For example, if a hobbyist has sensitive information he wants to share but fears that it may queer him with a provider who knows his TER handle.

By the same token, an alias could spare the feelings of someone who can be associated with the information by the persons TER name.

There is also the satirical application, which i use quite a bit.

You are correct that handles are used to often to bully and berate.  TER mods have the power to flip handles of people who go too far, but don't do so often enough, IMHO.

What's the purpose of letting people post as an alias? Seems like an easy way for people to be disruptive and manipulative without taking any responsibility.  If you got something to say, say it. If you wouldn't say it if other people know its you then don't post your message.

I have nothing important to add but I like having you read my ish.  

Sometimes I am afraid you will find out that I am a working girl and I will loose business if you see me complain about something, or sometimes I am bored and have nothing better to do than insert my psychosis and troll your posts.

Sometimes I am a looser Guy that wants to start annoying topics and fish for ignorant fools to reply, because after all, if I really gave a damn about you I would have posted with my handle.

Did I miss anything?

That authority rests with the mom-boss.

There is a private reviewers only board that guys can see and is supposed to be just for guys, but I am sure that info could get out.

But sensitive info or not, if someone accuses me of being a rapist or having a disease I should have every right to not only defend myself but know who my accuser is. Just because we know someone's ter handle doesn't mean we can find your phone number or address.  Many smart ter folks don't share their handle with providers so they don't feel pressured to give an inflated review.

I understand the sensitive info side, but would rather expose the accuser first. Typically when someone has to tie themselves with a post they will really think hard before saying something stupid or false. Not everyone, but it is easier to post something and not worry about consequences. There are only so many mods and I don't think they get paid for their time.

So how about this scenario. A hobbyist or provider has no reviews attached to his/her handle. The only difference between that poster and an alias is a little gold envelope. Does that mean your accuser/offender is a little gold envelope?

When you start posting with your REAL name and not an anonymous one, I will take your plight seriously.

Roger that?

I would rather see the aliases sacrificed than to have the kind of heavy moderation it would take to keep the General Board from being the romper room of TER.

Aliases have advantages, but so does hands-off policing. Pick one. You can't have both.

If posts that are mostly just personal attack posts done by aliases was routinely flipped may be we can have both as the non-aliased post would enjoy mostly hands-off policing, aliases could still be used, but only for the purposes they where intended but aliased attack posts would be greatly reduced as they would get flipped. Aliases are needed as some subjects that should be discussed are too personal for some without them. Alias attack posts need to be reigned in and flipping them may very well do it.

TER recently implemented aliases for reviews and PM's, so I guess they are here to stay.

I won't repeat all the reasons here. Check this out:

http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=216435&boardID=6

they also eliminated all but a couple of the acceptable reasons to use an alias. And, above all, if the flipping policy was enforced.

As it stands, the "literary license", devil's advocate and wannabe humorist etc. loopholes account for as much of the problem as anonymous personal attacks, without adding anything that couldn't be contributed from behind a regular TER handle, which after all is already an alias.

If you are a prolific contributor, the regular TER handle alone does not provide sufficient protection. At my regional board top posters got unwanted attentions. Now, a significant number of posts by hobbyists there are submitted under an alias.

Agreed that the ter handle name is an alias and one could theoretically have more than one computer and IP to have more than one ter acct. But that's a lot more trouble and effort than creating an alias or multiples from one acct.  I highly suspect that some providers are masquerading with aliases to manipulate some of the threads.

The current alias system lends itself to cyber bullying as well. Granted we're all adults but its still annoying dealing with some of the nonsense. Yes I know how to use the ignore feature.  So be it.

moderators can pull posts and moderate posters who abuse the alias (or non-alias) rules. This probably happens more than we are aware of, but seems like it still should be happening more.

Pure insult posts only occur to the extent that board moderators allow it to.