What's in a name?

[icelus]

Very few forumites use their full, real name as their username. Why? Well, some might say that it's just neat to use a nickname. Others have used the same username for many years. Still others might say that they don't want their real identity so easily portrayed to the public.

 

Nevertheless, I've noticed several members of the community haphazardly use another member's real name in public threads (i.e., not workrooms, admin rooms, etc).

 

My question is... why? Most people around know my real name, but I don't just toss it around everywhere. I give it to whom I want to give it. I also know the real names of many other members, but I don't use it to address them in public threads.

 

So... why do some people do this? Is it so that they can look "cool" in front of other members by showing how close they are to a particular member? Or do they just have some odd aversion to using usernames?

 

Discuss.

[jastey]

I don't know the answer. I would never use a real name in public, and I don't want to see mine there, either.

[berelinde]

I don't generally use my real name on forums, but I often do in PMs, email, or in private workrooms. I'm not terribly bothered if folks use my first name on public forums.

 

I've been using my screen name as a nickname in an historical reenactment group for about 20 years, and most of my RL friends use it, since we're all in the same club, and that's how we met each other. So it's about as much a part of me as anything else.

 

When referring to others, I use their screen name unless I am pretty certain they actually prefer something else.

[Gabrielle]

Back in my foolish naive internet days, I used my name as the screen name. I don't any more except three places, including this place. I would change it to the screen name that I usually go by at other forums if I could. I generally do not address people by their actual names on the forums.

[theacefes]

I honestly don't mind either way. I know some people have a difficult time trying to just say my username, but many of them either call me Ace or my real name. It doesn't bother me either way. Knowing my name doesn't give you some special god access to my personal life or anything heh.

[Ascension64]

It is a complete myth that knowing someone's true name would render yourseful impervious to their attacks, just like it happens in quite a few dramatic conceptions out there. But wouldn't that be useful in real life?

[icelus]

It is a complete myth that knowing someone's true name would render yourseful impervious to their attacks

 

Been reading The Dresden Files, have we?

[Caedwyr]

People change over time, so knowing someone's true name from their lips has a shelf life of effectiveness.

 

Nope, never heard of these Dresden Files.

 

 

In other news, at one time a major industry in Dresden was ceramics.

 

 

As for using a real name instead of a username, frequently it is used as a way of addressing someone more personally. In workrooms and such, its often a sign of casualness and camaraderie. In public forums it seems to be more often used as a way of making some sort of argument/insult/attack more personal.

[theacefes]

In public forums it seems to be more often used as a way of making some sort of argument/insult/attack more personal

 

The ones who use it in that way however surely take gaming and their time on the internet *far* too seriously. It's pointless to try personally insult someone you've never met in RL over a chat room/forum, isn't it?

[BigRob]

Some people live to think they've got one over on someone else, even in just that little way.

 

 

I tend to use screen names when communicating in games/forums as a kind of courtesy... it's the name someone wants to use, after all. Admittedly, my screen name is also my nickname and close enough to my real name, so it doesn't realy matter for me.

[theacefes]

Big is a very manly name.

[Gabrielle]

Curious minds would like to know how *big*.

[KIrving]

I don't generally use my real name on forums, but I often do in PMs, email, or in private workrooms. I'm not terribly bothered if folks use my first name on public forums.

 

 

When referring to others, I use their screen name unless I am pretty certain they actually prefer something else.

 

Yeah I'm pretty much the same. I also tend to use someone's screen name in all settings unless they specifically say otherwise. I'm not fussed about my real name being used. (I'm also far too unimaginative/lazy to come up with a user name that I wouldn't eventually feel was lame and I'm definately not going to use any family nicknames. )

 

Edit - Of course I might have to change my name if I ever become ultra famous and rich. Somehow I don't think that's something I'll have to worry about.

[LizDiggory]

I tend to go by usernames when addressing someone since I don't really know anybody's real name besides a couple of people. (Guess I'm not l33t enough)

 

And I've never really given out my real name, but if someone was clever enough to find it out and call me by it, I wouldn't really care.

[jastey]

And I've never really given out my real name, but if someone was clever enough to find it out and call me by it

Now that I would call scary..

As I said, in public I avoid real names. Actually it's this way: If someone tells me their real name, I feel like I can use it under the circumstances it was given. I.e., if someone signs a PM with his/her real name, I might address him/her with the real name in the next PM, but not in a forum. If it's presented in a hidden forum, I would feel free to use it there, but not in public.