You'd have to be just plain stupid if you thought you were anonymous on the Internet.
In answer to your question, I do talk to the people around me about what's bothering me - I just choose not to talk to those who are likely to repeat my story to anyone who will listen.
And hiding away solves everything. Maybe not for me, but certainly for everyone else involved. If people stop talking about it, it might just solve itself.
For those who really cared - they'd be a lot less concerned about me avoiding irc and more concerned about me avoiding them.
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