Do your students, parents, co-workers know that you post here? Has anyone ever found you out? Or challenged you about what you have written?

True! Obviously it is easier to trace people if they use their oen real name!

Amazingly I've discovered 3 other people with links to the same Arts Centre

I haven't been challenged yet

Only family I think, although I'd be easy enough to spot if one of my colleagues thought about it carefully.

Lots of people know my real name because of Forums events. But I don't publicise it. I was a bit alarmed when someone posted a few weeks ago who had links to both my external jobs, as I value the freedom to talk about things in a general way here that I really wouldn't want anyone to pin down to specifics. Made me realise that I valued my relative anonymity.

As quite a significant proportion of my work has arisen as a direct or indirect consequence of posting here, I think the vast majority of my pupils know I post here, and what my username is.

Nope, no one knows who i am on here (except those of you who i am friends with on Facebook)

I think you may have misinterpreted the question. The question was who, out of the people you know in real life, knows you're a member of the forums, rather than who on the forums knows who you are.

I think the only people who know I post here are my family and a couple of people I had to talk to about taking the handbells to Surrey.

Ooh. In which case, the same, no one i know personnaly knows i come on here.

No one, I think...

I'm always very conscious that someone I know could be on here...

i.e. a school music teacher, or just general music teacher.

So if someone plays the same instrument/s as them, or has the same qualification as them, I have a closer look at their posts.

Haven't come across anyone who could be yet...

That about sums it up for me as well. With the addition of various other people too...

No, no one knows I post here...
I hope none of my instrument teachers are on here, then they could read all my posts!

Good topic this, and a reminder that saying the wrong thing could come to bite you in the rear end at a later date

And some of us struggle not to call you katyjay in real life

One of my adult students reads the forum occasionally, though he mainly reads the Adult Learner's forum and I don't post as much rubbish there as I do everywhere else...

Great topic and reminds me why my rule is never say anything on a forum that you wouldn't say face to face.

I couldn't agree more.

Only one or two people know me, but this doesn't include any teachers that I work with at the music service. Good question!

Thank you!

It just got me thinking when one or two people are giving out details. I'm sure lots of posters have met and never realised!

Good point about never posting what you wouldnt not say face to face.

I think if some people saw my posts on here, it would be easy enough to find me, and my teachers would certainly recognise who I am, but they don't know I post here. My mum would know who I am on here, and one person from my school would know, as well as her Mum, who got stupidly funny over one post I made.

Jacob.

Very few know my "real" identity which suits me fine.

I have been accused via a third party of posting defamatory comments, however!! I'm sure any regular readers to these message boards can back me up that this has never been the case I am still extremely upset about it. The Bag may have many faults but that is most certainly not one of them

Baggle x

Blimey, I've been here since '05 (second ID), and I certainly can't recall you saying one single defamatory thing!

No indeed I have not! Thank you. I'd like to think my few posts are recalled for their sensible input and HUMOUR...!

B x

Mine just get recalled for generally being spam

Can't believe that! Poor Bag

I always think of you as being one of the most sensible people here.

Nor can I, and I've been here since '03

Really!!

I have always found you very supportive.

Maybe they didn't like our Charles Hazlewood ( ) comments! I've not seen anything defamatory, I have to say.

My students know I use a forum but they haven't been told my username. My family are not musical so they wouldn't look on here. My boss caught me on here during working hours a few times.

Good point about not saying things on here you wouldn't say face to face.

You are always very supportive Bag, yes : and I don't blame you being upset

Hope you feel better soon and whoever accused you realises their mistake!

A-very-pro-Bag-pianodub.