For a list of all Dramatic Identities, click on the title of this page.
A
DramaticIdentity is a temporary hat you put on when you assume the role of another (nonhuman) entity, allowing it to speak on the topic at hand. For example, the
ChryslerComprehensiveCompensation project has "spoken" at various times on Wiki, as have
SixThinkingHats. Think of a
DramaticIdentity as a role in a play: for a short time you might play the part of Eliza Doolittle or King Lear. Dramatic identities are best used sparingly.
Using a
DramaticIdentity is
not meant to be a way to maintain identity while remaining anonymous. That would be a pseudonym, the use of which is discouraged on the
WikiWikiWeb. To continue the play analogy, the audience should be able to learn your
RealName in the playbill. For this reason, please do not set your
UserName to a
DramaticIdentity.
Ward seldom chimes in, but on another page related to this topic he says:
-
- This site prefers no name whatsoever. But if you must sign, please sign with your own real name. Thank you. -- WardCunningham
Some guidelines:
Please use a
DramaticIdentity only in appropriate contexts. For example, L
inuxZealot might write "I don't want to use MS's products, but I must because it's mandated where I work" or "I'm happy to use
OpenSoftware, but even so it often suffers from X". Posts such as these help us to understand how a Linux enthusiast might think about a related topic. Conversely, using W
ikiGnome to take a position on the topic of legalizing drugs would make no sense (although someone once did just that.)
Please don't set your
UserName to a
DramaticIdentity. Who you are is different from the hat you're currently wearing. If you prefer to remain anonymous, don't sign; if you must sign to keep a
ThreadMode conversation intelligible, use
AnonymousDonor or
AnonymousOnPurpose. However, if you're relying constantly on anonymity or pseudonymity, consider looking for another wiki where you'd be more comfortable posting as yourself.
CategoryCategory
Category Dramatic Identity
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(last edited August 30, 2005)