There was a guy on the comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic group several years ago who used my handle (I think unintentionally, as sometimes some trolls on Usenet would copy your handle just to be a pain and to sow confusion). He would always limit his posts to rants about Steam (which, given that it never shuts down properly when I’m turning off my machine he may have a point), and yes some people would confuse me with him.
I had an different handle way back in my Air Warrior I days, but have had this one for 13 years now.
I was using Ataraxy for everything when I registered here in '01. A few years later, I started using a new SN everywhere. I have and use webmail accounts under both names. The question I have to ask myself, should I change my name to the newer name or should I keep Ataraxy because it reflects the time and place I was in when I first came here?
I was originally SentientBeing on another message board about ten years ago. I asked a board synesthete how Ataraxy looked and she liked it. I then switched to that name. I still use that board and they allow multiple names/user and I registered my new name too. The new name never got used and I am still Ataraxy on that board.
Neither of my names give away my sex, location, age, or anything like that, I think(maybe they do.) In real life, I don’t like androgynous names, but on the Web I do like them.
I’ve considered changing my username more than once. I started using “RolandOrzabal” as my screenname for everything years ago; I was (and am) a Tears For Fears fan, and the name is never taken. Here, though, people have pointed out to me over the years that it can make me appear obsessed with TFF, to the detriment of the overall perception of my posts (at least where music/entertainment topics are concerned). I’m not that attached to the
The main reason I haven’t done so is that, to the extent that I’ve gained any sort of reputation or name recognition around here – admittedly not much, but a few of y’all know who I am – I wouldn’t want to lose that. Besides, I’ve gotten used to people calling me Roland…if I ever attend a Dopefest (and I’m still planning to hold one in upstate New York pretty soon; stay tuned!), I may just go by that name for simplicity’s sake.
For now, I think I’ll let the name be, at least until such time as I bite the bullet and become more active in GD threads…after all, it wouldn’t serve to have people’s first impression of me be “80’s band fanboi” if I’m trying to advance a position.
There is something I hadn’t considered. I have no name recognition here as Ataraxy. I been registered since '01, but I have mostly been a lurker. As of now, I have < 300 posts in 7+ years! When the SDMB went to pay to post, not much changed for me, I simply stayed a lurker. Recently, I ponied up and I intend to get my money’s worth. But if I changed my name now, nobody would really miss Ataraxy. If I wait, then maybe they would.
I used one name, “slythe”, in all non-mundane aspects of life for many years-gaming, online message boards, science fiction conventions, orgies etc. A few years back, halfway through a bottle of Tully, I decided to stage a “Rename The Moderator!” contest here on the SDMB, and now I proudly use the name “Czarcasm” everywhere, instead.
Hurray! I must have hit Triple Sevens! My Post took!!!
People, before Skynet disables the Board again, I wanted to thank everyone who posted who said they worried about their name too.
Love you too Phil, but the joke is in your post. No really, its just what you said about the Mel Brooks film & nothing more. (And I didn’t get to shower with Teri Garr on Letterman either. snap )
Also, ftr, just which Dopers have I ever labeled as ‘ignorant’? That would be a bit of ‘pot, kettle, black*’, now wouldn’t it…?
[Robin Williams]“Pot, Kettle, Black LLC, attorneys at law. See our full page add under ‘shyster’. Be one of the first 100 callers and get your choice of 10% off your first Bail Bond or your first arraignment date free. And remember, at Pot, Kettle, Black LLC, our Partners aren’t just owners. They’re Clients…!”[/Robin Williams]
I just changed mine. Once I realized I was thinking about changing it, I knew it was pretty much time. I had it for four years on this board (and use it everywhere else), but didn’t build up much of a post count with it. I let a friend borrow it when the Dope switched to a pay subscription, and I decided I didn’t want to be held accountable for those early posts. This one is all mine.
I usually change mine when I can think of something that tops the last one. I’ve had many MANY different names, this being the greatest of them all in my opinion. So I use this name for most forums/site accounts, no longer for AIM though. Thats “StaIkingYou247”… change the font and the fact that that is an “I” is indiscernible…had to brag about it, I LOVE the odd creepiness of it :D.
Oh, I also make/made an online persona that was more politically correct for “business” use of coarse. Would hate to tell my employer to email me at StaikingYou247@aol.com
[Added the “Oh, I also. . .” had to hold onto that small thread of personal decency ha]
I thought about changing mine to be consistent with other places on the webs. When I signed up here, “Children of Dune” had not yet aired on the SciFi channel and I could get the name Ghanima pretty much anywhere I went. But then the miniseries came out and they had this ridiculous hottie play Ghanima and all of the sudden it is taken everywhere I go. So I started using Ghanimatrix and now I have more memberships with that name. But I’m too lazy to change it, so I just have to try to keep track of which places have the old name (hardly any) and which have the new. So no name change for me yet.
I like my username, and when I google it, I’m the only one that comes up. I can’t imagine changing it. The only downside to it is when people abbreviate it as FCM, I can’t do a vanity search. But I deal.
Besides, the name was a gift - almost 10 years ago, a chatroom denizen gave it to me. It works.
I’ve thought about it when it’s seemed like a couple of people were following me around and nitpicking my posts, but I’m too lazy and maybe the nitpicking keeps me in line.
Og Bless you Sir, but there are days when I feel mine are being nitpicked by a 36" White Ash Louisville Slugger. ([Bugs Bunny]: “Oh. Sensitive type.”[/Bugs Bunny]). Humble? Mostly. Silent? More than you’d think.
Maybe thats a good thing, but only time will tell.
I’ve been thinking of changing mine for ages. "Jess’ is too short and ambiguous to do a board search on. But I’ve used it ever since we came to this board… On the AOL board, I was SkeptiJess. In retrospect, I wish I’d gone with that on the ‘new’ board.
I don’t love my name particularly, but it’s not embarrassing and I’ve gotten used to it as my identity here and elsewhere on line. So…no plans to change it.
I find it disconcerting when people change their names.
FWIW, Count Blucher I had no idea where your name came from. And I rather like it.