Do you try to keep your SDN identity anonymous?

[golfman]

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This is completely unimportant, but I was just curious. I was wondering how many of you out there try to keep your SDN identity anonymous? I've tried for the past little while, just because it's sort of fun being able to post stuff completely anonymously. I even reported slightly different Step 1 scores, and other data to try to keep it anonymous (yet still within the ballpark, for example, saying I got a 254 instead of 257 on Step 1).

My futile attempt at anonymity failed, as one of my classmates suspected it was me and dug into all of my old posts to confirm it was me. A part of Golfman died that day....

 

[Postal]

Yeah, I know how you feel. One of my friends knows who I am on sdn and it just isn't as fun anymore. Now if I want to post crazy stuff, I can't.

 

[PrideNeverDie]

all small details have been changed around a little incase some misc detectives look me up

 

[golfman]

all small details have been changed around a little incase some misc detectives look me up

Yeah, I tried that. The detective skills of my classmate (it was actually his wife who did the digging) were far superior than my pathetic attempt to mislead anyone trying to find my identity.

 

[PlayUltimate15]

I wouldn't mind if classmates found out who I am on SDN. I'm careful about what I post.

 

[HolySmokes]

My username and post history leaves little to the imagination. Whoops. That said, I try not to post anything I wouldn't want classmates finding out.

 

[Cinclus]

I'm far from anonymous. Several fellow interviewees, as well as admissions staff, picked me out at interview days; I didn't deny it was me. Good thing I behave myself on here.

 

[golfman]

I haven't said anything on SDN that I wouldn't want people to see. I just liked being anonymous. And, it's really no big deal. Just interesting to see what others have to say.

 

[Abby_Normal]

I think my classmates could probably figure out who I am, but I haven't posted anything here that I wouldn't post on our Facebook group/say to a group of them in person. I just prefer that non-classmates and others who have no reason to know me in person can't figure out who I am.

I would prefer to remain semi-anonymous on SDN, particularly as some of you may be future colleagues/interviewers/etc. However, I realize that's its more a gesture than anything else because from a quick Google search of my name, you'll learn where I went to undergrad, my concentration, and get a rough idea of my GPA (courtesy of my college posting the names/academic honors/thesis titles of each graduating class), my politics (staff columnist for my college's newspaper), and even bits and pieces of what I did in high school (courtesy of growing up in a small town in the age of online local newspapers).

 

[muhali3]

I'm pretty anonymous, only close friends know who I am. However, I have a few dumb posts from when I was a fresh new member that I prefer no one look at.

 

[amaprez]

all small details have been changed around a little incase some misc detectives look me up

too late. We've got you now Zyzz!

 

[tiedyeddog]

Pretty sure anyone who knows me at all could do very minimal digging and figure out who I was...

Eh.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I am uterly un anon. I can think of about four easy ways to identify me. Id estimate about one out of every ten interviewies that I meet at least suspects who I am.

 

[jtdMU2010]

If you post on SDN long enough I think it might be hard to remain anonymous. I could easily be picked out by some of my classmates and plus I list the school I go to on my signature and my name has my initials. I try not to post anything on here that I wouldn't say to someones face or out in the "real world." Not much of a point in anonymity...just don't post dumb stuff.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

If my classmates log on, it would definitely be very easy for them to figure out who I am.

 

[AM90]

I'm pretty anonymous and I like it. If anyone did find out who I was, all hell would not break loose. I haven't posted anything that would make me feel uncomfortable if anyone did find out.

 

[penguin24]

Better to keep things anonymous, way more latitude in the thoughts and opinions you can post if you don't have to worry about people knowing it was you. As long as the opinions are respectful though, I'm not talking about those people who start flame wars just to upset people.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Definitely not anonymous 😳 But I also don't have anything to be worried about someone seeing.

