At Least I Don't Deliberately Sign Up Needlessly, then Throw Away the Information, like Some People
So, I'm told by Mother I should change my email address to something more professional, such as my name, to help get a job. When I heard this, it struck me as so obvious that I was surprised that none of my job coaches nor social workers had ever suggested. Ironically, the reason that I don't use my real name in most emails is that Mother taught me never to give any personal information unless absolutely necessary, back when I first started using the Internet. However, in an era when all the Webpages use built-in contact protocols, and people throw out any messages from free email services as spam, I find that I don't actually send people email except for friendly communications and official things where they have to know my name anyway. Thus, I would have no need to keep a separate anonymous account and deal with it separately.
The more significant problem is the hassle of changing my one account. I would not be surprised if gmail would allow me to change my account name without losing any of my archives, as LJ apparently does. I wouldn't even bat an eyelid if they told me they'd forward my incoming messages addressed to the old name for long enough that all my contacts would get the picture. No, the significant problem is that I would have to go around and change my personal information for every single membership and account that I have ever set up with anyone. I have no way of cataloging what all of them may be. I'm sure I could get all the ones that I use regularly, but it would be a hassle, and I'd inevitably forget one that I haven't checked lately but that is important to me, and I might not have any way to access it again.