Real name versus pseudonym

[Des]

A sugggestion, Mr Ant - we're a friendly bunch and it always helps to use your real name.

[jackdaw version]

Boring.

[Des]

You were much nicer when you were just plain Jonathan.

...and it's 'Bowring' not Boring.

[jackdaw version]

You were much nicer when you were just plain Jonathan.

...and it's 'Bowring' not Boring.

Easy for you to say. Not always so easy to believe.

Maybe it is his real name. Who's to say?

I have always had a strict policy of being nice when the circumstances warrant, which is usually and hopefully the default — but when they are otherwise I'll say what I think. I think the insistence on real names is bollocks and have for a long, long time. IllegalCombatAnt is a rather cool name, although initially raised a little "is this a spammer?" hackle.

I think, if you don't mind terribly, that I'll look to others, rather than you, for lessons in niceness.

[Hugh Weldon]

I agree with Des on that one actually. I never used an alias when I joined here, I never even thought of it, rather childish I would have said if someone suggested I should. I do think a real name adds authority and credibility. Of course there may be professional or other good reasons for withholding, I understand that. But it's interesting to note the majority of regulars feel no need to hide behind pseudonyms and soubriquets.

[Des]

I think, if you don't mind terribly, that I'll look to others, rather than you, for lessons in niceness.

I think this calls for one of those exaggerated and rather camp 'Oooooooooooooooooh's!

[jackdaw version]

For those who forget, pseudonyms and stage names are common in the creative fields and had a particular heyday in the punk era. It is also common in the online world to use pseudonymous screen names. I've used various pseudonyms since punk times and feel absolutely no need to conform to this idea that one must have one "real" name and always use it. If that's the rule you want to follow for yourself, fine — but, honestly, bar a few professionals who have a public body of work to be judged by, I have no "real" idea who people are here. They are only apparent names, some might be the name they were born with and that appears in the phone book and is used by the government to identify them for tax purposes while others are just first names, nicknames, names with an initial, and so on. Beyond that, what does it mean that you're called Hugh Weldon or, say, Rob Hall? I don't know that that's your real name. It just looks like a normal name. Maybe you're really Fred Jones. Would it make any difference? I find it hard to see how the answer can be other than 'No!"

[jackdaw version]

I think, if you don't mind terribly, that I'll look to others, rather than you, for lessons in niceness.

I think this calls for one of those exaggerated and rather camp 'Oooooooooooooooooh's!

Perhaps you spent too much time camping at Womad.

[Des]

I think Ian A encourages fRoots forum members to use real names and it always seems friendlier to do so in my very 'umble opinion.

When I saw Dominic and Chris Potts at Womad at the weekend I was glad I didn't have to say 'how's it going, Cosmic Militant Thunderthighs' to either of them.

[IllegalCombatAnt]

Oh dear, I never meant to ruffle any feathers ;)

I always use a pseudonym on internet forums, as jv says, this is the internet... are there any real names on t'internet? How would we know?

I never use a hotmail account to sign up though, always a kosher one. If anyone doubts my motives feel free to PM me. But remember this is the internet.

Oh, by the way, I'm not looking for any posts I make here to carry any 'authority' or 'credibility'.

Back to my lurking.


Ant.

(add smilies to text wherever you feel appropriate ;) )

[jackdaw version]

I think Ian A encourages fRoots forum members to use real names and it always seems friendlier to do so in my very 'umble opinion.

When I saw Dominic and Chris Potts at Womad at the weekend I was glad I didn't have to say 'how's it going, Cosmic Militant Thunderthighs' to either of them.

It's one thing when Ian A. asks it right up front from the beginning in his own forum — but that rule was never enunciated by the guv'nor here.

I have no idea how the correlation between screen names and what one uses in real life goes. Lots of people use different nicknames, or even real names, under different situations or with different crowds.

And, Des, I gotta say there's a lot more to being friendly than using a real name. Something you might remember next time you feel whatever it is that causes you to post so many obnoxious bits of nonsense.

The ultimate irony is that I'm pretty sure it was from Des that I got the idea of changing names and locations!

[jackdaw version]

Oh dear, I never meant to ruffle any feathers ;)

Well, what would an ant know about feathers, anyway?

. . . . But remember this is the internet.

A realist! Who knows how it is!!! Unusual around here.

(add smilies to text wherever you feel appropriate ;) )

No, no, no! Smilies and emoticons are strictly verboten on SotWorld! Much, much, much worse than pseudonyms.

[kevin]

This topic is in danger of being hijacked from its original intention. If this whiff-whaff is to be continued can it be transferred to Forum Decorum where it belongs.

Thanks to IllegalCombatAnt for posting the vid.

[AndyM]

Cosmic Militant Thunderthighs - have you copyrighted that, Des, or can I use it on other sites ?

[Des]

Cosmic Militant Thunderthighs - have you copyrighted that, Des, or can I use it on other sites ?

Feel free, Andy. I used it a while back but now I'm older it's changed to FlatulentClimax.