Think about it. Under one name they can be themselves, under another name they can be the mean side of themselves no one sees, or the argumentative side. The list could go on and on. If they can get away with it, that is. Usually that person will trip up and you'll recognize them. I guess it does no harm but then they are deceiving people. I don't think we can use more than one username here. KK would be able to detect it.
Posts: 3703 | Location: The beautiful Bayou State of Louisiana | Registered: 06-03-02
quote:Originally posted by gatman: To make a site look busier than it actually is?
I think that usually there is not a connection to a website owner, especially since same would have so much to lose. I was not making any such implication.
When a person is well known, they can enter the forum under a different user and get a different response than they normally would.
At ask.com, I used a number of different names, 4 different ones in the WR forum, 1 in the computer forums, and another in the business forums. In the business and computer forums I was probably completely unrecognized since they were completely different groups of people.
In the WR forums, when i used a different name it was because I wanted to get courteous, well-thought out answrs. When I used my own name (josephsavi), I felt as though the answers were incomplete at times.
I don't think anyone recognized the other names until I said something because it was so rare that I'd use them. Out of 2800 posts for josephsavi, I think godaweful posted 10 times, stuckinthe50s posted 4 or 5 times, etc., not enough to be recognized, but enough to get the answers I wanted.
Posts: 3632 | Location: Washington, US | Registered: 06-03-02
quote:Originally posted by cattywampus: This really confuses me. Why would someone answer your question differently at all? Will someone who has actually done this please explain?
Actually Catty, that is very common .. think about it. A person develops a very specific personality and reputation when they post and reply. Sometimes a person will develop a large following (think of Dogspit as an example) of people that will automatically place a higher value on an answer (or conversely, devalue an answer because they DON'T like a person). As such, some people want to might truely want an unbiased opinion. I know that some people I have spoken with used several names to generate friction, stimulating discussion and responses. That is my take on the whole thing (of course the most obvious early reason was probably to generate more traffic).
Posts: 9124 | Location: PA, USA | Registered: 06-05-02
Gee I am beside myself with tension on who it could possibly be.
I am of two minds on the matter (More like four minds, but we will not go down that road today)
1. They are actually more than one person using the computer
2. They are actually more than one person using the body.
In the first case there is nothing more to add, in the second case, we can define this even further:
1. This is a real case of Multiple personalities (which has been shown to be a real life mental health issue)
2. This is a person who finds emotional pleasure in playing a 'game' thinking that they are getting one up man-ship on a matter.
In the 1st case there is really no more to add, in the second case we have a few possibilities:
1. The person is unable or unwilling to act like an adult, and resorts to using multiple user-names to act out.
2. They honestly have different opinions on the same matter (signs of an irrational mind)
3. They are seeking emotional satisfaction by putting on aires.
Now I know for a fact that there have been a couple of people who have donned different user names to play games, cause problems and even play act a personality conflict between two 'people' when it was only them-self. They did not know that I knew but they soon messed up in the game, giving themselves away.
Why? Any of the above is possible, I think mostly because they did not have a real life.
On the up side, it could be a person who wants to not be seen for their name, but instead really want their thoughts to be seen (Which doesn't seem to fit int he discription you gave) Cheers
David
Posts: 3988 | Location: Leaving land, heading for the ocean | Registered: 06-03-02
Well, this has me somewhat confused. I thought it was against site rules to have other screen names?? When AP first opened, I had a question and I went to KK with it, asking him if I could post it under a different name because I didn't want you all knowing some things about me. (course now you all know my entire life story ) KK said that he'd post it as 'anonomous' for me because having different names was against the rules. He did it and I appreciated it. So HOW in the world could someone have different screen names???
Posts: 9085 | Location: The land of OZZZZZZZ | Registered: 06-04-02
Tsaeb, can I assume that you meant more forums than Answerpool? If this is the case, then Methos5000 and Puppy are correct. If not, the rules are being broken unbeknowest to KK. Hell, I'm so happy to be myself in A/P, everything you all read is the real me.Even when I joke and kid around, it's me. If anyone of A/P ever meets me face to face, there will be no doubt about who I am.
I'm with you, Johnny! Whatever I post, it's ME and I've signed my username to it! I know you've all seen my serious side and my humorous side - heck, I dunno - you might have even seen my "blonde" side...
It's possible but unlikely there'll be more than one user from this IP: My husband doesn't like Q&A sites; my son has his own sites; and my daughter thinks if Mom likes it, it must be gross!
Posts: 6323 | Location: LA (Lower Alabama) USA | Registered: 06-03-02
I'm strictly known as SeattleRon at any website. I really don't know why someone would use several diffrent names. Other than to get diffrent responses from people I guess. Only time I have a diffrent personality is when I"m drinkin,lol.
Posts: 2705 | Location: USA | Registered: 06-07-02
Good question Tsaeb! David seems to have addressed this issue from almost every angle. He did good.
Another possibility is another game i saw. That is, using aliases in an attempt to con people into believing that one really does have DID.(MPD) Imagine the attention and special, delicate treatment that would invoke, boy!
I feel sorry for these people, now. That they need to do this, is sad.
PS. I've been me all along, too. Good, bad and ugly.
[This message was edited by doriek on 08-27-03 at 06:13 PM.]
Tsaeb, it looks like I didn't effectively answer your question. From what I've seen, it appears that people who behave the way you described may have adopted a false sense of power; the power to confuse.
As adults, we don't have to allow anyone to confuse us, anymore.
[This message was edited by doriek on 08-28-03 at 02:17 AM.]
) KK said that he'd post it as 'anonomous' for me because having different names was against the rules. He did it and I appreciated it. 
