Name Change at 5000 Posts?

In My Humble Opinion
1

The intent of this is not to have a post count party, although I realize that that will happen as a result of the title.

I started out here as the ambiguous Anthracite more than 2 years ago because I was used to seeing women not being taken seriously in many technical, sceintific, and other discussions and debates.

The SDMB, however, quickly proved me wrong. This place is a fantastic equalizer, filled with a huge mass of very intelligent people who don’t really care what age, gender, sexuality, race, color, creed, religion, or whatever you are. They care, for the most part, about what you are - which is what you put down in text as your beliefs, thoughts, musings, creative works, and conversation.

And thus, I need not have worried - but I was new, and even though I had lurked for a couple months beforehand, I didn’t quite know what to expect.

A while ago I pondered whether I should change my name to “Una Persson”, which is what I have been going by for about 3 years or more. It’s what I’m known as on my own Board, Fathom, the G’Dope, the Riders of the Dawn Board, IRC, ICQ, e-mail, and OuterWorlds. When I meet Dopers IRL they call me “Una”, and I’m even called “Una” by those in the throes of passion IRL. :eek: :wink:

I think most people would know who I am if I changed my name here - my knowledge on some specific issues, and wildly erratic and sometimes irrational style, is hard to miss. And newbies wouldn’t care too much, since the name change would be global for nearly all past posts. There are a few thousand cases of people referring to me as “Anthracite”, “Anthra” (which sounds like “Mothra”), and “Anth” that might confuse people.

Also, when I have to leave on trips or get tied up for a couple of weeks, it’s easy to Search on “anthracite” to see if I am mentioned. “Una”, being three letters, would not be Searchable, and thus I might seem like I am ignoring a lot of people.

I also have not fully decided whether I should retire at an even 5000 posts, which was another thing I’ve been considering. While I do add some good to this Board, I add a lot of bad, and often I feel like I should retire from the scene (which would no doubt please several lowlifes who are trying to intimidate me into leaving).

Personally, I think it might be best just to stay here but be “Una Persson”, but I am torn. Any thoughts?

2

I like Anthracite just fine. The name and the person. You do what you’re comfortable with. Remember that you’ll have to establish your reputation all over again unless you change your name to “the poster formerly know as Anthracite”

Oh, and happy 5000.

b.

3

Echoing the “Happy 5000” – and seconding Billy Rubin, Anthracite, in that the change/non-change must be right for you. The search problem could be solved by having no gap in the name, maybe?

And I wouldn’t worry about the confusions around a change. The newbies’ll just have to get over it! :slight_smile:

4

Anthracite, Una Persson? Whichever one you’re more comfortable with, really.
I don’t like the idea of you retiring from this board, though with your fingers in so many others I can understand (I’ll stick with three, myself).
It’s up to you, Anthracite - just don’t let yourself be chased off, OK?

5

Can you change it without losing your post count?

6

I didn’t mean to give the impression that anyone had the ability to “chase me off”. Only a direct physical threat would do so, for a while, until my friends from the Riders of the Dawn Board start buying their plane tickets to come help me…

I meant that sometimes I wonder if I am a Net Positive or a Net Negative here. If you ignore my past, when I was a better poster, my recent posting history is sporadic, infrequent, and filled with anger and frequent incidents of flying-off-the-handle. I do apologize, but really, most people aren’t interested in that - like what happens so often in human nature, they only remember the offense, not the apology afterwards. So I rack up bad Board karma.

But really, my intent was to ponder a name change, not to whinge.

7

Yes, that’s how the software works.

8

I think most of us will support any decision you make. But here’s my two cents: I think you change your name (you want to, so just do it, as they say) and stick around.

I really don’t know what bad stuff and lowlifes you’re referring to. AFAIK you’re a well-respected poster and one of the mainstays of the board. The idea that a few chuckleheads could pressure you into leaving is laughable to me… you don’t seem like the type of person who intimidates easily.

9

I have to admit I do watch your posting, not from a jodie-foster-stalker standpoint but from the standpoint of someone who admires your work, and I don’t think I’ve seen too much in the way of ill-conceived flying off the handle.

Aside from whcih your flying off the handle is always amusing and informative. You have a level of cynicism to which I may only aspire.

Whatever you do, I know you’ll do it well. I’m just tickled you haven’t chosen to point that high-powered cynicism at me.

b.

10

Unacite sounds pretty cool. Happy 5000.

11

Sorry, Una, I didn’t mean to re-hash something you’d already addressed right before my post. The board stalled out on me while I was writing that so I didn’t see what you wrote. But I still stand behind the intent of my post… be it bad karma or bad people, I say ignore it and hang around.

12

I like Una Persson (the poster formerly know as Anthracite),
or is that too bituminous?

Either way, I sure heard a lot of nice things said about you at a recent dopefest by some folks who had been here for awhile.

Happy 5K!

13

I thought for a while Anthracite and Una Persson were two people. I guess this explains why they were never in the room at the same time!

14

You’ve already established the Una persona to some degree, so the name change won’t be as jarring as it can sometimes be (sayeth beatle).

But, with vB, the search issue is real. Perhaps, if you do make a change, something like Una_Persson might do the trick?

15

How about Amelia Underwood? Just watch out for Jherek…

16

No offense to you, Una, but Anthracite is way too cool of a name to get rid of, IMHO.

And happy 5k to you!

17

cornflakes expressed my feelings just fine. :slight_smile:

And another Happy 5k

18

It’s a good idea, but I think most would refer to me as “Una”, rather than the current “anthracite” or four-letter “anth”.

It’s going to take some serious thought. :confused:

[sub]And thanks for the well-wishes, everyone! :o [/sub]

19

I think you should stay Anthracite. That way people “in the know”, can call you Una and feel smug…While “outsiders” wonder who this “Una person” person is, and whish they were part of the SDMB clique[sup]TM[/sup] too.

Congrats, Una, on hitting th 5K mark. I, for one, think it is for the public good that you stick around.

20

I like Anthracite, but I also like Una Persson.

I hope I have been of some help.