Wednesday, May 2, 2007

what's in a name

I am really new to blogging. I was directed to PossumMomma's blog on a yahoo homeschooling news group because of Possum #1's essay. An excellent and insightful piece of writing by a young person.

I then went on to explore the rest of her blog, explored a few of the blogs she linked to and discovered the wide world of blogging.

I had no idea there were people out there openly discussing atheism and what it means and doesn't mean to be an atheist.

I am very much in the closet. I think my neighbor might have some suspicions, in spite of my lie in answering his question about believing in a deity with a yes. He thought I would not want to eat brownies baked by Lutheran Confirmation kids because they had been "blessed". I'm not sure if he thinks that I am afraid of being smote by lightning if I ate them or what.

My parents however, have no idea. I think they would be really distraught at the idea that I was "rejecting god". And that is a conversation I am really unwilling to have at this point.

Since I am an unrevealed atheist, I have felt very much in the minority. The only one I talked to about being an atheist was my mate- who deconverted before me and I was just playing catch-up.

While I was roaming through the archives of a variety of blogs I found several dealing with the idea of atheists coming out of the closet and why American society considers it shameful to be an atheist. I decided to out myself in a very minor way with my own blog where I could explore being an atheist in an annonymous environment without having to worry about the condemnation of family and friends.

I started my blog without having a clue about traditions or conventions in the blogging world, which is why the web location is godlessmomathome.blogspot.com, the title of the blog is Atheist Homeschooler and my login name was look_an_atheist. Plus it struck me as funny that when I commented it would say "look_an_atheist said..."

However, I am tired of the nothingness of "look_an_atheist". For one, other bloggers don't know how to refer to me and for another, I am repulsed by the utter impersonality portrayed in that phrase.

I need a new name.

I have a few ideas, but would love to hear if you have any suggestions.

I would also like to know how and why you choose your own blogger name!

Update:

20 comments:

Jacob said...

This is interesting, because over the fifteen or so months that I've been blogging, I have changed my name a few times as the content of my blog has changed.

Since it started out as a place where I could unload my atheistic rants, my original name was 'blasphemer.'

After a while I blogged less and less about religious topics, so I decided to change the name to 'formerly known as blasphemer.'

Because this was a bit long, most of the time I was referred to as "FKAB" which I quickly grew very sick of. Mostly because some very rude individuals would twist it into "KFAG" which got a bit tired.

So I changed it again - to my real name, Jacob, just because it's easy that way.

Anyway.

I'm not sure what to suggest for your new name. Something atheistic, I suppose. You could go for "godless mom" to fit with the blog address.

Hmm....

Fiery said...

"kfag" OUCH!!! I hope you exercised your blog owner prerogative and deleated their smarmy asses.

Actually you must have, I never read anything like that on BentMyWookie.

One question- who is the crippled Irishman and why are you laughing at him? I'm guessing I'm exposing which side of the generation gap I'm on just by asking....

I'd go with my real name, but am leary of releasing too many details lest Mumsy and Daddykins find out about the *shhhhhh* atheism thing.

Jacob said...

The kfag thing was mostly by people on other blogs, where I used to argue with them about religion. I couldn't exactly delete them.

Crippled Irishman: it's a reference to the Simpsons...

Mr Burns has a flashback to an incident in his childhood in which he broke the legs of an Irish man with a bumper car. After that, Mr. Burns is shown laughing for several days, and at the end of it he asks "what was I laughing at again? Oh yes, that crippled Irishman!"

I found it funny, anyway.

Toni said...

I don't blame you for wanting to remain hidden until you are comfortable admitting your atheism to everyone in your life.

I have been blogging for a long time (since July 2001). I started it as a way to keep in touch with a friend of mine who lived in Denver, and to stay in touch with my friends and share our lives. When said friend committed suicide in 2002 I kept blogging anyway.

I have changed my name several times. I have settled on Tone, for now. My name is actually Toni, and I do comment under that name when I can. I don't however use my real name on my blog, mostly because I don't really want my friends to find my atheist rants blog. Everyone in my life knows that I am an atheist, I am not in the closet.

That being said, I am not sure I am ready to share my atheism life with my friends. I know they love me and support me, but I enjoy sharing this part of me with like minded people, I feel more free to say what I want that way.

I do link my other blog to my atheist blog, I want people visiting to know that I am someone beyone my views, especially christian trolls.

As for my family, they don't even know what a blog is. They do know that I am an atheist but according to my grandmother "of course you believe in god, everybody believes in god." I avoid discussions now.

Ok, the novel is almost done, I promise. I have settled Tone because it is close to my real name, I prefer to show who I am. I choose to stand by my views.

But nobody should be forced from the closet ever. You should consider something close to you and what you are. Either that or something totally absurd like "turdblossom".
:)

Fiery said...

