Official thread

New Experiment: Optional Anonymity

Sales Savages,


We are making a significant change to the War Room. Starting today, you will (temporarily) have the option to post using your anonymous WR handle… or with your real name.


Let’s cover why we’re making this change, as well as offer some assurances to you:


First Off: We will NEVER expose your identity. Ever. Let me repeat. Nobody will EVER be able to tie your WR handle with your real name or professional profile. Ever. Don’t trip.


Okay, with that out of the way, let’s talk about this change.


For the past 2 years, the WR has been anonymous only. That’s led to some authentic, honest conversations you’d never see on LinkedIn, Twitter, or anywhere else.


However, we’ve also had a lot of Members DM us and say “Hey, I’m sharing all of this amazing knowledge in the War Room… it would be nice if I could use it to build my brand amongst the sales community as someone who actually knows wtf I’m talking about.”


Why would you want that?


  • Help you find a new job if VPs of Sales see that you’re really great at sales
  • Help you make money as a sales consultant/advisor to those in need
  • Connect with other Members to network, grow your career, meet up in person, etc.

As the economy has gotten shittier, we’ve gotten more and more requests to allow folks to OCCASIONALLY post with their real names.


Of course, you also want to maintain privacy/anonymity when discussing sensitive topics. How do we balance both of these things?


That’s why we’re launching this experiment. You now have the choice to post with your real name or your WR handle. The two are NOT connected in any way, so there’s literally no way for anybody to connect these two. Scout’s honor.


If you like the feature… we’ll keep it.

If you hate the feature… we’ll kill it.


All I ask is that you give us a couple weeks before rushing to judgment. Fair?


We’re not trying to fuck up the vibe of the WR. We’re just trying to help everyone through these tough times and create the best place on the internet to level up on sales.


We will create a thread in a couple weeks to gather feedback.

🏹 War Room
❤️ Bravado Community
37
TennisandSales
Politicker
32
Head Of Sales
hmmm ok so one of my first thoughts was "this will make it more likely for ppl to try and use WR to become and influencer" sounds like i was right haha.

this goes against why i personally like the WR.

I like the fact that you cant really "build your brand" here. i think it keeps it authentic, and real.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
26
🦊
Correct. Build a brand on LinkedIn. That's why it exists.
sahil
Notable Contributor
2
Deepak Chopra of Sales
LinkedIn is filled with fluffy bullshit advice. The WR has REALLY amazing knowledge on sales, contributed by people who should be getting paid $X,XXX / mo for their knowledge.

We're tryna figure out how to help people unlock that, given the economic climate.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
16
🦊
Correct. However, folks are comfortable here to speak from their soul b/c of the anonymity. What's to say WR won't turn into fluff from the people that want to "build a brand" while the ones that truly love Bravado and have consistently proven so disappear into the void because it's now LI 2.0?

I don't want to see this happen. ❤🦊
sahil
Notable Contributor
1
Deepak Chopra of Sales
100%! You will ALWAYS be able to post anonymously and your WR profile will NEVER be linked to your real identity.

Ever.
sahil
Notable Contributor
0
Deepak Chopra of Sales
And if you see fluff, send it directly to me. We would NEVER, EVER allow this to turn into LNKD 2.0.
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
3
Officer of ♥️
xx,xxx/mo***
RedLightning
Politicker
2
Mid-Market AE
@sahilIt's linked to our LI profiles and has our names attached on the backend....
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
I second this!
sahil
Notable Contributor
0
Deepak Chopra of Sales
LinkedIn doesn't have downvotes. WR does. We hope that will keep the fluffy bullshit away. If it doesn't, we'll fix it.

But the reason we want to help people is cuz everyone is trying to figure out how to get some side-hustles, find a job, etc. Economy is brutal. This is an attempt to help the community.

