JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum New Policy Idea Open For Discussion: Please Read and Respond!

Well, I've always used my real name here. After all, it is on my MySpace page...and my web site....and my music....

Brian,
I basically use my real name (A. Thomas Bozung) but for the sake of remembering out of the numerous different forums etc.. that I belong to, it helps to use one name. That name happens to be a username to keep things simple that goes with many different online sites. That may be what others do as well. Food for thought.
Tommy

We're up to 2/3rds of the Top 100! This is even better than I expected! = )

Brian

I ain't got nuthin' to hide, so, yep. I use my real name! I also tell people about my stage name of KYknothead! Why this name? KY is where I'm from, & I got knots on my head from 3 wives & skillet bumps!!! LOL Ray Withrow a.k.a. KYknothead

We only have 28 more hold outs on the Top 100 list!

Brian

Hey Brian,
Another site (rhymes with toonsmith)is starting to use real names...wonder where they got that idea.

The idea has been getting debated on quite a bit, for quite a while over on SongRamp also.
Graham

Thanks Brian ... err What is that :Whistle:

I have always been honest and up front from the start. I have found that when making new contacts/freinds that is the best way. All here in this forum I have never meet that I am aware of and at times can be difficult to know if someone you exchange information with is at a level to help you or hurt you in your career. I think this is a great idea and support it 100%.

Best Regards,

Teddie Cochran
www.teddiecochran-music.com

Let's see if that one sticks Noel!

Top Notch idea!!
Now if I can only find that note from my mother that has my name on it!!
Blessings and Balance,
Ernest

Thanks Brian

Brian,
Great idea, I'm a 100% for it!

Right from the start, I've always used my real name here and anywhere around the internet! I don't have a fancy "stage" name, so I don't have to worry about being "confused"!

I think using our real names is good for exposure, links and general networking purposes. It's easier (later on) to connect the dots between our friends and contacts here and when meeting them again somewhere else on the internet or in the course of business or at social events, etc.

If someone has a "famous" stage or business name, I suppose they could but an "aka" or "dba" after their name, unless it's an actual title like "John Doe, Board Moderator", etc.

The only thing that bothers me (a bit) is when people use animated graphics that keep looping over and over non stop. Did I mention they keep on going and going and never stop? :o

It's distracting when trying to read text. Maybe there's a way to turn them off, or allow only one loop when the page is first loaded? It reminds me too much of those pesky ads floating around the rest of the internet and even on SoundClick. But at least we don't have any pop-up ads to worry about here!

Michael

Michael, you can turn off the icons in the preferences panel. I leave mine turned off.

Big Jim is not only my stage name but also the name I have been called for many years by my friends family and aquaintances. 6 feet 5 inches tall and around 19 stone (270pounds) might have something to do with it. I and most other JPF people have no intentions of hiding behind a username or other untraceable handle. Is there any truth in the rumour that some usernames are as a result of using a keyboard with some of the keys missing?
ps I get called other names as well but that is usually when folks gets angry.

Hi Folks,

We'll we've got 93 of 100 Top Posters (excluding Dawg) who are using at least part of their real name. That's fantastic. I'd like to see a lot more of the others also convert, but I really appreciate the leaders of the Org. stepping up to lead the way. It's funny that others are copying us on this already, but we're used to that. The Grammy's stole our slogan "Music That Moves Us" several year's ago.. which was then stolen by just about anyone talking about music on TV or in print these days. We started using it with every music awards back in 1999. We started the Music Mentor program and now many other sites and orgs use the same terms to describe their programs. Etc etc etc. I even see more and more music publications starting off with quotes. And of course there was that time I was the official quote of the country of Switzerland.. but I digress... I am sure it's only a matter of time before someone copies our new public Mentor Critique format.

I'd like to find additional ways to improve the professionalism and value of what we do here. We still only manage to get a small % of the membership to get involved. I'd love to get more of those anonymous visitors (the real ones that aren't search engines) involved and even more who don't visit at all to come here and contribute and benefit. Let me know if anyone has a new idea.

