Post by Ed Burke on Jan 25, 2009 19:59:35 GMT -5
In the thread about "Microsoft is shutting down Aces" Joe and Tom have started a discussion about how to enter names in the forum, etc. Which got me thinking about something that irks me, and I realise that in raising this subject I am going to tread on a lot of corns, sorry but here I go.
When I joined up with Bluegrass a few years back, everybody had a name, a recognisable handle to which one could eventually attach a personality. A degree of familiarity developed over a lot of forum exchanges. The name may not even have been their real name, that didn't matter. However what has started to matter to me is a tendency for folk to join up with a pseudonym very much in the way people do with Yahoo or one of the countless other worldwide multi-gatherings where it is natural to want to be very guarded about one's privacy. Of course, the more newcomers see of this sort of title in the BGA ranks, the more they think that it is required of them to enter with a manufactured title. Believe me, IT IS NOT.
Bluegrass is much more a club that any other description one can apply to it. We have a title which indicates we are a virtual airline however, with the exception of the Australian division, one is hard put to find a mention of any organised route layout. No, we are not a VA, we are a gathering of like minded enthusiasts who are fond of virtual flying and then getting together on one of the forums and telling all manner of tales about our intrepid expoits or getting help with things that went wrong.
Personally I find it difficult to carry on a meaningful exchange with Axehandle, Proptop, Numbutt or any number of other formless titles behind which people choose to hide. My name is Ed Burke, I live in Queensland Australia, I'm far too old to be stuffed around with such nonsense, and I'll be glad to say hello to any BGA bod who is passing my way. But please introduce yourself, even as Neville Numbutt.
Ed
When I joined up with Bluegrass a few years back, everybody had a name, a recognisable handle to which one could eventually attach a personality. A degree of familiarity developed over a lot of forum exchanges. The name may not even have been their real name, that didn't matter. However what has started to matter to me is a tendency for folk to join up with a pseudonym very much in the way people do with Yahoo or one of the countless other worldwide multi-gatherings where it is natural to want to be very guarded about one's privacy. Of course, the more newcomers see of this sort of title in the BGA ranks, the more they think that it is required of them to enter with a manufactured title. Believe me, IT IS NOT.
Bluegrass is much more a club that any other description one can apply to it. We have a title which indicates we are a virtual airline however, with the exception of the Australian division, one is hard put to find a mention of any organised route layout. No, we are not a VA, we are a gathering of like minded enthusiasts who are fond of virtual flying and then getting together on one of the forums and telling all manner of tales about our intrepid expoits or getting help with things that went wrong.
Personally I find it difficult to carry on a meaningful exchange with Axehandle, Proptop, Numbutt or any number of other formless titles behind which people choose to hide. My name is Ed Burke, I live in Queensland Australia, I'm far too old to be stuffed around with such nonsense, and I'll be glad to say hello to any BGA bod who is passing my way. But please introduce yourself, even as Neville Numbutt.
Ed