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Comment on Ask HN: Online presence: pseudonym or real name?

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a pesudonym is somewhat unprofessional. I mean, certainly, if you are good enough, nobody cares, but for technical stuff? it's probably in your interest to publish cool stuff under your real name.

Now, at least for me, the times I embarrass myself I am talking about personal stuff or about politics. Using a pseudonym for that sort of thing is completely reasonable. I think "would I want this on my long-form resume?" is a good question to ask before posting something under your real name.

Generally, I think, technical mistakes are forgiven, especially if you admit or point out your mistake. There isn't much danger, I think, to coding using your real name.

a pesudonym is somewhat unprofessional

Thanks, I think this is what is swaying me more towards just putting things under my own name.

embarrass myself how?

I mean writing things I'd rather not have on my permanent record. E.g. an overly emotional and poorly thought out political manifesto, or giving personal details that people I work with might consider 'too much information' or "overshare"

Especially for the latter, a pseudonym seems polite. I mean, you need to be aware that if someone /really/ wants to find out, they will. But using a pseudonym, I think, is a polite way to separate your personal life from your professional life.

eh, I dono. I've heard people complaining, e.g. that they didn't really want to know of the sexual proclivities of their co-workers.

I think it's completely reasonable that this isn't the first thing you find out about your co-workers.

Sex, yea you have to be careful.

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