Could you point to any irresponsibility in anything I've posted to date?
You, not that I've noticed, but others certainly.
And what would that do for people like "madmanchan"?
See his signature. I referred to him because I'm a little surprised and pleased that he seems happy to participate in plain sight.
What happens when someone doesn't agree with what you posted and tries to cause you problems in your "real life"? Has happened to me (not here) - there are some very nasty people out there, unfortunately.
Surely knowing their identity gives you more remedies than when you don't?
I believe that using real names would reduce trolling, outrageous statements and offensive language to some degree. However, I don't think making rules that can't be enforced is a good idea, and I can't see how such a rule could be enforced.
Other forums do enforce it, but I agree it has to be practical. Here, I'd start by making it very obvious in the registration that anonymity simply isn't allowed. Existing users - if there's one complaint against you and you've no ID, bang, you're gone for a week. Not sure about malicious complaints, but you can't make the perfect the enemy of doing what you can do.
When even someone as apparently thick-skinned as Schewe considers complaining about ad hominem stuff....
John