On the 'Net, I could be Anyone

[bcholmes]

Every once in a while, someone on my friends list will post one of those long questionaires that other people are supposed to answer to indicate how well they know the person. Or they'll fill out a questionnaire talking about how well the people on their friends list knows them (á là "how many of your friends have been to your house?").

It occurs to me every once in a while that most people who know me don't even know what my legal name is. How many people know what "BC" stands for? How many people know know that I have two middle names? I could be anyone ferchrissakes.

Comments

Who am I Really? Option 1

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

BC Holmes is the secret identity of the masked vigilante known as "The Observer". Bethany Christine Holmes is the great, great granddaughter of the famous Sherlock Holmes of Victorian London. Motivated by her great, great grandfather's comment: "they see, but they do not observe", she spent years in underworld of London honing her powers of observation and deduction.

In recent years, she has battled such underworld enemies as "The San Carlos Dragon", "The Chapel Hill Hurricane" and "The Raven of Rochester". Position open for a cute Watson (recommended skills: a way with words).

Re: Who am I Really? Option 1

[kalikanzara.livejournal.com]

I'm suddenly quite taken by the notion of a modern day female Hercule Poirot. Ponder.

Who am I Really? Option 2

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

BC Holmes is the founder of Merrythought, a British toy manufacturer. No, really. Check out my history.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i know what b.c. used to stand for. if it's changed, i could certainly now be wrong.

i am totally mystified by the two middle names thing, however.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Interesting...

And how did you come by this knowledge, if'n you don't mind my asking?

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

someone asked at an apc. i think in ottawa. i was in the room at the time. i thought "oh! how perfectly sensible!"

it's late and i have lost my ability to form compound sentences. sorry. :)

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's neat. Boy name, then, eh?

I legally changed it in... September of 1998, I think. Or maybe it was 1997.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

half and half, actually.

i guess this means i was right, and i don't know what it is now. drat! ;)

[snickerpuss.livejournal.com]

Hm, this is weird and stalker-ish, but I know someone who used to work with you (in KW) and I think he knew what BC stands for and I think he even told me, but now I can't remember. :)

PS - Discussion ensued, as he has a cat named BC, which stands for Bad Cat. *heh*

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Oh cool. Who is it, if'n you don't mind my asking?

[snickerpuss.livejournal.com]

Erm, it's longish and slightly awkward - I'll email.

[(Anonymous)]

I remember that conversation too.

Louise

[kalikanzara.livejournal.com]

I'm not sying what I know, I like being mysterious. 'Sides, you pr'y remember. But afdd me to the 'mystified' list.

[hellsop.livejournal.com]

The ambiguity of online life is one of the things that I find really appealing about it. Remember the New Yorker cartoon from several years ago that was captioned "On the internet, no one knows you're a dog"? It's a chance and opportunity to remold oneself into a new soul, and adopt characteristics that feel more suitable, or avoid ones that one doesn't like in oneself.

The most fascinating part is when parts of that online persona start creeping into meatspace, and one finds traces of the habits from online becoming part of the real self, not unlike a visualization exercise that can work over months and years.

By the same token, part of one's personality gets absorbed by the network, and leaves traces behind. Mailing lists and USENET are archived, websites cached, quotes from things linger. Words and thoughts linger like ghosts.

[okoshun.livejournal.com]

So, what's my middle name? Why did I take on a second middle name in grade 8, but never had it legally changed? There are always things that you don't know about a person.

A couple of times I have wondered what BC stands for, or if you had legally changed your name. I also don't feel that I know you well enough to ever ask.

Besides, the unknown is exciting and mysterious. ;)

[angilong.livejournal.com]

Remembering a Certain Thread on alt.poly a while back, I've never asked. But, just out of curiosity, I'd like to know, if you'd like to share.

My legal names have been: Angela Marie Ellis, Angela Marie Ellis Winn, and finally Angela Marie Long. (Nobody I *like* calls me Angela.)