Okay, what sort of attacks from people I know am I supposed to be worried about?
Discussion
I can't do the homework for you. This is pointless, anyway. You're using your real name and are obviously overinvested in your position. I don't see it likely you are changing your mind.
Sounds like you don't actually have an argument.
I made a conscious choice to use my real name for the reasons stated above. But I have also been sharing my real beliefs with friends & family on facebook & elsewhere since I first joined. Hiding the real you at work or with friends is just making yourself a slave to the perceptions of others. Being valuable & refusing to hide attracts good people & allows you to shape your life in a way that serves you, rather than contorting yourself in ways that serve ideas & people you hate.
I still am off of twitter now, am mostly free of proprietary software (or at least working in that direction), I have a feeling I will be off of all centralized platforms in the next year or so & will be able to drag a lot of people with me. The goal is to be a sovereign individual, not some sort of shadow creature.
These are all great points on both sides imo. Enjoying the convo and it got me self-reflecting so here are my notes and stuff. Not about security btw
On the value of anonymity:
We all wear masks and hats. We take on identities and live those out in the world. You as a believer of freedom or bitcoin. You as a guy who wears his hat backwards.
Based on our environment, we also act and behave in different ways. We wear different ‘hats’ with our friends, with our family, with our co-workers. Kind of like a ven diagram we adapt to find commonality with others and that unique blend we define with each relationship + activity.
Personally I believe that everyone, even the people you think you hate the most has some center piece of the ven diagram that would be interesting to explore.
However, what if your circles never cross? You miss out on the opportunity to blend and learn. I think that’s where the beauty of play and putting on masks you wouldn’t ordinarily wear is so cool. It offers plasticity and creativity.
Children do this quite often. They play and put on different hats. They explore the world as firemen, avengers, mommy & daddy, etc. It’s an exercise in empathy and exploration of identity.
I think that experimentation offers something special that we get to participate in as cyber monkeys in this social network hivemind.
Throwing on and playing with identities. Experimentation free of the biological tribal hardwiring that would get you outcast and killed when we were hunters and gatherers. Stakes were much higher then, but our bodies and our hypothalamus still think it’s life or death.
Tldr: Play has value. Our biology hasn’t caught up to technology and that has consequences and for most people anonymity offers an opportunity to circumvent that bad wiring
I have no problem with anonymity. It is a very important freedom/option to have. Especially if you want unbiased answers from people in your tribe or in circles where you might not otherwise be welcome. I think being anonymous was one of the most important choices that Satoshi made, both for his own sake & for Bitcoin.
But I still don't think it's best for day to day life unless you're already so famous that no one would ever treat you normally otherwise.
Yea I can see that point of view.
I can 💯 see how anonymity can be a veil. Like you’re almost being dishonest with your inner-self if you rely on wearing the mask all the time.
On the flip, Satoshi is a wonderful example imo of being the change you wish to see in the world and understanding that sometimes that takes separation.
It sounds like for you, it is bravely stepping into the light with your identity.
I still wonder if there is room for other hats that could serve different purposes though? If you wear them for what they are…… just hats 🎩 🧢⛑️🪖
I think one can approach the world with both, if the self-awareness is there for the games they are playing; and it’s not just you playing tricks on yourself
Maybe there is more fulfillment and change invocation in courageously doing both?
sexual attacks
The sort of mental connection I'm looking for can't be faked. No one can pretend to understand the things I talk about well enough to actually engage & enjoy my company & enjoy a relationship with me with any of the depth I want of they don't really mean it. Meaningless sex is a complete waste of time & energy & is just a good way to wind up feeling empty & stupid.
Holy shit, you expressed my sentiments almost exactly