Steve Shaw, you wanted to know about the "privacy reasons" that some of us have for using pen names. In my case, I often post info about concerts or festivals in my area. I go to some, but not all, of them. However, I know that if someone breaks into my home while I am at one (or worse at home instead of at one), the police and others will be smirking that I gave out information online that indicated I would be away at the time of the event. And just by posting this i hope that I have not made myself more vulnerable.