Above Photo by Jack Dorsey. Photo Below by Miguel B.
There is a lot to be said in regards to the power and meaning behind one person’s name. When we utter the names of great men and women, we evoke something of what they stood for. These names can be as ancient as Alexander the Great or as modern as Benazir Bhutto and stir a range of intense emotions, negative and positive. In myths and fairytales, names have a supernatural effect on reality whether it is breaking a curse by guessing the name of a devilish imp, or defending the king’s name to restore his kingdom. In tribal cultures, naming calls for an elaborate ceremony in which the person to be named undergoes various trials and tests to prove readiness for adulthood. It is little wonder actors, actresses, musicians, and other entertainers choose to change their names or take stage names; they want to be hard to forget.
Alternatively, there are those who wish to forget. I haven’t seen or talked to my blood father since I was five or six, and wouldn’t recognized him if I passed him by on the street. After long and hard thought, I decided that I no longer wanted to carry his name. There was too much pain and weakness in his name for me. The name I chose to have instead needed to represent all my strengths and uniqueness; I wanted to be the first in a new family line. So when I did finally settle on a name, I made sure that it wasn’t a name that I would have to share with anyone else. I doubt I am alone in changing my name to distance myself from blood relatives, as there are a lot of broken families in this world.
Perhaps rooted in the superstitions regarding names and naming, there is an important truth concerning human nature. I can’t quite discern what truth that would be, though. What I do know is that even if I’m not the person being called, I can’t help but react to the sound of my name on an emotional level. My name seems to be apart of me, integral to my personality, beliefs, and thoughts.
Currently, I write under the pseudonym, John Pageless. I am becoming more dissatisfied with writing under this pseudonym. While I fear the consequences of blogging under my real name, I am also ashamed that I have been hiding behind this pseudonym. Here is the painful truth about blogging - everyone can read what you write. Employers and future employers, aunts, uncles and grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends and complete strangers - everyone can read this blog.
I chose to write under this pseudonym to protect myself from the harsh judgement of the off-line world. But is it worth my integrity? What I say here means a great deal to me. When I talk about religious tolerance and spiritual growth, I hope you understand that these are not just hollow words - I put my whole self out on this blog. Except my name, that is…
Well, I think what I say here is worthy of my name, so I don’t feel I should hide it any longer. My real name is John Michael Crovis. For those playing the home game, you are correct in guessing that my wife is Cathy Crovis of Ripples of Improvement. We both started blogging about the same time, although Cathy began her blog using her real name, where as I wasn’t so sure that was a wise idea. I am not sure what to expect now that I’m officially blogging under my real name, but my hope is that little, if anything, will change.
We shall see…
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March 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I’ve had a lifelong problem with my name. I think there re strong names and weak names. I was given a weak one. I can’t tell you how ofter I wished I had a stronger name–like Michael. As for my last name, that really means little to me. My father said that when his father landed on Ellis Island he was assigned a name. My father couldn’t remember his father’s original last name. So my family name carries no weight of meaning.
When I married, my wife wished to retain her maiden name because it had meaning to her. Of course, I agreed.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I blog under my real name…it is strange because there are things that I have written in my blog that I might even be reluctant to just come out and say in person– at least not to just anyone. To me it is an exercise in boldness, though, in self-revelation. As I have been a shy person all my life, blogging with my real identity forces me to be open in the medium I am most comfortable with–writing. Like you, I also put my whole self out there on my blog. Also, the great thing about blogging–as opposed to print media–is you can always go back and edit or remove posts later…i have self-censored on occasion “upon second thought”.
Anyway, welcome to the world of real name bloggers:)
March 10th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I write under my real name, but don’t necessarily think you should. You are entitled to privacy too.
You don’t tell everyone everthing about other parts of your life. A blog can be private in one sense - even if it is broadcast to the world. Sean Connery on refusing interviews: Why should I tell a perfect stranger about my private life?
There are many myths where the original people name their world. It is simultaneously a process of discernment about the thing named and describing people’s relation to it.
So, name the way you want to relate on your blog and you could use that pseudonym quite genuinely, if you see what I mean. John-who-examines or Thinker-out-loud. I don’t think your readers would mind you doing this. Whether you would feel this has integrity for you is another matter of course.
March 12th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I understand that a name is a powerful thing, and sometimes you you want to keep it for yourself.
March 12th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Hello Bird Lover,
That’s funny, because I’m exactly the opposite. I guess that just goes to show that we all have different hang-up regarding our names.
Hello Terri,
I’m usually a fairly reserved person myself, so I understand the need for a medium in which we shy-folk can let it all loose. What I am most worried about is my spiritual beliefs being used as motivation to be axed by an employer… Although the more I think about it, the less I am afraid. In terms of going back and removing posts… I really hope not to have to do that. There are things that I regret writing on The Pageless Book - but most of it is because I feel I wrote the article so poorly.
Hello Evan,
As always you bring up good points. However, I think this time you are missing what I’m talking about. I see what I write here as a large part of who I am - I am proud of my writing and my spirituality. To ME it is a matter of integrity; what any one else things is irrelevant.
Hello Baby Boy,
Ga Ga Goo Goo…
Namaste.