While meandering the halls of cyber-dom I have encountered a phenomena that really makes me ponder. Here I am in a technical news group and what do I see? "Lord of the Rings", and Homer Simpson both have questions about kernel development. Really? The idiot bumbling fool that works at a Nuclear power plant wants to know about kernel mode? Am I to believe Hobbits have taken up programming? An Orc writting a SCSI minport ... now that might be appropriate. Have the evil Lords of WHQL leagued with Mordor!?!? Why "Lord of the Rings" and not Bob, or Andy, or Sue, or Otho, or what ever was given them? I guess I'm lucky, I was blessed with a ridiculous name and don't have to invent one to perpetuate some silly-assed myth of anonymity or humor.
Back when I was young and stupid I enjoyed the sport of skydiving. Yes, even then, I had to have the larger diameter parachute, though my weight had not soared to the stellar heights it is today. I spent many a week end flinging my fragile form into the freezing firmament. But what was humorous was the buddy that every week end, would throw his gear into the back of the car with me, and head off to the local drop zone. He could walk under my arm without mussing his hair. His name was Large. Yes sir, it was Little and Large on the manifest, and if you guessed which was which, you most likely were wrong. He had the same attitude to his, as I had to my, last name. Just be sure you call us in time for dinner.
How wonderful to be blessed with such a natural icebreaking moniker.
When needing something to warm up the group or class to whom I am about to speak, I can always introduce my self as an ambulatory oxymoron. Even without that, over the years the larger I got the more incredulous the looks when I was introduced. After all, standing 5'9" and having a 58" waste line does not incur visions of the little people singing "Ding Dong the witch is dead" in the "Wizard of Oz". No matter where I am, I can always declare I'm the littlest person in attendance and can prove it. When some one says my name, or I produce my drivers license, incredulity turns to humor and smiles. For 57 years I have suffered the slings and arrows of "Do-Little" and "Chicken Little", and learned long ago that which Shakespeare spoke ... "A rose by any other name..."
Even my mother got into the swing of things. There were 5 of us, two boys, one girl and of course Mom and Dad to get ready for church on Sunday morning. Living in rural west Texas in the 50's there weren't many homes that had two baths and since we spent a lot of years in a home on wheels or trailer house as we called it, all 5 of us had to manage on Sunday morning with one toilet, sink, and shower/tub.. My Mom's typical reply to how she managed to get the herd moving in the same direction was "Every Little helps."
I know I've prattled on for a few hundred words and have as yet to say anything "driverish" or mention the DDK. I prattled that prattle to make this point, that our name is the handle by which other people know us. I'm Gary Little and proud to be Gary Little. I don't need a nickname to hide behind, so I will use my name when I appear on a news group. Even when I let loose with a curmudgeonly post I will use my name. I will not stand outside the cage and poke and tease so I can't be gotten to. I shall take as I have given when need be. If you disagree with what I said, then I want you to know with whom you disagree. That's my way of respecting you as a person and I hope you respect me by using your name and not hide behind some silly nickname.
I think respect lies at the core of the issue. The biggest coward I know teases a caged animal, when he knows the animal cannot get to him. I guess posting as "Lord of the Rings" makes them feel safe behind their silly nick name. Why they need that security blanket in a technical newsgroup is beyond my kith and kin. It certainly does not show respect for the person that may have the answer for "Lord of the Rings" question. Maybe "Lord of the Rings" is doing his own kernel work as an avocation, and is a bit intimidated by the folks answering his questions? To that all I can say is that all of us love to answer a good question. Lordy, come join the rest of us. Take your shoes off and sit a spell.
Nicknames are simply not needed in the newsgroups. I don't think it's an issue of some mean wicked no-good-nick hiding behind a nickname so they can acquire knowledge to be used in some evil and nefarious manner. Any one wanting to do that is going to want their question answered as unobtrusively as possible. They will pop in as a Bob Jones or Will Smith and look as normal as possible. Nope, its a matter of respect. I respect you with my Gary Little and you respect me with your John Hancock. So, if your name really is "Moon Shadow Dancer Blue" or "Int13" or "Homer Simpson" or "Lord of the Rings", so be it, and you have my condolences. However, I would much rather answer questions from Eric, or Bob, or Sue, or Sunil or Walter or Kekaoha or Hiawatha or Ponce De Leon...
Respectfully yours,
Gary G. Little