Could someone please explain to me why there is this statement on the page where you ask questions:

Please don't use a fake email address; it creates a lot of technical problems for the community. For example, this software will send you an email alert if someone responds to your message and those alerts will bounce back to us if the address you type isn't valid.

This being the case, why does the administration of this forum permit so many obviously fake email addresses?

JOJ

-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), August 03, 1999

Answers

In a perfect world we would all use our real names. However on the Internet often using your real name will get you spammed to death or email bombed or your opinions, which may be valid points, will be used against you in the future.

I think Y2K forums are one place where most people will use a alias. How many people want to tell the world they are stockpiling rice and beans and are afraid of TEOTWAWKI, with their real name showing.

-- Fat Tony (FatTony@youmammashouse.com), August 03, 1999.

I did for awhile, but then one of the regulars got a threat to have his house burned down.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), August 03, 1999.

Yes. This is an excellent question and Fat Tony has me wondering...

I would like to state for the record that I have been using a fake name and e-mail for over a year. I am NOT ever really here, it's a computer program I created to post for me. All the stupid posts I've made in the past...computer glitches : )

I have no preps, no food, no water, no nuttin. Nope, nada. I also have no weapons, no tools, and certainly no stored fuel.

For all I know TEOTWAWKI is the Hawaiian phrase for "Would you like some more poi?" And my answer to that is ABSOLUTELY NOT, I don't want any TEOTWAWKI.

ekiM

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-- rolyaT leahciM (totallyfakeemialaddress@mtdesign3@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

My address is real. It's just not my real address. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

I started using a pseudo-handle after my first "predator sighting," combined with the discovery that the predator lurked on this board occasionally. I started to feel too much like the gazelle at the watering hole as the lions closed in.

-- Cash (Cash@andcarry.com), August 03, 1999.

If fake addys and names were not allowed, you would see the candid discussions held here vanish like a snowball in hell.

How would you like to discuss where to hide valuables if you had to use your real info?

How would you like to discuss your preps if folks could find your physical locations?

The anonymity here leads directly to our freedom of speech. Nuff said.

-- nobody (nobody@nowhere.com), August 03, 1999.

I have always used my real name and e-mail address. It's just kind of burried in there. And one day some nice folks decided that my Address ought to be included, with the ACTUAL spelling of my name, etc. I was NOT AMUSED.

I found out this weekend (about 8 months later) that my bride was, let us say, moved to mayhem, she just didn't quite know where to go to commit it.

SOME openness helps the INITIAL credibility of the poster, but the actual lasting credibility is based on long time interaction.

for instance, I suspect that I have a certain amount of credibility ref emergency medicine and coleman stoves and lanterns, as I have posted on them a lot, and happento be an EMT-P,and a stove/lantern tech.

I WILL say that REAL E-MAILS (not necessarily your every-day one) would help a LOT as far as communicating as a Sysop. sometimes I have to do something and I would REALLY like to explain it off the forum. If you haven't given me an e-mail address that works, I can't be sure you know WHY it was done, and I have to hope that you figure it out. NOT GOOD PRACTICE>

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), August 03, 1999.

JumpoffJoe,

As I will reveal in just a minute, some posters use fake sigs & e- mail addys in order to disguise themselves from most of us, while passing secretly coded messages to their partners in crime. An example:

Notice the sig above from the poster "rolyaT leahciM". Looks like an ordinary signature, doesn't it? BUT, if you do your computing in the bathroom, as I do, you would have a mirror opposite your monitor, as I do. One look into the mirror and lo & behold - "rolyaT leahciM" becomes "Michael Taylor"!!!

This is an example of the many layers of Y2K. Peel your onions in the bathroom, look into the mirror, search out the layers. And always watch your back (another reason for computing in the bathroom with a mirror behind you).

Take care.

bingo-won

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), August 03, 1999.

JOJ...... The statement below applies to only those that select 'yes' for e- mail alerts when posting a new thread.

"For example, this software will send you an email alert if someone responds to your message and those alerts will bounce back to us if the address you type isn't valid."

This would be the only time that autorespond is activated.

-- For (your@info.com), August 03, 1999.

lol Bingo...I've never been called an onion before : )

Mike

who isn't bothered because he uses his real email address

====================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

Bingo,

But if your in the bathroom then how can you reach the tinfoil in the kitchen to make your hats?

-- (@D.f), August 03, 1999.

