# Ever unintentionally learn the meaning of another Doper's username? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 30, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178 "2007-01-30T22:12:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/1 "2007-01-30T22:12:30Z")
Today I was in an art history class and the term “Clair-Obscur” came up in a lecture about surrealism. I wondered where I had heard the phrase before and then remembered it’s the username of our French friend **clairobscur.** Up until then I’d had no idea that it was an art term, and just figured it was a witty nickname for someone named Claire (or St. Clair or something of the sort.) I was also reading the Wikipedia entry for the book Dune (I haven’t read the book but decided to look it up after aborting my viewing of David Lynch’s movie in boredom) and came across the name **Muad’Dib.** So _that’s_ where he got his name, I thought. I’m sure some other people here have had these moments. Do you remember any times where you’ve accidentally stumbled across the previously unknown meaning of a Doper’s username? ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/2 "2007-01-30T22:28:34Z")
Yes. While I myself haven’t read any yet, I have gradually become more aware of HP Lovecraft’s stories. There are a number of Dopers whose names I’ve recognized as I encounter references to Lovecraft… though at the moment the only one I can bring to the front of my brain of is **Sauron**. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/3 "2007-01-30T22:36:23Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] Yes. While I myself haven’t read any yet, I have gradually become more aware of HP Lovecraft’s stories. There are a number of Dopers whose names I’ve recognized as I encounter references to Lovecraft… though at the moment the only one I can bring to the front of my brain of is **Sauron**. [/QUOTE] Um…I think Sauron’s a reference to LOTR. Or possibly the X-Men. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/4 "2007-01-30T22:37:55Z")
Yep. Had a pal who was looking to get a tattoo of an owl and we were flipping through a book of owl pictures and _POW_ up jumped a gorgeous Snowy Owl picture, marked - **Nyctea Scandiaca**! I started to explain the significance to my non-Doper friend, but she ran out of interest pretty quick. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/5 "2007-01-30T22:39:55Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Um…I think Sauron’s a reference to LOTR. Or possibly the X-Men. [/QUOTE] If it’s from X-Men, I might be forced to giggle and point at him. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/6 "2007-01-30T23:16:41Z")
**C K Dexter Haven**. I thought that was his real name…until I re-watched a bunch of old classic movies. **Kwyjibo** I already knew about, but I’d bet that would surprise a lot of people, even die-hard Simpsons fans. [sub]I thought mine was cool when I joined way before his character’s name was known; now I think it’s kinda lame but I’m too lazy to change it.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/7 "2007-01-31T02:08:36Z")
My godson’s mother and I have a lively book exchange between the two of us. This past August she lent me Stephen King’s _Dark Tower_ series and I met **[Roland Deschain](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php)**. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/8 "2007-01-31T04:14:42Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Um…I think Sauron’s a reference to LOTR. Or possibly the X-Men. [/QUOTE] Crap. Sorry, **Sauron** for wrongly associating you. Well, SOMEONE here has a Lovecraftian name, I’m almost sure of it!! ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/9 "2007-01-31T04:45:30Z")
From reading _Illuminatus!_: **Hastur** From a sack of coffee with a hummingbird logo: **Colibri** ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/10 "2007-01-31T05:02:47Z")
While browsing through a collection of works by Lewis Carroll, I was surprised to find “ **Rilchiam** ” (a combination of “Richard” and “William”) in the introduction to _The Hunting of the Snark_. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/11 "2007-01-31T05:19:57Z")
There is a poster named **Sentient Meat**. I don’t know him/her but the second I read it I knew it was a nick from this story. I found a link to it online a miiiilllyun years ago and I really don’t think I’ve ever read anything else by this author (though I’ve heard of him) I adore this story. > **[SFF Net](http://www.sff.net/)** > > The ghost of SFF Net ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/12 "2007-01-31T05:34:15Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] From reading _Illuminatus!_: **Hastur** [/QUOTE] Hastur dates from way earlier than that book, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/13 "2007-01-31T05:38:25Z")
[QUOTE=Hunter Hawk] Hastur dates from way earlier than that book, BTW. [/QUOTE] Oh I know that, but Illuminatus was the first place I encountered it. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/14 "2007-01-31T13:15:37Z")
> [@](#): > > I adore this story. WOW! That is AWESOME! …And extremely well-written. I always thought "Sentient Meat’ referred to that scene in Sartre’s “Nausea” where rotting meat crawled across the sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/15 "2007-01-31T15:50:33Z")
**Sauron** - Is a reference to Lord of the Rings, he’s one of the bad guys. – IG ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/16 "2007-01-31T17:21:59Z")
[QUOTE=Nawth Chucka] Yep. Had a pal who was looking to get a tattoo of an owl and we were flipping through a book of owl pictures and _POW_ up jumped a gorgeous Snowy Owl picture, marked - **Nyctea Scandiaca**! I started to explain the significance to my non-Doper friend, but she ran out of interest pretty quick. [/QUOTE] The Snowy Owl is now classified as **Bubo scandiacus,** doesn’t sound nearly as nice as Nyctea Scandiaca. I wonder if a name change is in the works? ---
**Author:** ![InappropriateHumor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@InappropriateHumor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InappropriateHumor)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/17 "2007-01-31T17:44:05Z")
I believe that **Clothahump** was the name of wizard who happened to be a turtle in a series of books I read many years ago. But it was the wrong way about, i.e., I read the books then happened on the name here much later. I’m hoping Clothahump will come by and confirm or deny that his user name came from that book series. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/18 "2007-01-31T17:53:49Z")
Just the other day I saw the episode of Futurama (for the first time) with the **Hypno-Toad**. I wondered why the name stuck out to me, then I saw that poster’s name a few days later. FTR Matt Groening says in the commentary that it’s one of his absolute favorite characters on the show. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/19 "2007-01-31T18:03:27Z")
At one time, there was a poster here with the incredibly awesome name of **Filthy Beast of Meat and Hair**. I was mightily impressed that the owner could come up with that name on their own. Many months later, I heard the line uttered by Zim on an episode of **Invader Zim** (specifically, he says it to Tak in the episode, “Tak, The Hideous New Girl”). Somehow, that made it even _more_ awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178/20 "2007-01-31T18:14:48Z")
My husband finally bought season 8 of the Simpsons, and as I was puttering away on my computer here in the corner, I overheard Krusty in the Poochie episode: “Whatta ya got in mind? Sexy broad? **Gangster octopus**?” I glanced up, muttered to my husband that Gangster Octopus was a Doper name, then went back to my etchings. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-unintentionally-learn-the-meaning-of-another-dopers-username/390178.md?page=2)