BS: Why did you choose your nickname?

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: harpgirl
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 09:08 AM

...I like the symmetry of harpgirl when written or typed and it's explanatory since I play autoharp, primarily...I've had a lot of nicknames and surnames through serial monogamy. My current is imposssible to spell but means "smith" in the Swiss language. I'm Abby around the piney woods, which I gave to myself when doing a radio show in Fayetteville, Arkansas. But my given name is Deborah! Call me anything (but the diminutive of the latter)...but not late for music! oh and I also answer to harpy, thanks to various madcat catters!

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Duckboots
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 09:29 AM

Rick felt that the best way to stop me ruining all sorts of footwear tromping through my garden was to get me some serious waterproof wellies, brand-name, DUCKBOOTS.

Heather Fielding

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Allan C.
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 10:03 AM

Harpgirl, I love your "impossible to spell but means "smith" in the Swiss language". I will have to remember that line when trying to describe something intangible to someone;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 06:15 PM

grew out of me shoes

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: DougR
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 11:53 PM

My Mother named me Rayford Douglas. I have been called Doug all my life. If your first name was Rayford, wouldn't you be happy folks called you Doug instead of Rayford?

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: BK
Date: 08 Oct 99 - 12:01 AM

2 letters. Easy to type. should've made it lower case. I type all day at work. ALL our records go in an abominably programmed minimal support State computor system. It goes down often. Usually after I've typed a long entry on an important patient encounter - but just before I've done the equivalent of "save to the hard drive." I HATE typing; So initials are ok. Nothing more than "Buzz" is longer...

Cheers, BK (who should be "bk")

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Hutzul
Date: 08 Oct 99 - 03:12 AM

The people of the Carpathian Mts. of Ukraine are call the Hutzuli. Very isolated and rich in folk lore and ritual. Also great music, which I have found in Mt. people everywhere.

It's also the name of my business,Hutzul Graphics. But I guess to be grammatically correct, it should be Hutzulka (fem.)

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 08:36 AM

When I first got onto the Mudcat, I thought it best to use a name to indicate what I do. So, Yarnspinner was it. Then, I realized that it was ok to use my real name. I hear it means Ruler of the river Glen in Gaelic. Well, thats good enough for me, 'cause in English, it means motor oil.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Faded Denim
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 08:51 AM

This is the name of our trio. We sing a lot of 60's style folk music. You know ... close harmonies ... PP&M style. Old, well worn and comfortable music that just feels so good. Like an old pair of jeans and a denim shirt. So we all dress in denims when we perform.

Also, Judy and George and I are all 50+... "Old Genes" :o)

Reid

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 09:15 AM

For many years I was called Syd, my middle name, because when someone on the ship shouted "hey Dave" The Bosun Carpenter, Lamptrimmer, three A/B's, the Second Mate and two Engineers, and me! stopped working and said which Dave? I thought that here we could avoid confusion here if I added a short description of which Dave it was.... Bronwen will back me on this one; try going to Wales and asking to see Dai Jones, Is that Jones the Post, Jones the Reverend, Jones the Taxi, Jones the Police, Jones the Butcher or Jones the Baker? etc. etc. etc. Half the bloody village are known by their trade rather than their name.. (No I am not a Taffy, Bronwen) just over the border in Lancashire born in Gracie Fields hometown. Sailed out of Manchester with many a good Welshman though. Should have heard us singing on that ship (especially at Christmas) wonderfull singers the Welsh... Yours, Aye. Dave Lever

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 10:23 AM

The trio I sing in is Woodchucks' Revenge. One of the other members, my wife, is littler than me. Our partner, Sandy, is bigger than me. So I'm the middle Woodchuck.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Shimbo Darktree
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 11:36 AM

What's wrong with my name?
Actually, this thread has made me think. You are a good mob
so I'll be honest. I chose a nick because I was not sure
what I might be letting myself in for when I started on the
web, so caution suggested a nickname, which I also use on my
home page. We don't all want to be identified ... and I
didn't mention the Gar ... whoops.
On the other hand, I do not have a problem with attaching my
name to my opinions when appropriate (that is, when it is time
to stand up and be counted. In fact, my name is on an earlier
thread, and also somewhere on the personal profiles (I think
... I've forgotten where to look.
I am a sci-fi fan, and Shimbo Darktree was a god in one of
Roger Zelazny's novels. I have found I am not the only
Shimbo on the net, but there are a hell of a lot more Ian Clarkes.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: longhair
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 03:56 PM

