Answer170

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Answer170

Question170

Did you choose your nickname/handle or new legal name for erligious/atheistic purposes, and what does it mean?

I choose new names for myself all the time. I'm a writer, I get in character. Not multiple personalities, but close. In areas where my atheism is the part of myself which comes to the fore, I am Avender. In regards to my writing, I have a different name, and when I do research for the book, I use it to identify myself. Most of my friends here know me by that name, because my life pretty much revolves around my writing. That name also is used in regards to any of my other artistic endeavors. Unless I would decide to begin writing in a different genre, then I'm quite sure I'd craft a new name appropriate for that. Several of my shamanic affilliations occur under different names. Once in awhile, I'll get involved with something different and a new name will be born. Being "in character" is vital to me. My legal identity, which I generally use only for legal purposes and with my family, is someone else yet again. This, I found, is actually a very old practise, though mostly just celebrities practise it at all today and they probably don't put as much "meaning" behind it as I do.

My name here and anywhere I devote my attention to matters of theism and the lack thereof, is Avender. What does it mean? I dare not say. Though I'm sure if anyone investigates it, they could discover it on their own. ;-)

The name I use for writing my book and other artistic endeavors is taken from the name of 2 ancient gods, as well as a surname which represents (to me) the place where we must decide if we wish to stay where we are surefooted and secure, or cast off into less-stable, less well-known waters. All combined, the name was chosen for a "feeling" which, loosely translated, means:

Guard your world carefully, be very selective about what you let in. But once you've left it in, enjoy it with a passion that can only come from knowing that it might be gone tomorrow. And never, ever stop reaching for new and unfamiliar things. (Avender #88)

It is the old spelling of the Norse chief god. The name of this particular god is with us every week as the basis for "Wednesday". It is more commonly seen as "Odin". (Woden #1796)

My nick comes from a band i like called The Doors. Its from a song called L.A. Woman and its the letters of jim morrison's name rearranged. Mr. Mojorisin is what it is. (Mojorisin #1900)

Mine came about for two reasons:

1) "Bob Dog" is the name of a character in an animated short film called "Get A Job" by the National Film Board of Canada. (It's part of a collection called "Animania", look for it if you can find it, damnred funny.

2) I'm a born cynic and the only philosopher who ever made any sense to me was Diogenes who was nicknamed "the dog"; the word cynic comes from the Greek word "kynikos" which means "dog". ^_^ (Bob Dog #153)

No.

My nickname comes from my wife and my kids.

crazy: my kids drive me crazy at time. Just like all kids do to thier parents. beast: that's my wife's bedroom name for me. = )

So I came up with crazybeast. (Roger Andrews #1477)

Julie is my real first name. Kale is a stage name. Though I wanted to actually change my last name to Kale, I haven't had time to actually look into the paperwork of how to go and do that. :) I chose Kale because I was searching a name which is simpler than my real name. My real last name is actually pretty famous, but I don't like the way it sounds so...I decided to change it. (Julie Kale #1029)

GenNem is a contraction of Genesis Nemesis is what I called my first attempt at an anti Creation Science web site. The name was chosen both for mischief value as well as alliteration. I have one of those personalities that people cant apply nick names to, so by default I chose that one (GenNem)

Heh...well, kinda, to the extent that Rush (the band) was my first inclination that there might be those who have a life outside *GAWD*. ;)

My nick, Liquid Grace is from a song on the Caress of Steel album, Panacea (which is part of a larger whole, called The Fountian of Lamneth...think 70's art rock. ;))

The chorus' of which go:

Panacea, liquid grace
Oh let me touch your fragile face
Enchantment falls around me and I know I cannot leave...

{ }

Panacea, passion pure
I can't resist your gentle lure
My heart will lie beside you,
And my wandering body...
Grieves.

I just thought those lyrics were beautiful, and I'm a Rush fan, and Panacea is often taken by Rush fans, so I grabbed Liquid Grace. :) (Grace #1752)

Kind of for atheistic purposes. I made a joke before about using a shield for defense and my 'pipes (uilleann [not scottish] bagpipes) for offense. =) (Pipe Master Darryl L. Pierce #1142)

My original nick for alt.atheism, 'way back in 1992/1993 was "Scarecrow Where Your Eyes Don't Go" for a couple of reasons. First, then, as now, the strawman argument was the most popular type of theist argument against atheists and because of a They Might Be Giants song.

For a while, in various 'typical geek' gatherings, notably of the SCA, my name was Sterling Argentum (I thought I was being clever. Anyone who knows the period table and what Ag is will know why.) and, somewhere along the lines, the two kind of meshed and I began using Sterling Crow as my internet handle. If I ever start a production company, it will be Sterling Crow Enterprises, as well, with built in logo.

Pop on the 'e' at the end for no good reason and it winds up looking like a real name, one which I've been intending to use as a pen name for when I quit spending so much time on the Internet and get around to trying to get some of my numerous short stories revised and published.

So there's my awful secret, if anyone cared :) (Sterling Crowe #1168)

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