What's in a name?

[jase25064342]

With the recent exodus of prolific posters, I started thinking about the high turnover rate of names in the industry. It seems to affect both sides of the equation, though in different ways.

On the SP side, girls change their names all the time. Often it corresponds with a move to another agency, or when she goes indy, or starts offering a different kind of service. Name recognition has its value here, but not always; in the SP world, it can be dangerous. Sometimes an SP leaves more than just her name behind, and if she's later connected with her past, her safety might be at risk. Or sometimes, she just wants a fresh start. :go:

On the client side, there are hobbyists with multiple monikers, and some who are returning after some time away. Often, their new moniker (and sometimes, their personality) is different than their old one (especially if their "time away" was involuntary). Some use different handles for different boards; others carry the same name with them, everywhere they go. Some hobbyists will change their name for the same reason an SP might - too many people know who you are. :666:

Name recognition, especially when the SP and hobbyist frequent the same boards, can affect the session in multiple ways. Some hobbyists, even those who write reviews, choose not to reveal their identity to avoid those complications; some hobbyists prefer to make themselves known, for a variety of different reasons. Some SPs prefer not to know where their client is from, because worrying whether the session is "review-worthy" can be distracting, and puts extra pressure on her to perform. Others will use it as a research opportunity, poring over his past reviews for ideas on what he'll enjoy the most.

When someone visits me, I'll usually inquire about the source (purely for market research purposes, I swear! :angel: ) but I don't ask about their handle; since 85-90% of my clientele come from directories, it's not as much of an issue for me. But I'm curious to know:

How important is your name/handle/moniker to you, and how big of a role does it play in your industry activities?

 

[The "L" Word]

I've been using this internet handle since playing Quake II online in university, LOL.