I'm going to repeat a request that is posted from time to time about names on the board - yeah it's prompted by multiple posts from "anonymous" recently.
This is so far an open board - registration and log in are not required. It's a community resource sponsored by the HN club (I'm not a member) and we all benefit from having the board available. It's pretty much self-policing and the users set the tone of the discussion - generally that's worked well and is again this summer and fall.
It's helpful to get to know the participants in some manner and most do post with a name. There's no knowing if the name is the same as used day to day - I hope it is - but that's not required and not overly important. Choosing and sticking with a name is helpful in getting to know the regulars. It helps personalize the messages and gives us a "hook" or handle to remember you by.
The IP numbers are shown - that's done to discourage visitors from posting under different names from one day to the next, creating phony dialogues and in general it provides some accountability. It helps curb some of the abuses that can occur on an open board system.