one word…shidduchim…shidduchim…shidduchim 🙂
no really, all kidding aside, its very easy for one’s words to get twisted around or misinterpreted. this is true of course with a face to face conversation, but even more true with posting comments that express your views. On blogs, media sites or news sites such as YWN, its very easy for someone to misunderstand your opinion, which could then come back to haunt you. Also, since most people remain anonymous on YWN, one feels more comfortable expressing his or her views. I don’t think anyone should take someone’s opinion less seriously just because they remain anonymous.
I’m not ashamed that I have the internet, that’s completely beside the point, I’m just concerned with the backlash of a person who can’t read between the lines.
For example, I post on Onlysimchas using my real name, when someone i know has a simcha. i have had situations where acquaintances come over to me and say, “oh, i saw you posted under so and so’s name, mazel tov” etc. This kind of situation is completely innocuous, and obviously OS allows klal yisroel to share in each other’s simchos in a very real way. On sites such as YWN however, where one expresses opinions as opposed to just saying “mazel tov”, posting under your own name can be tricky.