14 Feb
2007
14 Feb
'07
8:02 p.m.
Al wrote:
"Hex Star" stands out like a sore thumb.
Everyone else
on this list uses their real name, not a "handle".
There's a couple of respected folks here using
handles but they've been doing so for at least a decade.
The concept of "screen names" has some "classic"
elements esp. w.r.t BBS's (some legit uses) and
phreaking (completely non-legit but somewhat
respectable in a techie sense.)
I grew up not with BBS's but with E-mail lists and Usenet
and had used my real name there enough that the only
time I use a screen name is when I want to hide who I am,
something only rarely done.
Before that, it was ham radio, where using a real
call sign instead of a "handle" was a way of differentiating
the hobby from CB and trying to get some respect.
Tim.