With America daily making more enemies of more people in more countries, I wanted some safety from the backlash. Further, there were vicious, perverted comments left for my first persona on Blogcritics posts by anti-American thugs in a neo-Nazi group where we live. Coming after an attack on my wife, I thought that a new screen name would create more anonymity.
The problem is that writing is the end of anonymity. Pen name or not, screen name or not ,the writer craves attention and recognition. During my years as a photographer, even after a lot of years, I still bathed myself in the pleasure of credit lines under pictures. Each newspaper, magazine or book with my/our pictures was something I secretly looked at over and over to gloat that these were our images for the world to see. It didn't matter if they were in The Woodstock Times or The New York Times; they were ours. For all the other reasons one might give, writers and photographers, composers and directors have an inner need for recognition.
In my case, even with the unique name of Howard Dratch, there is a real doppelganger — the other Howard Dratch. I am Howard F. and he is Howard B. We have almost met a few times over the past 35 years since he was a Berkeley grad student and I was a street person. One of his checks was mistaken for mine — we both had accounts in the Bank of America on Telegraph Avenue. His check was, unfortunately, as big as my account. I had the bank convinced they had a forger until someone noticed the F and B. Years later we lived in Ulster County, New York. I was in a slump with clients and very broke when a restaurant called to ask if I was the Howard Dratch who left the $15,000 check in their establishment. Tempting it was to forget my profound honesty.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Well written piece. Hope it works out for you.
2 - Lisa McKay
Welcome to the light of day, Howard. Your words here at Blogcritics are warmly received regardless of how you choose to call yourself.
I made this decision a while back, too. I cast absolutely no judgment on those who choose to do otherwise, as there are many valid reasons to choose anonymity online, but in the end, my ego got the better of me. No ill effects as of yet.
3 - DJRadiohead
What's in a name, right? A DJRadiohead by another name would... nevermind.
Nice piece.
4 - Elvira Black
Hey Howard...so nice to meet you!
You said:
"The problem is that writing is the end of anonymity. Pen name or not, screen name or not, the writer craves attention and recognition."
You've hit the nail on the keys as far as I'm concerned. Ms. X did get some checks for her freelance writing using her--er, my--real name, but it was really all about getting my name (real or assumed) out there. Now I'm so used to being referred to as Elvira and writing "Elvira Black" in the name box that I don't even think about my "real:" name in the Blogosphere anymore. Maybe is is a bit like being a "double agent" or having a split personality--or something.
In my case, I have what I consider valid reasons for using my "nom de keyboard" (love that phrase!). And you certainly had yours and then some. I was horrified to read what you'd been through with that troll-scum you mentioned.
Fabulous piece, Howard! And, um, a big thank you from me and especially from Elvira for linking to her post--craven publicity whore and blog slut that she is (lol).
5 - Squire
A Doppelganger "by any other name" !