Topic: What's in a name? (Read 4858 times)

Demosthenes · « **on:** April 28, 2011, 07:13:28 PM »

Most of you guys have known me here, on Fark.com and on Hackernetwork as "Demosthenes". Some of you know already that I started using "Demosthenes" as just a temporary change of pace, but when I look at the calendar these days, that temporary change of pace has lasted -- *gulp* -- eleven years.

So I think it's time I ditched the D-word once and for all.

It's hard to type, there are too many others on the web using "Demosthenes", and Teh Geekery (OMFGLOL) is the only site left that I really still use it on.

However, in the interest of community, I thought I'd put it to a vote before I just went and switched it.

As a little background, I am a long time reader of science fiction. Back in the mid-1980s, I read a novella by Vernor Vinge called True Names, in which the protagonist was a hacker (mostly in the classical sense, not in the criminal sense) whose 'net name was Mr. Slippery.

Anyway, a hacker cohort of mine back then (who had also enjoyed that novella) used to give me crap about how much I resembled the slippery character in Vinge's story, but I was "shifty rather than slippery".

The name stuck, so starting back in '86-ish when I first started playing around on BBSes and whatnot, the moniker I always set for myself was Mr_Shifty in honor of Vernor Vinge's cyberpunk genius.

I used Mr_Shifty as my online identity for far longer and in far more places than I have ever used "Demosthenes". It probably sounds strange to some of you who have known me as Demosthenes for all this time, but it has never felt quite right as far as online nicks go.

So, explanations done. What do you guys think?

ivan · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:36:21 PM »

"ivan" started out as a temporary dodge on UseNet in 1998. I tried switching back many times in many places, but I just can't shake it.

Does SMF 1.1.11 let you change your nick, or will you have to go post something in teh n00b section?

ivan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:43:06 PM »

You will always be "the" Demosthenes on frak:

http://www.fark.com/users?tt=&login=Demosthenes&togglehtml=1

Do you know how many thousands of frakkers have tried to grab that nick? MANY thousands!

ivan · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:44:08 PM »

And I don't mind typing long names.

ivan · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:44:41 PM »

I'll have to sleep on it.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:40:33 PM »

Quote from: ivan on April 28, 2011, 08:43:06 PM

You will always be "the" Demosthenes on frak:

http://www.fark.com/users?tt=&login=Demosthenes&togglehtml=1

Do you know how many thousands of frakkers have tried to grab that nick? MANY thousands!

I know. But if I ask Mike, he'll change it for me.

Min · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:43:32 PM »

You've always been Demosthenes to me. I've only known you for -- *gulp* -- nine years.

But you do what makes you happy. I think about ditching Detta sometimes b/c it feels weird when people call me it IRL. If I did get rid of it, I wouldn't want anyone saying "no, you're not allowed". Humans are adaptable creatures.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:02:39 PM »

*laughs*

Oh don't get me wrong. I'm going to do what I want regardless of the poll. I just wanted to see what the general idea was.

It seems simple and stupid to me how identity can be attached to a seemingly arbitrary nickname like that, but it is.

To be honest, I think of you as "Min" more than I think of you as "Detta".

Heh. But Ivan is Ivan.

Stupid, huh?

Demosthenes · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2011, 10:06:34 PM »

Quote from: ivan on April 28, 2011, 08:36:21 PM

Does SMF 1.1.11 let you change your nick, or will you have to go post something in teh n00b section?

I missed this before. I can change it in my profile. However, that could be because I'm a moderator. I'm pretty sure I can change anyone's display name here. Not sure if regular users can change their own or not.

Jaepheth · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2011, 11:52:36 PM »

Letters. Letters are usually in a name.

Alternatively, you could go with Mr_Shifty "Demosthenes" McNaildyomom

pbsaurus · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2011, 01:08:21 AM »

I vote for calling you "Which one were you again".

Demosthenes · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2011, 07:00:14 AM »

Quote from: Jaepheth on April 28, 2011, 11:52:36 PM

Alternatively, you could go with Mr_Shifty "Demosthenes" McNaildyomom

I like it. However, that's even harder to type...

MISTER MASSACRE · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2011, 07:01:06 AM »

If you're reverting to your old nick (which I'm totally used to due to IRC), then I'm going to go back to what I used to go by online, Juggstown Massacre.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2011, 07:02:54 AM »

Quote from: Lacerda on April 29, 2011, 07:01:06 AM

If you're reverting to your old nick (which I'm totally used to due to IRC), then I'm going to go back to what I used to go by online, Juggstown Massacre.

If that isn't incentive to do it, I don't know what is!