Brian

got in and did it a lot quicker than the ramp has managed to though.
Good one.
Graham

Though I use my real name on this site, I see good reasons for using an alternate. To those who say they have nothing to hide, please post your social security numbers, credit card numbers with expiration dates, date of birth, mother's maiden name, etc., here. There are too many unscrupulous people and weirdos out there to be publicly releasing too much info unnecessarily.

Andy,

If your website is your name, like many artists here, then your comments make no sense. Your name is already out there and you're already trying to be known by it. Even if you use a stage name (i.e. Elton John) that is fine. The point is to use the name that you want to be known by for professionals as well as friends. Networking with Aardvark10493 is useless. It defeats the entire purpose of building a real relationship with anyone. It's fine for asking a question or giving an anonymous opinion, though I never trust the opinion of someone unwilling to put their name behind it. I don't think anyone else should either. The internet has become a haven for people with bad intent to hide behind anonymity. When someone is anonymous, you have no perspective at all on what their motivations are to say and do things. I actually wish there was a magic button that forced people to use their real names. If that happened it would cut back on the predators of many kinds out there. And at least if someone was STILL a predator, word would get out fast who they were and how to find them.

I really only focused on the Top 100 posters because they have clearly established that they want to be regular parts of our community by their long participation. If we're going to spend that much time with someone, I think it's reasonable that they come out from behind their veil. And if someone wants to hide who they are, they should at least pick 1 name to go by and use that for their website, their correspondence, their music etc.

We have some folks here who use what looks like a real name but which I already know isn't their real name. But they are consistent and they use it for everything they do. I haven't "outed" anyone and don't plan to. But if you are going to use your real name in your career and even post it in your signature or website, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect you to use it on your posts. There are some folks here who have switched from silly fake names to their real name and I already feel like they've become real people now instead of cyber beings who feel a bit less than human. For me, that's a good and positive step forward for our entire community.

I think your challenge to post credit card numbers and the other info is a ridiculous analogy of posting with your real name. We all know the name of Brad Pitt. But we can't get his personal info from just that knowledge of his name. If he did post here, and did it under his actual name, how would that put his credit cards or anything else at risk? Your argument falls flat.

Brian

Hi Brian and so say all of us.

Andy K makes a good point. I hope everyone is cognizant of the dangers of too much info on the wild world wide web. Beavis and Butthead are geniuses compared to the buttheads out here looking for someone to rip off. I feel fairly safe with my name. That's not hard to find. Google yourself and see what pops up. Your credit card and mortgage company, your bank, and anybody you do business with can sell your name. Then the phishermen go to work. Can I get that mother's maiden name? If I can, maybe the courthouse can give me the date of birth. Butthead works there and isn't on guard. If I can get that, maybe I can get the 'sosh', social security number. Beavis works at the place where you used your credit card. Then I can apply for a credit card and buy, well, whatever the hell I want, cell phones, motorcycles, lap dances, and Lobster Thermador ala filet mignon with fried ice cream. Oh, and a skimobile. And old dorkhead who put his stuff out on the internet will get the bill. So beware. Anything bigger than your name, maybe even just your name, is dangerous info in the hands of Beavis & Company.

HI Gary if you are that worried why bother going online at all.

Gary,

How does that rationally have anything to do with what we are talking about here? If you use the name Gary Andrews in your music, and your website is www.garyandrews.com, and you put Gary Andrews in your signature when you post, then why is it dangerous to also use Gary Andrews as your user name here? The answer is that it ISN'T dangerous and it does NOT put you at risk for anything. The only thing it WOULD do is allow you to do things you might not do if it was in your real name. But it doesn't give a scam artist more of a chance to scam you. Do you think they are really unable to look at your website name or your signature or your album title and know just as much about you? The argument is completely irrational.

