The privacy argument has no weight, and pointing that out is met with a hilarious amount of hostility.

Like I said, not trying to cause trouble.  Just curious, in a perfectly innocent, not-an-undercover-redstater kind of way.

right...and my real name is Mother Theresa.

the case that vague background information isn't enough to out someone.  I guarantee you that now that I've posted vague chatty stuff on C&J about my kids, pets, and gender, that if I said anything at all about what kind of work I do, or what I had studied in college that it would be extremely easy for my compatriots here to know precisely who I am.  Now that may not be a problem for some.  For others it may be a HUGE problem for a variety of reasons (job related for instance).  And for others, it may just make them feel less free to share information, get support or whatever else, if they're too worried about the outside DKos implications.  It should be an individual choice how much to share based on individual situations.  Persisting in implying it's never a big deal, or that those who choose not to share much are hiding something or being uncooperative is getting tiresome.