Anonymous Or Not?

[TWAAP]

Are you vlogging anonymous?

So yes, why anonymous?

No, why not anonymous?


Greeting,

TwoWheelsAndAponytail

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I don't intentionally tell folk who I am, but also don't hide my face. No real reason to or not to, I'll never have "fans" to contend with as I am not that interesting lol, I vlog to be part of the community.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

hahahah, yeah, you let one follow you on his Guzzi!

 

[F4celess]

While I don't worry too much about my revealing my approximate location, I hide my face for obvious reasons. I also blur my numberplates sometimes.

 

[lupin]

Nobody's anonymous on the internet so why try.

 

[WheelyPerd]

I prefer anonymous.

A big factor to consider is that if you put something online, its there forever. Keep that in mind.

 

[R-Rated]

I agree with Lupin. Plus it adds a layer for me to remind myself that it is me who has to take responsibility for my actions. Something along these lines:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/512839

 

[burlyjack]

I use to try and stay anonymous, but then I realized it was pretty pointless. There's been multiple shots of my full bike, my tag, and familiar locations (favorite fuel stops, roads, etc.) Plus I started doing garage day videos. Kind of hard to hide your face in those .

I try not to really broadcast my name (my YT name has nothing to do with my real name) and I make it a point to leave my address hidden but other than that, I really don't care. I'm documenting things about my life lol. The only thing I get kind of weird about is showing my son's face.

 

[LoneWolfer]

I'm my biggest fan, so I don't bother with anonymity, hahahaha.

My name is right in my channel name and I have written books, published books for others, and made short/feature/documentary films so my name and face is out there and I want to promote my work.

 

[scooterwuf]

I prefer some level of being anonymous. If people want to find out who I am, it's out there, but I'd prefer to keep a level of privacy for my wife and home. Like it's been said before there are weird people out there, as well as trolls. Once people start hassling you as you, there's a level of exposer that you can't undo, especially if you have no idea who the people are who are berating, or troubling you.

Our vlog names are like our mask, giving us a secret identity. I like that.

- Wuf

 

[Dark Rider]

I got over it after a while. Was more work to hide than to not. 5mins on google and you can find out who any one is pretty quick. Soooooo......no point in hiding.

Also keeps you in check with the thought that people know who you are

 

[scooterwuf]

The nature of my full name makes it difficult to do a google search. If someone is motivated they could do it, but it's nice to have a level or privacy. It also works the other way. On FB and other networks I've thrown myself into political, social and race based discussions, many times with the worst kinds of trolls and haters one can imagine. I'd hate to have any of that spill over onto my motovlog.

- Wuf

 

[Elke0602]

This is a very interesting discussion.

A few days ago I got a message from a fellow Belgian motovlogger (I still have to get back to him, sorry bout that!) kind of warning me from the dangers of non-anonymous vlogging. I was pleasantly surprised, seeing people you don't know IRL actually care for your personal safety.

I don't cover plates, unless you're a cop or insurace agent, nobody is going to find out any personal information from that. I don't mind hiding my full name (although I did change my channel name to just my first name, I'll rebrand in the future) 'cause everything is linked to Facebook where people can see a little, but not too much.
And of course you can see I don't hide my face. I don't see the point in that as I also intend to make video's off the bike, and I don't want to be sitting there in a tshirt, sweat streaming down my face

I genuinely don't mind.
I just hit 20 subs. 5 of them are people that I know IRL. Rest of them are from across the world.
Someone comes to my house? They have 4 neighbours they have to pass before I call the cops
When time comes, I will take appropriate actions. Right now, I just enjoy

 

[SighBored]

I prefer to remain as anonymous as I can, even if I hit 100k subs, there won't be a "reveal" or what-not. The reason I choose to remain anonymous is because I'm a low profile person in real life, I don't need or want the "fame", I appreciate the support from those that view or sub to me, but I'm not in this to chase the fame-train. If I was, I'd be posting daily about anything regardless, and also jump on the viral wagon to get maximum reach. I agree that there can be creeps or haters on the Internet that try to stalk you, hence my preference. Even if I go for any events, I don't go around introducing myself as "TheSighBored" or pass around follow-me cards or etc. I just remain low key. Some have spotted me before, on the streets or at events, and I reward them with stickers (if I happen to have some), and then they will obviously finally know what I look like, though if they wanted to take a #selfie I would still request them to let me put my helmet back on for it. I don't just hand the stickers out randomly to anyone. Some have said putting a face to the name will boost your following, while some say being anonymous is cool, gives that mysterious feel about it. In my efforts to keep the anonymity, I separate my bike stuff from personal, I setup a FB page instead, and my Insta is only meant for bike stuff, nothing personal. Many have asked to do a reveal, and I have responded with "there's no need for me to do so", I don't see how showing my face helps in presenting the content I have.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[TriumfAnt]

I'd never post a video showing my house or even the street I live on. Apart from that, I don't blur my face or license plate on the rare occasions they appear on video.

 

[TWAAP]

I do blur my face and license plate! I know that you can't be anonymous on the internet...still I blur everything personal.

 

[WingManGT]

I don't care honestly. The only thing I don't want people to see is my home address and where I keep my bike. Other than that all is fine with me, even showing my license plate. Thousands of people see it locally everyday, why should it matter if people half way around the globe can see it .

 

[SighBored]

It's true that you cannot have 100% anonymity, but I'd still take as much as I get. Being anonymous is not just about not being known, keeping some of your personal details, like license/registration card, or home location, is good in case of people trying to steal your identity, as in identify fraud, not pretending to be you on YouTube and posing with your fans.. More like taking out loans or applying for stuff but using your details.

On the other hand, if you are a girl (important fact #1), and you have a pleasant looking face (important fact #2) with a decent body shape (important fact #3), I would say it's beneficial for you not to be anonymous, but of course have some common-sense to blur out personal ID/residential info. Why? Because in the motorcycling world, you're already a gem, and if you play your cards right in how you present yourself on the social media, you'll ride the express fame-train, plus get approached by companies wanting you to be ambassador for their products, event appearance, etc.

#truestory

 

[RiderInRed]

I'm doing anonymous on the videos. I don't show my face nor do I say my name. Can they find out where I live? Yeah. Can they even find who I am? Yeah there's that too. With a bit of searching, they'll find me alright. But I still prefer staying anonymous.

1. anything illegal happens that slips your radar and ends up in a video...
2. anything you say that pisses someone off. people here get stalk-y very very easily and the city is small.
3. it does add up to the vibe. I've met a few of my 'fans' and I'm not trying to avoid that, but it did keep them on the toes as to 'omg did I see you today on XX street? Was that you?' So yeah mysteriousness does go a long away apparently.

 

[Superballs]

Without removing some of my favorite (though not most watched) videos, I can't give myself real anonymity, not to mention my channel logo is my avatar here.

I do look quite a bit different though now as that picture is like 6 years old now. And I'm kind of not green.

I don't really want to be associated with my place of employ easily, as I may say things that they don't agree with. I also have my family to consider. I don't think I will ever show my face in my motovlog itself, and may end up separating my vlog from my other channel somehow.