Mine is derived from the 70's. That's what all the old men in town called me w/ a few expletives behind it. I use it on the radio (cb) and it still fits, meaning I still have long hair. So it was just the name I used when I started on the net.... Funny, now those old men ( the ones still alive)and I have a blast jawing and giving each other a hard time! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 04:00 PM

Dave, I have often wonerded whether this "[Surname] the [Occupation]" is just a South Wales thing. I have lived in part of North Wales for 21 years this time round and have rarely come across it.

There are lots of associations but the usual ones in this area work along the lines of "[Firstname] [Assocaition]". Occupations are used e.g. Dei Plumber, place names e.g. Davey Bangor, House names eg I am still known as Jon Skerryvore, Other things e.g. I am most commonly known as Jon Banjo.... The only person I can thing of with a "the" in it at the moment is Pete the Box - one of the local undertakers.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: reeebop
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 04:19 PM

ree is the name i've had my whole life---it's actually short for mariemma but only my mother is allowed to call me that.

and then a alot of people started calling me reebop when i started kindergarten because i was always bopping around i guess...

and the extra e got added in because when i signed up for hotmail i wanted to use sugaree (another of my long list of names for people who can't pronounce my name to call me) but someone was already using it and so i added the extra e and i've been using it for eveything....i even sign my test papers for school reee....

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Dave Swan
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 04:29 PM

Jon,

Some years ago I met one of the regulars in a friend's local. He was an undertaker and known, predictably, as Dave the Grave. It suited him in all ways.

E.S.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: MamaTamba
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 04:45 PM

I don't know how this thread became reactivated...but I'm love'n it. My name (also my e-name) is a corruption of Mama Tambo from the John Wayne movie "Hatari". Elsa Martinelli played the part of a woman who becomes adoptive mother to two baby elephants...who then follow her EVERYWHERE. The natives named her Elephant Mother/MamaTambo. I haven't adopted any elephants...but that's about the only animal I haven't taken into my home. MamaTamba is a better nickname than "Crazy old animal lady" and it's easier to type.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Paul G.
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 05:11 PM

Well, Paul is my given name, and G. is the last initial...the day I found the Mudcat, almost exactly one year ago (happy anniversary to me), I was so eager to join and become part of the community that I didn't want to take the time to come up with something more creative --something I've occassionally regretted since...

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: JenEllen
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 05:26 PM

Sorry, but mine was a birthday present as well. Named after Scottish gramma Jennie, and Irish gramma Ellen. Depends on what family I'm talking to as to what I'm called. Wee Jenna, Jen, Elle, Your Irish (in fits of temper)...;) Elle

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Little Dorritt
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 05:37 PM

a character from Dickens as you probably are all aware. a few years ago i travelled around the USA and Europe on my own. This book was my comfort blanket, I have read it many many times and have just finished reading it again.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: JamesJimFolk
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 05:41 PM

It was by pure accident. I mean, my name really is James and I'm called Jim (or Jimmy, by some in my family), but when I was asked to identify myself with a web name, I chose JimFolk. I should have known - that name was already taken. Funny, I haven't seen it in Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: charcloth
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 05:42 PM

while camping at a living history event I used a kerosine heater,well something didn't work right & we all(wife & kids)woke up blackened from the soot. Because of that, I got dubbed "Charcloth" for a material used to start fires back 100 years or so. Any way that's a handel I wear at these events now & the name of my of my recording. Jeff Stugill

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 08:03 PM

Hello JamesJimFolk,

I tried to send you a personal message a couple of weeks ago, but you must not be registered. I may have some close relatives living near you in Holly Springs!

Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 08:10 PM

At school I was Buggy. I always liked Bugsy better so Bugsy it is.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Rosebrook
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 08:56 PM

I'm Rose and my sweetie is Brook. We each use the combined name for on-line stuff.

