I’ve met Ed. And I’ve been in the Barn House too. Ed’s a great guy.
Oakminster, FYI he’s built like a fencer, not a boxer. He’d be right at home with an epee.
I’ve met maybe a dozen people on here. Some say I’m exactly how they expected. Others have apparently been severely disappointed. I think the most common comment I get back is that I’m much more polite and professional IRL. At least 2 or 3 people said I had a mild English accent (the reasons for which are obvious). The most common comment made about me behind my back, however, is that I’m much uglier than they thought I would be. I guess I’d have to agree.
Not to me, I’m afraid. And I’ve listened to your post very closely, and not sure I can detect any English accent.
Don’t put yourself down. I’ve never thought of myself as an adonis, but Mrs Nine seems to have been able to put up with my looks for over thirty years. It really is in the eye of the beholder. Those talking behind your back are just not the right beholders.
Yes, in the US it’s usually Cee-cil. I can’t quite figure out how ce-cil would sound different, though, since the addition of an “e” wouldn’t change the the sound (similar to “be” vs “bee”). In the UK is “Ce” like Sy (or sigh, maybe) or Ses?
Ed Zotti does not ping my gaydar at all. And I have hypersensitive gaydar.
As to your question, it’s hard to answer because I’m not sure how others see me here.
I recently met with a long-time Doper and we were discussing online vs. offline personae. She concluded that I seemed very much the same in person vs. online. The truth is that a lot of the things I write reflect my true inner self because my self-perception is constantly shaped by writing down shit that happens to me and how I feel about it. I don’t think I could make sense of my life without the introspective process. In fact I just deleted three paragraphs about the pragmatics of existential idealism in the midst of a cynical culture, but I realized nobody would give a shit but me. And that’s cool, because in writing it down I just added a dimension to my own self-perception.
People who know me most intimately see me as highly creative, passionate, intelligent, introspective, introverted, emotional, and neurotic. I am fiercely loyal, militantly empathic, and very open to change. And I mean, Dopers know that olivesmarch4th is silly, but there’s a vast difference between mentioning my love for amoebas and seaslugs and watching me writhe around on the sofa using my fingers for makeshift antennae. People either get this side of me or they don’t, and I have enough friends that get it to continue with this nonsense until the day I die.
Your first impression of me is going to be quiet, friendly, intelligent, conversational. I don’t really get interesting until I really get to know someone. I’ve been told that I have a wry sense of humor, and I don’t think that comes across at all on The Dope, but I could be wrong.
That house link says Mr. Zotti’s residence has been appraised for 1.8 million dollars (€1.2227430204 million, £1.1062626768 million)! So it looks like he’s moved beyond the “struggling journalist” days to “buckets of money falling from the sky” status. I’ve never met the fellow, and don’t expect to, but if it happens, he’s picking up the tab for lunch. If you have kids, take them there treat-or-treating, to see if he’s giving out gold doubloons. Not that I’m jealous…
As for me, the main two responses seem to be:
“birds suddenly appear – every time – I am near” and
“I am astride the world, as unto a Colossus.”
It sounds like one of my many thousands of admirers is at the door right now. Nope, just the wind. Or maybe one of those pesky bill collectors. You can’t get blood from a turnip, you know. Does this look like a $1.8 million (€1.2227430204 million, £1.1062626768 million) domicile to you?
Anyway, many people cross to the opposite side of the street when they see me, no doubt on account that the encounter would be so overwhelming. In a good way.