So, what should I call you?

By adamg - 1/11/06 - 8:25 pm

When I link to somebody's post here, I try to use the blogger's first name if I know it. Why the affectation? When I started out, I thought it might be cool to try to give this meta-blog a sort of conversational coffeehouse-ish feel - if you're sitting around a table at your favorite coffee place, of course you'd address the other people by their first name.

One reader, though, thinks this is wrong:

I would submit that by identifying the blogs as they are branded not only makes it easier for me as a reader to determine if I want to jump to the link (e.g., I have problems with the carpetbagging aspects of Bostonist, and might avoid this blog) but also helps identify your source. It seems to me that you are deconstructing the messages and the medium without any demonstrated need for it.

Far be it from me to deconstruct anybody's messages (for one thing, I've never read anything by Derrida). So I open it to you, dear blog writers: How would you prefer I identify you in Universal Hub posts? First name? By your blog's name? Some combination? Thanks for any guidance.

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Comments

First name is fine but...

By Rob327 - 1/11/06 - 10:02 pm

#1

First name works for me fine. If you click on a link and realize you don't like the site, then just close the window. One could even just have the little status bar at the bottom of your browser which shows you the hyperlink when you scroll over it so you can avoid even opening an unwelcome site.

Name @ Blog

By Jeff Egnaczyk (not verified) - 1/11/06 - 10:36 pm

#2

"Here's a link from blogger's name at name of blog."

That addresses both styles.

That works

By Rob327 - 1/11/06 - 10:59 pm

#3

Makes sense to me.

This what I try to use

By Jason (not verified) - 1/12/06 - 7:57 am

#4

This what I try to use on my blog and addresses both. The only exception would be if you know the blogger and know that he/she wants to be anonymous.

I like the way you do it now

By Ron Newman - 1/11/06 - 10:53 pm

#5

No need to change anything.

No change

By jason (not verified) - 1/11/06 - 11:29 pm

#6

There's no reason to change it. I like the conversational style of using the names. And the person who writes you doesn't have much of an argument anyway. You can see the address of a blog before you click on a link; just put the cursor on the hyperlink and look at the bottom of the web browser.

I'm biased, obviously, but . . .

By Josh (not verified) - 1/11/06 - 11:53 pm

#7

. . . being one of those dreaded carpetbaggers from Bostonist, I want you to use only my first name. (By the way, I'm up to five years, one marriage, two jobs, and one child born in Massachusetts. How much longer will I be a carpetbagger?)

Actually, I like the @ suggestion. It's the best of both worlds.

Carpetbagger status

By Jonelle - 1/12/06 - 9:04 am

#8

Until you figure out that it's the "Hancock" building, rather than the "Handcock" (as it's charmingly referred to on the "About Bostonist" page).

that's my name

By Andrew (more detail optional) (not verified) - 1/12/06 - 9:22 am

#9

First name seems good to me. It would do no harm to add something more specific, since there are probably multiple Andrews blogging in or about Boston. So I could be Andrew at Changing Way, Andrew in Roslindale (although I don't think that's prominent in my blog template), or even Andrew Watson.

just call me for dinner

By cynical - 1/12/06 - 10:23 am

#10

I like Andrew's idea of first name with some identifying info,
preferably blog name or online nickname/identity. That way I can
tell which of the several Daves, Johns, or Jens you're linking
to. And my Safari browser on my home computer doesn't show the
URL at the bottom of the page when I mouse-over a link (my only quibble
with the software), so that doesn't help me.

-Shelley

Call me a cab

By adamg - 1/12/06 - 10:34 am

#11

I'm liking the first name/blog combo idea, so I've started using it today. Best of both worlds. Thanks all for the comments.

I like this solution

By Alyssa (not verified) - 1/12/06 - 3:13 pm

#12

Going this route you associate a person with his/her blog which is nice. I always think it is weird when people refer to me as the "Big Red Blog" but whatever - I live. And as others have mentioned 1) I find the site to be invaluable and 2) I'm always thrilled when I get a link.

Safari

By Ron Newman - 1/12/06 - 10:44 am

#13

Safari should show you the URL when you mouse over a link. If yours doesn't, then you have hidden the Status Bar. Pull down the "View" menu and click on "Show Status Bar" to bring it back.

Call Me Jennifer...Or Jenny....Or Jen

By Jennifer - 1/12/06 - 12:08 pm

#14

That makes sense to me, call me by my first name since you know it. A propos to this, using a false identity on the Internet (and annoying someone) can now land you in jail!

http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance,+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html

Hypothetical here: if someone goes by their blog name alone, e.g. "Crazy Horse Fun" (I just made that up)and happens to "annoy" someone with it (whatever that means) could they potentially go to jail and get fined? It smells of 1st Amendment infringement to me.

Being mentioned at all is an honor

By agirmustshop - 1/12/06 - 12:13 pm

#15

I dunno, recently I feel like anything I read nowadays on universal hub is negative - people complaining about the T and just about anything else they can. I think it's nice that you use my first name (which you had to go to the about page to find), it makes it feeel more personal. If they don't want you to use the first name then perhaps they shouldn't provide it to you. You can't please everyone, can you?

Thanks, and sorry

By adamg - 1/12/06 - 2:16 pm

#16

I guess that's the reporter in me coming out :-). I'll try to balance the gross T stories with some more non-gross, non-T stories.

You're doing a great job!

By agirmustshop - 1/12/06 - 3:01 pm

#17

I just remember it being much more cheerful back in the day. I'm not sure if that's a sign of the times or what. I'm sure you're seeing a lot more blogs and a lot more feeds and perhaps the majority is people just complaining. Or maybe I'm just a rose-colored glasses kinda gal.

Call Me Ishmael

By bigdumptruck - 1/12/06 - 12:41 pm

#18

I have no problem being identified as Jody, but I also think I'm one of the only ones you have. You have a crapload of Andrews, and that can be confusing. Obviously I can mouse-over a link to see where it goes, but I don't hate the idea of "Jody from Bigdumptruck".

===========================

From the brains behind http://www.bigdumptruck.com

Generally I'm not thrilled

By garym (not verified) - 1/12/06 - 1:46 pm

#19

Generally I'm not thrilled when people I haven't met use my first name, though I'm flattered enough to be mentioned at all that I don't make an issue of it. My preference, though, would be either full name or blog name. When citing other people's blogs, I usually use the blog title.