Anonymity

One problem I have always had with the Internet is learning when and where to share personal information. I grew up learning "netiquette" which were a series of simple rules to follow online so that you wouldn't harm others or be harmed yourself. Some of those rules, directed mostly at minors, were "Do not give out personal information," "Use a neutral username," and "Be skeptical of strangers." I'm almost certain that these saved me countless embarrassing or endangering moments in my childhood, but it also has sadly left me uneasy with the idea of sharing too much info about myself, even when it hinders my ability to form connections. 

As an example, I've gone on several really interesting trips to various places, and I've cataloged those memories in an Instagram account I use which is attached to my real identity and real-life associates. I would *like* to share some of these experiences on more sites like this, but the fear of linking my online presence to my meatspace person makes me too nervous. 

It's a shame, because I personally believe that the Internet is the only place you can easily connect with people who would really understand you without layers of real-life burdens one has to jump through, but it also provides only the most shallow form of connection. Anonymity is a great democratizing agent for making "friends", but it can't bring you some of the best parts of real life interactions, like sharing a drink over a game of pool, building something as a team project, or feeling someone else's heartbeat close to your own.

Ultimately, the risks of being known on the Internet are not as bad as they were when I was a kid, but there are still dangers, and having a forever archive of things you've said can always come back to haunt you. I don't know who I will be in 5 years, and so I feel like I owe my future self some peace of mind. 

Maybe it's irrational, maybe it's dumb, but I think I'll choose to stay anonymous- at least for now.