Kate, off topic to some. Inspiring to others. ChromeTiger is off to create an image inspired by the name of a fellow artist. Ron mentioned the "Impractical" stuff. I've had a new and improved version of the "WWSBT" sitting on the hard drive for a long time. I've been finishing it while watching this thread, it will be in the freebies later today. Sometimes inspiration comes from odd places. Why not the handle of another artist. Personally inspiration is the hardest part. I always want to do something, just most of the time I don't know what. $.02

I am civil engineer in a big trust in Germany and my job is construction, master-user and care for AutoCAD. My real name is, Roland Wolf

Growing up I was facinated by Norse mythology (I'm Scottish by the way) and when I first started visiting various forums, I quickly found that my first (unimaginative) attempts at screennames (mostly characters from books - I did say unimaginative didn't I?) were already taken, so I then tried to think of something REALLY obscure, hence 'yggdrasil' - the world tree of Norse myth. (PS. do I get a bonus for the most convoluted sentence) - Mark

Ohman is a simple "englification" of my swedish last name man. Boring, yes i know, but many of my english speaking fellow thinks "Jorgen Oh-man" sounds funny. I have used 'ohman' online since 1992-1993. /Ohman

Just a simple explanation: My first name is Robert and Sharks attracted me since i was a child. Those animals are so powerfull and haden't much changes since millions of years because they're since then perfect. Robert aka SHARKEY

Not that it really matters, but I'm just curious why people use made-up names. Just for fun, anonymity, a creative streak? This is interesting. I just wasn't clever enough to come up with something else that suited me (funny, cause I'm also a writer), so my own name had to do. Hey, Ron, this is a fun thread. Melanie

Melanie, thanks for the compliment. I was thinking about these "artist's names" one day, and just wondering where they all came from. Senjin is a buddy, so he explained his alias pretty much. I learned the rest of the story a year later. Maybe one reason some of us use an alias is that it is a way of reflecting how we see ourselves. We might identify with a particular character in literature or history. I think some of us just don't want to use our own names in our artwork. Maybe we don't want our friends, relatives or co-workers to know about our art? Sometimes it is nice, or even liberating to be "annonymous" (spelling?). And sometimes it is awkward to use your real name. I had a hard time finding a design for a "web-button" that had enough room for "Ron Knights." Over the past few years I've bugged my friends and family to see all my creative pursuits. They get tired of it fast. But when they do look, they don't want to remember my current alias. They said I will always be "Ron" or "Ron Knights" to them. So I'm back to being "me." Ron

"He was born with a gift of laughter, and a sense that the world was mad." This is a quote from the novel Scaramouche: A Romance of the French Revolution, by Rafael Sabatini. In truth, he was quite a rogue, a pirate, if you will. You can read the entire ebook online at http://www.blackmask.com/olbooks/scmshdex.htm However, Scaramouche is also the name of a four-hand, two-piano duet written by Darius Milhaud, a French-born twentieth century composer. While he was living in Argentina, he composed this three-movement piece in 1937. It is my favorite two-piano duet - so much so that a friend of mine, who is also a Julliard graduate, and I have been playing it at concerts as a showstopper finale. You must listen to it sometime - while listening to the last movement, Brazileira, you will not be able to quit tapping your foot (or some other appendage, for that matter) in time with the South American rhythms. There is a MIDI file at http://www.midiworld.com/cmc/twenty.html and search for Milhaud (it's about halfway down the page); both Windows Media Player and Apple's QuickTime Player can play MIDI files (this one is about 24KB). By day, I am employed as a public school computer science teacher; by night I teach computer courses at a local business college. On weekends, I get to log on to Renderosity.com (when I'm not playing the piano!). Kudos to you, Ron, for a most enjoyable thread!

Alright, Chrome tiger had an idea, let's run with it! I'm going to go start a challenge in the Challenge Forum, with the whole purpose being to create an image in whatever renderer you wish, of your image of another person's Renderosity Identity. The prize? Well, how about this: First prize is your choice of the Redta Riding Lizard, or the Dragonstar Company, both from my store, both priced at $20. Hey, it's not much, but this could be fun! Oh, and I need volunteers who are not going to enter, who would be willing to vote on the thread...

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12372&Form.ShowMessage=554982

Is right here... You have until March 1, on which day judging will begin! If you wish to volunteer to help judge, please IM me, and let's get rendering!

