Explain Your Ricochet Handle
We had a long conversation a few weeks ago about whether people on Ricochet should have pseudonymous handles, or whether full disclosure requires us to use our real names. I, for one, understand why some want to remain anonymous (work, relatives, bill collectors, and on and on).
What I'd like to know is why you chose your handle and what it means (I'm talking to you Western Chauvinist, Sawatdeeka, Fredosphere, Mama Toad, FreeWifiDuringSermon, Crow's Nest, and Pseudodyonisius--and many others). [Natalie and Fred Cole: I think you're exempt from this one; unless, of course, you're trying to fake us out with a name that appears to be the real one].
I'll go first. I really don't care if people know my real name (Ted Smith), but I like my handle. The symbolism of a blank slate can cut both ways (Am I conceding my stupidity? Or am I touting my willingness to learn new things despite my advanced age?) You be the judge. I also like the irony of my avatar: a blank slate that isn't really blank because it has "blank slate" written on it. Actually, I chose my handle for the most mundane of reasons: because I like Latin phases and that one sounded cool (when you go through life named "Ted Smith," you yearn for something a bit jazzier).
Finally, as I pointed out a week or so ago, I got a direct shout-out from Charles Krauthammer. This was a feature of my handle that was completely unintended. [Yes, I am trying to get you to link to my personal Dr. K shout-out: I'd like to extend my 15 minutes of fame another 15 minutes].
And, by the way, I'm reading a book by the great English social commentator Theodore Dalrymple entitled Second Opinion. Lo and behold, I ran into this sentence (Dalrymple was criticizing the English education system):
“[S]chools round here leave the tabula of the human mind strictly rasa.”
So, two shout-outs in as many weeks (we'll ignore the fact that Dalrymple actually wrote his book in 2006). What's keeping George Will from entering the fray?
So, even if you have a less famous, less "elite" handle than mine, tell us why you chose it and what it means.
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Comments:
Nov '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
I love this. I didn't realize that this thread would be quite so amusing.
I've noticed that when someone's handle is a meaningful phrase, I end up reading it into the comment. I have to then make a conscious effort to separate the content of the post from the name. There's one in particular . . . can't remember, I'll post it when it comes to mind. Does anyone else have this issue?
Oct '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Frozen Chosen: My online handle is a reference to the fact that I live in Minnesota and think I'm better than everyone else ;)
My real name is unusual enough that to my knowledge I am the only person in the country with it, which would make it extremely easy for someone who intended harm to me or my family to track me down since I don't go to any great lengths to hid it on the interwebs.
If anyone wants to know my real name they can come to a meetup here in Minnesota..if we ever have one...if Lileks decides to mix with the common folk...if any of the Ricochet poobahs ever decide to come up here. · 21 minutes ago
Edited 19 minutes ago
FroCho, my father, a Baptist minister and purveyor of achingly bad jokes, never tired of a play on the scripture "Many are called but few are chosen". Wait for iiit:
"Many are cold but few are frozen."
Just felt like you should know that.
Dec '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
I live in Maryland, where Republicans are outnumbered approximately 4,929,293,040 to 1.
And there are a lot of left-wingers. I mean a lot of left-wingers.
Unions. Hardcore environmentalists. Government workers (the federal govt. is the state's largest employer, by far). College professors.
And I feel like I'm the last bastion of true conservative thought in the state. I know that's not true, but it sure feels that way.
My real name is no secret ... check out my bio if you're interested.
Openly and transparently yours, Jose Roig
Apr '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Dogger was one of my nicknames while I was in the service. I should probably change it. It looks perverted.
Aug '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Severely Ltd.
Frozen Chosen: My online handle is a reference to the fact that I live in Minnesota and think I'm better than everyone else ;)
My real name is unusual enough that to my knowledge I am the only person in the country with it, which would make it extremely easy for someone who intended harm to me or my family to track me down since I don't go to any great lengths to hid it on the interwebs.
If anyone wants to know my real name they can come to a meetup here in Minnesota..if we ever have one...if Lileks decides to mix with the common folk...if any of the Ricochet poobahs ever decide to come up here. · 21 minutes ago
Edited 19 minutes ago
FroCho, my father, a Baptist minister and purveyor of achingly bad jokes, never tired of a play on the scripture "Many are called but few are chosen". Wait for iiit:
"Many are cold but few are frozen."
Just felt like you should know that. · 7 minutes ago
An oldie but goodie!
May '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Dec '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
h/t H. Rider Haggard and, of course, Hilda Rumpole. Also the passage from Two Gentlemen of Verona quoted on my profile page. All traits described therein are true of me. Loved HRH as a kid, grew up in Northern Nigeria in 50's and early 60's, so related easily to literature of the late Victorian, colonial period. Ripping yarns, too. That's a reference to the books, not the knitting.
Nov '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Just my first name, and since my entire name is a fairly common one, I'm protecting all my namesakes from being fired and run out of town. I also trust that it makes me sound much younger than I am. If I'd been required to make up a name, it would have been "dementia," which is the state to which I seem to be moving.
Sep '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
I figured you liked E.B. White and since we're on the web...