If you still hate it in 2 weeks or it decays the value of the WR, we'll revert it. Can you just give us 10 days?
braintank
Politicker
11
Enterprise Account Executive
How are you going to measure this @sahil ?
sahil
Notable Contributor
-2
Deepak Chopra of Sales
Great question... any suggestions?
braintank
Politicker
12
Enterprise Account Executive
It's your company bro...

I can't tell if you're being facetious or just put 0 thought into this.

Simplest thing is to see the # of anon vs public posts
sahil
Notable Contributor
-2
Deepak Chopra of Sales
Doesn't mean I'm omniscient. You all have a better pulse of the Community than I as an individual ever could.

I believe in the power of speak of with our Members to learn what to do next.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
6
War Room Community Manager
@braintank: Few ideas wrt tracking

- number of members who use the feature in the coming 2 weeks (comments/posts/polls / etc).

- users who post more often using their real profiles v/s their anonymous profiles

- new users comfort/engagement levels from their real profiles v/s anonymous profiles

- a feedback poll at the end of 2 weeks for everyone in the war room
CuriousFox
WR Officer
22
🦊
Also I appreciate you have talked to hundreds of members. Seems like the ones that have been here since launch were left out of the conversation.
braintank
Politicker
13
Enterprise Account Executive
I call BS
CuriousFox
WR Officer
9
🦊
By no means am I disgruntled. I am concerned. 💯
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
6
Rolling 20's all day
I’m halfway gruntled
Sunbunny31
Politicker
9
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I’m just confused. I don’t see hundreds of members in here routinely. And while there has been incredible content posted … what’s to stop someone from just reposting their content on LI under their real name? Sure you might dox your own self, but that would be a choice.

Are VPs really lurking on these forums looking for gold? I guess I hope so, that they are reading the room here. But many posters who have solid gold posts have also got personal posts, or have shared things they most likely won’t want connected to their real life person.

But if hundreds have asked for it…where are they?
CuriousFox
WR Officer
8
🦊
👀🍿
Mobi85
Politicker
6
Regional Sales Manager
I don't like any of this, the anonymity of this forum is what I enjoy.
LordOfWar
Tycoon
1
Blow it up
Oh I got asked, but my opinion didn't line up with what they wanted so it was ignored.
jefe
Arsonist
0
🍁
You got asked?

I've been away for a bit, came back, and was like WTF!?
braintank
Politicker
16
Enterprise Account Executive
Kill it
RealPatrickBateman
Politicker
11
🔪Amateur Butcher🔪
D.O.A.
coletrain
Politicker
5
Account Executive
With fire
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
🔥🔥🔥
CuriousFox
WR Officer
14
🦊
My concerns that I posted in a diff thread:

The whole point is to remain anonymous. Last thing I need are screenshots of shit. 😑

I'm having to look at "posting as" three or four times to be sure I don't out myself. I don't like the anxiety.

Thread: https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/changing-how-we-post-anon-vs-public
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I’m wondering if this is an android thing now. I see no options on the laptop, nor on the iPhone. And I can see who is upvoting and commenting. Interesting.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
I only see the butler thing saying someone upvoted my comment. I see who you are if you leave a comment. Hoping this gets fixed today.
sahil
Notable Contributor
1
Deepak Chopra of Sales
Totally. We need to fix the UI. That's annoying AF. Sorry @CuriousFoxand good feedback.