Cool Idea, Ron. Mine's simple: Im4Angels = I'm for Angels......and for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I like your name, Im4Angels. I'm for Jesus, too. Or I guess I should say Im4Jesus2. ;) Jay

Ok my name comes from (can you believe) a beer advert. We had a beer advert a couple of years ago here in south africa where the men would sit at a bar a hit there beer glasses on the counter screaming Loftie (which were the barmans name), but he would ignore them, then a couple of cool dudes would walk into the bar and go sit at a table and point at the barman (Loftie), were upon he would wink and mention to the table were something was under a cloth. Upon revealing it, it was an icebucket full of very cold beers. Being a beerlover myself it kinda stuck to the back of my head and when I first signed onto the internet and had to think of a name nobody else uses it just popped onto the screen. I also used everywhere IRC, mail, etc. Well there is my story. PS: I sign my pictures with my real name because outside of the internet nobody knows my internet handle.

I've had this story in my head for about 10 years now. The main character started with the name Vadim. But I didn't like the ring of it after a while, so he became Etarniel (Tarn for short). But that one did not quite fit the character, so I changed it again. He's been called Kethram ever since. My real name is quite unique. If I used it as a nickname, anyone who knows me would know it was me. I like the anonymity of a nickname. I've used the names Sharena and Sha'Aree but somehow those names don't fit me anymore. Some time ago I realised that Kethram from my story is a lot like myself, so I started to use Kethram as a nickname. There's just one problem with it: people get confused about my gender. Kethram may be male, but I'm am female.

My name came from the female in a novel I'm writing. A, clean, silly sappy love story..... they always say Lacey has already been taken so it became Llacey... there you have it.

I got that nickname from my american class mates, when I did the exchange year. They just loved the style of my glasses and that's why they called me specs. I kind of liked the nick so I took it.

Well, I got hooked up with "The Wheel of Time" fantasy books and Tuath'an means one of the traveling people. They are people who follow "the way of the leaf" harming no-one signing and dancing while the world is going mad around them. They are on a kind of a neverending quest to find "the forgotten song should brings harmony back to the world". (Blush)

What an intriguing thread! :) I think I'll just have to post something. I'm usually very very quiet here, but this brought me out of my shell. :) Kudos, Ron!

From the help entry for TriTeq in the online game I help create:
"The human megaconglomerate that owns most of the important industries of the known (read: game) universe. Its rival is SeetKorp, another megaconglomerate established by the Altair race."

Well, that entry was written by someone else, not me! laugh In reality, TriTeq is a combination of my spouse's and my online names. We needed a name for a corporation for an online area we were writing together back when we first met online, and we started using TriTeq as our inside joke. Well, over time and as we developed and wrote the background information for our game, we started using the name more and more (yes, we were too lazy to invent other companies!) until it turned into a megacorporation! :)

I use the name here because it has a unique presence, it's relatively androgynous, and I like the techy feel that it has. Plus, it reminds me of my spouse whom I met online almost 9 years ago, and how much of our relationship is supporting each other in our creative endeavors.
Cheers! smile

Wow, I'm absolutely excited that my friends are so enthusiastic about this thread. I see so many exciting stories! Makes me feel a bit embarassed that my story is so dull. "My name is my name," grin. I could tell you about all the aliases I'd used and abandoned over the years, but that's old news, and off-topic, grin. Ron

I get asked that all the time. I have used the name forever, since before prodigy or AOL on BBS internet in early 80's. I have a circle of friends who have been together for, well ages. We sort of have a club. We follow a code of Honor based on the old Templars. Each of us has specific responsability in the Order, The Knights of the Black Rose. I have always been the one to keep the law. I have to watch over the others in the "Club", make sure they follow the rules and code. When names were assigned to each position, They started calling me The Overseer as a joke and it stuck. The Knights of the Black Rose, though small, spread worldwide after some time and an Overseer is needed in each "House". Soon we started tagging the first initial of that Overseer's name on the end of the title. My name is Nick, thus, OverseerN... OK now that I have bored you all to death, my brothers and I wish you well. Until Next... N.

another no brainer here, using real name. i want to do a portrait, anyone volunteer to be my victim? preferrably a feminine name or a funky male name.

Well that lets me out! Ron

This is my nickname. I got it when I was younger. I use to break horses. Where I am from we call a stubborn, ornery hardheaded horse that is hard to break a hardtwist. Thus it fits me. hehehehe

What a great thread... and Chrome, what a great idea.

ermm... guess i am a total lackwit because i stuck with my name. i also go by audrebytes, when audre is taken.

regarding the challenge, mebbe I'll give it a shot myself and pick on someone. evil laugh

i'de be happy to donate a prize too, one of my textures or something -- if the winner is interested.

thanks for starting this really cool thread!