Tinfoil hats are a clever deception! The wearers merely believe they are effective. This is called the placebo-dome effect. Tinfoil was chosen for this scam because it is easier to make the hats from this material. Ever try to make a hat from Saran?

If you had your computer in the bathroom you would know this!

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), August 03, 1999.

JOJ......

I suspect the primary reason for the fake e-mails is most of the posters on this forum are wasting their employers money instead of doing the job they are being paid to do. Yes, I will include myself in this group as well so lets not kid each other.

-- For (your@info.com), August 03, 1999.

Well, I've always used my real name and address, and haven't experienced all these dire problems. I probably average 1 or 2 get rich quick emails a day, no big deal. And I haven't received any impolite opinions from anyone. Interestingly, a few posters who only attack me on this forum are both polite and thoughtful in private, where there's no peer pressure to "fit in".

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

My address is real! I have had few e-mails, mostly asking for information or further discussion, all of which were welcome.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 03, 1999.

I'm with THE MONK.

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

My address is real.

I used to use an obviously false address, because a previous use of my real address on another forum caused me to be flooded with porno site spam.

With a usa.net address, I don't care how much junk mail I receive. I recommend to all of you to go to http://www.usa.net and get an address with your TBY2K handle.

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), August 03, 1999.

Yea, and the only, well maybe not only, problem with this freedom is that we do have a few, well..., trolls, that have a multiple personality complex. I got one a while ago, that used a word, that I didn't see before, and haven't seen since, on this forum. Posted by two people, less than a day apart. And, of course, they shared a common opinion...

But our Sysops now have better tools to follow this bouncing ball...

And yes, I did sign a few posts Kirk@Enterprise.IV <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

Sometimes it's just plain fun to play with addys!

-- goofy (foofoo@you.too), August 03, 1999.

I feel so neglected ! No spam ,no e-mails, not even an itty bitty threat.

All I got was an invitation to mudwrestle and that was here on the board!

-- sue (deco100@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

Because there are busybodies and criminals (both private and governmental).
Because the 1st ammendment right of free speech, supposedly acknowledged and guaranteed from interference by your governments, local, state, and federal, is "void where prohibited by law."

-- A (A@AisA.com), August 03, 1999.

In conclusion then, it sounds like there is nothing to fear from using your real name and address, but there being nothing to fear clearly doesn't discourage fearful people. It's a microcosm of the whole y2k phenomenon, I think.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

"In conclusion then, it sounds like there is nothing to fear from using your real name and address, but there being nothing to fear clearly doesn't discourage fearful people. It's a microcosm of the whole y2k phenomenon, I think." Flint

Interesting observation Flint.

Would you care to discuss in further detail why it is that many of the "optimists" post with fake emails and fake names? : )

Mike

================================= = ) =============================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

The emails I receive are precious gifts to me.

But what I wanted to say is that, statistically speaking, you're much less likely to have space junk hit your petunker if you are wearing an aluminum foil hat. Your tax dollars were, in all likelihood, invested in an intensive and lengthy study to prove the truth of this.

And of special interest, I'm sure, to those of you are preparing for the possibility of armed confrontation, your tax dollars WERE invested in a study that proved fewer goats wearing bulletproof vests died as the result of gunshot wounds than goats who delined the attire.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

Good question jump. Your's certainly sounds real.

.

-- eat me (eatmore@eatr.com), August 03, 1999.

JOJ--first of all I can't figure out HOW you personally would know that so many of the email addresses are FAKE???? AND unless you are part of the administrative staff--WHY DO YOU CARE AND WHY WOULD YOU EMAIL SOMETHING TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW???!!!!

I can't imagine what would ever give away a fake email address unless you are trying to send emails?

-- Tony Lamotta (applepie@yahoo.net), August 03, 1999.

Michael:

I had intended my observation to apply to both. I confess I'm confused by the fake names and addresses in light of the almost nonexistent volume of spam I receive, especially since my viewpoint is hardly the most popular on this forum. Whatever the anonymous are afraid of, my own experience is that it isn't what they claim.

So being anonymous implies fear of *something* to me. Maybe the extreme optimists fear y2k, and hence of being wrong about it?

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

I'm anonymous because I'm shy. But my email works.

-- number six (Iam_not_a_number@hotmail.com), August 03, 1999.

