Real names on a message board

[TheEnforcer]

Quite an interesting discussion going on here. It's definately not a black and white issue to be sure. Some people don't like it at all and some people could care less and some are somewhere in between.

[MorganGrayson]

TE...no, this, like most issues, isn't black and white.

Dravyk...that's the key: knowing the people to whom you are speaking or referring. I would never use the real name of someone if I wasn't absolutely certain it wasn't already in general usage and my relationship with said person had evolved to the point where I felt it was appropriate to address the person by name.

If rhetorical wouldn't mind serving as an example: if he had not expressed displeasure at the use of his name and I had just read someone else using it, our relationship has not evolved to a point where I would feel comfortable using it *myself,* even if it was appropriate for others to do so. Many conversations down the line...perhaps.

To add a bit of humor to an otherwise serious thread: has anyone else driven their nearest and dearest nearly out of their minds by discussing their workday and referring to a friend or associate by both their real name *and* their nick...in the same sentence? My husband has become apoplectic trying to follow one of my monologues when I've done that. "Are A and B the SAME person? Who is C? C has the same nickname as the REAL NAME of D! YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!! PICK A NAME AND STICK WITH IT BUT STOP USING BOTH!"

I've tried. I can't. He's getting better at remembering the players, though.