A Note On Pseudonyms

[redbrunja]

 nimblnymph  was commenting about sexism in language, and it got me thinking about usernames. Specifically, (and I know I have people on my flist who do this and I don't mean to be insulting, this is totally just my opinion) how much I hate it when people use some part of a character's name in their username.

You know.

Mrs_Hatake

I_heart_hakkai.

Anything with Snape or Severus.

Even more subtle references: blooming_sakura or whatever cause me to twitch.

First, I always wonder how long you are going to like that character enough that you want them to be the most visible part of how you present yourself online. Secondly, I make the assumption that you are fourteen and feel the need to wave around your fictional boyfriend or (also fairly common) your OTP like a banner. I also (despite knowing really excellent writers who do this, and often aren't writing about the character referenced in their handle) assume that your fanfic is not worth my time.

Comments

[tobu-ishi.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, what are your thoughts on theme weddings? (Getting married while dressed up as Princess Leia and Han Solo under an arch of lightsabers, or Utena and Anthy, or what have you.)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I think getting married as fictional character is something you are highly likely to regret. First, because what happens when you don't love that show/character was much, but have such a huge, public part of your life inextricably linked with it? And secondly, it is a marriage - I feel that that is something you should go into as yourself.

However, REFERENCING fandom, as did the lesbian wedding that had a portal and Utena theme can be pretty awesome, and I think that worked because the theme didn't take over the whole wedding - it was just a nice in-joke for people in the know.

[tobu-ishi.livejournal.com]

That actually pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter, too. It's like all the problems with fandom usernames, squared. If a disposable username loses its charm in a few years, how will you feel when you're sixty-four and looking at old wedding album photos?

If and when I wed, the ceremony will be a celebration of the love and friendship between my spouse and myself, and our future together. Dressing up as someone else just seems like a terrible derailment of the whole point of the process.

(Now, if part of that love and friendship is expressed by him putting up with my nearly lifelong desire to be piped to the kirk, or me allowing for some similar quirk of his, or both of us letting our fondness for a few special fandoms creep into the reception favors...well, that's just a small part of the larger tapestry. No problem there. XD)

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Dressing up as someone else just seems like a terrible derailment of the whole point of the process.

Yep. Regardless of how much you both like a series and a pairing, the fact of the matter is that she is not going to be living with Roy Mustang and he's not going to be living with Riza Hawkeye.

piped to the kirk,

? That sounds kind of dirty.

both of us letting our fondness for a few special fandoms creep into the reception favors...well, that's just a small part of the larger tapestry. No problem there

Agreed.

[tobu-ishi.livejournal.com]

Lord, yes. Exactly. I went on a few dates once with a fellow otaku who was clearly trying to date Rinoa Heartilly and using me as a conveniently physically similar substitute, to the point of calling me his "sorceress". It spooked me off very, very quickly.

That sounds kind of dirty.

Erm. >.> It's a Scottish tradition and my family has Scottish roots. It means to have a bagpiper lead the way either from the bride's home to the church, or from the church to the reception hall, or both. Kirk is Scots for church.

Bagpipes being a love 'em or hate 'em sort of instrument, it would take a pretty saintly groom. XD;

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I went on a few dates once with a fellow otaku who was clearly trying to date Rinoa Heartilly and using me as a conveniently physically similar substitute, to the point of calling me his "sorceress". It spooked me off very, very quickly.

That is because you are a sane woman with a sense of self-worth.

Bagpipes being a love 'em or hate 'em sort of instrument, it would take a pretty saintly groom. XD;

I'm sure your groom will either a.) love them or b.) more importantly, want you to have the wedding you've dreamed of and agree that bagpipes should be involved.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

And secondly, it is a marriage - I feel that that is something you should go into as yourself.

I agree! But I loved the couple on youtube who did Dirty Dancing's end theme for their reception dance. For a party theme post-wedding, I can dig it.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Same here! Go as geeky as you want for the reception - it's just a big party, after all. But the wedding itself I think should focus more on the two people involved.