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In real life, we don't usually choose our own names (though I guess we could if we really wanted to). But on line, we get to do just that!
When we choose a user name, I think it can't help but represent some part of our psyche, whether we intend for it to or not. People will generally form some sort of opinion or first impression of us by our user name.
Personally, I chose my user name because I have great respect for Catherine of Aragon - in case someone out there doesn't know, she is a true historical figure, the first wife of Henry VIII, and I greatly admire her faith, her tenacity, and her dignity. She is an inspiration to me often, though I rarely reach her level of integrity!
However, sometimes people misread my name. I've had people think I was a big Lord of the Rings fan (Aragorn - LOL). If they're thinking that on the front end, they've already reached some erroneous conclusions about my inner life and my personality! Not that I don't like JRR Tolkein but it's not like I'm some sort of Lord of the Rings groupie!
I've also had people misread it - intentionally or not - as Arrogance. This always reminds me of an unfortunate tendency I have of coming across as arrogant when I write. I don't talk like I write, so IRL I don't get accused of arrogance, but when someone accuses me of it online, it's an indicator to me that perhaps that is a part of my psyche and I need to be aware of it and temper it. So though it was unintentional on my part, I have become aware that some people respond to me online with the thought of "Arrogance" bolstered by my user name.
What are your thoughts about user names online? Do you pay much attention to them? Do you find that they often indicate something about the user's personality? Do you think that yours is an accurate indicator of your own personality?
I remember the movie The Other Boleyn Girl so I was pretty sure that is where you got your user name from. Yes, if all the stories are true, Catherine was a great queen. I wonder what would have happened if she had been able to have a son?
I've used the same name in many places once I fell in love with Chihuahuas. The 1228 is my birthday.
Last edited by chiluvr1228; 09-08-2016 at 06:52 AM..
I've had my screen name since the days of AOL, Prodigy and CompuServe. I'm from Alaska and my name is Erik, so I put the two together. I really don't recall putting much thought into it and even 25 years later I see no need to change it.
I know that I'm a far left, bleeding heart, crunchy granola type and it shows, so I chose MoonBeam to poke a little fun at myself, show I actually do have a sense of humor about my weird liberal viewpoints.
I couldn't think of a name and I looked at my baby daughter who was wearing a diaper with Cookie Monster on it so I came up with melovescookies. I do love cookies too so the name works.
I enjoy serious conversation, which is often hard to come by in daily life. Since moving back to Tennessee, I'm not on here as much, but this was one of my few social outlets for real discussions.
I use different names on different services and forums around the Internet as a matter of privacy. I'd already had names based on flowers, butterflies, weather, colors, birds, animals, stars and planets, my astrological sign, pets, and food, so I went with minerals/stones this time. And I like alliteration.
When I made up my username I was in pharmacy school, and I was having a real hard time coming up with something. So, I flipped through a drug reference book I had and found the drug "basiliximab"--it's used for kidney transplants. I thought it sounded neat so I took it. A few years ago, I became involved in history research on D.H. Hill, a general who lived during the civil war time period. Now whenever I join message boards, I take the username dhh712 if it's available. (his birthday is 7/12).
Last edited by Basiliximab; 09-10-2016 at 06:22 PM..
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people called me cip for short 
guess they weren't buying the username.
