thefourthvine | Me, Myself, and I

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Me, Myself, and I

This is one of my periodic attempts to keep my various internet selves all organized and accounted for. (It doesn't work, but I think the effort is what counts, don't you?) So, if for some reason you want to find me somewhere else:

I'm thefourthvine on InsaneJournal.

I'm thefourthvine (just for variety) on GreatestJournal, and I'm also keeping an off-site backup of my LJ posts there. (Thanks for the kick in the ass to do that,

brown_betty. And if anyone else is wondering how to do it, and do it easily, I used Betty's helpful instructions.)

I'm thefourthvine (Look, I don't like change, okay?) on GoodReads, where I'm experimenting with reviewing some of the published stuff I read. Notes: these are not considered, thoughtful reviews, they are not consistently positive reviews (or even consistently not frothing at the mouth reviews), and at this point they're also pretty haphazard; I've just been clicking around until I feel the urge to review coming over me. Also, I'm brand-new to the GR thing, and I'm making mistakes; people who have already friended me there have been spammed with reviews of older books. I've figured out how not to do that now. But other mistakes are inevitable. Join me now and you can point and laugh! (And tell me what to read, too. That would be nice.) ETA: I really am entertainingly new to this. Apparently I'm TFV, not thefourthvine, on GoodReads. Perhaps I should change my name to "easily confused by text boxes."

I'm thefourthvine (Consistency is a virtue. It's a foolish consistency that's the hobgoblin of little minds, thank you very much.) on IMEEM, too.

And I'm sometimes

littera_abactor right here on LJ. (Well, I had to have one different name. It's a rule. I think. I, uh, kind of lost the Official Internets Rulebook, v. 3897.144. Please don't tell on me.)

...And I think that's all of me. I'll look around and see if I've got any more of me lying on a virtual shelf somewhere, though.

Soon: a return to actual recommending! Probably! Or maybe meta! Content, is my point. (Oh, content, how I've missed you.)

ETA2: And

cofax7 and

bluevsgrey have reminded me that I'm TFV on del.icio.us. Apparently I need skilled professionals to help me keep track of myselves. This can't be a good sign.

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Since you're clearly very attached to your username (not like I'm not ainsley (or ainsleybee, if some jerk took ainsley) everywhere), I'm curious: what's its origin, and what does it mean to you? Does it have some significance, or is it just a phrase you like?

Well. Okay. Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who had been following fandom for a bit, and she wanted a LJ. Only for the friends list! To keep an eye on many journals at once! No posting whatsoever! And there would definitely be no recommending or anything. No. Of course not. It'd just be an empty watcher journal. So it didn't matter what the name was.

But she was still kind of scared to get a LJ, and so she waited until very late one night (or, more accurately, very early one morning), when she was half drunk, to sign up. And, as she kept reminding herself, this wasn't like a real internet pseudonym; she wouldn't be using it for anything. Not even for comments. No, no, a thousand times no.

So, being drunk and dumb and deeply in denial, she picked the first name that came to her mind. Which happened to be a really bad pun on her real name.

And what can we learn from this? Don't pick your username when you're drunk, dumb, or in denial. You'll end up with a lame name that is nonetheless so inextricably welded to your internet identity that you can't even imagine changing it. And the odds that you will use your fannish pseudonym somewhere, somehow, somewhy are very, very good - I don't care what you tell yourself now - so oh my god please learn from my sad example and pick a decent name. There are many good ones available. I know, because I've been making a list of them for three years, thanks to my severe case of Good User Name Envy.

*sighs*

If I wrote A Newbie's Guide to LJ Fandom, that story, with accompanying lesson learned, would be featured prominently on the first page, I'll tell you that for free.

(All that said, though, I have grown attached to the name. It's who I am in fandom. And, well. It's useful, too. If I ever start thinking of myself as even a tiny bit cool or with it, my user name is right there to remind me that I am a dork of uncommon size.)

LJ ate this comment, probably to sustain itself in its fight for survival against the DDOS attack, so I'm having another go.

