Post: #26

(01-13-2014 04:30 AM)worldwidetraveler Wrote:  

(01-13-2014 02:30 AM)Afarang Wrote:  blogers usually have a "about me" page. the benefits of your real name is that people build trust more than having a "pen name". Also if you are selling them something, which a lot of blogs do, they are more inclined to buy if you have your real name with a picture.

This is the generally the case.

Also you need to get whois protection on your domian, to be truly anonymous.

I think you missed my point entirely.

The About Me page can have any name on it. People who read your About Me page won't really know if it is your pen name or real name.

I can get any picture of any man and put it up on the About Me page.

Someone coming to your page won't know who you are. They won't know your real name compared to a pen name and thus your credibility argument doesn't wash.

I see now. But if you did get a picture of a random person on your blog and said it was you, if your readers every found out, you would lose alot of fans and it could hurt you.

But giving the internet, I would always go Anon.

Post: #27

I started a blog recently, and my intentions are to remain anonymous.

I am a bit flexible with this though. I've told some of my friends and the guys I go out with about it.

I'm not sure if blogging will be something I will be doing extensively in the future, but for now I will be maintaining it. If anything it's a fun way for me to chronicle my experiences, mostly game but also lifestyle as well.

Post: #28

Depends largely on what you're writing about, and what your goals are.

If you're writing a blog with the goal of becoming an authority on a subject, obviously you should use your real name.

If it's a blog about RVF stuff (game, travel shenanigans etc) using your real name will expose you to unnecessary risks with no upside. Using your real name (or sharing your pen name with friends and family) will also affect the quality of your writing. Your 'real-life' relationships will factor into the hypothetical audience you have in mind as you write, and the result will be the watering down of your ideas.

If it's something in between - just a guess, a blog about making location-independent income through freelance writing - you will have greater trust/authenticity by doing it under your own name. On the other hand, it will be harder to leverage the (considerable) trust and goodwill you've built up as 'Beyond Borders,' while still maintaining separation between your real name and your RVF persona.

Can you break down your situation any more than you already have? What do you want to blog about? How much do you care about your name and reputation? What sort of career moves might be closed off to you in the future by the existence of an un-PC blog?

Edit: Feel free to PM if you don't want to go public. You could also hit up guys like Roosh, MikeCF, McQueen, Matt Forney, Dagonet, etc over private channels.

Post: #29

Thanks, Frost.

The writing/location independence is one tangent but not the only one. I've got a few ideas and am early on in brainstorming stage. P'med you.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #30

removed

Post: #31

Question guys. Is there a way to register a domain that is totally anonymous? I know that you can register for privacy, etc. But I imagine with sufficient desire/resources that can still be hacked by folks like anonymous. Maybe fake name and gift card payments? Just curious what your thoughts are.

Also, I don't know a lot about ip addresses but you would need to use a VPN, right?

I'd like to maybe operate an anonymous blog - mainly grabbing article off the internet that fit the blog, but have zero interest of being detected.

Thanks!

Post: #32

There's a certain feeling of freedom that comes with voicing your opinions and using your real name. And if you like attention, you'll be the one to get it (not the alias).

But there's also a lot of bullshit that can happen if you write anything remotely controversial. Strangers will come after you with frothing mouths. There are so many people out in internet land who really truly don't have anything better to do. Who would rather stalk you and try to ruin your name because they disagree with you or don't like your face or for no reason at all. And they've never so much as met you.

You have to be careful because even if you think being forthright and out in the open is a virtue, to your detractors and enemies it's a weakness that they can exploit to besmirch you, hurt your business, etc.

I guess it's nice to be able to say "I have nothing to hide". But at the end of the day, it's just a quaint and vain pat on the back you give yourself. "I'm so honest, blah blah blah." It's better to remain anonymous when it benefits you and let it all hang out when it benefits you. It really all depends on the situation.

