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Who am I?
15 years ago
I've had this little problem for a very long time.
I'm not too sure what name to call myself.
Skant: I'm most widely known by this name. But Skant was intended to be a temporary name. Way back when I first got onto Furrymuck, I had been spending some time on MUDs. And on a MUD you can get permanently killed very easily by not having any idea what you are doing. So don't make your favorite character first. Well, I figured the same would be true for mucks. You couldn't be killed, but I figured I'd start with a temporary character just to try it out and have some idea what I was doing before I made my 'real' character.
So that temporary character was Skant. A small chameleon hermaphrodite Dracovarian (an alien species which resembles dragons). And, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, she ended up catching on and becoming very well known.
I actually feel a bit embarrassed whenever I say the name Skant. And I think it just doesn't sound like a very good name. Especially because it gets associated with close words like 'scant', 'scat', and 'skank'.
Plus the character Skant used female pronouns in referencing herself. And I'm male in RL, and it feels weird to me when people say 'That guy over there is Skant.'
Ral Darkes: I'm also known by this name. This is who I am on SecondLife. I own club Dragon Spire and gained a good bit of notoriety that way (some might say infamy).
Ral originally appeared in a very dirty story I wrote years ago. He was an anthro red dragon, and a very rough and menacing sort. He turned into a black anthro dragon on SL. Initially, I was trying to keep his ruthless character a bit, but he's really a personal furry.
I do internet radio shows as him with a growly voice.
Sargon: Sargon is the character I play on Tapestries. A big feral blue dragon with black stripe and diamond patterns. He's evil and cruel. And always plotting something. Very few people know me as Sargon.
Sargon is a representation of my true form. The dragon spirit inside this human body. I do not actually know what my name as a dragon really is. Sargon was meant to be a role playing version of my real dragon self with the serial numbers filed off.
So here's my problem... I've listed these names in order of how well known they are. And it is exactly backwards in terms of how much they each represent me.
If I could do it all over, I would use Sargon. That big blue dragon in my art gallery is not Skant. But people think Skant is his name because that's the name I've used forever and the name on this FA account.
It's been a long time since I played Skant. I really don't play that character anymore. So that name is really a hold over from the past.
I do still play Ral Darkes... whenever I can feel enough courage to login to SL anymore. (Seems like each time I decide to show up again, I get lectured, beaten up, drama'fested, chewed up, and spit back out)
Sargon is me. But I could count the number of people that know me as Sargon on my pink monkey fingers.
What if I try to switch over to Sargon?
FA doesn't let you change account names. So that would be shutting down this account and moving to a new one. Of course, someone else already has an account named Sargon on FA. So that wouldn't even work. And in case I was already concerned about my stats being so low, yeah... moving to a new account is certainly a good way to flatline it all.
So what should I do?
I'm not too sure what name to call myself.
Skant: I'm most widely known by this name. But Skant was intended to be a temporary name. Way back when I first got onto Furrymuck, I had been spending some time on MUDs. And on a MUD you can get permanently killed very easily by not having any idea what you are doing. So don't make your favorite character first. Well, I figured the same would be true for mucks. You couldn't be killed, but I figured I'd start with a temporary character just to try it out and have some idea what I was doing before I made my 'real' character.
So that temporary character was Skant. A small chameleon hermaphrodite Dracovarian (an alien species which resembles dragons). And, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, she ended up catching on and becoming very well known.
I actually feel a bit embarrassed whenever I say the name Skant. And I think it just doesn't sound like a very good name. Especially because it gets associated with close words like 'scant', 'scat', and 'skank'.
Plus the character Skant used female pronouns in referencing herself. And I'm male in RL, and it feels weird to me when people say 'That guy over there is Skant.'
Ral Darkes: I'm also known by this name. This is who I am on SecondLife. I own club Dragon Spire and gained a good bit of notoriety that way (some might say infamy).
Ral originally appeared in a very dirty story I wrote years ago. He was an anthro red dragon, and a very rough and menacing sort. He turned into a black anthro dragon on SL. Initially, I was trying to keep his ruthless character a bit, but he's really a personal furry.
