This isn't a guideline yet - more of an essay in progress.
There's a strong argument for using an identity here that corresponds to who you are in the real world. That might mean using your real name, or initials, or using a name that you're commonly known by.
Advantages
- Communities that run this way tend to be more civil and constructive.
- It makes it a little easier to spot a spammer when they turn up with a name that sounds like a spam bot (e.g. Burkhardtluke36 or Moneymarketrates22).
- Letting people know who you are means you might run into them in real life, one day.
"But I already chose a name..."
You can have your account renamed - just ask.
Personal name, not organization's name
Things get complicated if you use an organization's name. Is this the official word from the organization? Who authorized this?
Better to use a personal account and say on your profile what organization you work with.
This is not a policy
If you have a reason not to do this - no problem. This is not a requirement.
But please think about:
- Having a name that's fairly easy for a human to remember, and doesn't have a string of numbers in it.
- Putting some info about yourself on your profile.