Forum profile - Please don't hide

B_Clements
B_Clements Senior Member
in AMX General Discussion
I know it is traditional with many forum users to post with some anonymous handle that hides your true identity. For those of you that are not shy, why not include a web address in your profile and company name in your signature. I can totally understand hiding your email address.

I am not asking you risk identity theft, but it makes responsing to a question or problem easier knowing who you are responding to.

Comments?
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Comments

  • jjames
    jjames AMX Sustaining Engineer
    Agreed

    Agreed - it does make it difficult to try to respond to someone who's handle is 0_the_rabbit_hunter_0, and leaves no name. If I had a decent picture of myself, I might even put that in a signature - but I'll spare you all the pain - LOL.

    Also, does anyone know how to link images in their signature, like Joe Heberts?
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  • VLCNCRZR
    VLCNCRZR Senior member
    I agree also.

    This forum is one of my most valuable resources.
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  • mpullin
    mpullin Obvious Troll Account, Marked for Deletion
    Use the bbCode to link to an image. [ IMG ]http://images.com/image.gif [ /IMG ]
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  • John Gonzales
    John Gonzales Junior Member
    I agree. I tend to have less respect for those "anonymous" users when they post. Right away I think they're up to something or they tend to be troublemakers. I was planning to come up with a fake username for when I have to ask really dumb questions - but even then I'll at least use a real sounding name :). By the way, Joe's signature image link disturbs me... How does it know my IP address and why is it spying on me ;) ?

    -- anoynmous (oops I mean --John)
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  • mpullin
    mpullin Obvious Troll Account, Marked for Deletion
    Personally my username is pretty straightforward as well (first initial, last name).

    We're all professionals here (for one thing, I don't see any spam forum) so I'm not sure why someone would sign up with a weird name.
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  • pdabrowski
    pdabrowski Aussie Guy
    John Gonzales wrote:
    By the way, Joe's signature image link disturbs me... How does it know my IP address and why is it spying on me ;) ?
    how it's done is a secret (ps.. watch out for google, the o's have little cameras in them!!) ;)
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  • champ
    champ Junior Member
    I'll be the token who doesn't agree.

    My employer disagrees with helping anyone outside the company.
    I disagree as the resource pool in a forum is so much better than within a single company and the chance you are helping direct competition is very small.

    That is why I don't disclose all my details.
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  • jjames
    jjames AMX Sustaining Engineer
    champ wrote:
    My employer disagrees with helping anyone outside the company.
    I can most definately understand that reason. Been in that position before . . . didn't like it - boo!
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  • Joe Hebert
    Joe Hebert Junior Member
    Hello. My name is Joe and I?m an AMXoholic.

    I agree that ideally it?d be nice to know who everyone is by their real identity, however, I can understand those who can?t or don?t wish to disclose. I think some of the nick names here add a little spice and personality to the forum. I use my first and last name because I couldn?t think of anything clever. Or is it my real name? <evil laughter>

    I just hope more members decide to participate and post. I know I?m always learning something new here
    John Gonzales wrote:
    By the way, Joe's signature image link disturbs me... How does it know my IP address and why is it spying on me ;)?
    It?s a cheap parlor trick performed with the aid of a simple PHP script that runs on my server. I randomized my signature a bit and I?ll refrain from showing users their own IP but I?ll still be watching?.<more evil laughter>
    pdabrowski wrote:
    (ps.. watch out for google, the o's have little cameras in them!!) ;)
    That used to be esoteric?now everybody knows. ;)
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  • VLCNCRZR
    VLCNCRZR Senior member
    in reference to my earlier post....

    I use my particular online nickname for every forum I belong to.

    I came up with this many years ago when I had to create a name
    for a motorcycle club I belonged to, but the name patches could
    only contain a certain qty of characters.

    It just stuck with me ever since. I do have my real name and
    homepage available on my profile. Nothing to hide here.

    I also agree that sometimes a nickname adds a little creativity and
    actually helps me to remember who other member are.
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  • Thomas Hayes
    Thomas Hayes Junior Member
    I show my full name.
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  • DHawthorne
    DHawthorne Junior Member
    I'm using my real name. I know my boss doesn't check here, but I try to bear in mind that if he wanted to, he could. Outside of that, I feel it in my own best interests to have my name known. It's all part of professional networking, and you never know how or when it may pay off. If my wife decides she just can't stand living in NJ anymore, and wants to ship off to San Diego (heh, it's come up ...), it behooves me for people on the west coast in the AMX programming world to have heard my name and have an idea of my capabilities.
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  • annuello
    annuello Junior Member
    My username is the name of a small town in rural Victoria, Australia. Population: You're it. It used to have 200 people in the 1920's, but has progressivley died to a town hall & fire truck shed, plus some wheat silos.