I do internet radio shows as him with a growly voice.
Sargon: Sargon is the character I play on Tapestries. A big feral blue dragon with black stripe and diamond patterns. He's evil and cruel. And always plotting something. Very few people know me as Sargon.
Sargon is a representation of my true form. The dragon spirit inside this human body. I do not actually know what my name as a dragon really is. Sargon was meant to be a role playing version of my real dragon self with the serial numbers filed off.
So here's my problem... I've listed these names in order of how well known they are. And it is exactly backwards in terms of how much they each represent me.
If I could do it all over, I would use Sargon. That big blue dragon in my art gallery is not Skant. But people think Skant is his name because that's the name I've used forever and the name on this FA account.
It's been a long time since I played Skant. I really don't play that character anymore. So that name is really a hold over from the past.
I do still play Ral Darkes... whenever I can feel enough courage to login to SL anymore. (Seems like each time I decide to show up again, I get lectured, beaten up, drama'fested, chewed up, and spit back out)
Sargon is me. But I could count the number of people that know me as Sargon on my pink monkey fingers.
What if I try to switch over to Sargon?
FA doesn't let you change account names. So that would be shutting down this account and moving to a new one. Of course, someone else already has an account named Sargon on FA. So that wouldn't even work. And in case I was already concerned about my stats being so low, yeah... moving to a new account is certainly a good way to flatline it all.
So what should I do?
As for the name, if someone already has the name you'd like to use, try adding a qualifier to the end, like SargonTheBlue or something.
Just my two-cents. ^_^
~GR
Just bite the bullet, tear off the scab, and grab the name you really want.
If Sargon is taken, try "Sargon The Dragon" or "The Real Sargon" or "Sargon Draconius" or whatever works best for you.
Grab for it now! The sooner you do it, the sooner you can start rebuilding your stat numbers! Otherwise, any improvement you see under "Skant" is just temporary boosts that will vanish as soon as you make your move. In your subconcious, at least, and that's not a good place to put yourself.
Change the name, make your move. Today, if possible. :)
Drop off a journal saying you've moved, drop off a nice porny piece of art of a dragon holding a "I've Moved To <blank>" for all those people who never read journals, drop occasional reminders on Skant over the next few months, and just work on rebuilding the network of favs and watches on your new account.
A fresh new start for a fresh new you! :)
As for the SL drama thing, I'm still more than willing to take on some of that burden from the club.
If its Taken you can do SargonDragon
-J
Another which you've mentioned, is to open another account and, burn and salt the earth behind you, leave the beloved Skant account behind and have the crows, wolves and other wildlife pick at the bones.
One other is to threaten to devour the user of the Sargon account, and assuming he or she is unwise enough to comply, deal with the problem appropriately by ultimately picking your sharp teeth with his or her bones. Or you could do as some suggested and open an account of SargonTheDragon, or SargonTheTrueAndNotTheImposter which I'm sure will make the user of the Sargon account feel good about him or herself.
I guess it depends on how long and how strong you feel about changing your FA account. When people meet you at conventions, do they call you Skant or Sargon?
If you do switch accounts though, are you going to keep your submissions uploaded here (and possibly reup them at your new account as well), or are you going to clear this account out?
This is grounds for an account take over, if you really want Sargon I'd suggest going to the admins and get them to hand over the password to you.
Yeah I reckon a new name that doesn't match closely to other unpleasant words would be a wise choice. Sargon... feels too cliche, in my opinion. 'Ral' would probably be a good choice, except then you're account/identity is the same as a character of yours.
I reckon try to think of something new
It will also help with the confusion, I though the blue dragon was Skant, know I know better (and love to learn more about Sargon as well).
As for the account name, well you can Thornie add something to the end or see if you can take over the existing account as it doesn't seem to get used at all. I say just add Dragon or Draconius to the end (or something more creative). Less stress that way.
The important part is to be the character you want people to associate with you.