Rose

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 09:08 PM

It's a lot of fun to hear where you all came up with your names, natal or not! PaulG..I just had my first anni. here, too! MamaTamba..I love it! I am one of those animal ladies, too. Have you read Elephants in the Living Room, Bears in the Canoe? Excellent book, I am sure you would like it; people actually raised a baby elephant in their home, until she grew too big and had to move to the barn. Rosebrook has always conjured up beautiful imagery, for me, of peaceful running water, in a glade of trees, filled with rose petals floating atop it, scenting the air with sweet perfume.

Thanks ya'll.

katlaughing

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Caitrin
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 09:21 PM

Caitrin is reportedly the Welsh translation of my real name, Kathryn. I liked the sound of it so much that I appropriated it as a nickname. (I also get called Katja or Katusha, which is the Slovak translation of my name, but only by my grandfather and father.)

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 09:47 PM

I drew a blank at a rather inopportune moment during an intriductory name-game at a voice workshop at a filk con in Toronto. Several of my dear friends suggested the above appellation...and I decided it was better to run with it than argue...

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 10:01 PM

Not very imaginative of me, I suppose, but I'm a woman and I live in Wyoming. (I used KC for the first couple of weeks I was on the 'Cat, but then another KC surfaced and I switched. Haven't seen her in these parts since, but I like WyoWoman, so it's actually better this way.)

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: arkie
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 12:15 AM

I started out with my real name, Elliott Hancock, but that took too long to type, not creative enough to think of something clever, so settled on Arkie, since I now reside in Arkansas, and finally arkie and I don't have to use the shift key.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: JedMarum
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 12:36 AM

Thanks to Kendall for reactivating this thread. It has been fun!

Shimbo - you will find those Mudcat profiles here but I didn't find one for you there, unless it is under yet another name. You will find, Kendall, and Kat, Rick Feilding and lots of others ....

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 01:47 AM

Caitrin, that is too cool. I was the only one in my family not born in Colorado. Mom and dad had me up north in norwegian country of North Dakota. Sometimes, usually when mom was mad, if she didn't call me Kathleen, it was "Katrinka".**BG** I think all of the kath names sound so pretty in almost any language. When Rog worked in Venezuela, I became Katalina.

Now I am distilled to kat

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 05:31 AM

Looks like a name, but is a "nick". Never did like the sound of "Gerald". "Jeremiah" comes from the Three Dog Night song "Joy to the World". I was working in the photo studio at Sheridan College one evening doing a class assignment with one of the modelling students. We hit it off bigtime; kidding around, singing Gershwin show tunes "S'Wonderful") & stuff. At one point Sonja pointed at me & started to sing "Jeremiah was a bullfrog". It became my nickname at the time, and considering some of the nicknames I've had in my life, I figured this was one to stay with. When I got re-involved in folk music, I stuck with it. When I got involved with Mudcat, I had to add to it on accounta just the single name wasn't accepted for logon. Well, I've never been comfortable with "Budnark" either and it just didn't seem to flow with "Jeremiah", so I added my birth mother's maiden name. And now ya know the whole sordid story!

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 12:23 PM

Wincing Devil is an anagram of my name.

Anagrams are kifty!

MONICA LEWINSKY is an anagram of SLICK MAY WIN ONE

http://www.anagramfun.com/

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Danlbear
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 12:33 PM

They wouldn't accept my other nickname, but I haven't seen a post by "folksinger" yet. I still can't believe in this particular forum, someone would actually pick that as a nic.....;-> dan

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Hagbardr
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 01:34 PM

Named myself after a character in R. A. Wilson's Illuminatus Trilogy

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Sean Belt
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 03:10 PM

This isn't a nickname, but my own real one. When I first came on line (at a BB other than Mudcat), I felt it was important to give out my real name as a way of standing behind whatever opinions I posted. Particularly as a lot of the other posters in that place seemed to hide behind misnomers to feel safe when being snotty or giving grief to those who didn't deserve it. Since then, using my real name's gotten to be a habit.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Jack The Lad
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 03:24 PM