I agree if you're a child that you should never give any info out about you at all. And frankly, if I had kids I would never allow them to post on ANY message board or chat/communicate with anyone on line without supervision. But for adults who want to conduct business in the public eye, using your name is not only neccessary, it's desirable so you can build relationships, demonstrate your own professionalism and trustworthiness and let folks know you have integrity and confidence in what you say and do. As Jim noted, if you feel the way you do, then don't go on line at all. Doing anything has risks these days. Going out in a car gives you far more risk to your health and life than posting here under your real name. My guess is you'll still get in the car anyway right?

Brian

The danger in identity theft is MUCH higher when you use a credit card....or if you leave your bills/checks out side of your mailbox for pick up...or if you leave your bank recipts on ATM machines...or if you fail to shred personal information before putting it in the trash...

Just my thoughts -

Emily

Sheesh
Everything you do or buy the first thing they ask you for is SS#, date of birth, DL#. Etc. Buy a car, buy a house sign up for cable TV or your internet provider. They all have that information. Any where you buy anything and don't pay cash that's the case. And anywhere you subscribe to anything has it. Phone Co., Electric, Gas, any utility.

Most Identity theft comes from your everyday business. I had mine stolen at a now defunct major home improvement store 20 years ago. The clerk in the accounting department did it. They caught the person but no prosecution because it was to costly to prosecute. Any clerk in any store, hospital, any business you deal with can get your information any time they want it.
You are probably more secure on the internet than you are at home.
And since my name is number 20 most common in the united states if they want to sort through the several million to get to me, well, so be it.
BTW Brian, Glad to see my name in Caps. thanks.
Billvis

PS you're right Emily. We don't throw anything in the trash, It goes in the burn barrel.

Okay, I'm sold. My name as eartaste sounds weird here at a songwriter, although I do my best to support songwriters at eartaste.com. So, next step is figuring out how to fix my name. Here goes . . .

Okay. Guess I gotta wait now for approval, but I put my name in and everything went pretty well. Wiped out my sig file, but that's easy enough to fix. Thanks for the prod!

Posting real names is ok, but I'm known as Goody by everyone... So I'm keeping it here too.

I disagree with your approach. Some of us out here are making a living in the music business and can easly be found through the internet. None of us have anything to hide EXCEPT our concern for our families safety. Read the papers everyday and you'll find someone who is killed by some wack Job! In a perfect world your idea would work, we don't live there...

If you perform in your real name you're far more likely to be found by a stalker than on the web. If you perform as Sandbox Studio1 then use it. Otherwise you're just an anonymous person and nothing you say can ever really be trusted. No accountability is what allows many on the web to do evil things. It allows people to lie without repercussion. It allows people to mislead for personal gain. It allows people themselves to harrass and be stalkers to others. Anonymous posting is what stalkers hide behind. You have it backwards.

Brian

<-----REAL name from the get go :-) I think it is a great idea and have found many on my journeys across the JPF boards already doing it...Makes it a little more 'community' minded if you know your neighbors name :-)

Cheers Neighbors
Kitana Mahoney
xo

Hi Brian If you got a minute how about an update any idea how many changes have been made?

We're up over 90% of the top 100 and about 100 other folks have also changed... very successful. I realize that some folks just won't do it. I don't buy the safety concerns. We all know Brad Pitt's name and Tom Hanks name and who Elton John really is. That doesn't mean we can now steal their credit card numbers. It's frankly a stupid worry. Those are hollow. I more buy the more valid idea that some folks are simply attached to their fake or nicknames. That's fine with me. It's clear the majority of folks I have talked to see the value and benefit to just being yourself.

Brian

Thanks Brian
I agree. How many of your pals do you call by their given name? Some people have stagenames or nicknames. That is fine by me. As long as they are genuine and stick by it and do not pick a few randomly selected digits on the keyboard to hide behind. I am sure we can suss out bogus handles posting and take the necessary action.

