Hell, even in the real world you have all this freedom. When I introduce myself as Swizec in real life, nobody questions anymore whether that's my legal real name or not.
A bit, but in real life if you walked up to your colleagues and said "hi, I'm throwaway347" they would say "Swizec, what are you talking about?".
And if you were in the Mall and bumped into two people you know, one of them could say "Gregor (or whoever), why is that person calling you Swizec?" and vice-versa, and your multiple identities would be known to both and no longer separate or as useful.
On the internet, you can come back to HN under another name, and ask for advice about your failing company finances, or your awkward personal relationship with your cofounder, and you don't need to trust the people here to keep your confidence because you haven't shared anything tied to your identity. IRL you need to pluck up the courage to share your problems with someone who a) you know enough to value their advice, and b) who didn't know them, and c) will now know them forever.
A bit, but in real life if you walked up to your colleagues and said "hi, I'm throwaway347" they would say "Swizec, what are you talking about?".
And if you were in the Mall and bumped into two people you know, one of them could say "Gregor (or whoever), why is that person calling you Swizec?" and vice-versa, and your multiple identities would be known to both and no longer separate or as useful.
On the internet, you can come back to HN under another name, and ask for advice about your failing company finances, or your awkward personal relationship with your cofounder, and you don't need to trust the people here to keep your confidence because you haven't shared anything tied to your identity. IRL you need to pluck up the courage to share your problems with someone who a) you know enough to value their advice, and b) who didn't know them, and c) will now know them forever.