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But for solution providers, such as myself, a RL connection makes sense. Still, even as Nobody Fugazi I cannot hide - so if I wanted to sneak around, I'd get an alt.

Some say that this has already happened. :-)

In my case, connecting my RL reputation and experience to SL works in my favor. So obviously I like that idea. On the flip side, not everyone needs that.

I do believe that businesses that are securing funds from investors should be run by people with RL names. That, however, doesn't mitigate risk - but it most certainly establishes reputation on the web. Some people don't care about reputation on the web. Smarter people do.

But does that mean that people need alts? Only if they want them. I think having an alt is kind of healthy in some ways. Some days, I literally don't want to be bogged down in IMs. Being able to escape that is nice. This gets into an ethics discussion, too.

My thinking on this is that if you don't have a RL name- your avatar is already an alt. You can get freaky on the poseballs, whatever floats your boat. You don't have to divulge ANYTHING. There is good in that.

Some like arguing augmentationist versus whatever. Doesn't matter to me. If you're happy so, be happy so. But if you want someone else's money - a RL name to associate with a RL rep really does build more faith.

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