Big Jim,
what action is that? Who made you the name police. Who are you to say that people who use a pseudonym on line have ulterior motives? I like mine, thats why I'm keeping it. I have never hidden my real name. I sign every one of my posts-"Rick". My signature link goes to my soundclick page that is under my name, "Rick Goggin".
I understand Brian's viewpoint. I also respect the fact that he has NOT made it mandatory. I resent the implication that I'm doing something "wrong" by not changing my screen name. Brian has made a request and has graciously allowed, and has said so numerous times, people to keep using their screen names if they so choose. Are you trying to start a witch hunt?
Brian has given us all a gift here. A "place" to come and get our ideas heard and discussed. If Brian tells me tomorrow, change or leave, I'll change because I love what he has done with this community. I love the fact that he doesn't delete posts. I love it when he comes on and puts malcontents in there place with words, not action. "Big Jim" is just as much an affectation as "argo". What are you hiding Jim?
Rick

Relax Rick. I think he was suggesting (or at least this is how I took it) that we can determine who the trolls are and deal with them when needed. The sad truth is that folks who don't share a real indentity may be honest or 100% liars in everything they do. And we'll never really know which. Sure, people can lie in their real name, but that has consequences. Lying as StarBoy23002 doesn't.

I don't plan to make it mandatory. But I am still find significantly more positive feedback (beyond this post.. I get lots of direct email about this type of stuff) than negatives. If you were a band or artist called Argo, I think it would make perfect sense for you to be Argo. (Though a capital A might be nice). But if you use your real name with your music, it does seem counter productive to use something different when trying to network and make friends and contacts in the music industry. But we try to let people be free to do the right or wrong thing as long as it doesn't hurt others.

I will say, however, that going forward, I will be less tolerant with anonymous people who cause trouble. I can't feel guilty about blasting an anonymous person who's being a jerk.

Brian

Hi, I've only been on these boards for little while and from the start I've used my real name because of all the things you've mentioned. Credibility is number one, so far, with one exception, I feel the comments I've gotten are from "real" people who are passionate about their craft and a really out there to help people. - Anyway just my 2 cents.

maureen

Quite a discussion on this subject. I also like my user name and in fact tried others at first thinking it had to be that way. Direct Current represents by initials, however, since I have had the name for awhile I've grown to like it and may use it for a CD name someday. I think I usually sign my name and anyone can click my profile and get it with my e-mail address.
Brian, is there a way to show both the user name and real? I would consider that rather than lose the other. I don't post alot on the boards but I know most user names from constant reading of posts. I think we lose some great names if everyone changes. Kinda takes away a little history of JPF.
In any event, it's not a big deal in the big picture of what this site offers.
Dan Copeland

Hey Argo you got the wrong end of the bone here. I DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT and why you have taken my general comments so personal. As I said I have nothing against people using a genuine stage name or nickname. that is OK. Folks including family and friends know me as BIG JIM MERRILEES some do not even know my surname as I am billed and introduced as BIG JIM. No big deal they know who I am and what I stand for if I put my name BIG JIM to it. If you want info on me check my profile.
You go as Argo and sign Rick. No problem you even include a photo. I would too if I could figure out how to do it. THE POINT IS SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT AS HONEST AS YOU OR I. Like you I have nothing to hide. Some people as explained by Brian have ulterior motives and for whatever reason HOPE TO HIDE THEIR TRUE ACTIVITIES BEHIND AN ALIAS. I am against that and only that.

I've already said I agree with Brian, and updated to use my real name.

What I find funny is, now when I come out here, I don't know who anyone is anymore.

(Don't worry, I'll figure it out eventually!)

Linda

PS: BTW... there could be people using what looks like a real name and a real photo, that isn't themselves, if anyone wants to get real paranoid about it. It happens.

But face it--on THIS site especially, people are here because we WANT to be known for who we are, and WANT to network.