Jacob- mean people suck period. It always baffles me when they do it while claiming to be christian. not worth the time of day. Period.

I should have known it was from the Simpsons. *sigh*

"Smithers, release the dogs". Mr. Burns is a hoot.

The puckered up fat chick you use for a pic makes me laugh. I love it! If she had a thought bubble I totally imagine it saying "wtf?"

Fiery said...

Tone- Turdblossome *helplessly laughing* Yikes. That is an awful image.

I can relate to wanting to share the atheist part of your life with like minded people.

There is really only so many times I want to have the conversations I had with Dani about evolution, creationism, evil, morality. Pretty much once. That was enough.

And I don't imagine ever wanting to do that in person. It was a learning experience.

thank you Tone and Jacob for sharing your stories!

no need to apologize for length, I love to read what you guys write.

BigTex71 said...

I don't use my real name because I am still in the closet about my atheism. I started out considering myself to be agnostic, but the more I read and post on atheist and fundamentalist christian blogs (Dani's), the more I think I am a full blown atheist than 'just' an agnostic.

I would let you take my other anonymous nickname, but I don't think it would fit a woman - Hugh Jaskok. :)

Good luck in your quest for a new name... maybe go to that drink site and pick out one of those funny-named drinks! Or just 'Ewok'. We would know what it's short for. :)

Sean Wright said...

Sean is my first name and I spend a lot of my time reading and writing blogs, just thought my name seemd to fit.

Don't know what to suggest though. Maybe read some online guides on naming blogs?

Tommykey said...

Those brownies were "blessed" eh? I hope they were spiked with marijuana! :-)

I can't think of a name for you at present, but I would suggest picking one of your favorite foods or your favorite toy and use it as inspiration.

I use my real name in my blog and when I post comments, but I picked the name of my blog because I always liked the phrase Exercise in Futility.

Fiery said...

Wow!!! Thank you for all your great comments!

BigTex- Hugh Jaskok sounds hillarious, and yes not very feminine. Is it inspired by Hugh Jackman?

I like the idea of Ewok, I've added it to my ideas list. People who want to know why Ewok would have to read my blog eh? :-D

As for the other drinks, the names I remember without checking are buttery nipple and Slap Yo Mama.

BWAHAHAAHAH. Can you imagine having an intellectual discussion from somebody named buttery nipple???????

Fiery said...

Tommy- I did ask if the brownies had special spiritual enhancing properties...I'm not sure he appreciated my blasphemy...er...humor. :-P

As for the favorite food hmmmm
Broasted Chicken
Pepperoni Pizza
Baked Potato
Dang! I need cooler favorite foods. :-D

And the favorite toy thing. OMG the only thing that comes to mind is x-rated. Good grief can you imagine going on one of those intellectual-type atheist sites with that particular moniker?

I'm going to plead low blood sugar since it's 8:15 p.m. and I haven't had supper yet.

On a serious note- if I'm capable, I will see if I can come up with any ideas from your suggestions.

Just having fun imagining some unlikely possibilities.

Fiery said...

Sean- if you ever need anonymity I'd go with Agent Smith. I LOVE your pic. It is very Matrix. And the pic of you in the hotel with your Godless t-shirt PRICELESS!!!! I can still imagine that little ole lady getting heart palpitations at the site of you.

Sean Wright said...

This week I decided to grow mutton chops. Anyone who says we don't share a common ancestor with primates has not seen my facial hair when I don't shave for three days

Toni said...

I kinda like Baked Potato...sort of has a double meaning...

And if we're going with x-rated toy names, my favorite local radio station was talking the other day about "senor vibrato" funny stuff!

Fiery said...

sean- I hope you are plan on sharing a pic of that particular little experiment. mutton chops??? lol

It's the Elvis in you just waiting to come out.

Fiery said...

Thank you very much to one and all who have commented!

I am thinking of going with
Fiery Ewok
for now. So if you see that one pop up on your blog, you'll know it's just ole look_an_atheist undergoing a make-over. :-D

Thanks for the suggestions and if I need more, I know I've got excellent people I can ask for help! thanks again!!!!!

Tommykey said...

Congratulations. I was going to suggest Trinity after I read you pointing out that Sean's picture looked like Agent Smith from The Matrix.

Fiery said...

I like the character of Trinity! That is totally a cool name! I will keep that in mind if I get tired of Fiery Ewok. Thanks for suggesting it!!!!

I wish I looked like her in her leather outfit. DAMN! She looked hot. Trinity would come with an easy pic to have next to my name too. Great idea Tommy Thanks!

BigTex71 said...

I would like to see the picture of a Fiery Ewok TeaBagging a Mexican While Crossing the Border at Midnight. :)

Fiery said...

*laughing* Yep, that would be quite the image!

I'll pass on any sort of activity on the border. I imagine showers are few and far between down there. *yeck*