To tell you the truth, whenever I hear Skant I think "scantily clad Skant" XD; *nuzz*
Each direction has it's own bonuses and drawbacks. Personally, I don't think much of pageviews. I think the mere presence of the stats is as much a deterrent as anything. Being able to see yousr and everyone elses just encourages certain levels of competition, uncertainy, and so forth. But by the same merit, I'm sure it's hard to ignore that aspect, but my perspective is a bit different, considering. :)
Never the less, there are a few good suggestions above.. Keep this account, emphasize Sargon. Try to take over Sargon and point folks over.. I'd almost lean towards the latter, but ultimately do what you feel is best for you :)
~Losian :>
Am I my resume?
That is a picture of a person I don't know.
What does he want from me?
What should I try to be?
So many faces all around, and here we go.
I need this job, oh God, I need this show.
(A Chorus Line, "I Hope I Get It.")
I'd follow your heart, hon: if you want people to know you as Sargon, then change accounts, let your true inner self out. But I can tell you from what I know of you and what little time I've spent with you, your mindset seems to make you a very personable, friendly soul.
But then, I know Ral pretty well, and like his voice. An if you forget Ral's also master to me on SL from quite some time ago. So.. I don't know what to really tell you about it all myself. There's a connection to Ral and Skant, but I really doubt there would be too personal of one to Sargon, based on what you said he's like. That sorta goes beyond my comfort zone for things. But then, that's just -me-. An on a not very-close and personal level, you'd probably still have me around even as Sargon.
So, to be honest it sounds like if this is bugging you -that- much, you really should go with whatever is going to make you feel best. I know that personally, there's no point doing things, online or not, if it's not really what you feel is right. Why do you think I've been seen as so many different kinds of dragons, and even as non-dragons sometimes? Because -I don't know- what feels best for me, and it shows. I don't put a lot of effort into rps, if I even get into them now. I'm changing my character on almost a daily basis. I don't tend to feel comfortable or 'right' no matter what crowd I'm around. I have trouble making friends. Yes. Me. Trouble making friends.
This all comes from being too confused as to what I want. You, seem to have a pretty good idea of what you -want-, you just are somewhat afraid of the implications if you suddenly dump all -for- what you want. So, try not to dump -everything-, cause that would cause it's -own- problems, but certainly try for the personality and name you feel most comfortable with. Because if you don't, every day you do not will be another day seeing the names you don't like as much. A constant, nasty slap in the face each time your online. If you want to stay online, that can't do more than cause more problems for you.
I wish I could anaylize it all successfully, and really give you clear cut advice. But then I"m no professional at any of this kind of thing. I just know what I've observed, and experienced, over the years I've been online. Whatever you do, don't do something unless you really feel it's what you would like and want. Take a little time to decide before you do. And, most important.. DO NOT put others into the decision. Decide for -you-. Those that are your real friends will be there no matter what you actually choose to do. Do trust that, you -do- have some real friends out here too, because I know you do.
The name Skant... it's good, straight-forward, monosyllabic... You've had it for years. It might not be the character you identify with, but it's a label you've carried for all this time. It's up to you to decide if that's a good thing or bad thing...
If I was in your situation I'd make a mental Pros and Cons list, compare and contrast them, think about it, sleep on it, mull it over... and then do what I knew from the beginning I would do, whichever that is.
Do you WANT to change to Sargon because you don't feel Skant is right for you anymore, but you are uncertain because of the hubbub that's involved in changing FA accounts? Then just do it. You'll probably end up happier that way. Plus, doing it early in a reviving art career is better than doing it later, by far. Better to annoy people who are going to stick with you anyway than to annoy a bunch of new watchers! ^^
-"What is your name?"
.......; "I go by many names."
But as far as your primary moniker goes, there is great value to be found in displaying the proper color of your scales. You think clearer and prouder that way. Healthier. More like yourself. Hell, you saw the effect when I transitioned.
I am of the mind that Sargon suits you nicely, and shall do my best to keep it foremost therein.