Hey Scott,

I've been thinking about this issue recently. I currently fall somewhere in between as well. I use a pseudonym online but post pictures of myself, friends, and family without password protection. Also, discovering my true name is trivial to anyone with the interest to do so and moderate researching abilities.

I often consider stepping out in front of my thin facade of privacy. But then I wonder what the point would be. I'd still use the 'Sid Faiwu' pseudonym. I've been using it for almost 20 years now and I'm quite fond of it. Most of my friends and family already know me by that name as well.

Maybe I should take my privacy more seriously, especially considering the many controversial stances I take. Nah, I'm just not going to worry about it.

I started out with a pseudonym because my husband was deployed. Now I'm still with it because I've gotten to think it's my real name! I'm startled sometimes to hear my "other" name. ;-p I use my husband and children's first names - but no last name. I occasionally post pics of the boys - but only fully clothed. And I NEVER used to post pics of me...but since the extreme weight loss, I do put up a pic once in a great while. :-)

Considering the domain name, it's pretty easy for anyone to guess my identity, but a few years ago I decided that all personal data will stay behind the passworded site and any other public information goes out to the other site, the anonymous site, that's open. Really, only a few people know that other site is mine, and really, very few people could track it back to me.

The best thing I've found about the password protection on my personal site is that I have full viewing and tracking capabilities, so I know who's reading what, when and for how long. Call me a power-monger, but I kinda like it that way.

The longer I'm online, the more I tend to reveal. For years I only went by my pseudonym, but I figure that if I'm to make a career of writing eventually I'll be "out there" and how seriously can you take someone who calls themself Capt. Eucalyptus?

I have issues with the idea that prospective employers and other future relations generally do everything they can to find anything you've ever done on the Internet, which doesn't limit to even message board posts, or general comments on other people's web sites...needless to say, lately I'm very careful as to what I put online or leave online for just anyone to find.