How are some people on RallyPoint without using their real names? How did they validate their service? What are they hiding from?

2015-11-10T08:19:39-05:00

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Nov 10 at 2015 8:22 AM

2015-11-10T08:22:03-05:00

Good question. Do you think they should they be removed from RP?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 10 at 2015 8:24 AM

2015-11-10T08:24:54-05:00

LTC Eric Coger - Do you have an example? Members are supposed to use their real name and a profile picture that easily identifies them. While the system isn't perfect, if you send me a few examples of this happening, we can take a look on the admin side.

Response by CPL Scott Krause made Nov 10 at 2015 8:26 AM

2015-11-10T08:26:12-05:00

If they are not using their real name, I would call them out, there is absolutely nothing to hide from on her we are all brothers and sisters.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 10 at 2015 8:32 AM

2015-11-10T08:32:57-05:00

That is a great question... After all, perception is everything until the truth is known...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 8:58 AM

2015-11-10T08:58:22-05:00

YEAH , that's a very good question ???

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 9:22 AM

2015-11-10T09:22:37-05:00

To Answer your question sir, from the perspective of someone who WOULD (or just isn't using this site and hasn't verified info because It's not serving much use) It's a little thing that InfoSec in the military goes nicely hand in hand with. Something that every soldier from E1 to 010 values in this country, and every leader uses to protect their subordinates:... Privacy.

Forums can turn ugly in a matter of keys pressed by any service member. When SGT so-&-so says something in response to CPT GI Joe, and the respond reflected in that conversation is inadvertently very hostile, with todays technology leaders that SGT transfers to in his career can go onto this site, look up his name, and instantly-INSTANTLY MIND YOU, SIR- he's got the equivalent of a public humiliation online and he can't go back on it. As a leader of soldiers in the United States Army, One value I hold higher than the rest is INTEGRITY. To go online for every soldier I lead, look up their rallypoint posts/comments and base any foundation of my impression on them would be underhanded and dishonest of me as a leader, and disrespectful of the prospect that they could actually serve a cause regardless of their outlook.

Also, genuine respect of other users on sites and forums, even among the military, can be a rare occasion. The stigmas being that if you are proud of something unless its the military as a whole, you're an egotist. You want an opinion on something, you're an indecisive hick. And if you want to complain, you're rank should be taken away from you. I once asked, on another Forum why the Army doesn't, unless it actually does have an employment option to support a particular job field, and the response I received from service members was so disrespectful and so hostile, that I wouldn't even dignify a forum of the same topic on this site if it also meant compromising my personal information, my Units location, and any other identifying information, I'd rather just not reveal who I am. We may be brothers and sisters in the Service, but that doesn't mean Big Brother won't pull a fast one on our records,

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 9:47 AM

2015-11-10T09:47:05-05:00

I would imagine people fear retaliation, and that fear is a real one.
I think that if you conduct yourself with professionalism and respect, you really don't have anything to worry about though.
Yes, that retaliation happens. It happened to me. Luckily for me, I have accumulated more than a few chips on my side of the table, and was willing to re-raise the pot. They folded.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 10 at 2015 10:09 AM

2015-11-10T10:09:09-05:00

I think it's just a RP setting. You have to "friend them" to see their name...

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Nov 10 at 2015 10:28 AM

2015-11-10T10:28:47-05:00

Some are afraid of retaliation because they are still in the Military. Those I can see as a reason not to use their full name or picture. But, they also have to maintain their Military Bearing and still respect the higher rank.
Others do not because they are afraid of being personally called out for being disrespectful or giving out bogus information. Those are the ones I pay little or no attention to. My feelings are if you do not have the guts to put your name and face on your profile, chances are you have no clue what you are talking about on here.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Nov 10 at 2015 11:28 AM

2015-11-10T11:28:43-05:00

Here is something of interest, A few days ago, someone posted a funny link and when I went to it, it took me to a certain website. In that web site, I found one of there members whom wrote back to me. Here is the picture and what that member wrote: Verbatim.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Laureano,I am a major general in USA Army from Washington DC but currently in Syria now for a peace keeping mission against the suicide bombers and the rebels,I am just here to make a friend,so where are you from and what is your occupation Sir?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: I replay back with very little information and never heard from him again.
What is a MG doing in such a site?, possible things, the image was hacked and the writer a scammer or hacker or what have you. But if you look at the image it would appear as an image gotten from RP.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 11:50 AM

2015-11-10T11:50:40-05:00

Just because you can't see their name as a user doesn't mean that when they created and verified their profile here they omitted anything. Choosing to be seen as "Servicemember" by other RallyPoint users is a privacy setting, and if you wonder what some individuals might be trying to hide from then something tells me you've never had the joy of experiencing a toxic leader.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 10 at 2015 2:59 PM

2015-11-10T14:59:13-05:00

My name is out there and imagine how many question its validity. #Famousname

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 7:03 PM

2015-11-12T19:03:02-05:00

Great question, LTC Eric Coger. They should not be using nicknames or pen names or whatever. We do generally allow an initial, such as E. Coger, but otherwise verified members should be using their actual names. I understand the privacy concerns. Folks need to understand that this is not Facebook.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made May 20 at 2016 11:59 AM

2016-05-20T11:59:19-04:00