What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

[ChainLightning]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

Sorry Jembru! lol I think I fit in this category, kinda. I've tried figuring out what my screen name means, if anything, but it originated from Haku in Spirited Away. I've used it almost as long as I've been online.

When I saw nbdy for the first time I thought... low self-esteem.

And it took me about six months to really read V's name.. not even gonna try to spell it, sorry V.

I usually don't pay much attention to peoples screen names though unless I notice them popping up a lot and I usually recognize people by their photo more than anything else, which makes it kinda annoying when people change that photo and I don't realize it cause I'm like "Oh, that's them," two months down the road. And that's a whole other question huh?

In an aside, this is the longest I've gone using the same avatar. I used to swap it out every few months, just to sort of 'refresh my dusty old @$$'.

[Hawkfeathers]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I'm a lifelong birder, studied avian biology, etc., so I usually pick something bird related. I think everyone tries to make some sort of statement with their online name. It tells people something about you, but what you meant & what they see can be two different things.

[anunitu]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I like this avatar Chain,I think it says it all. My avatar is not what most would think it means. It does not represent death,but the honoring of ancestors that have gone to the other realms of existence. As to my handle it is the name of a goddess figure from Sumeria,and Babylon. I tend to honor Goddess figures rather than the Gods.

[thalassa]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I think everyone tries to make some sort of statement with their online name. It tells people something about you, but what you meant & what they see can be two different things.

This!! So, this...


I totally concur with Perze's list in the opening, and (if you see my name) you'll note that I am (sort of) guilty of the god name, although, "thalassa" is also just the word for "sea"...so...I can also fall into the "hippy" category.

[Chessa]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

Anyone who just has their own name, why are you not anonymous on the internet? Are you trying to fool people into thinking you have nothing to fear or hide? Or are you a spammer?

Wanna know a secret? Chess isn't my real name. I just use the name Chessa Agalia when I don't want to tell people my real name. It means joyous child of wisdom, which is what I'd have named myself if I'd been given the chance anyway.

[Heka]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

Does anyone use their craft name anymore? Do people even have craft names? That was the thing when I first started foruming. My name is my craft name. I was using it years ago online, and it just made sense to use it again now.

[Ophidia]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

Does anyone use their craft name anymore? Do people even have craft names? That was the thing when I first started foruming. My name is my craft name. I was using it years ago online, and it just made sense to use it again now.

I know some people who still maintain a tight border between their spirituality and their 'real life'. People who are practicing Pagans, but would never dream of asking for Samhain off. A lot of people in law enforcement & governmental positions, and people who work with children, still worry about the hysteria over things like 'Satanic Ritual Abuse'. So yes, there are people who have 'magical' names. I gave up the magical name thing when I stopped recognizing myself as Wiccan and began calling myself Pagan.

[Heka]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I know some people who still maintain a tight border between their spirituality and their 'real life'. People who are practicing Pagans, but would never dream of asking for Samhain off. A lot of people in law enforcement & governmental positions, and people who work with children, still worry about the hysteria over things like 'Satanic Ritual Abuse'. So yes, there are people who have 'magical' names. I gave up the magical name thing when I stopped recognizing myself as Wiccan and began calling myself Pagan.

ah yeah, I get that. Seeing as I haven't practiced for ages I forget about Heka, I almost signed off with my real name the other day... Heka spoke to me as a name years ago, and I guess as far as craft names go, I mean why? The gods know your real name.... But yeah, mines still mine, it speaks to me, and while I don't use it for anything except the forum and signing off on pagany things... I still call it my craft name. What else would you call it? Meh.

[Quetzal]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I use mine, or variations of mine, wherever I go online. I'd use it in
real life too, if I thought people would take it seriously. I've always
just been strangely drawn to Quetzals and Quetzalcoatl, since I was
about 13, way before I even knew anything about paganism.

[Ophidia]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I use mine, or variations of mine, wherever I go online. I'd use it in
real life too, if I thought people would take it seriously. I've always
just been strangely drawn to Quetzals and Quetzalcoatl, since I was
about 13, way before I even knew anything about paganism.

