Moxie Marlinspike is not hiding behind an alias, and neither is Sherwin. I didn't sleuth his name from anywhere; it was public at least since last night, on Twitter. Presumably, the guy who starts a contest under an HN nick with his name in it and then emails numerous people from an address with his name in it is not trying to hide his identity.

Nobody is playing dumb with you. I'm not afraid to be wrong in a debate with you; I just haven't had the opportunity to be, yet.

Yes, my name is public. I don't really care about you mentioning it. What I care about is my name being mentioned in a way that implies my dishonesty which is all lawnchair_larry originally argued. His argument had two components: You're making a false accusation and it's more harmful because you're using my real name.

You chose to reassert that you believe your accusation is true without responding to the specific points raised and turn the focus of the discussion to the subsidiary point.

I am not making a false accusation. I understand that you believe I have, but we both know I don't agree with that. You and I also both know why I haven't delved into whatever specific points you think need delving-into.

You introduced your name into the discussion, presumably because you're confident enough to sign your name to your opinions and arguments, which is admirable. It is thus not a valid argument to suggest that acknowledging your (public) name is a malicious act. But the obvious invalidity of the argument clearly didn't stop 'lawnchair_larry from making it!

If it helps you any, you can peruse the rest of my comments on HN. Whenever it's reasonable, I try not to use nicks and handles; I call 'patio11 "Patrick", I call Paul Graham "Graham" (I don't know him in person), &c.

Have you noticed how, despite you repeatedly insinuating that I'm knowingly making false statements about you, I'm not huffing and puffing about it? That's because the huffing and puffing is dreadfully boring and teaches us nothing about anything whatsoever. I think we can all agree this nitpicky little subthread isn't teaching anything either, so I'll concede it to you and 'lawnchair_larry, and respond to you elsewhere on the substantial points.

Look, the fact is you're directly attaching Firstname Lastname to a derogatory claim, signed by a respected expert, to the permanent record of the searchable internet over something rather petty.

Is it worth dragging someone through the mud over? He said he didn't appreciate it, just edit it out. It's more important than "being right."