Comment by alex_young

This is why Real Names is such an evil idea.

Yes, I’m using a strong word. Evil actually means something in this context though.

Real Names is a way to lock your social behavior to your persona, and then to sell that data in real time to the highest bidder.

Forums such as this one allow me to use my real name if I want to, but because they don’t require this, they have no way of algorithmically associating Alex Young the person with alex_young the account.