Long convoluted story.. so we shoot for the abridged version.. Irish great grampa used to call me seilagh na nog or of the fae... then i got started in pagan life and kinda studied faerie magic type stuff... then started rpg... name charma the sprite.. which got shortened to charmsprite which just finally got shortened to charmz... yeah its cuz i am basically lazy and dont wanna have to type out charma the sprite... friends call me charmz even in the real world.. wherever that may be... or sam.. (even longer story since my name is sheila) sometimes find myself signing documents C-Sprite... which usually gets me some odd looks.. or maybe its the tiny lil wings comin out of the back of my t-shirt?

I think its funny that Ron started this thread by saying, "I'm not sure if this one will take off or not." and this is one of the longest running threads I've ever seen on Renderosity. :) Jay PS Forgive me if someone has already made this observation. Jay

Come on now... do I really have to explain my nickname? I think the name speaks for itself. That's me rolled up in one long, rather odd name. Clinically insane? Muahahaha...

My identity is based on my real name, which is Kiera. The name is Celtic and according to various name sites means "the dark one" or "the evil one." It's all true! =) My last name starts with W, but I hate it so I won't mention it here. =)

Hey, can I join?

Mines similar to Im4Angels, I believe in Spiritual warfare that takes place around us and in the heavenlies

LordsWarrior;
Lord's (God's, Jesus')
Warrior (Warrior)

-LW (Standing tall down on his knees)

Attached Link: http://www.joey-n-lee.com

This is an awsome thread y'all.. (yeah I said y'all.. I live in Texas.. sue me! LOL) Mine here is my name, obviously, but have been on the net since '96 and have accumulated several.. so, I'll go into those... First ID was Alucard1 Alucard was the name I got from the 86 Horror-Spoof movie "The Monster Squad" Alucard was Count Dracula (Alucard-Dracula) My second was Halcyon Reign, that I came up when I was in like the 5th grade. In my vocab class I came across the word "halcyon" which according to the dictionary meant peacful or calm.. "Halcyon Reign" I thought would have been a cool name for a character, and so adopted it myself. Most of my other id's were variations on these Alucard## for any other Al's before me at the location, and HalcyonR if HalcyonReign was too long.. Thanks Ron for starting this thread, I've always wondered where people got their nicks, and have been asked on mulitudes of occasions where mine has come from... If anyone has any interest in my personal info, check out my site link... I have some of my Poser stuff on my 3D Stuff page...

Hey Ron, This is great! Don't know how I missed this one! People always ask me why I'm always smiling , or what are you so happy about, so I decided pokeydots sounded happy, and thats it! Another dull story :) My only other username, was mommamoose lol and that came from me chasing my grandaughter around with my thumbs in my ears, yelling moose on the loose and chasing her everywhere! So my daughter called me mommamoose :)

I only just found this thread and probably no-one is gonna see my story but here goes: - I'm a big skateboarding fan and while i was looking at decks on the net one day, i came across a Willy Sanchez deck that had a cool picture of a dog in a fur coat and fedora on it and it had "Pimp Will-E" written on it so i just changed it to Pimpin Willy E and voila. It's a good alias cos no-one else will have thought of it unless they stole it off me!LOL!!!! By the way, my name is Gerrard Herpich and i live in sunny Australia (yeh right, its Pi$$ing down rain right now) and i feel like a baby at these forums cos i hear people saying things like "back when i was younger in the 70's or eighties" and i was just a twinkle in my daddy's eye back then. No offense meant!!LOLOLO!!!! I'm only 16. And melanie, i use an alias cos no-one can usually spell my name right and it's kinda boring See Y'all fellow nerds and render-bunnys I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it! chuckles to self they'll never know mwahahahahahaha

Interesting I've never been a fan of frank zappa, more black sabbath for me

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Gosh that brings back some pretty hazy memories of the 1960's and 1970's?!

I'll end this thread by coming in late. Try growing up with a name like Beaver, and not getting stuck by your friends as "the beav".....can't be done. Ask my brothers or sisters... They tried sticking me with a new nick in my college frat....just wouldn't take. So when I came online way back when...it had to be as "Beav".