We actually had a grand rounds at my school a few months back. It was much more detailed, but essentially the point of his talk was that the Internet is just another public place these days, and you shouldn't post anything online that you would be ashamed of having come to light. Maybe you can stay anonymous if you're meticulously careful, but it's just not worth the risk. I guess that makes the Internet less fun in some ways than it was 10 years ago, but that's the way things are these days.

 

[docnotsopc]

I actually made a new account (this one) because last year my classmates figured out who I was and to be honest It kind of sucked. The years of posting ******* remarks, and saying negative things every once and a while came back to bite me in the ass. But oh well, what can you do

 

[mvenus929]

I don't actively try to stay anonymous. I am always a little shocked when people figure out who I am, though. I expect it from my classmates (my username kinda gives me away with minimal digging), but when people I don't know come up to me (as one did at a bar night), it's a little weird.

 

[AugustBurnsDan]

I have messed with the idea in the ast of remaining anonymous, but I gave it up because I rarely post anything too crazy. Heck, I even share a link to my facebook page in hopes of seeing who I'll be in school with next year.

 

[mauberley]

I don't advertise who I am, but I haven't taken great pains to hide, either. *shrug* Like others, I don't post anything I would have trouble owning up to in real life.

 

[tiedyeddog]

but when people I don't know come up to me (as one did at a bar night), it's a little weird.

wut?

 

[mvenus929]

wut?

Yeah, it was weird. One of the first years I had helped make a decision to come here last year found me and figured out who I was. I'm still trying to puzzle over how she made the association.

 

[Acoustic]

I wouldn't mind if classmates found out who I am on SDN. I'm careful about what I post.

I have an idea of who you are outside SDN. Mostly because of facebook 🙂 Agree, though, NBD

 

[tiedyeddog]

Yeah, it was weird. One of the first years I had helped make a decision to come here last year found me and figured out who I was. I'm still trying to puzzle over how she made the association.

haha, not gonna lie, seems somewhat stalkerish if it's not obvious who you are by your username.

 

[Kadava Reviva]

Although I keep anonymity here, I gave so many details about myself, that some Canadian military physicians could identify me. I can always deny.

 

[Kadava Reviva]

all small details have been changed around a little incase some misc detectives look me up

Remember: Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you.

 

[45408]

I've been identified plenty of times along the way - in college, med school interviews, med school, med school socials where I said on SDN I'd be there, never on residency interviews though, but I've long treated SDN as if people I know are reading it.

 

[docnotsopc]

I've been identified plenty of times along the way - in college, med school interviews, med school, med school socials where I said on SDN I'd be there, never on residency interviews though, but I've long treated SDN as if people I know are reading it.

i need to start doing this👍

Its just so hard not to flame someone for saying something stupid

 

[fiznat]

Same for me-- I tried to keep it somewhat anonymous, but some people at school put two and two together and figured it out. I guess I didn't cover my tracks very well haha.

I think it's been a good thing though. Since people know me, I think more about what I post and make sure I can stand behind it in "real life" if need be. Personally, I'd much rather know that I'm not anonymous than be surprised down the road when someone takes issue with something I said...

 

[DrYoda]

I try not to post too many specifics, but a few people irl do know who I am. If I felt too many people knew (or school admins) I'd simply burn this account and rise again as another.

 

[45408]

i need to start doing this👍

Its just so hard not to flame someone for saying something stupid

Well, you can still call someone out for saying/doing something really stupid. I still do periodically, usually when some pre-med starts getting sanctimonious about we should all be willing to do this job for $40K/year.

 

[mauberley]

Well, you can still call someone out for saying/doing something really stupid. I still do periodically, usually when some pre-med starts getting sanctimonious about we should all be willing to do this job for $40K/year.

Indeed.

$40k is too much.

*ducks*

 

[aSagacious]

But seriously, if they paid my med school tuition I'd work for $40k/yr.

(Completely not serious)

 

[gravitywave]

no one's called me out yet IRL, but honestly at this point i find it hard to believe that someone doesn't know who i am. the back of my hand isn't nearly as calloused now that i've figured that out.