I thought you had to use your real name when posting on USENET back in the day before spoofing.
No. What is this revisionist nonsense? Where the hell did you think the meme of "On the Internet, no one knows you're a dog" came from? Conventional wisdom was alias up, or maintain a well-known handle. Do not use or share personal info. Ever.
Once you hit rock-bottom, it's time to bring out the jackhammer.
First they came for the people who worry about slippery slopes. I didn't speak out because I don't worry about slippery slopes. And that's that.