Thank you Becky!
I like this idea. More work for the mods but there is some accountability in the postings.

Wesley

I've thrown this out there a few times: I have no objection to somebody using an alias for whatever reason, SO LONG AS THEY ARE CIVIL TO OTHER MEMBERS. I won't mention any names (or aliases), but in the past there have been many cases of anonymous users hiding behind their aliases while taking potshots at another RyPNer.

Another group to which I belong solves this by moderating every post before it goes up on the discussion board. We have less members than RyPN, and a lot less traffic, so it isn't too hard for one guy to cover this. We can't reasonably expect our mods to do it here, but it sure is a lot more pleasant to participate in those exchanges. Before any thread even starts to resemble a pissing contest, both members get a nice note telling them to play nice. They either do so, or they are never heard from again (maybe they then join RyPN or Train Orders ??)

Most public websites encourage people to NOT give out personal information including full names for security.

Sadly, this has been brought up multiple times here. There are those who have no problems giving their real names - and those who wish to remain somewhat anonymous. My wish is that everyone would get along, or at least be civil, and we wouldn't need to have these problems. But alas, here we are again.

As for me - a simple Google search from my username will do the trick.

Sometimes using an alias does well to separate you from your employer. I prefer to speak my mind, without my opinions turning into the view of my employer.

Well said, Big Jim, and all too true.

I've been a member of both RR groups for 22 years, and have never had any security issues because I use my real name. I HAVE made a lot of friends on both sites, and many good things have ended up in my mailbox or on my doorstep because of these friends. If I had to hazard a guess I think it's because I stand behind everything I post, admit it if I'm wrong, I can take care of myself, and I try to be respectful of other members when posting a differing opinion.

Like the man said, "Why can't we all just get along ??" Last time I checked, we were all supposedly on the same side.

I work for a Class I, and the testimony at the STB hearings in recent weeks should give a pretty good idea of the work environment we 'enjoy' even if you didn't know already.

Like any large corporations the railroads watch and track what their employees do online, and we've had cases where people have been disciplined or fired over social media posts that had nothing to do with work. I don't condone offensive posts or the beliefs behind them, but I don't think an employer should be able to harm an employee over something that happened off the clock and did not affect the employee's ability to perform in a productive manner, and while I like to think I don't write offensive stuff this is a can of worms I'd rather never open, hence my fake name.

Some people may also not want certain people from their past to find them or follow their current online activity simply by googling their name.

These reasons have nothing to do with one's interest in rail preservation.

This well sums it up. There are some of us true railroaders, who don’t just play in preservation. Myself, I would like to get into preservation a bit, I have a slight background in preservation, but quickly moved to the “real deal” when I saw what drama fests happen in preservation. My belief is that things should just RUN. They don’t have to be chromed out beautiful. It’s a machine. Do what it takes to make sure the job gets done, and SAFELY.

Hence why my friend in the UP steam program uses an outsider me to get the information out about what was going on inside the Hallowed Halls of UP in Cheyenne. He knows just how the foamers in this hobby will react if they were told the truth by someone on the inside of that place on how crap was being done.

Yes, I've often tried to explain to those who have no on the job railroading experience, that "real railroads" couldn't function if we fought all the time. We have to get along with people whom we don't like, or don't agree with, just so we can get ours jobs done and all go home at quiting time. It often happens that by the time somebody is fully vested in RR Retirement, he develops a bit of tolerance for others... or not.

Most of our anonymous members make worthwhile contributions and don't cause trouble. But most of our trolls-in-residence hide behind an alias. Apples and oranges.

I choice my User name because i am a fan of the Big Boy

I am a french canadian from Quebec a Quebecois named David i never work and never restored something related to the railroad... I'm just a fan.... I'm just want to write about what i like and maybe have a answer.....

That's make me a stranger because i never work or operate a locomotive???

Some peoples need to know how the world is

David Dion

Everybody's world is different though. People create a unique world for themselves as a result of individual perception.

It simply amazes me how many more of these literally off-topic threads continue to pop up. From politics to internet moral, we’ll all never entirely get along. This forum has gone down hill as arguments such as these have came about. Wasn’t a somewhat similar situation the reason “HotWater” was banned a fair amount of years ago? People like a certain few will continue posting rude or outlandish things whether they use their real name or not.

Just start a topic about Steamtown and you see the ugliness of the forum..... this and the Wasatch thing...

I like debate but serious when the politic and the justice cases start here wow i understand why someone said this forum has gone down..

David Dion

Let me see if I've got this right. If we insist on using real identities we will likely lose a few regular participants who work in the industry and are afraid that posting here in their name might get them in trouble with their employer.

Against that loss we'd probably eliminate 90-95% of the snarky, nasty postings now contributed by anonymous posters.

If that's correct I'd say the benefits FAR outweigh the losses.

Ross Rowland