and based in large part by the reknowned names that it attracts. If my nom de plume is a problem with posters, please let it be known privately to Frederick and I will decide if, risk of disclosure is proportionally balanced by my need to post. CP: Dear Elisabeth, Let me address this directly to you, and publicly. I don't see why Fred the Benevolent Emperor has to decide on this matter. It is you who have to. And whatever you decide nobody can force you to reveal your identity publicly. As long as you do not indulge in an act of libel you are free to post in any name you find appropriate. But consider this, as long as you conceal your identity your posts will not attract the credibility they deserve. Now I have serious differences with many of your stated opinions and have said so. But that does not take away from the value of your posts. That you made your opinion public, and defended it so articulately is by itself enough. GoaNet has definitely gained tremendously from your interaction. Consider though, given all other factors being equal, would you believe a flesh-and-blood identified 'Gadgil' or a virtually unknown (other than virtually!) 'Vivek'. However important Vivek's postings are they will always attract a bit of doubt as will the opinion of anyone who tries to conceal his identity. Dogs that bark from the dark comes to mind but that is too harsh and analogy. But it does come to mind! Imagine yourself, Elisabeth, at a nice social gathering - a party lets say. There's only one woman at the party who chooses to wear a mask on her face, She's very sexy and attractive and speaks very intelligently. But she chooses not to reveal her identity. She does attract a lot of attention by this gambit but nobody wants to really 'converse' with her or let their real opinions be known because they cannot trust someone who hides behind a mask. However lovely and intelligent the person might be. The mysterious woman attracts attention no doubt. If this is her only intention then she has done well by disguising herself. If on the other hand she truly wanted to interact and belong she wouldn't be wearing a mask, or would have discarded it when it obviously became a turn-off! Cheers! Cecil ===== _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