I used to use a fake address, but was tired of the insults towards the "GIs" for being "afraid" to use a real address. So I got me a Yahoo! It's nice to get mail from folks who do not wish to carry on over the net.

Do You Yahoo?

Spam is not a problem so far, in fact I'm lonely, nobody loves me...

Boo hoo hoo.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

I did use a real name and address, both on this and other fora, and have been spammed out of sight (regular AND porno). It's let up a bit but I would really rather not go through the inconvenience and hassle again.

BTW, for those who receive spam, complain to your ISP and they will instruct you on how to combat it. In most cases you can simply forward the spam to "abuse@[insert name of sender's ISP here].com or .net, whatever. Your ISP may offer, as mine does, an anti-spam program which is very simple to download adn will cut down on a great deal of the trash.

In addition, there are documented cases of Internet stalking (which appear to be on the increase) and I would rather be safe than sorry. Funny, that's my philosophy about Y2K too.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), August 03, 1999.

Flint, do you ever actually READ what people post, or just launch into your dumb spiels? Did you not read that some people who have shared where they have hidden their valuables -- advice that they gave to help others prepare -- do not want to give information about themselves?? Did you not read about SOME people getting threatened via e-mail??

This is just another variation of the polly game known as "attack the messenger rather than the message", implying that if someone is using a fake e-mail address, then what they are saying can be dismissed.

WHO CARES whether the address is fake or not? Lots of Internet forums have software that does require your real e-mail address, and assigns a password to you, so that the riff-raff can be kept out, BUT DOES NOT DISPLAY YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS TO ANY OF THE OTHER POSTERS. This forum does not, so one is certainly prudent in taking precautions if one so feels inclined.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

I don't have anything to be ashamed about and I'm not writing on an employer's time. I adopted an online pseudonym over ten years ago, long before I ever heard of Y2K. I have a lot of non-mainstream ideas. I want to be able to express myself freely. Some politician could sign me up for an annual tax audit. My insurance company could cancel my coverage. Some idiot could fall in love with my picture and show up at my house to tell me about that. (Hey, it could happen)

Usually, I do provide my real e-mail address, and did at first when posting to this forum, but I noticed an immediate and substantial increase in pornspam, which dropped off when I stopped using the real address. I do link to the real address in the body of every post in case anyone wants to get in touch with me, and I also use it when starting a thread. I assume I'm not causing some administrative hassle for greenspun.

The occasional insinuations I see that so-called "doomers" who refuse to provide their true names are therefore obviously ashamed, or lying or fly-by-night or paranoid, is annoying, to say the least. Readers should determine for themselves how much credence to place in what I say, based on whether or not it makes sense, and not based on whether or not it would be possible to track me down and bring me to account if they don't like my opinions.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), August 03, 1999.

KOS:

Good points. You're right, there are many valid reasons why one might want to use a fake name and/or address. Also, perhaps my ISP is protecting me from most spam without my even realizing it. And I'm aware that anyone here who cares to do so, can use Yahoo to find my exact location on a map. Unlike many here, my most valuable possessions are in my head, where they're hard to steal [grin].

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), August 03, 1999.

What?????? Flint says that I'm RIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING??????

I'm feeling dizzy.... Better get off this thing. Go lie down for a while.... Maybe its all a dream. Or a meme....

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), August 03, 1999.

I use my real address, and I don't get any spam. Maybe they know better than to mess with a BIKER!

(more likely, my ISP is somehow filtering it out without telling me) Thanks AT&T !

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), August 03, 1999.

"So being anonymous implies fear of *something* to me."

Yea, Flint, I have a fear that my customers may find out what I really think about Y2K. My friends already know, damn, my boss already knows, and pretty much agrees! But, as a systems administrator, I do have to wear a "happy face" at work.

Am I "two faced?" I guess so, but it's my job to make this stuff work, and it's my job to make the customer believe that it will work. If my happy face is wrong, it will turn sad, and I will have one pissed off customer, but life will go on. If my sad face is wrong, it will turn happy, and I'm going to have one hell of a chile party! I can't go wrong... <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), August 03, 1999.

"Unlike many here, my most valuable possessions are in my head..." Man, Flint, when are the compliments gonna stop?

I suspect your lack of a spam problem is for the same reason as mine.

-- Carlos (riffraff1@cybertime.net), August 03, 1999.

muggu idon go herrr

-- jon look (mbwallas2@yahoo.com), August 08, 2003.