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Welcome to our weekly BlogAnon meeting where we confess a particular blogging sin and turn to you for support, suggestions and that blogging bond so we know we're not all alone. Don't be shy. Read along and let us know if you identify with us this week.
I was reading a post on the Freelance Writing Jobs website about the reasons behind using or not using a Pen Name. I use a partial name for my paid posts because my employer has no idea that I write on the side and I'm not ready to tell him about it yet. But it isn't a pen name. Molly is my real name. I choose not to reveal my last name online purely out of paranoia.
Many people in the blogosphere refer to me as Bumbles too since that is what I use when I leave comments out blog hopping. I do this to stay consistent with our blog's name and so that I'm not mixed up with any other Molly's out there. Though Molly is pretty uncommon, I can guarantee you that I've never met another Bumble out there - unless it is Andy.
Many bloggers use an alias for blogging. There are tons of reasons for this and I have no issue with any of them. We didn't have any say in our given names after all - why shouldn't we have a little fun picking out one for the blogosphere? But I always wonder what the meaning behind them is. Where did they come up with the name? Does it have special meaning? Do they ever tell anyone their real name or is it top secret?
We use The Bumbles because that's what I started calling Andy many moons ago, thanks to his clumsy ways being a big, tall guy in a world designed around shorter people like me. Our friends and family thought that was a pretty funny nickname and now we have been given more Bumbles paraphernalia from the Rudolph special than we know what to do with. And when we got married, I of course became Mrs. Bumble. So be careful of the nicknames you give - that can come back to bite you in the ass sometimes.
From a blogging standpoint, I think I've got the best of both worlds. Enough of my real name is out there for people to not feel silly addressing me as a character, but I also have that character's name to throw out there for fun, and a nice reminder of where people can find our blog. But it isn't all that cool. I should have re-thought that before naming the blog I guess. According to the Porn Star Name Generator we would be Sindy Slamm and Maxx Kielbasa. Or how about Blu Love and Run Dog? That's thanks to the Rap Star Name Generator. Hmmm.
OK. So, I guess we'll stick with The Bumbles. Sometimes it is best to leave well enough alone. No sense confusing everyone now with any changes.
Do you use an alias for blogging? Do you ever share the story behind it? If you use all or a portion of your real name, do you ever wish you had a fake one instead? Most importantly, what did it say your Porn Star or Rap name was?! You can always visit our topic in Bumble Town to discuss the pros and cons of aliases. You can find Bumble Town at the bottom of our blog or by using the **Chat On Our Forum** page link beneath our tabs above.
12 comments:
Funny post! I love your Bumbles name. I think you should have it legally changed to that. I have no nicknames, unless you can count Susie, so I'm pretty boring on that count. And I'm not the least bit paranoid, so I'm kinda fast and loose with the name business. Hopefully I won't end up with teeth marks on my you-know-where!
Do you use an alias for blogging?
When I first started blogging many moons ago I was completely annon. I was Bitter Betty. I was purely negative and ended up shutting the blog down and starting over. I still use a half/fake name: Penny Lane. It's been a nickname of mine since high school-from the Beatles song.
I a very select few that I email from this blog (including you!)know my last name.
Although my Cupcake blog is called penny sweets custom cakes.
This is my little mini company name. Sweet is my maiden name. :)
I normally don't tell folks this.
Do you ever share the story behind it? If someone asks I don't mind explaining. It's pretty simple. I am not a member of anything that requires a screen name and interaction except for Facebook (you have to give your real name there) and the Jimmy Eat World message board. Even there I am just called Penny. I don't tend to use like- cutekitten77889 because I am quite fond of my real name. It's totally me :)
Most importantly, what did it say your Porn Star or Rap name was?! Damn...I'm at work and it's blocked!!! I'll have to play this later :)
I'm sort of the opposite--I wish I hadn't used my full name on my blog.
When I first started blogging, it was for my writing class and I had no intentions of gathering a following or blogging for years. I used my name, my kid's names, etc--I think the only thing I don't use is our town, but I'm sure if you wanted to hunt me down and kill me, it could be found out easily enough.
So, while I'm not really into pen names, I do wish I had struck a happy medium with my blog starting out.
On a long-gone community blogging site, I used the alias Trick Falls. It allowed me to write a lot of sarcastic humor without being personally blamed for it. My brother was Prat and my sister was Niagara.
Plus, I liked the idea of being considered a trickster.
Malcolm
When I started my blog, I gave no thought to anything. I was (still am?) an idiot. No thought to a brand, a look, nothing. I use my full name. I put my picture on there. It is probably a mistake, and one day I may live to regret it. But the only thing I can say is that at least I am staying consistent with my personality. I've always just kind of thrown myself out there for all to see. Take me or leave me.
I don't use an alias for blogging but maybe I should switch to my porn star name (Sweatee Slamm) or my Rap star name (Mary Jane Tricky)? LOL!
I think I like my porn name: Sassy Jammer. What do you think? About the name, not about me being a porn star.
I don't use a pen name, only because it didn't occur to me when I started blogging. I usually only use my first name but if people go to my blog they will see my email address with my full name. Oh well, next life I'll do it differently. The only thing I'm careful about is the names of my grandchildren. I slightly changed their names when talking about them on my blog. I also don't use their last name. You just never know.
These days it is smart to not use real names, especially with children. It amazes me how many people post pictures of their kids all over the internet. Maybe I am just a paranoid Grandma but I use a screen name and don't post personal pics either but that is due more to not being photogenic. Ha ha!
I think the Bumbles is perfect for the name of a blog.
I like that--a pen name
they used to do that back in the old days didn't they? I use a pen name.
When I first started blogging I tried to avoid personal posts and posting personal pictures--but as you know I didn't succeed at that and pictures of my family and stories from my personal life have leaked out all over my blog. I hope I won't regret it. You don't know how many times I have considered quitting.
I use a pseudonym for my erotic romance novels, and thus for the blog about them. I don't want my kids friends and teachers, or my employer or oru church to know I write it.
I'm Forgetfulone, and there's a story about it which I wrote about when I started my blog 4 1/2 years ago. Some people know my real name, but I usually just sign Forgetfulone. I guess if somebody REALLY cared, they could find out who I am, and that's okay, but I don't share my blog at work, and I'd like to keep it that way.
Maxx Kielbasa..quite an interesting porn name...
I don't think of it as a pen name, more of a nickname...that is not my name. at least not the one people in RL call me.
I have been online in several forums for many years and have always stayed anonymous to a degree. there are a lot of strange people in the world and I think it is best to protect yourself and your family to some degree.
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