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While not a heady debate, I believe it is relevant to City Data forums, and all forums, in general - Do you prejudge some posters' ideas because of the screen name they have selected? For example, if someone chooses BooBoosBaby, PookieBear or WeinerBoy as their screen name, do you assume they are a lightweight when it comes to opinions in, for example, the Religion and Philosophy forum, the Political forum or the Finance forum? If someone chooses the screen name Tom1947 might you dismiss their posts in a discussion about hip hop in the Music forum? While Slayerz may play well in the entertainment forum, how would it go over in the Retirement forum?
How about with real life names? Do you think someone with a particular first name on a job application might be less likely to be called for an interview. For example, if your parents named you Martha or Reginald might you not get a call back from that company that makes game software because your name sounds old fashioned? If your name is Peaches, how likely is it that you will rise to the level of executive in the finance industry?
It is inconceivable to me that I could choose a "meaningful" name that would still have meaning to me a year or two from now. I do have another e-mail name, which is based on the scientific name of my favorite frog species, which I originally established as a screen name in an amphibian and herpetology discussion group, and it never got spammed, so I still use it and it's now my primary. But generally I use a handle that is extracted from my real name, which is so common, nobody can use it to track me down. I've been using this one since 1994, when I needed a login name for the Tallahassee Freenet. It's been around so long, that googling it now gets 30,000 hits.
Nah, life's too short to label people. I tend to "judge" people by their posts. Same in real life. Ideas and content of character are much better criterium . I have met an amazing variety of people on this forum, some have even become good friends. Their screen names had nothing to do with it.
Mooseketeer is hopefully not too off-putting to too many people but if so then it's not my problem ! I suppose I would have a problem with really crude/vulgar names or racist/homophobic ones but apart from that , who cares?
While not a heady debate, I believe it is relevant to City Data forums, and all forums, in general - Do you prejudge some posters' ideas because of the screen name they have selected? For example, if someone chooses BooBoosBaby, PookieBear or WeinerBoy as their screen name, do you assume they are a lightweight when it comes to opinions in, for example, the Religion and Philosophy forum, the Political forum or the Finance forum? If someone chooses the screen name Tom1947 might you dismiss their posts in a discussion about hip hop in the Music forum? While Slayerz may play well in the entertainment forum, how would it go over in the Retirement forum?
How about with real life names? Do you think someone with a particular first name on a job application might be less likely to be called for an interview. For example, if your parents named you Martha or Reginald might you not get a call back from that company that makes game software because your name sounds old fashioned? If your name is Peaches, how likely is it that you will rise to the level of executive in the finance industry?
Yes and no. I participate in other forums outside of City-Data. So, I have a tendency to rely on what is said in the post and previous posts.
I know that there was a study that was done several years ago that said that people were more likely to be hired with common names. I have to wonder how long that is going to carry on or if it is still relevant today. If as an employer one cannot get beyond the name Peaches then they don't really need to be in a position of power. The problem is not with the name but with the individual hiring. And if the individual is that shortsighted then they are in the wrong game in the finance industry.
A company that makes game software isn't going to focus on the name. They will be looking for abilities that gives them the competitive edge.
To be honest, I rarely look at posters names, unless their posts are worth reading after a quick glance. Even then, I only use names to know the regular folks around here, and their arguments.
A name means little to my perception of an issue.
Now, the only difference to that statement, is when someone with a mans name, posts as a woman.
Like, I saw "John 3379" or something like that, and the poster said she was a woman, and it was in the relationship section. Its been a while. That just kind of threw me off, and one poster even commented on it.
Whether that makes you a man or a woman, who knows. I'd bet on man, if forced to, simply on statistical numbers.
winner! winner! chicken dinner!
can i make an assumption about you? okay...
you have lived in Memphis for the majority of your life...at least graduated high school in Memphis. and you're a 30 year old female about to be celebrating your 31st B-Day really soon!
Last edited by rugerjitsu; 02-02-2010 at 09:24 AM..
Reason: i suck at math...
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I have met an amazing variety of people on this forum, some have even become good friends. Their screen names had nothing to do with it. 
