See your point (btw I liked the comment you posted about your gf; I feel the same way).
Okay then, there should be an option to mask your identity as anonymous, if you're not totally comfortable with a subject and post it like that. But those who would comment under their (real) name could get a higher priority for that given comment.
EDIT: an algorithm to verify identity (far from perfect and not necessarily for HN)
1) Give 1 person a verified account (linked to facebook) who the admins know personally.
2) Let that person invite her _facebook friends_ to the system.
... and so on
Okay then, there should be an option to mask your identity as anonymous, if you're not totally comfortable with a subject and post it like that. But those who would comment under their (real) name could get a higher priority for that given comment.
EDIT: an algorithm to verify identity (far from perfect and not necessarily for HN)
1) Give 1 person a verified account (linked to facebook) who the admins know personally. 2) Let that person invite her _facebook friends_ to the system. ... and so on