Why don't people use their name, or a name, on internet forums?

[Brian]

I think this whole thread is aimed at M Forever.

I think I remember seeing his name somewhere, and I'm pretty sure that if you add two letters to his name, one consonant and one vowel, it can be rearranged to spell out "Ham face fish cleric."

I'm not 100% sure though.

[Bonehelm]

I think this whole thread is aimed at M Forever.

Hmm...another good reason to post more then! 

[Bonehelm]

I think I remember seeing his name somewhere, and I'm pretty sure that if you add two letters to his name, one consonant and one vowel, it can be rearranged to spell out "Ham face fish cleric."

I'm not 100% sure though.

LOL

That's what I thought about his level...damn I hate it when I'm right.

[Brian]

LOL

That's what I thought about his level...damn I hate it when I'm right.

For the record, I at least place M's contribution to the forum on a far higher level than that of a ham face fish cleric.

[MishaK]

There. That's better. 

[MN Dave]

There. That's better. 

You don't look like a Kleinschmidt.

[MishaK]

You don't look like a Kleinschmidt.

It's actually a near-literal translation of my real family name.

[knight66]

I have now difficulties with recognizing members when they change their nicknames. Bad practice. 

I agree, also changing avatars as well as names means I basically start again with that poster. I manage to track most regulars; but I have lost the plot with one or two in the past.

Mike

[Lethevich]

a) I believe M has given his name, and even explained why his surname spelling was relatively unusual.

b) I also recall Sgt. Rock giving a very good reason not to give out real names unless you are okay with the consequences - I recall him mentioning he had some problems with some kind of net weirdo/stalker.

[Gurn Blanston]

...not to give out real names unless you are okay with the consequences - I recall him mentioning he had some problems with some kind of net weirdo/stalker.

Absolutely right. IMHO, only a lunatic would give out his real name. That said, "Gurn" is an honored name in generations of the Blanston family...



----------------
Now playing:
Bia 062 #3 Op 1 #3 Trio in c for Fortepiano, Violin & Cello - The Castle Trio - Bia 062 #3 Op 1 #3 Trio in c for Fortepiano, Violin & Cello 1st mvmt - Allegro con brio

[PSmith08]

I figure, what with the internet being what it is, that anyone interested enough in getting my information can find it with a little elbow grease. Of course, the mighty Interweb isn't as helpful as one might first imagine. I was, apparently, married in 1989 after getting my A.B. and J.D. from Ivy League schools.

I've missed a lot of my life. Children born, anniversaries, soccer matches, and romantic dinners put on by the kids when the Missus and me were going through some rough patches. Where have I been? I feel like the opposite of that vile Nicolas Cage movie.

Otherwise, you can piece me together - with some time and effort - but I won't give away the whole game.

[Steve]

Given the very public nature of this forum, there are simply precautions one should take. I don't object to disclosing that information through PM though.

[Sean]

Ephemerid et al, I'm not sure that the internet helps to amplify personalities- I'd say it's a very sinister development where people are silenced and reduced to this virtual non-life. You do gain expressive skills in this medium, and can have the odd laugh or learn something. It's all a bit sad though in my view.

As I said once, there's an Asimov novel where technology has increased so that in your holographic room you can even go for a walk in the country with other people- while staying 'safe' at home, and them in theirs. We are heading in the same massively alienated direction, thinking that technology is clever in reproducing life, which we already have in its fullness. Step back from it and see how bizarre, deeply stupid and inhuman it is.

By the way 'Sean' isn't my official name but I do use it in life as far as I can. It's the Irish version of John, the Scottish being Ian, that I was christened with; I'm about three 16ths Irish, with an Irish surname.

[Ephemerid]

Ephemerid et al, I'm not sure that the internet helps to amplify personalities- I'd say it's a very sinister development where people are silenced and reduced to this virtual non-life. You do gain expressive skills in this medium, and can have the odd laugh or learn something. It's all a bit sad though in my view.

Yeah, I think "amplifying personality" isn't quite right-- maybe better to say that its easier for certain traits to be amplified, some of which can be negative (at least when "amplified" to a certain degree)-- I think people can certainly be a lot more aggressive on the internet, behind a screen name, than in person.  The way we address one another here on this forum (everyone I mean)-- would we talk to one another the way we do here? 

Maybe more extroverted people would, I dunno.  Then again, last year, I was more open when I was living in New Zealand, felt more comfortable around people-- that surprised me.  I've lived most of my life in the deep south of the US, and I learnt early on to keep my mouth shut for fear of harrassment (being a lefty and an atheist and being "accused" of being gay-- I'm often perceived as being "effeminate," though that doesn't bother me in the least).  I've never much felt at home here.  I can't wait to get back to NZ.

