Why would anyone privatize their account?

[clifbeliev]

No one uses their name; no one knows who owns the account unless one tells. I watch moves others make and it is disappointing where someone submits an IFT and I find it is private; Maybe the private accounts could have a special italic.

[IRQVET]

I never understood this either, maybe someone can chime in and explain why they do it.

[Scarfinger]

Is the privatized account the default setting? I don't remember anymore.

[Aitrus]

It's a setting for one's Fantasy account to keep it from public view.

As I recall, TSPKing instituted it because some people use their Fantasy account to test out theories, run real-time "What if?" scenarios, and some just didn't want other people either 1) blindly following the moves they made without doing their own research or being fully aware of how to handle their money (I fall into this camp) or 2) want to keep their personal business personal. Yes, it does sometimes mean that others won't benefit from following / watching a successful Fantasy Account player who hides his moves.

Keep in mind that the original purpose for the Fantasy account feature was to be a sort of competition, sort of like the TSPCalc Beer Bet is now. In the early days, trophies would be awarded for best performances, and they showed up on your bio and whenever you made a post. That stopped happening around decade ago, and the Fantasy account just sort of remained as an educational / experimental tool available for free.

MJ decided to keep the ability to make one's account private because he felt that there was more benefit than harm.