DvdThomas@aol.com (David Thomas), DbtgThomas@aol.com (Doubting
Thomas), and "Bob Hunt" are all the same person.  This person is
currently (May 96) using DvdThomas exclusively and apparently claims
that his real name is David Thomas.  However, the same claim was made
with "Bob Hunt," who later was revealed to be a pseudonym (in private
email, which will not be quoted here unless dthomas gives permission).

Until the issue is resolved, this person's material will be archived
under various directories in
http://www.almanac.bc.ca/cgi-bin/ftp.pl?people/nyms/dthomas .

Following is a message posted to the germanica-l mailing list by
dthomas, illustrating his views on nyms in general and his nyms in
particular.


Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 17:18:33 -0400
From: DvdThomas@aol.com
To: germanica-l@netcom.com
Subject: Re: *Nizkor Project on "Soap"

Ronald Schultz writes:

  Is it asking too much of people, when they post to this list serv, to
identify themselves?
   When you come up to any group to contribute to the conversation, I would
think it would be polite to introduce yourself.
   Am I being too critical?

Ronald D. Schultz
Walnut Creek, CA


*********

In my opinion it would depend on whether you mean identify by screen name,
real name, or name and address.  After participating in a couple of
discussion groups where the price of being outspoken was email harrassment,
and in one case having my computer hacked, my tolerance of pseudonyms has
risen considerably.  The Internet depends almost entirely on individual good
will and voluntary compliance to insure a controlled atmosphere, and both
those attributes are in short supply in a fair number of folks.  The only
things of importance to me in a message are (a) its content and (b) being
able to know that I am speaking to the same person the second time.  Beyond
that I have no problems in conversing with screen names.  The purpose of
discussion groups is to exchange ideas, not pedigrees.  I also completely
respect your right to your opinion and to express it civilly, as you have
just done.

Best regards,
David Thomas
Somewhere Near the Pacific Rim

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