But I do agree with you Sean, the positive thing is gaining expressive skills.  But I'm also a lot more aggressive too on the net, and sometimes I dunno if that's a good thing.  I used to post on various philosophy and political boards, but I avoid them now.  Gets my ego all out of sorts I feel.  Its a mixed bag I guess.

p.s. I'm 1/16th Irish too (great grandmother on my dad's side of the family's name was O'Flynn) but that's all I really know...

I should be in bed sleeping now! 

[Bonehelm]

For the record, I at least place M's contribution to the forum on a far higher level than that of a ham face fish cleric.

Do any of us even know what the true meaning of a "ham face fish cleric" is?

[knight66]

I'd say it's a very sinister development where people are silenced and reduced to this virtual non-life.

Eh?!

Mike

[Sean]

Ephemerid

The way we address one another here on this forum (everyone I mean)-- would we talk to one another the way we do here? 

Well I don't know. I guess you should always talk to people as though they're there otherwise there's some self-deception going on, but the written word wasn't meant for conversation and already there are peculiar and neurotic effects arising with language being damaged- though the corruption mainly comes from the democratic horde who have nothing to express in meaningful syntax anyway...

Interesting about NZ- I've not been there, but there's a lot of peer pressure in the US keeping people in line (though I thought there was more in Canada).

Yes there's definitely a bit of personal development to be had in expressing yourself on forums; it takes a touch of courage also- there are many without the confidence for it.

Mike- I know someone in the computer business so horrified with the way the IT revolution was going he bought a book called The Silencing of the voice- ie people's attention going onto computers and stopping them talking (not using their voices).

[knight66]

I see, though equally, it releases many into 'speaking' who would be otherwise comparitavely silent.

But I take the point.

Mike

[Ephemerid]

Well I don't know. I guess you should always talk to people as though they're there otherwise there's some self-deception going on...

I can talk more openly online, but *here* (meaning Arkansas for now ) I am extremely reticent.  If this wasn't a forum, but some sort of pub or some sort of social gathering, I just wouldn't be there.  LOL  I find being in social situations of more than two other people to be very difficult for me (I love what Thoreau said, to the effect of "I have one chair for me, a second chair for company and a third chair for society" LOL)

I think there's a greater temptation on boards to be more confrontational and aggressive-- at least for myself, I know there are times when I would say things here that I never would in any other social setting.  Of course, the other extreme, being steamrolled, isn't good either (I'm not quite that bad, not anymore).  I don't really always like giving into those impulses-- I do think because no one knows who I am, I feel like I can say it.  I struggle with that.  I don't like being an a$$hole (which isn't the same thing as disagreeing). 

I'm not saying I use boards as a way of therapy (though it looks like that right now, huh? LOL) but that's sort of the same principle behind counselling hotlines where the caller can remain anonymous.  If the caller couldn't be anonymous, would he/she even make that phone call?  Sometimes anonymity allows for more honesty, but then again it also allows for giving into some negative impulses as well. 

So the good thing is, as Knight says, the internet enables people to have a voice who otherwise really wouldn't (like myself).  But yes, there is a downside to it-- certainly there is enormous amounts of dreck out in cyberspace too. 

P.S.  Sean, I personally find the US is a very strange & insular.  Maybe my outlook would've been different had I been raised somewhere other than the very conservative & fundamentalist south, but I do find it to be a very alien place for me.  I'm not sure I could explain just how much this means to me.  Like you, I do think experiencing other cultures (at least one!) would do a lot of people some good.  When I was much younger, I lived in Naples, Italy for three years as a kid (my dad was in the military) and a lot of my friends were from Scotland, Canada, the Philippines, Ireland, Japan, West Germany, South Korea, as well as other parts of the US (not to mention Italy), so that also affected my outlook.  I'm not saying the US is a bad country per se, but it is definitely not a place where I can feel at home (that's the short version LOL).  New Zealand has its own problems, but I was surprised at how much I loved it-- it was a total lifestyle change for me-- it was culture shock, but in a good way!  And so I was literally in shock for several weeks after I was forced to return due to NZ's stiff immigration laws.  My girlfriend & I will marry at some stage, but for now she's taking care of her mum who is in extremely bad health (its complicated).  I miss *home*   

[Bogey]

George Leroy Tirebiter

Googled it, and now am interested in reading his new book THE RONALD REAGAN MURDER CASE.  Have you read it yet Karl?