Your username is not lame, it is seriously awesome. (Admittedly, I do like a good pun, but even so!)

Don't pick your username when you're drunk, dumb, or in denial.
*eyes own username* So true. Oh, at first, you just want one so you can get that handy flist feature, but the next thing you know, there are recs, and comments, and you're left wishing you'd spent that extra time coming up with a better name.

Of course, I've been trying to think of a better name for three years now, and I'm still not going all that well. Mostly everything I can think of is taken, or okay but not worth the hassle of changing. It's like I used up all my Good Username Allocation when coming up with the username I use with RL friends, and now I'm destined to stare blankly at the username box forever more.

LJ ate this comment, probably to sustain itself in its fight for survival against the DDOS attack, so I'm having another go.

Yeah. It's been, uh, peckish lately. Would I guess be the nicest way of putting it.

Your username is not lame, it is seriously awesome.

I am delighted you think so. I still think of it as pathetic and dorky, but my pathetic and dorky, if that makes sense.

Oh, at first, you just want one so you can get that handy flist feature, but the next thing you know, there are recs, and comments, and you're left wishing you'd spent that extra time coming up with a better name.

YES! PRECISELY. Judging by the comments here, this is not an uncommon problem. Why does no one warn us about these things before we're inextricably wedded to our unfortunate flashes of late-night inspiration? (At least your name means something, let me note. This puts you way up on me.)

Of course, I've been trying to think of a better name for three years now, and I'm still not going all that well.

I really do have a list. Including some I have pre-emptively claimed, just in case. And yet I know I will never change. How sad is that?

*considers*

Very, very sad. Sad enough that we should start a sad user name support group, I think. Will you join me? I will bring cookies.

Even before I got the pun, I liked your name. It's very mysterious. It sounds like there should be some kind of story attached to it, possibly involving the fate of kingdoms. (Or maybe Romans.)

Why does no one warn us about these things before we're inextricably wedded to our unfortunate flashes of late-night inspiration?
A good question! They should have a little sign at the 'pick your username' field along the lines of, "Yes, you've been sitting here for five minutes trying to think of a username, but a username is for life, not just for christmas. Maybe try again tomorrow? :)"

(At least your name means something, let me note. This puts you way up on me.)
True. On the downside, though, everyone pronounces it differently, and no-one can decide where the stress should fall. Also it is used by other people occasionally, which is weird. And also it does not feel like my name. :(
(On the upside, it is easy to spell, it's easy to stick on icons, it has a pleasing topography, and it starts with a letter I really like. So I could have done worse. It just - doesn't feel like my name.)

Sad enough that we should start a sad user name support group, I think. Will you join me? I will bring cookies.
I will! I will bring cupcakes with lemon icing, and we can comfort ourselves with cake and the knowledge that it could have been much worse - we could have chosen

mrs_emo_legolas_01, or something.

[Bad username: mrs_emo_legolas_01]
Ahahahahah! *ded*

My username has a typo in it. Trufax.

But in eight years you accumulate a lot of accounts and it's not like I'd *ever* be able to change it now. (I've been bookmarking every time I visit a site where I have an account lately. I'm up to 20 and I know I haven't got nearly them all. This has got to be the best one. (http://www.uselessaccount.com))

(also, that typo apparently makes it spell the Sindarin word for "Beloved", so now various LotR fangirls keep trying to use it too.)

My username has a typo in it.

*cries for you*

But buck up! I totally thought it was intentional. It's not like this one user name I saw recently, in which the person named herself after a (presumably favorite) character and spelled the character's name wrong. That is a really woeful user name typo.

But in eight years you accumulate a lot of accounts and it's not like I'd *ever* be able to change it now.

I know. And at least, with my user name, there's the advantage that no one else wants it; it is untaken on every system I have ever tried. Dorky but unique, that's my user name. (...That's also me, come to think of it. No wonder I'm so attached to this name.)

also, that typo apparently makes it spell the Sindarin word for "Beloved", so now various LotR fangirls keep trying to use it too.

