I think there is some technical reason why Art Thieme has trouble logging in. I seem to remember it being talked about before.

As others have said, it's a matter of personal choice whether you want to use your real name or a handle. As well as the benefits of being a member that others have mentioned, you can access the chatroom as a member, and if you want to, you can get involved in the yearly Secret Santa fun and games. I know I enjoy them anyway.

From a personal point of view, being a member gives me a nice warm fuzzy feeling of belonging. As far as privacy is concerned, I've been a member since the end of 2002, and in that time I have never felt that my privacy has been compromised in any way. The information I gave when I joined (only the basic required information) has never been abused. My handle is basically my name, with just the first letter of my surname.

A number of 'catters know who I am anyway. In fact, as well as the local ones I already knew, it has been always a delightful experience meeting visiting 'catters from other parts of Oz and other countries. I feel that I have a lot more friends all over the world now than I used to have. All in all, I can't see anything but benefits really.