I run a folk festival named Jacob's Ladder- why it's called Jacob's Ladder is a longer story.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: JamesJim
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 05:06 PM

Hello Mary in Kentucky. I am new at this - you're right, I had not registered. Now I've taken care of that. A friend told me about this site and I just jumped in with both feet. Let me know where your friend(s) live. Jim

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: vikinglass
Date: 03 Jan 00 - 09:10 PM

I chose mine because I have red hair and blue eyes. Indicitive of Viking blood...or so I've been told.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Willie-O
Date: 04 Jan 00 - 11:17 AM

Just about everyone here knows the real Willie-O, of course, the shady character inhabiting many folk songs who is usually found stabbing his lover, or at best running off to sea to get away from her.

He is sometimes accompanied in these endeavours by his brother, Johnny-O.

As someone once said in a movie, "hey, relax, I'm not really like that (except when I am)" No, really, I'm not. I am the morbid brooding type though, and decided to celebrate or at least accept this side of my nature through adopting the Willie-O alter ego.

The real joke is that this Willie-O actually married Molly-O, who civilized him somewhat, and they built a house in the hills and had a couple of younguns and are still there fifteen years later. Johnnie-O, my brothers real name, is also avoiding trouble and enjoying his new career as a museum technician at the Canadian War Museum, where he gets to sort through their huge collection of cannon balls (I presume), other weaponry, and militaria of all types, without hurting anyone.

Glad someone asked...

Willie-O

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Metchosin
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 03:01 AM

I've been away for a week or so, I'll just tack this on the end. Metchosin's where I live,.... means "stinking whale",..... wanna make something of it, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 04:14 AM

Happy New Year, back at the ol' PC & no bugs!
I've already explained my original nickname on this thread, I changed to skiffler to avoid offending anyone who really needed a walking frame ( I don't like to offend anyone, no, really!) and chose the new one to reflect the sort of folk music I listen to most.
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Bob Jovi
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 07:36 PM

Bob Jovi is not my nickname. I've been called Spanky (in Ithaca NY), Putt (other New York locales), Diesel (in Vermont), Lucky (the Boston area), and Doctor J (my current handle). I've probably forgotten a few.

I adopted Bob Jovi to baffle Animaterra when were were swopping locales a while back. We live in the same town, but I didn't want to tip my hat too soon.

Some people must believe that it is my real name. Alas, neither do I rock, or hail from New jersey.

Lucius

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 02:31 AM

RATED BEST OLD THREAD by this old newbie

Refresh for the benefit of all the new newbies!

Great snapshots of all the wacky wild ones in here!

Now when I see your photos I will think of your posts in the thread like it's a Dragnet wanted poster/BOLO.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: pastorpest
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 08:28 AM

I am nearly computer illiterate. I needed my son to help me join the Mudcat. When my name "John" was taken I was stumped. My son said to use "pastorpest". "I am sure no one will have that one", he said. I use the term because as a clergy person I am always working with volunteers. When I am phoning a volunteer for the umpteenth time on a project we are working on I will identify myself on the phone as "pastorpest". It is a humorous way of acknowledging how much time and effort that volunteer has already given and is still being asked to give.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Callie
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:20 AM

I've named myself after the character in Monica Dickens' "House at World's End" series about a family of children whose house is overrun with stray animals. Callie was always determined to give her animals real names. She called her horse "John" because she thought names like "Starlight" were undignified. She has stayed with me! -Callie

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Amos
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:23 AM

My mother gave it to me more years ago than I want to think about, and it is short and quick to ype.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: jeffp
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 10:58 AM

Not much to explain here - my first name and last initial. All lower case because I'm basically lazy.

Subject: RE: BS: Why did you choose your nickname?
From: Troll
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:53 AM

Back when I was 90% muscle and the rest pure fool, A young lady in whom I had an interest told me that I had the manners and disposition of a troll and that she was most emphatically NOT interested in me!

I took the nickname troll to remind me to be kind to people regardless of what I thought of them. It's stood me in good stead over the years.

troll is lower case because I'm too lazy to hit the shift key.(Pretentios? Moi?)

troll