    I spent the first 19 years of my life growing up there, and don't want to see the name slip into oblivion. It's already slipped of most road maps. Besides, it's almost guaranteed to be unique on any forum.

    I usually stick to my username, but in this forum I don't mind people knowing who I am. Being on the other side of the world from many of you, I guess you could prank-call me during your day time... How convenient for you... :)

    Roger McLean,
    Swinburne Uni, Australia
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  • John Gonzales
    John Gonzales Junior Member
    champ wrote:
    ...My employer disagrees with helping anyone outside the company...
    ...That is why I don't disclose all my details.

    That's unfortunate, and it makes sense not to use your name in this case.
    Joe Hebert wrote:
    It?s a cheap parlor trick performed with the aid of a simple PHP script that runs on my server. I randomized my signature a bit and I?ll refrain from showing users their own IP but I?ll still be watching?.<more evil laughter>
    I was just kidding about your sig Joe... I mean sure it creeps me out (just kidding again) but you didn't have to change it.
    DHawthorne wrote:
    If my wife decides she just can't stand living in NJ anymore, and wants to ship off to San Diego
    :) Have I talked about how nice the weather is here in San Diego... ? Feel free to PM or e-mail me if you have any questions about San Diego, it really is a beautiful city.
    annuello wrote:
    Being on the other side of the world from many of you, I guess you could prank-call me during your day time... How convenient for you...
    That would only be funny until your day time rolled around and you returned the fun :).


    --John
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  • Chip Moody
    Chip Moody Junior Member
    This isn't my real name, so please don't confuse me with that well-known control system programmer in NJ... (Bwahahaha!)

    As for my boss, I don't feel that I'm disclosing anything proprietary here, or giving any potential competitors a leg-up, so assuming he knows or finds out, I don't think there's any issue...

    - Chip
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  • Thomas Hayes
    Thomas Hayes Junior Member
    Chip Moody wrote:
    This isn't my real name, so please don't confuse me with that well-known control system programmer in NJ... (Bwahahaha!)

    As for my boss, I don't feel that I'm disclosing anything proprietary here, or giving any potential competitors a leg-up, so assuming he knows or finds out, I don't think there's any issue...

    - Chip
    I thought that way to until last year and I got in some hot water over a post :( . A word to the wise, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY BECAUSE IT MIGHT COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU.
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  • B_Clements
    B_Clements Senior Member
    Thanks for the comments all.

    Seems like most of the regulars are willing to participate.

    Brian
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  • matt95gsr
    matt95gsr Junior Member
    I know I haven't posted very much myself...do a lot more reading than answering at this point...but I don't care too much to hide my identity on here. I figure this to be a place where it may very well be advantageous to not be so anonymous. In a forum such as this, I enjoy the prospect of running into someone at a trade show or training class and realizing that perhaps we've had conversations in the past. I don't use my real name as a username, but it is readily available in my profile. I respect the fact that some may have valid concerns about revealing their true identity, but appreciate the fact that it doesn't seem to be a big deal for most. Plus, it seems to add a degree of professionalism (I suppose) to these forums.
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  • Joe
    Joe Junior Member
    I like using my first name in these forums, as my last name is a mess and no one ever pronounces it correctly. Anyway, for those of you who don't know me, my info is below.

    Joe Ockuly, ACE
    Manager of Ohio Operations
    HB Communications
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  • B_Clements
    B_Clements Senior Member
    A lot of new subscribers.

    I am bumping this thread for all the newbies.

    There is a better chance of a response if you complete your profile and tell us where you are from.
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  • Cassidy@Rabone
    Cassidy@Rabone Junior Member
    I am me...

    I am who I say I am and have never had any intention of hiding my identity on here.

    On other forums I frequent however I do have alternate nicks but this is a professional resource and such I see no need to hide.

    Also as for the guys n gals that are afraid of sharing company info I understand completely, we however do not hide a thing and I invite everyone to browse our website and help yourself to any info you find.
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  • John Gonzales
    John Gonzales Junior Member
    Cassidy@Rabone wrote:
    ... I invite everyone to browse our website...

    I took you up on your offer and I'm glad I did! Your company website is very nice and your touchpanel UI's alone were worth the look. It's nice to see work like that.

    --John
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  • mstc
    mstc Junior Member
    VLCNCRZR wrote:
    I came up with this many years ago when I had to create a name
    for a motorcycle club


    I had a 98 LC1500, till a Nissan SUV tried to make a hood ornament out of it (and me) in Poway.
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