Joe, you volunteer not only your complete name, but many details about your life and personality. Sometimes I have the feeling that I know in advance what you think. That is of course your intention, to give Mudcat a kind of personal touch, and certainly earns you more respect than "infamy", as you well know. Nevertheless, I hope you never have to apply for a bank loan.

Those who really care should not be too sure that they cannot be distinguished from their namesakes. We all give additional clues. In my own case, I do not worry too much about being recognised by Mudcatters (very few are likely to know me), but I do not want my full name mentioned. It is a probably unwritten but self-evident matter of etiquette to respect such wishes.

Most Americans have their "middle initials" for easier identification. Google finds a couple of "Joe B. Offer"s etc. The site "howmanyofme.com" is definitely not reliable. Note that bank clerks and private eyes have more refined methods of searching - about LEA, I am not so sure ...