@lisa- see above. I agree with this.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
I see nothing wrong with people wanting to make themselves known, but put that toggle/option in the settings NOT on the comment or post.
This is my input if you are actually serious about it.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I can actually see where there may be interest by some if you wanted to have ONE post be from your "real" self and the rest be under your alias, so the comment level override technically makes sense.
I personally do not intend to use it, but I can see why that decision was made.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
11
🦊
Also why doesn't it show who upvoted me and which comment was upvoted?
CuriousFox
WR Officer
9
🦊
Now it shows what comment, but what's up this?
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
4
Sales Rep
This confused me also
Fenderbaum
Politicker
6
Retired Choirboy🪕
Yes, I prefer to know who gives me upvotes.
punishedlad
Tycoon
8
🧙‍♂️
Makes me feel like I have WR friends when I know who's upvoting 🥲
Nairobi
Politicker
6
AE
Omg I feel dumb... I have this but was literally reading "You got one" upvote your comment, so I thought someone created an account and called themselves "You got one" LMAO
CuriousFox
WR Officer
6
🦊
Is it a butler logo? Construction dude? Who cares? Bring back who upvoted us.
Nairobi
Politicker
2
AE
I thought it was some art thing, like a painter haha
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
The wrong thing became anonymous.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I've seen weirder user names, so that's not being dumb.
funcoupons
WR Officer
11
👑
Hahahahahahaha
Samsamoon
Opinionated
3
Associate
hello pretty baby
funcoupons
WR Officer
6
👑
hello my simp
Samsamoon
Opinionated
3
Associate
hello yes am always simp of most excellent queen
Samsamoon
Opinionated
3
Associate
Can make of dumb stop? I love war room!
braintank
Politicker
10
Enterprise Account Executive
Also, how do we know "we will NEVER expose your identity. Ever. Let me repeat. Nobody will EVER
be able to tie your WR handle with your real name or professional
profile. Ever. Don’t trip."

Right now using Bravado on my Android mobile device I'm unable to switch to posting anon.

That doesn't instill trust...
Samsamoon
Opinionated
4
Associate
It happen. I see happen of most excellent king beers coors of time first telephon use. I love war room!
sahil
Notable Contributor
-2
Deepak Chopra of Sales
@braintank - we can't recreate this bug. Our team is emailing you rn to ensure it's fixed for you.
braintank
Politicker
4
Enterprise Account Executive
Now when I post on mobile I don't see option to choose. Hopefully this is anon...
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Looking anon right now, if that eases your concern.
sahil
Notable Contributor
-3
Deepak Chopra of Sales
@lisa- that's a shitty bug. Fixing.
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
10
☕️
This was not the thesis of this community. Isn’t LinkedIn built for the personal brand junk that is so incredibly irritating?
CuriousFox
WR Officer
7
🦊
That's one of the many points I have made.
t1044
Valued Contributor
8
AE (Account Executive)
I'd DM you about it but that's only App enabled and you guys hate half the smart phone market
CuriousFox
WR Officer
9
🦊
👀🍿
ChickenWings
Opinionated
3
Tom Callahan's Son
DMs really do seem like the more organic way to go about this.

The control to move from anon to public stays firmly with those that decide to connect IRL.

The "brand" a select few have built here is obvious - and they did it purely with their contribution.

Could those that want to self-promote gain with a public profile? Sure...but that strays from a differentiated experience you've built here.
ADudeBeingAGuy
Politicker
5
Account Executive
Booooooo
ARRisLife
Politicker
5
Account Executive
IMHO - don't like the idea... this community is invaluable because of it's anonymity. Enabling this option is sure to promote the brand building aspect which is just cringe as hell and should be left to LinkedIn.

I totally understand the economic environment and the desire to try and help folks out while its a blood bath but that short sighted change will change this app forever.

With the messaging feature, folks can connect directly if they so choose right? I don't see any benefit to de-anonymizing this..
my 2cents


Blue_Turtle
Opinionated
0
sdr
It’s because he wants that LI money and fundamentally doesn’t understand why people signed up to warroom in the first place. It’s a bait and switch and will never lead to anything genuine, just attempted influencer bullshit just like we have on LinkedIn. It’s impossible to have it both ways.
Fenderbaum
Politicker
5
Retired Choirboy🪕
.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
7
🦊
😆🦐
Pachacuti
Politicker
4
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I relish my anonymity here. Wouldn’t want it any other way.
RedLightning
Politicker
4
Mid-Market AE
Is there anyway to untether our LI accounts?
braintank
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
@sahilhow do I revoke access?
RedLightning
Politicker
1
Mid-Market AE
Mine is unclickable as well
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
I don't even see that button.
RedLightning
Politicker
1
Mid-Market AE
It went away. But you can unlink your LI profile from "My Portfolio" @CuriousFox
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
4
Officer of ♥️
So I tried a post as a 'real person' and it went terribly, when I went back to comment on comments or like things it just stayed as my sadness lieutenant so i almost outed myself. Also the users on my post said they couldn't even see what I was, it also didn't reflect my LinkedIn correctly so it's like I have to copy and paste everything

