I was just talking to Ester and she reminded me that I also hate the words (and concepts) health and pure. There will be posts to explain this. She will be showing up a lot here. Both because I love the conversations I have with her and because I see her as a moderate authority on blogging because she has had one for so long (and because I enjoy reading the current one) [on rereading this sentence. Clearly what I meant to write was: Because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things she does.] Also, she has the best blogging romance story I know – not that that is the goal here. But it is something to be impressed with.
Also she feels that when writing about people you use their handle/internet persona first, but if they don’t have one using real first names (never full names) is a possible option. We also agreed that it is good form to ask people if they want a fake name. I am trying to decide if I want to use real names at all or just make up code names for everyone. I think about half the blogs I read use real names, half make them up. I am not entirely comfortable making up names for people. I am the one controlling the narrative here – that is a given – but I am not sure I want to decide how to characterize people all the way down to their names, especially when so many people in my life have named themselves. Should I make up code names? Should I have one? Anyone who even knows me a little could tell who I am from just reading that first post, but do I also want to just add my name?
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Yay! I found your blog! I was thinking about code names the other day, in preparation for my own blog that I may start if I can just make myself already….but here are my thoughts: I don’t expect to actually BE anonymous, but I may want to cover my bases by giving myself a fake name, anyway. That way, I can always fall back on the thin veil of anonymity even if I’m not actually anonymous.
I haven’t quite decided what to do yet, but that would be my justification. Because I expect the only people who will read my blog will know me, anyway.
I can’t wait to read all about your adventures and thoughts!
hi!
kisses!
i’ve been fake named and i found it both incredibly appropriative and flattering at the same time. but i was offended i didn’t get a jewish name. i was cassandra. except i’m not and never really was. i guess a vote for real names.
Maura! You found my blog and you are my first commenter! Please start a blog. I miss talking to you so much and I want to read about what you are doing and thinking about. I only expect people who read my blog to know me too, but it might be nice to have a fake name so that a possible passerby would have to look a little harder to figure out who I was. Plus I don’t like my real name, so this is a chance to rename myself. That said, I have no ideas about what it should be.
And Sarah, hello! (I have not realized until now that you have the same middle name as another one of my Sarah friends) I am definitely leaning toward real names for people I write about. I’m still trying to decide about what to use for myself. That’s interesting that it offended you that when you were given a fake name it wasn’t jewish. That wouldn’t even occur to me. Which I think is more proof that it is too much responsibility to name people.
I tried using code names meself fer a while, but then I started having memory issues like: “Okay, which one of them wuz codenamed Jennifer Love Hewitt and which one wuz Kelly Clarkson?” [grin]…