I probably should have been up front about that when I first started blogging last year. I mean, I guess I knew back then that some people think real names are an issue, but I don’t think they’re an issue, and besides I’m the shy and retiring sort, so I didn’t think it would matter.
Some hack writing in one of our tackier national organs thinks that it matters, though, so I guess I’d better come clean. Confession is good for the soul and all that. (I don’t actually believe in confessing much, and I sure don’t believe in self-advertisement, aka showing off, but the cliché seemed handy.) So I confess: skdadl is not my real name, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I did tell pogge, and he didn’t seem to mind. But to anyone who now feels betrayed or misled, my heartfelt apologies and sincerest offer to make amends. I’m sorry, and now you know.
There now. Don’t we all feel better?
Oh, and swiftboating – did I mention swiftboating? “Viral marketing,” as friend kuri (which may not be her real name either) calls it. I don’t much believe in living down to behaviour that vile, although when I see good people being backed into corners unfairly, I start to take notes. Now, the hive mind (of the good kind) – I might believe in that. That sounds more like democracy to me. And I think I just might know a hive or two.
Shocking...quite shocking
Now tell me - are you now or have you ever been...?
Whooee! My real name ain't JimBobby. It's JimmyBob.
JB
Dr.Dawg is my real name. You can't imagine what high school was like.
OK, my real name isn't agitfact either.
Have we considered the downside of this new internet integrity? The blogosphere will be ... silent.
Oh GEEZE . not skdadl .....
How can ever expect to be swiftboated if no one even knows your name? How can we start lascivious rumors about someone in name only? How can we cannot prove you maybe (might/could have/had the opportunity to) filtch some change out of her mother's purse?
We are going to have to deal with your ideas alone, with no person to slag while doing it - and that is a "whole 'nother kettle of fish".
As long we're indulging in confessions I must admit that I, too, have been less than completely honest in my dealings with our readers. My name isn't really pogge. Believe it or not, I just made that up.
My real name is Atrios.
As long we're indulging in confessions I must admit that I, too, have been less than completely honest in my dealings with our readers.
Indeed, I'm really Richard Evans.
Now I'm really upset. The boss always told me his real name was Yul Brynner. Except once he was Walter Cronkite. And then occasionally he is The Boss.
My Real name isn't Zorpheous either, it's Max Power
"As long we're indulging in confessions I must admit that I, too, have been less than completely honest in my dealings with our readers.
Indeed, I'm really Richard Evans."
OMG...now, that is funny.
Gee, can I change my real name?
I'd prefer to be known as Scarlett Butler.
My real name is Dagmar. You noticed I keep my ears covered, no? [/end in joke]
Scarlett! You mean you took his name? How quaintly patriarchal!
I just thought of a good blog name which is available to the first taker, for a reasonable sum: "I am Party Cuss!"
And how do we know "Warren Kinsella" is his real name? If I was down to writing for the National Joke, I'd sure as hell be doing it under an assumed name.
Oh, right . . . a "Gone with the Wind" reference. I'd assumed "Scarlett Butler" would be some kind of bloody-handed manservant, a homicidal Jeeves.
Meanwhile, some of you are under the impression that you know my name is really "Rufus". This is of course just a clever false trail. I'm really a highly paid lobbyist for the corporate right, ex-president of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, a gun for hire that everyone assumes has no feelings behind my dead gaze. It's a dirty business and I follow the money, but "Purple Library Guy" is the revolt of the suppressed conscience beneath the helmet-hair armour.
As long as we're all fessing up, I suppose I should admit that my real name is Brian Mulroney.
Kevin/Brian,
I don't know that I would have admitted to that.
My real name is *fzzzt* *crackle* *bzzzzzzz* *ffsssshhhhh.*
I am Spartacus.
Ding ding ding! We have a winner -- and a few losers. For not quite naming a name, Holly Stick is the clear champion. mahigan and Mandos will be led away in handcuffs, and Kevin, we're keeping an eye on you.
Mandos and I protest! Warren Whatsizfella, if that's his real name, gets to continue his career as a pompous ass uninterrupted while we get handcuffs? It's not fair. (Sorry. Flashback to an earlier post.)
You can call yourself anything but late for breakfast. Someones name matters not. It's the content of the message that's important.
Yes, my real name is catnip. No last name for this starlet though - just like Cher and Madonna (except that I'm a bit shorter).