See, now, that is just not fair. If you have a dorky user name, then at the very least it should be easy to get it everywhere you go. (But this does give you an excellent cover story, should you ever need to explain your user name in company where you need to be cool.)

Oh god, it's true, so true. Just like yourself: I am just going to have a flist! So I can read my friends' locked posts! I will never post anything!

Yeahright.

Now I have an idiotically long username that no one can spell, just like my real name. Bleah.

But if it makes you feel any better, if you don't know your real name, "thefourthvine" sounds like it has mysteeeerius backstory to it, maybe from a myth or something. Ya know?

Just like yourself: I am just going to have a flist! So I can read my friends' locked posts! I will never post anything!

God, there should be a clear warning posted on the registration page about this, judging from all the people who have had this problem. (Although I guess we can't really complain that no one protected us from our own stupidity and denial. Wait, no, I totally can. WATCH ME.)

Now I have an idiotically long username that no one can spell, just like my real name.

Um. At least you're...consistent? *tries to look on the bright side*

(And, actual bright side: I would not have identified your user name as one of the "What was I thinking?" ones. So it looks good from out here, is my point. Although this is coming from a woman who voluntarily named herself

thefourthvine, so consider the source.)

But if it makes you feel any better, if you don't know your real name, "thefourthvine" sounds like it has mysteeeerius backstory to it, maybe from a myth or something.

This does make me feel better. I think. *considers* Yes, it does.

That's why I bought myself a name change token for my 2 year LJ versary. I thought I would *never* use LJ so I just recycled the username I had used on a few BBS's back in 9th and 10th grade. Yeah. It was bad.

...Now I really, really want to know what your old user name was.

Also, I'm thinking this is definitive proof that people should never be allowed to name themselves, a la Picabo Street. We will inevitably fuck it up.

It's a good thing we decided to paint our dining room RaisinTorte. :-)

And now I also want pictures of your dining room, actually.

...Now I really, really want to know what your old user name was.

It's not a secret - it was Control_Freak80. My high school user name was controlfreak. Except I couldn't get that on LJ so I added the numbers and an _.

And now I also want pictures of your dining room, actually.

I'll post them when we're done. We've set aside 4 weekends to paint so far and every time something work or family related has happened. We're probably going to wait until the fall so we can have the windows open while we do it.

I totally think you should write A Newbie's Guide to LJ Fandom.

*is firm*

On occasion it comes in handy to be unknown in fandom. It makes it much easier to switch usernames, which I did last year. I was ainsley in my first foray into online fandom, and I missed being ainsley.

As for you being a dork of uncommon size, it's so very true, if the uncommon size is that of your sheer awesomeness and excellent taste.

Hi.

I like the reviews you post here so I've friended you on GoodReads. Hope that's okay.

Jest

Of course it's okay! Very much encouraged, and it makes me happy. (But, um, just as a warning: the reviews I post there aren't, and won't be, like the ones I post here. I don't want you to be disappointed.)

I just joined GoodReads. If you get a friend request from Rose, that's me!

Yay! I have added you. Soon, I will have a whole network of people providing me with book recommendations. This is my fiendish plan. *rubs hands, chuckles evilly*

*stares*

Okay, who broke LJ? That shouldn't even be possible. Um - it timed me out, and I forgot my comment to you, Rose. But, hey, hi!

Now let's see what this posts as...

...And now my comment is back. LJ, why do you confuse me so? (It was showing as blank before, by the way. I'm not just crazy - it was, I swear!)

*gibbers quietly*

*flaps arms* I hope you don't mind people friending your other LJ as well. I greatly enjoy your sense of humor in your rec posts here, so I thought I'd do so in order to provide more amusing material for myself. :D

I love it when people friend my LJs. All friends welcome, that's my motto, and I hope you enjoy my posts on my other LJ. (They are, um. Kind of a motley collection, actually - fan fiction and girly TMI and dog stories. Whatever didn't seem to fit here, basically, and I get more confused about that every day.)

::cough:: delicious ::cough::

Content would be lovely.

Right, del.icio.us. Of course. I, um, knew that. *looks shifty*

*edits post hastily*

See? It's right up there.