Linda,

It's true that we don't know who some folks are because of long used aliases. That simply solidifies my stance here. How is it that we can interact with someone in some cases for 4-5-6-7-8 years or more and sometimes even meet them in person, but we don't recognize them when we see their real name? That's a shame.

The internet is still young. At the start of email commonality, folks were often forced to pick random names with numbers in them. AOL was notorious for assigning short names with numbers for example. No one really knew what was happening and we just sort of accepted stupid random letters and numbers and made them ours. But now things are starting to mature. And I think moving to a real name is a step in that direction. Some people use nicknames their whole lives. Others grow out of them. What someone might have called us in grade school or college usually wears itself out when we go to work in the business world. Not always, but usually. But with the net, the nicknames many picked up weren't even valid or natural (i.e. given by friends). They were just the characters available in the space available. That's why I expanded the length of names allowed here a lot so that folks can use their whole first and last name if they want. So far I think we've accomodated that, but if someone has a first and last name that still won't fit, let me know and I'll work on that too.

I want to learn who you are so that if I meet you on the street and you say, hey, this is Linda P. Adams.. I know who she is... I hope everyone will think that over.

Brian

I'll share this story with you. When I was a young pup in junior high school, I briefly wore a black vinyl jacket and shades, and tried to go by the name Dynamite Killer.

Thought it would make me more attractive to girls.

It didn't quite work....unless you count making 'em laugh.

.............tough memory........ouch. :=)

I find your logic surreal, abstract at best. Why would a person ( considering they're not nutty) want to mislead people, and even if they did...who cares? I'm mean really, a guy sez he's a big Star and throws out his opinion isn't it up to the individual whether or not he/she wishes to accept it? Or..do you believe YOU need to regulate who posts? If THAT'S true, well, maybe I should be movin on. A little to Dictatorial for my taste.

Sandbox,

The fact that you're still posting whatever you want clearly demonstrates we let anyone post here, whether what they say makes any sense or not. What we do watch for is false accusations against people or companies, unprovoked or inappropriate personal attacks against people and false testimony and endorsement for companies and services. When someone is simply wrong, we point it out. You're simply wrong.

It would be hard to take anything you say seriously. You could be someone with lots of practical experience and knowledge, or you could be a complete loon making up everything you say simply to mislead or confuse or annoy people. You can do that because you have no risk or responsibility as an anonymous poster. Reading what you have to say or think about something serves little useful purpose because it can never really be trusted. People would not know what your real motivations are. You may have an axe to grind. You may simply not like someone so you'll make attacks against them no matter what they do. You may offer information that isn't true. Or you may do none of those thing. You might be 100% honest in all ways. But the truth is we'll never be able to really trust that because we'll never really know your intent. Can someone lie in their own name? Of course. But if they do, people will know that that REAL person isn't trustworthy and they'll stop trusting. If an anonymous person is outed for lying or being a jerk, they can simply become another anonymous person.. then another.. then another.. then another. We have folks here who do that. Hell, you could be that person since you seem particularly disgruntled around here anyway.

We have some folks here in the Top 100 who have been positive contributors over the years who are still anonymous. (Only a couple though at this point). In their cases, at least they've shown no malice towards anyone. I'd rather they come out of their shells, but I haven't forced anyone to do anything. Most of those with a large number of posts have revealed who they really are and we've met them in person and do know they are real people and thus we can at least trust that they have honest intent.

As for me regulating who posts, I do own the site. This is my home and you're a guest here. That said, I rarely delete anything no matter how vile it is. There's really only 2 individuals we've ever removed from the site in going on 9 years and they've demonstrated mentally ill behaviour and nearly psychopathic drives to be disruptive and destructive. And yes, they ALWAYS use anonymous user names. Sometimes they eventually let on who they are. Sometimes you can tell from their comments. Sometimes we catch them on an IP address. Hopefully you and other anonymous folks will demonstrate an interest in being a positive part of the community. But whatever happens, we'll let you continue to be wrong as long as you want and hope that you'll come around. Not just on this topic but on any others. But no matter what happens, you'll never be more than an anonymous person here, who may be male or female, may be of any age or experience level, may be educated or completely clueless, may have positive or negative intent and could be several other people here at the same time. As long as that is the case, you'll never be real and never really be relevant in the scheme of things. That's just reality.

