Originally posted by KewpieTo some extent we are all here pretending to be someone else; none of us (very few at least) use their real names.
Must admit I don't think I've recently encountered anyone who was actively pretending to be something other than themselves. There were a few back in the day, though.
If you play against someone you believe it's a woman/girl you might underestimate him.
(That's why is only fair for a male to have female name to use nicknames such as Cramling or Chiburdanidze, or something.)
Sometimes it happens that someone's mother-in-law secretly sneaks in hes son-in-law computer, and then makes a commotion.
If a nerd takes a dyke-alike name it may scare off the chauvinistic pigs...
Complicated.
But drewnogal had in mind - I am sure - false personation in order to lower opponents' guard. That stinks all right.