Post: #33

Made the mistake of showing my friends my blog. Now they keep giving me suggestions for blog posts. Thinking of deleting it and restarting from scratch. I use another blog I run to drive traffic to it, so changing it around doesn't matter.

The biggest problem is the lack of upside in being red-pill/controversial. Thinking of making it more humorous and less childish ranting.

Post: #34

I woudl say most blogs never really reach the popularity and reach to where anyone even cares to find out who you are.

That said as far as steps to take, obvoiusly buy your domain and hosting from companies who offer private registration so nothing comes back to you. Realize that anytime you post pics you take it gives much more info than most people think as far as location the pic was taken for people who really know how to look for stuff.

I think the thing most people wouldn't think of is if you ever email back and forth with your readers or trolls thats probably where your most vulnerable.

Post: #35

Depends on the topic. If it's controversial, then anonymity is the way to go.

One of the reasons I use my real name (my blogs are not controversial) is because the blogs I'm working on currently have been started with a very long term view in mind. If it goes the way I have planned it to be, then the ultimate aim will be to start one with my name with the hope that I will be a tad more popular by then. I would really love the independence of a self named blog which gets massive traffic. It's like you can blog about your lifestyle, your philosophy, or just about anything. But it'll take work to get there.

The second benefit of using my name is because I'm planning on launching two books by next year. I just feel it'll be more of a success amongst my readers if they already know who I am.

Another point is that when you use e-mail marketing (which you will have to at some point), you'll anyway have to give out your address. You can use a PO box no. too but ultimately the point is that it's tough to remain absolutely anonymous.

And I think unless really necessary, one should avoid anonymity, as it can be a perpetual pain in the ass to deal with. It also may prevent you from fully expressing yourself which may come across as being unauthentic to your readers.

Post: #36

(04-27-2014 03:28 PM)testos111 Wrote:  Depends on the topic. If it's controversial, then anonymity is the way to go.

One of the reasons I use my real name (my blogs are not controversial) is because the blogs I'm working on currently have been started with a very long term view in mind. If it goes the way I have planned it to be, then the ultimate aim will be to start one with my name with the hope that I will be a tad more popular by then. I would really love the independence of a self named blog which gets massive traffic. It's like you can blog about your lifestyle, your philosophy, or just about anything. But it'll take work to get there.

The second benefit of using my name is because I'm planning on launching two books by next year. I just feel it'll be more of a success amongst my readers if they already know who I am.

Another point is that when you use e-mail marketing (which you will have to at some point), you'll anyway have to give out your address. You can use a PO box no. too but ultimately the point is that it's tough to remain absolutely anonymous.

And I think unless really necessary, one should avoid anonymity, as it can be a perpetual pain in the ass to deal with. It also may prevent you from fully expressing yourself which may come across as being unauthentic to your readers.

You bring up some good points, assuming the blog is about business or something other than gaming it's fairly easy to parlay a blog into consulting gigs if you've shown yourself to be knowledgable and an expert in a particular field be it SEO, advertising, ecommerce, etc. If you get a readership and establish yourself as a knowledgable expert in a field a blog can land you consulting gigs and maybe even business partnerships in other ways as well.

Post: #37

I wanted to give this thread a bump as it's something I've thought about for years. A "Plan B" for making money.

Post: #38

I am one of those neoreactionaries so literally every thought in my head is deemed to be extremely offensive. I write my blog for the sake of practicing writing, offering a different point of view, as a hobby. I do not write to make money. In fact, virtually none of the neoreactionaries get enough traffic to make money except for Mencius Moldbug's blog Unqualified Reservations (which he doesnt write much anymore).

There is literally no point to coming out and using my real name. Now if there were potential to make money writing about this sort of stuff, then it would be something to consider. Otherwise the ramifications in our politically correct society and way too great.

Post: #39

Like someone people have posted already, I believe that the upsides of not being anonymous is that you can use your name and image to create a brand. This gives credibility and people somehow feel attracted to it, take Victor, MikeCF, Roosh as examples.

