Jim: it may well have been your comment; it was not something that struck sparks immediately but came bubbling up to the surface later, and I haven't gone searching for the original quote. Who said it doesn't seem relevant: unless perhaps he/she turned out to be the only person who feels that way? However, it stirred enough disquiet in me to suspect others felt the same way. I don't normally have any problem living with this pseudonym, it does provide a certain amount of light-hearted banter. But when faced directly with the question "why use a pseudonym?" I am left wondering if the real question is "what am I hiding". Nothing deliberate, honest....so why not use my given name?

Mistrust, dislike, lack of comfort, or whatever, that's still the question. I wonder if this is something that affects the "differentially young" more than others. Other than filmstars or newspaper/magazine columnists, in previous decades you were less likely to come up against people using other than their real names for honest purposes. I don't think that I met many deserters - but then I wouldn't know, would I?