i dont think it matters in reality who you are, if you use a real name or a screen name, an avatar or a picture of your mother in law, the person you are will be reflected in how you treat people in general. as to who you are and hiding your identity, that is personal preference, and there are many who choose to remain unidentified. my screenname is what it is, because that was something that i was tagged with back before there were a social network, heck for that matter before there was really an see more internet, or windows :). i have been using a computer online for most of the past 25 years, and i have seen many changes in the etiquette online. it really used to not matter, what your real name was or is, and for that matter, it really doesnt today, screen names or usernames have been a part of the internet for some period of time. its when those who have the bright idea to create multiple screen names with no accountability to the primary screenname, that things get out of hand.

yes linked is more of a business social environment, and nobody there has a problem with revealing who they are, or at least that is the way we perceive that to be. but can you be ensured that john johnson is really john johnson. no you cannot! that is still an assumed name or screen name, and we have no real faction in knowing anybody's true identity ever.

IMHO, if you choose to hide who you are, then you are doing that by choice and you have something to hide would be my belief. of course you get into the whole conflict with identity theft when you reveal too much information, and people (crooks by nature) tend to have more scams available to them, when a person uses their real name. but in general, you are who you are, and a screenname, or alias will not change that.

Regards,
DosDawg