On 12/12/06, Puppy puppy@killerchihuahua.com wrote:
NSLE: I suggest you reconsider your position with this in mind - your name is almost certainly not NSLE or Chacor. I know my r/w name is not KillerChihuahua. The majority of Wikipedians and Wikipedia administrators do not contribute under their real names, and for good reason. The same logic which makes using a "handle" on Wikipedia in general a Good Idea also applies here.
No, it's hardly the same thing. Editors on wikipedia are not anonymous, they are pseudonymous. They build up a track record of contributions which can be checked by anyone and they earn the respect of the community with their work. I may not know the real name of a pseudonymous editor, but that is a pretty meaningless bit of information in Wikipedia-land compared to an editor's history and reputation. While no one is expecting complaints to come notarized with a copy of your passport, it is not unreasonable to weigh a complaint on the basis of the complainer's willingness to stand behind it and put their WP "reputation on the line", as Jimbo put it.