However I think that if you are not really selling an actual product or you don't want to create and market a brand out of yourself then there isn't really a point on doing it.

My thoughts.

Post: #40

Did anyone answer SamSamSam's question?

Anonymous hosting? Anonymous buying and selling of e books

WIA

Post: #41

(12-22-2015 08:38 AM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  Did anyone answer SamSamSam's question?

Anonymous hosting? Anonymous buying and selling of e books

WIA

bump

(04-26-2014 12:18 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  Question guys. Is there a way to register a domain that is totally anonymous? I know that you can register for privacy, etc. But I imagine with sufficient desire/resources that can still be hacked by folks like anonymous. Maybe fake name and gift card payments? Just curious what your thoughts are.

Also, I don't know a lot about ip addresses but you would need to use a VPN, right?

I'd like to maybe operate an anonymous blog - mainly grabbing article off the internet that fit the blog, but have zero interest of being detected.

Thanks!

Post: #42

(12-25-2015 05:07 PM)redbeard Wrote:  

(12-22-2015 08:38 AM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  Did anyone answer SamSamSam's question?

Anonymous hosting? Anonymous buying and selling of e books

WIA

bump

(04-26-2014 12:18 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  Question guys. Is there a way to register a domain that is totally anonymous? I know that you can register for privacy, etc. But I imagine with sufficient desire/resources that can still be hacked by folks like anonymous. Maybe fake name and gift card payments? Just curious what your thoughts are.

Also, I don't know a lot about ip addresses but you would need to use a VPN, right?

I'd like to maybe operate an anonymous blog - mainly grabbing article off the internet that fit the blog, but have zero interest of being detected.

Thanks!

As someone who works IT for a company that works closely with the government, there will never be total anonymity. Just food for thought.

Best bet would be a fake name - most domain registrars don't give a damn about your name, simply that the name on your credit card billing statement matches your given name and address.

I'd say a fake name with a fake PayPal email would mostly suffice. Of course you'd still have to fund it in one way or another that would eventually have to be your real name. But I'd be more inclined to trust PayPal's security more than a domain registrar's.

I put my face out on my blog recently and I just decided that I was tired of thinking about trying to cover my tracks. I don't give a damn about family/friends opinions and I'm leaving the full-time career path behind in March - I just decided I didn't care. I figure if it ever gets to the point where somebody wants to truly cause damage to my life, I'll be big enough and have the money to fight back.

And my blog definitely does not fall under the 'clean cut' topic category

Post: #43

(12-25-2015 06:31 PM)TroubleMaker Wrote:  As someone who works IT for a company that works closely with the government, there will never be total anonymity. Just food for thought.

Best bet would be a fake name - most domain registrars don't give a damn about your name, simply that the name on your credit card billing statement matches your given name and address.

I'd say a fake name with a fake PayPal email would mostly suffice. Of course you'd still have to fund it in one way or another that would eventually have to be your real name. But I'd be more inclined to trust PayPal's security more than a domain registrar's.

I put my face out on my blog recently and I just decided that I was tired of thinking about trying to cover my tracks. I don't give a damn about family/friends opinions and I'm leaving the full-time career path behind in March - I just decided I didn't care. I figure if it ever gets to the point where somebody wants to truly cause damage to my life, I'll be big enough and have the money to fight back.

And my blog definitely does not fall under the 'clean cut' topic category

Good info.

I'm also getting ready to launch a new blog under my real name. I've run a couple of anonymous blogs over the years, but this time around I want to own and control my own brand (me) for marketing, and even potential employment/business opportunities. I plan on publishing several books under my real name, so it will be beneficial to establish myself as something of an authority figure.

That being said, I am a tad bit worried about the importance of self-censorship. My writing is somewhat red pill (though not specifically about game), but I never try to be super inflammatory. I'll just have to be careful and accept that there is always a certain degree of risk anytime you don't share the same views as the sheep.