Brian

I'm outa here!

Sandbox,

I can't say I am surprised by your response. Expected since you have a website with a Nashville phone number, a post here with a California location and nowhere does it list a real person's name. You have a list of songs you seem to want major artists to cut, but you keep it all a mystery as to who you are, where you are, what you want to do. Most professionals I know are proud of their work, put their name on it and conduct business in a straight forward way. Why hide? So now you'll disappear from here and perhaps you'll return as another anonymous person, or perhaps you'll go haunt some other place. But in the meantime it was all a waste of time for everyone involved. Your actions simply prove my point even more. Why waste time on fake or covert people? Better to spend it with real ones in the real world.

Brian

Okay I have made "The Move" even though Sub is so much catchier than Mike lol...

I posted something and I was like man I'm being ignored.. then I realized they were calling me Mike lol...

Many wonderful people here and some of you of have treated me like family
And for us Italians that means something very very special!
That means I'll feed ya and I'll hug and kiss ya, then afterwards I'll take you for a ride to New Jersey lol...

It's just a nice feeling to trust and even nicer to be trusted. If you cant find that here at JPF then where can you? " After all we are not Ebay"

Substudio Image with Website link

Ah.. only 5 left! = )

Mike, of all the folks on here, you clearly had built the "brand name" out of your user name. (I.e. it was like your version of Elton John). I do appreciate that you stepped up. I myself had no idea what your last name even was until recently. As a positive part of the community, that was unfortunate. I think you did the right thing by including both names for the long term and I appreciate the gesture.

I've also gotten some panicked emails from folks using anonymous names. No, I am not going to out you or force you to change. I hope as you become comfortable with people around here, you'll consider either using your real name, or choosing a name that matches your band name or a cool artist type name to post under. I think it would be a good idea to match your web domain (without the .com etc. attached..) if you don't want to use your real name. But if you ARE using your REAL name on your website and elsewhere, then just step up and be yourself. Then we can all get to know you, your music and there will be far less confusion down the road. Let's show folks that the net doesn't have to be about a lot of creepy people doing terrible things behind anonymity. That's the norm. But hopefully it won't be any longer here.

Brian

Brian,

What was cool was that you had already mentioned in a thread that it made sense for me to have the handle "Substudio" as I perform various services for the community. Okay I do talk to almost all the members I work with on the phone..

Thing is you never jammed this down anyones throat and if others would think about just that alone for second... before getting all freaked! It makes it's own point.

Okay yes we all understand we have to be careful with identity and the internet
If we all stayed hidden like so many other sites and kept thinking in those terms then we wouldn't be... well us!
We can't change the whole unwritten rule of the internet but we can change our corner of it.

Brian - "you cant change the way things are man" The world is not a perfect & safe place and especially the often seedy internet, It can't work" Give Up! You cant make it any safer here!

Hey People, as far we are concerned 5 more names and he just did!

If sandbox did want to make a name for himself he managed it. Rule 1 Sandbox If you make waves they can drown you. I have read your nasty crits and tried unsuccesfully to enter your elusive site.

I think Sandbox "could" have been a useful contributor here. Sometimes you need folks to come out and say they don't like things with no hold barred. Of course, I was upset that he never gave any depth to his reviews -- what didn't he like, what would make it work, etc. I thought the songs at his site were pretty well done, but I was a little suspicious when he said he had more experience that Simon Cowell.

In any case, if someone was that upset with Brian's simple request (and it is NOT mandatory), then maybe we are better off sans sandbox.

Kevin