(Oh, content. How I miss you. When will you return to my loving arms? Or, more specifically, my loving fingers?

...And, great. Now I'm halfway to an anthropomorfic where I Mary Sue myself with content. Run!)

I'm really curious where "thefourthvine" came from, now that you mention it.

You can see the whole sad story up in my response to

ainsley. (I'd provide the actual link, but LJ is being seriously annoying, all, "La la la, I won't post that comment, and if you click here, I will hang for two minutes for no reason you can fathom, and then I will make random chunks of text disappear! How much do you love me NOW, little fangirl?" So, um, sorry not to be more direct, but if LJ is willing to work for you, the explanation is just a few comments up this page.)

I got halfway through signing up on GoodReads and it started throwing a 500 Server Error message. Clearly I broke the Internets. Will check it out later and see if it has recovered.

Ah-ha! So you were the one who broke the internets! I had been wondering, because wow, it's being seriously tetchy with me.

*gives you the evil eye*

Go apologize to the links and string at once, and I don't care what you have to do to make up with it; it's taking its resentment out on all of us, and that just won't do. Let this be a lesson to you: when you fight with the internets, everyone loses.

(And when you've made up with our internet overlords, do join me on GoodReads! I'm really interested to see what you've been reading.)

Your TFV on del.icio.us, right?

Man, I have too many internet, um, thingies. Thank you for reminding me!

*adds it*

*does not get to post this comment for several hours afterward, on account of LJ being a total twerp*

Yeah don't we all have a ton of these thingies?

I just always remember that one because at first I expected it to be thefourthvine, but then it wasn't.

*ditto about lj, except I gave up and went to sleep*

Um - I think LJ is working better now, if you want to have a try at reposting the comment. (All I'm seeing is a blank comment, which is impressive - and supposedly impossible! - but I want to know what you had to say!)

[Apparently I bent LJ - I feel oddly accomplished about this.}

Reposting wild applause for 'I Has a Sweet Potato' - hadn't realized that was you also. Thwart not the Dog - they will *always* make you pay.

/has tyrant dog

Hopefully you don't mind, I just friended you over at goodreads - it seems like suddenly everyone on my friends list is making an account over there.

Hi! I'm delighted to be friended!

And, yeah, suddenly everyone is over there. Probably because LJ is being such a DINK that we need something to distract us.

Although it appears to be fixed now. *crosses fingers*

*kicks DDoS perpetrators*

*joins in with a kick or three*

I friended you on GJ and on IJ; please do let me know if that's not okay, though. I don't want you to feel stalked!

Of course it's okay - totally encouraged, in fact. The whole point of posting this information is so that we can all keep track of each other in other walks of online life. (In other words, if it is stalking, I am all for facilitating stalking, I guess.) Now I will not lose you if LJ disappears on us! *clings in embarrassing fashion*

Two comments:

Apparently I need skilled professionals to help me keep track of myselves. This can't be a good sign.

You need to read Set this house in order (http://www.amazon.com/Set-This-House-Order-Romance/dp/006095485X/ref=sr_1_1/002-8308869-7677633?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181068647&sr=1-1) by Matt Ruff.

Also,
a lame name that is nonetheless so inextricably welded to your internet identity that you can't even imagine changing it.

Near the end of The Big Con (http://www.amazon.com/Big-Con-Story-Confidence-Man/dp/0385495382/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-8308869-7677633?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181068867&sr=1-1) (which you should also read -- it's the source for most of the really fun stuff in the script of "The Sting"), David Maurer talks about con-men's monikers. The gist of his argument is that once a moniker is suggested and accepted, it sticks to the bearer far more than a mere legal name.

Thank you so much for pointing to

brown_betty's instructions! I will thank her too as soon as I've backed up to GJ, which I'm going to try to do sometime when traffic's low. Way cool to be able to do that.

Your username has always made me think of the fifth column. Maybe the fourth vine twines around it.

As I have distinct sheep-like tendencies, I added you at goodreads, under the name (surprise!) ainsley.

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Me, Myself, and I

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