Quote Originally Posted by Curlin View Post
And if you're looking for work, some employers wouldn't look too favorably upon a potential employee being a racing fan, thinking that it could mean the applicant has a gambling problem. I prefer the anonymity myself.

In the IRC chat days, one crazy man found out my name and address, put it into the chat room, then called me on the phone and threatened me. I don't need an instant replay of that event.
People most certainty are crazy. And there are posters on this forum that I know research others' habits and lives frequently, with a lot of results. Using real names would only make it a lot creepy-er and more awkward/potentially unsafe for everyone involved.