Good read Mike! I don't post by my real name but if this was my profession then there would be no doubt it is the only way to go. As it is I first picked a nickname back when xbox live came out. I'm not really busy on the forums and Autogeek is the first one that I frequent.
So anyway when Xbox Live came out they requested you create a "Gamertag". Now therre were a couple reasons not to use my own name on there. The first of which there are some real suspect characters! Better safe then sorry!
A little bit of risk and absolutely no reward (for my situation at the time) Anyway, I just decided to use a name that some guys that I worked with in my youth had given me and the rest was history. After reading your article and thinking about it I suppose on this particular forum there isn't any reason I shouldn't have used my real first name but as you made reference to I am leary of putting myself out there unless there is a reason.
As always-Thanks for the read!
C