Believe me, with the upsurge in 'unique' names for kids these days, I don't think anyone would bat an eye over Quetzal. I think it's pretty, myself, and I'm a name snob when it comes to real-world interactions :P

[Quetzal]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

Thanks, but the people I know would never use that name. Wouldn't
know how to pronounce it for one thing. I fear I'll be the incredibly
common Adam until the day I die, or ditch everyone I know.

[Luce]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I assume that all people on the internet are in fact middle-aged, rumpled men that don't shave every day. Like myself.

I assume that those who claim to be women are in fact middle-aged, rumpled men that don't shave every day.

I am told that I am often wrong about this, but I assume that the people telling me this are in fact middle-aged, rumpled men that don't shave every day.

[RainbowDemonic]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

Anyone with a name involving any combination of 'wolf', 'raven', 'fox', 'star', 'moon', 'dark', 'black', 'silver', 'nightshade', 'thorn', 'blade', 'sword', 'death', 'night', 'vampire' or 'blood' is most like a Special Dark Snowflake. If they've got the Latin equivalents, they're trying to fool people into thinking they aren't Special Dark Snowflakes.

Anyone with a name involving 'white', 'light', 'bright', 'day', 'peace', 'bless', 'gentle', 'heal' - are 'white' witches, Christo-Pagans/Wiccans...

Anyone with a name involving any combination of 'deer', 'feather', 'wind', 'bear', 'running', 'eagle', 'free', 'water', 'clear', 'river' - is a hippy. Or suffering from Post Hippy Dramatic Syndrome.

Anyone with a name involving 'kitsune', 'kami', or 'shini' is a furry or has gotten all of their Pagan learning from anime.

Anyone with a name involving 'chaos', 'kaos', 'kayos', 'Anansi', 'Coyote', or a lot of k, y, z, q, ae, etc. are probably Chaos Magicians, Discordians, Erisians, or something along those lines.

Anyone who just has their own name, why are you not anonymous on the internet? Are you trying to fool people into thinking you have nothing to fear or hide? Or are you a spammer?

Anyone who has a God/deity/well-known spirit's name or some variant thereof, wtf were we thinking?

This. With some exceptions.
When I see "fox" I automatically think furry. Some of the absolute top furry species of choice include fox (or kitsune), rabbit, wolf and tiger. Generally speaking if I see those in names I always wonder, okay so are they just being spiritual or a furry in disguise?

If I see anime names I also think, probably a teenager. Snowflake names that are too long, contain too many words smashed together (like more than two or three), have symbols of any kind, or are spelled wrong, also make me wonder if it's a teenager or just someone who's potentially immature.

Anyone with a deity's name I assume worships or highly regards that particular deity.

Certain names strike me as boasting, declarative or lofty sounding. Things like "shadow walker" or "fire bringer" or "hidden power" or "behind the mask" or "wrath". To me these are kind of separate from the special dark snowflake somewhat, although technically might be contained within that group. Especially when coupled with certain avatars or signatures sometimes it can reek of some kind of secret masked hero (or villain?) complex, almost like "I'm secretly awesome and so ninja-like you'll never see me coming, fear my badass magical power!" I don't know what title there is for those types, but the kind who like to have lots of power pissing contests with other pagans.


I have absolutely no idea what mine brings to mind for others. I was juggling ideas for a dualistic name featuring childlike innocence and darker stuff combined somehow, and that's what came out. I didn't give it much thought, really.

[Ophidia]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

I have absolutely no idea what mine brings to mind for others. I was juggling ideas for a dualistic name featuring childlike innocence and darker stuff combined somehow, and that's what came out. I didn't give it much thought, really.

Hippie Goth.

[Dakini Rose]

Re: What assumptions did you have when you read usernames of other members?

Everybody gets the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes the most cringe-worthy names are cool people being ironic.
But usually not, lol.