The Ethical Use Of 'Cadre Names'

[Popular Front of Judea]

I am aware of the history of cadre names, their use during periods of repression and as leftist tradition. I am curious if there are any ethical guidelines in their use. Is there any time when using a cadre name is inappropriate? Would changing yours with every organization you join, every split you are involved in be considered ethical?

I have enough experience to know that there certain individuals that are organizational bad news. Whatever their politics. I wouldn't join organizations they lead and I would seriously consider leaving if they became members. Continuously changing ones cadre name would I think be a means of evading a bad reputation -- conscious or not. (A less successful tactic now with the arrival of internet search engines. ;) )

What are your thoughts?

[SonofRage]

I didn't use a "cadre name" until I failed a background check. :)

It's hard to keep changing your name when organizing in the real world because people will know you and it would be confusing.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

[Devrim]

I have used the same one for years. Even members of my family use it.

Devrim

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Probably publishing under some sort of pseudonym is generally a good idea generally in the age of google.

Unfortunately, googling my legal name, the first result that's about me is a metapedia article about how I'm a violent degenerate communist.

[helot]

I use a pseudonym precisely because my real name is incredibly uncommon in this city. The only people with my surname is family and im the only one with this first name. Better to be safe than sorry ;)

[Taters]

What if one's name is so common it could qualify for a cadre name?

[Brutus]

What if one's name is so common it could qualify for a cadre name?

Choose a less common cadre name.

[Quail]

I use a pseudonym for most of my online stuff, although there are a fair few people (including my partner's family!) who have addressed mail to me using my pseudonym, and plenty more who don't seem to know my real name, although I always correct people IRL.

[bcbm]

i never have but i know a lot of people in anarchist circles who use different names when attended conferences, protests, etc.



Unfortunately, googling my legal name, the first result that's about me is a metapedia article about how I'm a violent degenerate communist.

trade you...

[sixdollarchampagne]

I think that in the US, at least, and certainly in any ultra-repressive country, cadre names are an extremely good idea, if not a necessity. About a year after I got out of college, in 1971, I discovered that the US government had a list of any and every public appeal, ad, petition, etc., that I had signed, in connection with the movement against the war in Vietnam. So here, in "the land of the free," the government that snoops is definitely keeping tabs on everyone that, they think, might be a problem for government.

[Popular Front of Judea]

Again not arguing against cadre names. Good reasons to keep your organizational life separate from your personal life. My question is about when and how often should you change your cadre name. When does it become deceptive?

[Devrim]

Again not arguing against cadre names. Good reasons to keep your organizational life separate from your personal life. My question is about when and how often should you change your cadre name. When does it become deceptive?

I haven't changed mine for years and years. I think I used a different name for signing articles when I worked in London back in the 80s, but it is a long time ago.

Devrim

[Devrim]

I think that in the US, at least, and certainly in any ultra-repressive country, cadre names are an extremely good idea, if not a necessity.

The US is not an 'ultra-repressive country'. It doesn't mean you shouldn't use cadre names there, but if you think it is ultra-repressive you are completely disconnected from reality.

Devrim

[Skyhilist]

I don't understand the thread title -- in what context could cadre names possibly be "unethical" (unless they involved some type of slur or stereotype)?

[Popular Front of Judea]

I don't understand the thread title -- in what context could cadre names possibly be "unethical" (unless they involved some type of slur or stereotype)?

Would seeking to evade accountability for ones actions by changing ones name -- given or cadre -- be considered ethical?

[Skyhilist]

Would seeking to evade accountability for ones actions by changing ones name -- given or cadre -- be considered ethical?

Accountability to who? If your fellow comrades then yes. But this seems like something that should be obvious and that no one should really have to question to begin with.

[blake 3:17]

It depends on circumstance. I've known a few scuzz balls who were abusive creeps who took advantage of secrecy around names.

In my political work I always use my real name -- the cops and state know where I live, can only guess how thick my CSIS file is. I've known a few people who got to see theirs -- OMG -- very thorough & totally half assed. One brother was shown pictures of demos he was in Europe in the 60s and this was the 90s and he was a wrecked alcoholic architect in North America-- like so what Secret Police!???

I only get upset by people using cadre/secret names for a) carrying out nasty anti-movement work and b) a few bizarre cowards. Had a few laughs at an old comarde's expense a while back -- dude's a professional academic marxist, been on the Left for 20 odd years, and was still using a weird pseudonym. If fascism coming down, he gonna be killed anyways.

[satire]

my "cadre" name has been the same for a while and while i use it for activist stuff its actually just a street name and there are plenty of people who know that name outside of activist circles
as a youngin growing up in the graffiti and drug scenes in a major city almost nobody used their real name i just kind of took it for granted and there are alot of people who use that name with me socially

not sure how effective it is a secrecy/security barrier nowadays
its just kinda become a part of who i am tho

[The Feral Underclass]

What if one's name is so common it could qualify for a cadre name?

Like mine!

[Hrafn]

To my knowledge, I've never encountered "cadre names" in Sweden. In the more militant milieus I've been in, names simply haven't been used when people can't be trusted, and temporary code names might be used during direct action, but that's it.

[Sea]

The US is not an 'ultra-repressive country'. It doesn't mean you shouldn't use cadre names there, but if you think it is ultra-repressive you are completely disconnected from reality.

DevrimHe never said it was.


edit: Tough I think it would behoove me to point out that America is by far the most ultra-repressive country in the world. The only difference here is that America deals most of its oppression abroad rather than against its own citizens.