I suspect the reasons many bloggers choose a nom de blog are legion. For some it’s out of fear of repercussions, for others it’s a desire to have a colourful identifying brand. You may find that some people choose a “handle” because they have some deep seated psychological need to create an interesting alter ego; and others may simply be following in the noble tradition of the 18th and 19th Century pamphleteers. There are probably as many reasons for people choosing wierd blogging names as there are bloggers.

But, let’s be honest here, the wide variety of strange/imaginative/downright wierd names chosen by bloggers does make life a little more entertaining. Blogroll lists packed with names like Longrider, Satan’s Aardark, The Little Fat Bloke, Recess Monkey and so on are way more interesting than lists that look like extracts from the telephone book. Rather than decry such imagination and diversity we should embrace it.

As for the poor syntax, grammar abuse and bad spelling evident in some blogs, I happen to think that’s just part of the charm of a mass publication medium. But, if it does offend people, why do they keep reading? Nobody’s holding a gun to their heads, after all.

deMontfort Remittance

ps I echo Mr Potarto’s comment: What does DBC stand for?

Others, such as Beachcomber, have been a syndicate, or succession of writers maintaining a tradition or style.

Why should people be allowed to have books published pseudonymously, if they can’t do the same with websites?

Possibly, but they will try to enforce it nonetheless. Don’t you think – even for a second – that the very fact that they are considering such a ridiculous thing ought to be cause for very significant concern.

You really need to address the fundamental issue posed earlier: “some of us just take note of the number of people who think people who express opinions should be ‘held to account’”

What part of that is not absolutely terrifying?

I post psudononymously – not anonymously. There is a difference. A fairly obvious one, I’d have thought. Clearly I thought wrong. I don’t make any attempt to hide my real name as I’ve mentioned before in various discussions. I choose to post under a pseudonym, nothing more (and it has nothing whatsoever to do with the silly CB craze of the nineteen eighties). It’s no different to, say, William Hickey or Edith Pargeter… it’s a nom-de-plume. Get over it.

I don’t give a toss for what you find “interesting” or not – I don’t write for you, I write for me. My name to my writing makes no difference to it whatsoever. It stands or falls on its own merits. You like it or you don’t – read it or not as the case may be; your choice.

And, for the record, what part of “I work for myself” do you not understand? Given your inability to follow plain English, I’ll take your advice with the pinch of salt it deserves.

Please give your full name and address, so I can properly consider your argument.

Thanks.

Oh, my, heaven forfend. Don’t read them, then.

No, they are not. I am the publisher of my blog, not the Times or the Telegraph. I know who I am. My choice to write pseudonymously is no one’s concern but mine. When you read what I write, you make a conclusion about its veracity – you do not need to know my name to do this and there is no reason why I should be compelled to provide it. Nom-de-plumes have a long tradition, it’s not something new and it’s not something confined to blogs.

Bottom line? My blog, my rules. Don’t like it? Don’t read it. Or is that all just too simple?

What would be an acceptable number of sites for these things then?

How dare they hold the wrong views! Don’t they realise when they sign onto a job in the public sector, their thoughts and lives become subordinate to the collective will..?

No wonder people are uncomfortable about it…

I would suggest there are multiple reasons but here’s one.

Most bloggers are doing it in their spare time. What they do may conflict with the interests of their employers. eg. Police blogs, NHS blogs etc

Others blog at work and don’t want to create a conflict of interest. I’m thinking here of people like JohnB (Shot By Both Sides) who was traced at work.

And sure there is some factor in choosing a silly name: eg devils kitchen.