My nick started on AOL also, many years ago. I needed a name for a roleplaying game there. Chai (Shy) because I am shy. And Lynne because it sounded good, also my cousin's middle name. Many people have asked me if I'm asian over the years which I'm not. I'm kind of attached to the name, and I've never had a problem using it wherever I go. I used to hate my real name when I was younger. I like it now but it's rather plain. Dawn

Dawn is a really wonderful name. It reminds me "of a new Dawn," a reawakening of the day and spirituality. I'm sure your parents thought of that when they named you. It's funny how the children sometimes see a name differently than the parents saw the name.. I love these stories. Thanks for sharing. Ron

Ok I'm very, very late to this thread. I chose the name groingrinder to make people laugh and to "stick it in the face" of the "establishment". It was originally my aol login name as well, then the bastards told me that they were a pure and virgin family oriented company and if I continued to use that name they would stop my service. So on aol I am known as elgatodelnoche and here I am known as groingrinder. Also I do not like names that have numbers in them.

I must say groingrinder makes me shudder... ouch. The other name I couldn't begin to spell or pronounce. Ouch again.

el gato del noche Easier when you break it apart Ron, "the cat of the night" is the literal translation

Hooray for judith. Most people shorten it to nite cat. I usually go to bed sometime shortly after sunrise.

;) I knew that semester of Spanish was going to pay off in r/l someday. :)))

DOH... Now that you mention it. Teehee. Now I see.

mines simplish.... Kaibach.. from my old Klingon club name K'baH the story was, the club was a adult trek club... based on making fun of Trek.... my name there means 'Open Fire...' so Kaptain K'baH came out as 'Open fire on the Kaptain'... I was a very nervous captain! when I left.. it became Kaibach and now just Kai

Way cool thread. Thanks nu-be for bringing to the fore :) Bella Morte was the last role playing character I created prior to 1996. Even though my husband had been using the internet for years, I didn't start until 1999 (all his fault that I'm addicted to it LOL) Anyway. We were setting up for another D&D session and I just got a Gazetteer (sp?) on the Indians of the D&D world. I decided that I wanted a btchy type character so I chose the Mayan/Aztex/Incan group (got a little tired of playing sweet virtuous type females LOL). Anyway, their names are death based so my husband chose Bella Morte = Lady Death or Beautiful Death. We then got Vampire: The Masquerade and I decided to transfer into that game setting so she became a vampire. We were in the setting up stages when circumstances forced us to put rpg on the shelves. Then I got involved in the internet and I had to use something but I didn't want to use my everyday name so here I am. Mind you, I could have gotten away with using my true name as it is strange enough but I hate it because no one pronounces it correctly and that just pssed me right off so it got shortened to Kay (that is what I am known as now to all but my family). The other reason why I use Bella Morte is because she allowed me to be something that I am not. Outgoing and straight forward. In reality I am shy and reserved. Not that you can tell on the internet here LOL Sorry for the epic. I now return you to your regular scheduled programme ;)

Wow, thanks everyone for your contributions to this thread. The thread goes back a few months, if memory serves. I thought it was just fading away. I'm glad to see people still stopping in to say hello!

I think it is a great thread ron :) Thank you for starting it :) If nu-be hadn't found it and responded to it, I would never have known it was here :)

I want to thank all my Renderosity friends for making this one of the largest, long-standing threads. This thread began as idle curiousity. You might say I think too much sometimes. I just happened to wonder about this concept one day. My current mystery is the "origins of the Naked Chick in the Temple" pics that so many people do! Take care! Ron

Mine was taken from the anime "Oh My Goddess!" in which they talk about the aforementioned Norse Mythology, Tree of Life. Although in the anime, Yggdrasil is the computer system that controls things. I'm not in relation with "yggdrasil", just expressing where I got the name from. ^_^ Like yggdrasil, mine too now means Tree of Life. Although, it came from the anime when I first really thought about a screenname.

Ack :( 'Rosity ate my first reply :( When I first came on-line a few years ago, I discovered a strange fact - I was not the ONLY wierdo in the World who liked imagining themselves as an anthropomorphic animal. There were whole VR WORLDS (muck/muds/mushes) where folks could be whatever species they liked. When I first signed up to one, I was asked "What is your Character Name? "...for some reason 'Freyfaxi' popped out of my tortured mind...and I've been that char ever since. I got a hotmail account...and plain old freyfaxi was taken, so I became Freyfaxi62. End of story :) Actually, the name Freyfaxi appears in an old (1360's) Icelandic Sage...the name for a stallion dedicated to the Gods. I was also a big fan of the Norse Saga's, so thats where the name came from originally.