What's in a name?

[centipede]

Good post, Anna.

[missydog1]

Anna, that's why I only post on sites that are moderated, where people act like grown-ups.

On Punaweb, I most definitely pay attention to WHAT people say, not whether they use a screen name or their own name. The identity of the person is conveyed to me by the overall tenor and content of their collected posts. Honestly, unless someone is a public figure, their real name means no more to me than Kani-lehua (as an example), and no less. It's still someone I know from the internet.

Say I meet the person, the user name still conveys that person to me.

One interesting aspect of user names is the person's gender may not be clear unless they make it so. Of course some real names are gender neutral. However, if a person wants to post as a person, not a gendered person, I respect that. It's useful for getting one's ideas across without that automatic adjustment people make when they know a man is speaking, or a woman.

I've noticed that often when I say something direct and assertive under my gender neutral screen name, that people call me "bra." They assume I'm a guy.

[Anna]

Good point, Kathy. That's a fascinating aspect to Internet interpersonal communication, IMO. Everyone has an essence that comes across over the ether and we all have a balance (or imbalance) of male/female energy. If we're women raising children on our own, we tend to, for example, come across with more male than female energy as provider vs. nurturer. If we're a stay at home Dad, more female energy may emerge as nurturer vs. provider.

It's an interesting phenomenon and I'm sure it will begin to be taught in school psychology courses at some point, if it isn't already. And if not, it should be!

It just saddens me when people choose to use it as a weapon rather than seeing an opportunity for honest discussion. I suppose it's reflective of our everyday physical experience in the "real world" too. The scale tends to tip toward aggression and resentment rather than tolerance and passivity.

So it goes...for now.




Peace - Anna

[Cali Hi]

It looks to me like most of the people who have replied to this are using their real names. I thought I'd just put mine out there. I picked Cali Hi. Cali because I live in California and Hi because of my future home of Hawaii. Not very inventive. My actual name is Jennifer.
There are thousands of Jennifers out there. I gave up trying to use my own name a long time ago, chances are another Jennifer got to the name before me. I'm not very active on any forum. I have been reading this one for a long time and I like it here. Most of you have wonderful ideas and are very helpful. I just don't post very much because A) I don't have a lot of time on line and B) usually someone already said what I would have.

[Devany]

Interesting, everyone but Carrie that posted to this thread seems to be using their real name... well, Blake sort of gussied his up. Obviously, I use my real name on this and every other forum. It does not make sense for me not to be me. I agree with Damon, I would like to hear some of the rest of you choose your Punaweb names.

Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[oink]

Oink!

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[mgeary]

First initial, last name. I'd give my rank and serial number, too, but the application box didn't ask for those. ;-)

Mark Geary

Aloha! ;-)

[Carey]

Damon, I thought that this looked like a very familiar thread.
You posted the same sort of question last year!
http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5259

I know that you know how to use the search function, so I will not go into that. Anyhoo, my answer is there, and it still stands, so if you are really interested in MY name, (and a bunch of others) it is on that thread.

[Guest]

Busted...

Ha... that's funny Carey.

I post to about 6 Forums and I didn't even think to use the search button on this one to see if I had posted it before.

Their should be some administrative controls that would let Rob merge the threads.

Looking at the way I started that thread... I see that there must be something in common when someone with no integrity tries to push one of my buttons...

I guess I Still am Hoping to Figure out what Dakine is![][][:o)]

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Damon Tucker's Blog
FBI Blogs

[missydog1]

quote:

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I guess I Still am Hoping to Figure out what Dakine is!

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I know, but as if I would ever say considering the way this topic started. Confidentiality of other Punawebbers shall be maintained.
The more I think about the premise of this topic, the sillier it seems.
Damon, it's an internet forum. There is NOTHING to defend in picking a screen name. Nothing. If anything, some people would ask if the people using their real names are not too bright.
I include myself in the possibly not too bright group, for purposes of this one forum.

Your insinuations about lack of credibility for not posting under one's "real" name leave a bad taste with me. You of all people are too net savvy not to know better.
Most people I know who ALWAYS use their real name have something they are selling, in some fashion, so that using the name is good business.

For the rest of us, it depends on whether we want to expose ourselves to possible weirdos, and whether we realize the potential for wackos to fixate on us.
Enough with taking some imaginary moral higher ground for posting under a given name. Not buying into it.