You've probably had to suffer those jokes since childhood. Sorry.
May '12
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Lady Jane Grey was the Nine Day's Queen of England following Edward VI (Henry VIII's son and heir). A Protestant, she was placed on the throne in an effort to prevent the Catholic Bloody Mary from becoming Queen; she lasted 9 days and was summarily executed.
My grandmother (born and raised in England) used to call my sister and me "Lady Jane Grey" when she thought we were getting above ourselves. I'm more of a lurker than a poster, so on the off-chance that I'd be posting here it seemed and appropriate name to choose.
Jul '12
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Signed up for a new service.
Time to come up with a name that's not already taken.
I know,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Power
http://networkawesome.com/series/captain-power-and-the-soldiers-of-the-future/
I have never been in the military, although I was once in JROTC.
Jun '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Tom Lindholtz: Fun! I go by Tom Lindholtz because, well, my mother and father started calling me that a very long time ago and it just sorta stuck. But why, you might ask, do I use the avatar I do. Years ago on another list i posted a picture of the Halloween costume I wore to work one year. Time went by and that friend encouraged me to sign onto Facebook. When I did he sent me a link to his suggestion for a profile pic. It was Mr. Clean. I used it on a whim. But have come to like it on multiple levels, and so it is my "brand" now. And any marketer worth his salt will tell you not to change an identifiable brand.
Oh, the original picture? It's right here: · 1 hour ago
I'll bet you have a pure heart in addition to being Mr. Clean on the outside.
Mar '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
KC Mulville: You mean you don't have to use your real name?
Now they tell me. · 1 hour ago
That's OK KC, they will not recognize you without the hat.
I live on the next river down from Dale (the South River) and probably 5miles as the crow flies to Mr Sajak, who by the way has a very nice building he supported at the Anne Arundel Medical Center that I have to visit on occasion.
Mine is just my initials, however as an employee of your federal government (I can hear the catcalls) and really paranoid of voicing my incorrect opinions (that are not in line with the regime), and all of the surplus lawyers that could make life miserable just for sport.
As for the Avatar I did a post on that.... As an update to those who know, I am half way to finishing the fly off hours, but the punch list of issues is slowing me down.
Mar '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
I decided I should use a handle because it's often necessary to get along with people you meet, at work for example, and political arguments are a no no. I did not want to bite my tongue for fear of starting an unexpected fight with someone who recognizes my name but does not really know me.
While trying to think of something that didn't feel silly, I read a comment by The King Prawn and was reminded of a common expression in my part of the world; "come the raw prawn", common enough to be defined in the Macquarie Dictionary, though inadequately.
My avatar is a national icon, though perhaps not the most obvious one. I chose it because it has a really hard arse.
Apr '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
drlorentz
I figured you liked E.B. White and since we're on the web...
You've probably had to suffer those jokes since childhood. Sorry.
Your guess is much more interesting and original than the real story. I'm going to start using it.
No worries...I love me some Charlotte's Web jokes. I always got a kick out of the fact that her full name in the book is "Charlotte A. Cavatica" and my middle initial is also A. (Different last name, though :-)
Jul '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
skipsul: Nicknames aside, your avatar is just cool by itself.
Whiskey Sam: I've been using this handle online in so many places for so long it never occurred to me sign up with a real name. I'd agree with J.Voss, if you're of a certain age, you were told early on not to use your real name online, and it's kind of stuck.
The name comes from a line from a Johnny Cash song "Drive On": I got a friend named Whiskey Sam... · 7 minutes ago
3 hours ago
I don't know if anyone else ever read his page, but 15 or so years ago Buck Wolf used to have a News of the Weird page on ABCNews.com. One of the things he did a story on were these monkeys in India that lived in a Hindu temple that had acquired the habit of smoking by picking up discarded butts from tourists and mimicking them. This picture ran with that story and was part of his page banner after that. I've been using it ever since as my avatar on every site I frequent.
Edited on August 23, 2012 at 3:30amAug '12
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
Wow- neat thread, folks. I am actually John D. Martin- a name that will show up dozens of times if you Google it with very little likelihood that you will hit something related to me, my family or my career. I've never lived in a town with fewer than three other John Martins, not even in Europe- so to avoid confusion, I chose Hartmann von Aue, the Middle High German poet who would have nothing of that unrequited courtly love nonsense and wrote mostly about love requited, satisfied and lived out. Forget Lancelot and Gwen, Eric and Enid are where it's at -this excess of information provided by my misspent adulthood and middle age.
Edited on August 23, 2012 at 3:33amJun '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
I decided to use my own name because Dennis Kucinich was taken...and I think you know what I mean.
Jun '11
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
For business reasons here in Maryland, I prefer to remain anonymous, and I never really intended to post much, anyway. I just signed up for the podcasts, but ended up getting a kick out of posting from time to time.
I tried the name "Pat Sajak", but it was already being used by somebody else, so I went with something Irish.
Jun '10
Re: Explain Your Ricochet Handle
For years, I would get calls that began, "Are you the Ted Smith who raises pigeons?" I think he's out of business or has gone to the great pigeon sanctuary in heaven because we don't get the calls anymore.