A Rant About Names

[kittytech]

Okay, so I hope that there's nobody on my friends list who gets offended by this post. It's just one of those little ranty things about things that drive me nuts! Sometimes it's the little things that I find it necessary to pick about, only because my brain thinks that it's an hour earlier than it is and it needs some kind of stimulation before I leave for work in two hours. And, I'll probably sound like I'm about 75 years old with what I want to say too, but whatever. SMILE!

I'm on a lot of email lists; (probably too many). For whatever reason, I am really bothered by the fact that some people feel the need to use some sort of cutesy name in the from field of their messages. For example, on one list I'm on, for the longest time, one user was Spongebob Square Pants. Please explain to me why exactly this is normal? And, is it a blind thing or does it happen everywhere? To me, even an email is a form of communication that means something, and proper form is just as important with messages as any other form of communication. I want to be taken seriously, (when I actually have something serious to say), and to me, using a name like Sponguebob Square Pants isn't going to make people take me seriously.

So, I'm curious. What's the story behind making up names? If it's because you're trying to protect your identity, if a person wants to know who you are badly enough I'm sure they'll be able to figure it out. To me, it just seems that coming up with a fake name, especially one that so obviously fake, is pointless. And, what's the deal with having one name on the email message, and then signing the body of the message with a completely different name? I just don't understand!!!!

And now, rant over. I'll let you all get back to your regularly scheduled Monday (did I ever mention that I hate Mondays?) morning.

Comments

[samari76.livejournal.com]

Yes, aI think Spunge bob square pants is a bit out there for emails. But I can't say anything, because I have mine as Samari. I'm wondering if I should set up a new address for email lists, and one for serious stuff so my real name can be put up there. I just chose Samari, because I liked it.

[pawpower4me.livejournal.com]

many people have two email accounts; one for serious stuff and one for lists and such (not saying lists aren't serious but for many they're just fun.)

I actually have mine as the pawpower pack because it's easier than writing it all out and my herb business is pawpower creations so it kind of ties in and people recognize it right away.
Besides I've been saying I'm going to change my last name to Pawpower and make Bob change his name too so then we can have the same last name.
rofl

[samari76.livejournal.com]

That's funny. I wonder what would happen if you guys did that. I'd do it just for shits and giggles.

[toonhead.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean Mis Caroline, I've seen this too. Spongebob Squarepants...wtf? I think what probably happens sometimes is that if you're on e-mail lists or if you're going to be on the net a lot, the idea is that you can have some kind of nickname, sorta like all of our LJ usernames so that you can say what you wanna say, yet you can remain anonymous and not give out your real name to those you don't want to give it to. So your close friends will know you as your real name, and others will only know you by that nickname. I still get people who think my nickname is spelled T, U, N, E, head, when it's T, O, O, N, like a cartoon. I can't blame them for thinking that but sometimes you gotta look at how it's spelled too. I do know what you mean about the cutesy nicknames thing and I often ask myself, I wonder where that name came from or, were they high when they thought of that? It can be annoying, but hey I admit I even do it too. On my personal e-mail it has my full name, and for all the stuff I do for the 2 radio station's I'm on, I'm simply Toonhead.

Mailing lists are for cutesies?

[arinoch.livejournal.com]

There's one mailing list I'm on where just about everyone's got one of those little nicknames. Irritates me to no end. It's sadly not a blindness thing either, though some days I wish that was all it was. Just out of curiosity, I think we're on a list in common... I get way too many emails from that nickname, too. Unless there's two of them!

[shazza59.livejournal.com]

ON my gmail account, I used to be shannon the Bookworm. but when I needed to write to the AT&T Disabilities Center about my phone, I changed it to reflect my first and last name. so far I haven't changed it back. I don't see anything wrong with a nickname that reflects an aspect of one's personality, such as Shannon the Bookworm or Caroline the CatLady, but Sponge Bob SquarePants is just ridiculous. Even in Samari's case, it's okay because that is what she's called, or PawPower's. Or Toonhead's. But SpongeBob? Yuck!

[kittytech.livejournal.com]

Having one's name as part of their tag makes sense because you still at least know who that person is, same with Toonhead and Samari because they still use their names. It's just those who refuse to use their names at all that bothers me. SMILE!

thoughts on nicknames

[3kitties.livejournal.com]

They bug me, but I think people view email differently in different cases. I treat most lists fairly seriously unless they're generic chat lists, but I don't tend to have a lot of time for those lists. From the sighted community, I see a lot of nicknames as well (e.g. momof5). Most seem to have some kind of story behind them, and I try to keep in mind that some people feel more comfortable lurking with a nickname until they feel comfortable. Since part of what I do semiprofessionally is based on my Net reputation, I don't use nicknames in my email. But most of the people I know online really are not that concerned with the way their nickname or writing style affects their reputation. They just don't see a connection. Email is something they do for fun or support, and that's it.

I totally agree

[va3ets.livejournal.com]

yeah I hear what you're saying. I was on an email list and saw that same person on one of the lists I was on, and it made me wonder why somebody would put some crazy name like that, but oh well, I guess it's their choice.

[kl1964.livejournal.com]

You just hit on one of my huge pet peeves. I've seen such winners as Ruthie Sunshine, Trouble, Sky Feather, I could go on and on. Like you, I think of Email as a tool of communication, not some kind of fun toy to play around with. If I have something substantive or important to say, I certainly don't want it to come from Spongebob Squarepants!

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

I have no idea. Have you seen that person called kitty litter?

[masterofmusings.livejournal.com]

There is one of the most annoying people in the world of blindness mailing lists, in my personal opinion.

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

That I had not noticed. I pretty much deleted the messages because I couldn't get over the name which proves caroline's point.

[unsilenceddream.livejournal.com]

I am in complete agreement here. I use my name, because that's what I'm comfortable with. I don't see the need to create a fictional name to hide behind. Some of the names people come up with are honestly weird, in my opinion. I don't get it...