New ID

Creating a new identity is a wierd concept for me as I feel a bit of a fraud in doing it. I know it's the done thing in the digital world but there is a part of me that thinks I don't need another name - not least because it means I have yet another set of login details to remember! After all, in the unlikely event that anyone reads this thing, I'm not afraid of them knowing my real name or challenging my point of view. Part of my scepticism is that I doubt that anyone is particularly interested in my point of view about anything anyway so publishing it feels a bit self-indulgent. This web name thing feels like it has most appeal to the fantasist - an escape mode for people who are disatisfied with their lot (looks, personality, past, etc) and provides an environment where they can be someone without fear of having to confront their hang ups. A web name is a bit anomalous in my mind - part of it is about sharing parts of ourselves, but part of it is about protecting ourselves and controlling what people think or know about us.

New name: I had a few ideas about this but went for biras03. Biras Creek is the most magical place on the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. It's where I spent my honeymoon and is one of the most stunning places on the planet with shoreline on both the Atlantic and Carribean Oceans. http://www.biras.com/ The lizard I have chosen is a gecko, which are found plentifully on Virgin Gorda so in keeping with my new name I have chosen one. Hopefully the content of this blog won't suggest reptilian tendencies in me.

Identity: As a society we have never been more obsessed with identity maybe because we feel that we are under scrutiny like never before. The 'brand literacy' of the man in the street has never been greater and extends beyond the traditional understanding of 'brand advertising'. Increasingly people see themselves as brands, the perception of whom is influenced by the clothes they wear, the phone they carry and where they live probably more than what they say or how they behave. But maybe it has always been like that, it's just that we're all more self obsessed and 'brand' aware.

It's also true to say that identity is something that it is to be fiercely protected. In a world of increasingly sophisticated fraud where identity theft is commonplace protecting your personal information has never been more important to us. The odd thing is that at the same time we're trying to protect ourselves, never has there been more information about us or our behaviour. Increasingly, we are being forced to accept that governments and organisations have access to the most personal information about us - biometric passports, fingerprinting at airports, oyster cards that could be used to monitor your travel habits, mobile phone signals that can track you down. It's all being sold to us a form of 'protection' but is it?