Should I just abandon this online identity and start over?

Submitted ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨diaphragmwp@discuss.tchncs.de⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

This nickname, with quite a bit of gymnastics, can be traced back to some really horrible things I did as an 8 to 13 year old with an internet connection. That, as well as a vkontakte (yes, really) account complete with a full “voluntary” doxx. Probably shouldn’t have mentioned that but oh well.

Oh, and also a few occasional identity leaks here and there, most recent one being last year out of peer pressure in an organization that literally lied to me about deleting my data.

Now, should I just genuinely start over? Maybe have a separate name for IRL stuff and abandon online friends. But people might recognize the slang I use, and my setup from screenshots… And how will I ever live without the specific 6 person IRC chatrooms now… And the very specific targeted shitposts I made over the years… AAAAAAAAA Or maybe just embrace it and become a public figure under my real name. Somehow…

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slazer2au@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
With how off the rails this went, perhaps an identity per platform might be in order.

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- diaphragmwp@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  It’s… already partially unintentionally true. One name for IRC and forums (plus stuff prompted by said forums), one for a browser game or two, and this one for everything else. Although are you suggesting I should literally use a random nickname generator for each service? What if I want to cross reference something across them? Also, would imagine multitasking being one hell of a pain. I mean, I can spawn multiple Tor Browser instances and stuff, but then have to make sure I am doing the intended thing in each one. I am a bit of a “social chameleon” and I am already struggling with just using only the correct inside jokes with someone…
  
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southsamurai@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
If you can’t moderately well ensilo your online identity, then definitely nuke them regularly.

I’m lucky with this name that I’m not the only person using it across the entire internet. It obfuscates me more than it might otherwise. But you gotta protect yo neck. If you’re gong to us the same name a lot, don’t provide identifying info.

Be vague, or outright lie about things that would place your location and real identity. Otherwise, burn it

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neidu3@sh.itjust.works ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
My knee-jerk reaction is “yes”, but keep in mind that any new identity assumed, while within the same circumstances, can be linked to your old one.

If you want to shed your old identity, then do so. But assume a temporary one, and once you jump platform, ISP, and other identifying factors, take on a “clean” username.

Source: I’d be in prison if I hadn’t. Multiple times.

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susi7802@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
The internet never forgets and it’s an illusion that some secret service or police force won’t be able to connect you to your past posts. AI is going to make this so much easier (scan for styles, date stamps, regular speling errors…). So sure, make a reset of your accounts, but more importantly, be careful what you post, and don’t travel to Russia if you said something mildly negative about Putin in a post five years ago.

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- diaphragmwp@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  Men, I can talk shit about Putin all I want, everyone knows I’m Ukrainian anyway.
  
  Although good point. I am not sure what meaning to derive from that. This specific nickname I am using right now was followed by a partial burn and partial renaming of accounts since I wasn’t this paranoid (or more like aware) back then. Would this “meh, they can still find you” mean “don’t bother” or…?
  
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