Using a fake name (nick name) and the 8th commandment

[Paul_Edwards]

Is it ok, especially when encouraged as part of an establishment and sometimes even expected in some cases, to create for yourself a nick name and present yourself with that name? For example, with escorting (non-sexual and friendship only version obviously) you are encouraged to use a fake name so as to protect yourself from fraud or being stalked. Is this lying? Or is it on the contrary just a use of another second informal name which you have created for yourself to be used in certain occasions? This would of course I imagine be completely different to lying about your date of birth obviously which is 100% lying because we can’t change our date of birth, but due to names being more flexible would using a different rename be a sin in all cases?

In some cases, people even expect you to present a different name, whether it’s modeling or escorting and with a number of other things, so it’s not as if they were being deceived. Some people have a public name and a private name, the latter of which is on their birth certificate and the former which they present to the public or clients etc. What do people here think? Does this violate the 8th commandment? Or it it just having a formal and informal name?

 

[edward_george1]

I have a fake name on here. So do most people. It’s good to be anonymous sometimes.

Not a sin.

It seems that you struggle with scrupulosity. You shouldn’t ask these questions here, as it will only make it worse. Seek help offline.

Others would be well advised to pray for our friend and not to reply.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[Zaccheus]

Fake names and nicknames are not sins unless you’re using them for a sinful purpose, such as fraud.
In which case it’s the fraud that’s the sin. Not the name.