I think tying a review to your google account is also good, because anonymity on the internet is generally used by people to say things they wouldn't say in the real world, often in harmful ways.
Also, the main reason I'd like to hide my name in reviews is to hide my identity from the business owners. Retaliation happens and sometimes prospective customers deserve to know about your bad experience
...huh? I think I am missing a subtlety here.
Just use your middle name or a slightly different spelling.
I did that when Yelp forced you to use a real name. Nobody wants to be themselves on the internet. Eww.
TBF, Yelp didn't force anyone to use a real name, they ask for a first and last name. You can change it anytime, no validation on reality. I just changed mine to Ycom Hnews. The only friction is a nag:
Yelp is all about real people, real reviews. You can change your name, but keep in mind that thousands of people come to Yelp to find your useful, funny and cool reviews. Changing your name may make it harder for them to find and benefit from your opinionated opinions.
Otherwise reviews are not "time stamped", unless you write something like "I went there on the 28th of April, and ...", there is nothing telling when you were there (if ever at all).
I don't remember when was the last time I used my real name on the Internet, apart from banking and job interviews. Maybe it was 2007? Why would anyone use their real name anywhere?