MISTER MASSACRE · « **Reply #14 on:** April 29, 2011, 07:15:10 AM »

BUST OUT THE KOOL-AID, IT'S A PARTY!!!

Demosthenes · « **Reply #15 on:** April 29, 2011, 07:52:54 AM »

... Wait.

Juggstown Massacre is a d00d?

pbsaurus · « **Reply #16 on:** April 29, 2011, 10:32:05 AM »

Doesn't have the same ring to it. We'll have to invent a new internet cliche for this one.

ivan · « **Reply #17 on:** April 29, 2011, 10:52:53 AM »

I'll get over it.

Maybe I should switch to this: http://www.fark.com/users?tt=&login=HackerNetwork&togglehtml=1

Demosthenes · « **Reply #18 on:** April 29, 2011, 11:55:52 AM »

Quote from: I'll get over it. on April 29, 2011, 10:52:53 AM

I'll get over it.

Maybe I should switch to this: http://www.fark.com/users?tt=&login=HackerNetwork&togglehtml=1

Good idea.

As an aside, I don't think I ever saw that over on Fark. Who is that?

ivan · « **Reply #19 on:** April 29, 2011, 12:29:19 PM »

Quote from: Mr_Shifty on April 29, 2011, 11:55:52 AM

Good idea.

As an aside, I don't think I ever saw that over on Fark. Who is that?

It's that jerkface Greg dude.

ivan · « **Reply #20 on:** April 29, 2011, 02:27:10 PM »

Ah-hahaha.

I went spelunking in UseNet archives, because I wanted to find Ivan's first ever post on the internet. I knew it was in a group where I was active for some time before becoming embroiled in some distressing flame wars. I stalked out one day, promising never to return, but of course couldn't stay away. "Ivan" was invented as a cover. Here is his first post, responding to a posted article that was played up as an anti-American screed. Ivan took umbrage:

Quote

Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.uk.eastenders
From: Ivan Davidoff <frod...@yahoo.com>
Date: 1998/09/01
Subject: Re: Japan & America (LONG)

danny_stu...@my-dejanews.com wrote:

> This is an excellent article about how the West (Especially the United
> States) never misses a chance to look down on Japan.

The article does not imply that the US "Especially" never misses a
chance to look down on Japan. It spreads the blame pretty evenly among
US, British and German media. Did you read it?

> I make no excuses for
> posting this in light of the recent so-called jokes made on this group from
> certain American sources. Perhaps I should have retaliated by making jokes
> about the Bay Of Pigs, but I guess two wrongs don't make a right.

Many American lives were lost in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
Many are still entombed in the ships that were sunk by the Japanese.
Survivors recall hearing their pitiful cries for help as they slowly
suffocated for days (that must set your hear aflutter, Danny-Boy, the
thought of Yanks suffering!). So what's this about the Bay of Pigs?

<very slanted article snipped>

You err in a way typical of morons: you assume that the media speak the
minds of the people. Then you make a mistake typical of complete idiots:
you read an article that offers a myopic opinion, with scant
substantiation, and, because it agrees with your own myopic, provincial
so-called opinion, you assume it's true. Didn't you notice that the
article actually contradicts itself towards the end?

When the Kobe quake hit, the mass mind in Los Angeles was one of
sympathy (if not outright empathy). The kind of smug satisfaction that
the article speaks of is typical of you British -- Americans are softies
(saps, if you will).

Further, there was a tremendous amount of media attention paid to our
own weaknesses. The fact that the Kobe quake was much more powerful than
our last one was trumpeted in newspapers and television, with headlines
like "LA Not Ready for Quake of Kobe Magnitude".

How much aid did Britain offer to Kobe, compared to the US? What really
kills me about this piece of drivel is that the author uses the US'
humanitarian response as proof that Americans are heartless
Japan-haters! What a howler! What would he have said if we had not
offered any assistance at all??? Christ, we just can't win, can we?

The article is garbage, and you, Danny-Boy, are a cretin.

--
ID
--

So. Off to a good start there, Ivan.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #21 on:** April 29, 2011, 03:17:47 PM »

pbsaurus · « **Reply #22 on:** April 29, 2011, 05:02:54 PM »

:detta:

Vespertine · « **Reply #23 on:** April 29, 2011, 10:34:02 PM »

I've been Vespertine on here for as long as I've been here. I play EQ2 and my main's name is Vespers. I met a bunch of my EQ2 guildies in real life last August. I think I was called by my real name exactly once. The entire rest of the time I was called 'V'.

I vote for keeping Demo.

TheJudge · « **Reply #24 on:** April 30, 2011, 08:45:19 AM »

But... then I won't be able to do my DEMOSTEENZ joke.

Fine. Go ahead with MR SLIPPERY.

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Author Topic: What's in a name? (Read 4858 times)