A real ID online, in many ways, is a

requirement

to wear a mask. I don't speak ill on real-name users, or condemn them all to this fate, but it is at minimum a challenge ALL will have to

face

in one form or another. We face it in the real world and when using real IDs online. It can even be faced once an alias gains in influence, so it doesn't goes away. Once upon a time there were two worlds, the real world and the online. Nowadays these two are becoming more and more integrated. I know there are good reasons to use a real ID, so please don't take this as a lashing on all who use their real name. There are certain urges as humans to fit in, not be rejected, to self-promote, and they can be so powerful they influence your actions, your words, and essentially self-censor your ability to be 'true'. When I say 'true' here I do not mean accurate, or True, I simply mean true to

you

. I'm of no naive ideals here -- I understand these patterns can help you survive, help you in your career, help you in your social status, but I ask, at what cost? Many real IDs online are living fake personas of their own making. The ones that are more aware of what is happening proclaim “

fake it until you make it