Right,
So I've got this issue with so-called anonymity.
It seems to me like everyone around me is focusing on how to be as invisible as possible on the internet.
And it really doesn't feel right.
It feels as if it is totally coming from a fear-based perspective.
Yes I know your identity can be stolen.
Yes I know that there are people who are trying to steal stuff from you, whatever that may be.
Yes I know there are 'bad' people out there.
But you know what?
If someone REALLY wants to find something out about you, then I am sure they will.
Like REALLY.
It is so easy to get in touch with hackers and what not nowadays.
And no, I don't know this from experience.
I know this because I've witnessed it online.
I read a post on here yesterday that was talking about how we shouldn't use our real names on Steemit because what if our account gets huge and people will know how to find us and try and steal our money??
And you know what? It worked. It put me in a fear-based place for 10 minutes orso.
Really worrying about my name on here.
Because it is my real name.
Ashley.
Kalila.
You can type it into google and pretty much found out quite a lot about me.
I really got this bad feeling in my stomach about it.
This is what my thoughts looked like :
Shit, should I really have used my own name? Technically, someone could kidnap me and force me to give out my passwords to gain access to my account to take my precious Steem. Is that really going to happen? Does that happen? Will the government come after me for using another system to support myself?
BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA...
BULLSHIT.
Look, yes. It can all happen.
But I refuse to live in a space that is fear-based.
I will not give into the ideas that want to make me small, want to make me invisible and want to make me hide from the world.
I believe in openness, reality and authenticity.
I believe in baring our soul to the world, even in such a little thing as a username.
It has to be me. It has to represent me. Fully. Completely.
I believe in just being ourselves and owning whatever we bring out into the world.
And look, I fully understand that if you are posting about something which is taboo or illegal or whatever, that you might choose to an alias because you don't want your mother, boss, spouse, children, next door neighbour or whoever to find out the filth you write or the illegal shit you do in your basement.
But to me, it feels like in order for this system to fully work, we need to be fully open aswell.
And that starts with choosing a username.
So what's it going to be?
BIG love,
Ashley
ps. What do you think? What are your ideas about visibility online?