I also didn't know what to talk about because once my name is attached to it why wouldn't I just go to linkedIn and talk about it? Where you know, actual recruiters, potential employers, my boss, etc, can see it, share it, slide in my DM's, which apparently is still only on the app

Not to shit on you but being honest
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Good observation.
Justatitle
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
I think I like this but will experiment and report back... I do like the transparency though
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
3
Officer of ♥️
so ur telling me I can't immediately pass judgement on you? darn.
TheQueenofDiamonds
Politicker
2
Account Executive
I am so conflicted to be honest.I mean I get the notion and hella respect it, but I am very confused on how would the two profiles can be disconnected.Any resources to see what others can see when I post with my "other" account?
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
They aren't.
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
Interested to see how it plays out…
J.J.McLure
Politicker
1
Owner at *redacted*
I want to see how this plays out. There are definitely times I would like to use my name or my company’s name, not for self promotion or for promoting the company. Actually it’s more the other way around so I could warn off other savages from jumping onto a sinking ship 😂
detectivegibbles
Politicker
0
Sales Director
Love it. Appreciate the update.
BmajoR
Arsonist
7
Account Executive
Then expose your identity and show your support.
detectivegibbles
Politicker
0
Sales Director
Make me 😘

Was speaking to the update as a whole. Indifferent on the feature.

The engagement will decide the fate.
salesboi22
Politicker
0
Head of Growth
I think it's cool, bugs make it scary, interested to see
SalesJesus29
Tycoon
0
Regional Sales Director
I see both sides of the coin here. I love how authentically everyone shows up for one another. My ask is why should that be any different if you have your name or some silly handle associated with it. You should ALWAYS be who you are.

I am all for having our names with it and my invitation is to keep the honest feedback and open sharing just as strong as it is now.
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
Because I can speak freely anonymously
SalesJesus29
Tycoon
-1
Regional Sales Director
Why can't you speak freely behind your name?
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
Why you posting anonymously?
0
Regional Sales Director
More than happy to post as me - the functionality wasn't up yesterday. I'm not trying to bash any thoughts - was simply having a conversation. That is what comes with authenticity and not hiding behind a username.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I know why I like to. If you see my work profile, you see where I work. Anything I post therefore can be tied back to my employer. In my posts here, I stand by what I say, but I do not want to speak for or represent my employer, the way that I do when I am on LI.
0
Regional Sales Director
I appreciate and respect your perspective @Sunbunny31As I said in my initial post, I see both sides of the coin in this argument. I do have faith that @sahiland team will do right by us. They were simply bringing this up as an experiment to see how they'd be able to provide more value to us. I see nothing wrong with that. If it doesn't work, that's ok - I don't see harm in trying.
braintank
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Similar to @Sunbunny31I stay anon b/c i've posted some disparaging and sensitive information about current and former employers. I couldn't do that if I was public.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
This was one of their "selling points" to get us to sign up actually.
0
Regional Sales Director
I get what you're saying. I've not had that experience at my place of work yet
BrianTracysLoveChild
Fire Starter
0
Account Manager
I like this!
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
0
Sr. Customer Success Manager
Jacky said it first ... but yeah, everyone roasted the idea ¬¬
sahil
Notable Contributor
-1
Deepak Chopra of Sales
Also, sorry we didn't post this BEFORE we launched the experiment. We fucked up. Won't happen again.
SADNES5
Politicker
-2
down voters are marketing spies
I like it. As long as people have the choice
56
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