Do nicks or handles matter?

[astcell]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I know a few folks who have changed their nick, but usually due to a life experience of sorts. I'm fine with that. It's a transformation. We should have such a moment IRL.

[Suriyawong]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I agree, making yourself unique is good, but at the same time you have to be intelligent. Exactly the reason I use a name that isn't incredibly long, hard to read, or idiotic. Best to think up a decent name off the bat instead of changing it until you find one you like too...

[astcell]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I heard it best from a friend in Irvine Underground. He said there are tens of thousands of people with his given name, but his is the only online handle. It is a chance to make yourself unique.

[erehwon]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

As for the question about the value of a nick or handle:
Yes. It does make a difference. Your name conveys information to people. When it is a nick or handle, it is often chosen by you, so it sends a message about you, from you.

Real names tend to be provided by parents, before your identity is known.

People make associations between names and observed traits. Applied stereotypes are an example of this, and we know how common they are.

Nicknames here tend to fall into a few categories:

[...]

Herein lies the fun issue I have with handles, most everyone knows my real name, yet it gets trimmed down to WK which I am ok with, the oldschool crowd knows me as erehwon, and I've usually posted with my real name and handle as one and the same.

Identity theft being as prevalent as it is today, one only has to find enough marks that match their original identities that after awhile you could really disappear and have most everyone guessing what your real name was to start with.

Two things to think about, handles mean nothing when you have Echelon, TIA, or whatever other black world spy apparatus paired up with a MQ-1A and a bunch of Hellfire missles under the wing.

Second and no joke, nothing is worse than writing for 2600 or Phrack under your handle for years and then trying to convince employers that you were that nym/nick/handle until you can find company trusted, third party verification as has happened to one cohort.

[jur1st]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

Unlike nicknames which people acquire in non-online or computer related life, these are usually chosen by the individual. This gives you the opportunity to chose something which may not have some sort of connection to an embarrassing moment or trait, and the opportunity to have a pseudonym which will eventually be associated with one's reputation within the community.

Therefore it's rather important that people consider this when choosing their name. An innocuous name gives you somewhat of a clean slate to begin with as opposed to one which comes off as overreaching or patently absurd.

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

Wow, If I could only list the first and last names of my Defcon friends, what a great world this would be. Oh, wait, I can't. My mom always asks if i know the names of the people i'm hanging out with. Often the answer is, "no."

[xor]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I'm not a huge beer drinker/hell raiser :-) but I recently tried Sam Adams Seasonal White Ale and it was very very good. I have to stock up before it goes away.

xor

[Sereyna]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

Guinness as a currency to show appreciation of attendees is an idea I hope other people consider when they go to Defcon; encourage and patronize what you want to see more of, while at con. :-)

I prefer handing out flask-sized bottles of various alcohols for random parties, larger specific types for those I attend yearly: Grey Goose for a cocktail party; Jaegermeister, Barenjager and Rumpleminze for a German-themed party, etc. Completely different convention from Defcon, though.

My nicks usually form when I'm forced to use something fitting a theme in a website I've decided to take a gander at. I try not to use anything that might have a meaning floating around somewhere, though I've started to notice that a lot of folks in other forums have been associating Sereyna with Serenity. They get a little surprised when I jump down someone's throat for something...

[streaker69]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

Is streaker69 a member here?? Me, I'm just me.

No, I'm not.

[barry99705]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

Nicknames here tend to fall into a few categories:
1) Provision of false representation, attempts at deception: These appear as names where people attempt to present an alternate identity based on fantasy, suggesting they are more skilled than they really are, or "cooler" than they really are.

2) Suggestion of interest, or hobby: These appear as names where a citation of interest is included in the name. Perhaps a name of a hero from a game, story, comic book, tv show, movie, opera, play, etc. Maybe an object of interest such as a weapon, or something similar. It can also be from an area of technical interest.

3) Derivations from their real name, often provided with normal interactions of friends, sometimes based on historical events, shared by friends. This includes jokes.

*) Some other category not described above. (This list of groups is far from complete.)

Related to this thread

Is streaker69 a member here?? Me, I'm just me.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

FreeBeerGuy = TheCotMan

Hah! I could not afford that title. I only gave out like 40 or 50. Look at anyone that hosts a party, and nearly all of the Toxic BBQ Organizers for people that have donated far more booze than me.

Guinness are my thank-yous to people (like the grill masters at the TBBQ, and other people contributing to con), and sometimes token of apology. Last year, I think I ran out on Friday night.

Guinness as a currency to show appreciation of attendees is an idea I hope other people consider when they go to Defcon; encourage and patronize what you want to see more of, while at con. :-)

As for the question about the value of a nick or handle:
Yes. It does make a difference. Your name conveys information to people. When it is a nick or handle, it is often chosen by you, so it sends a message about you, from you.

Real names tend to be provided by parents, before your identity is known.

People make associations between names and observed traits. Applied stereotypes are an example of this, and we know how common they are.

Nicknames here tend to fall into a few categories:
1) Provision of false representation, attempts at deception: These appear as names where people attempt to present an alternate identity based on fantasy, suggesting they are more skilled than they really are, or "cooler" than they really are.

2) Suggestion of interest, or hobby: These appear as names where a citation of interest is included in the name. Perhaps a name of a hero from a game, story, comic book, tv show, movie, opera, play, etc. Maybe an object of interest such as a weapon, or something similar. It can also be from an area of technical interest.

3) Derivations from their real name, often provided with normal interactions of friends, sometimes based on historical events, shared by friends. This includes jokes.

*) Some other category not described above. (This list of groups is far from complete.)

Related to this thread

[theprez98]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I would recommend something along the lines of FreeBeerGuy to make an excellent first impression.

FreeBeerGuy = TheCotMan

[goathead]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I would recommend something along the lines of FreeBeerGuy to make an excellent first impression.

[disablmalfunc]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I think Deviant Ollam post about sums it for me. Sorry if you thought this thread was a waste to any of yalls (texan accent) time. It was just something I wanted to get feedback from. It was not intended to draw any attention towards me as I stated earlier. But Thanks for the feed back

[noid]

Re: Do nicks or handles matter?

I dont speak "leet", just cause my may imply that. I started this thread just to see what people think when they see handles. It was not intended to draw attention to myself and it does not bother me if you using me as an example.

Um, you've got 3l33t right in your handle. To get back to your original point, how you present yourself is important when it comes to making an impression. I'll be blunt, your handle immediately says to me '16 year old'. Look at it this way, I'm at least giving you 3 more years of credit than the rest of the folks.

So, the bigger question. Why don't people reserve judgment till they get to know the person? I think the answer there is that the Internet is a big place with lots of people in it, most of whom are tools. Taking time to separate the wheat from the chaff, well, takes time. I have very little interest in getting to know everyone on the internet, even if we have similar interests. I see posts from someone with '3l33t' in their name and they are pretty much off the stack.