How Did You Choose Your Username?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the origins of various usernames used by members of the Physics Forums community. Participants share personal anecdotes and explanations for their chosen names, touching on themes of identity, humor, and creativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that "Math Is Hard" references a specific Barbie doll, while others provide humorous interpretations of various usernames.
  • A participant explains that "Astronuc" is derived from "Astronuclear," relating to their work in nuclear propulsion and the nuclear industry.
  • One member shares that "Evo" comes from a playful nickname for their daughter, linking it to the word "evil."
  • Another participant humorously describes the origin of "Moonbear" as a name from their past experiences in a commune.
  • Several members engage in light-hearted banter about the meanings behind usernames like "Turbo-1," "Zoobyshoe," and "Penguino," with no definitive answers provided.
  • One participant mentions their username "scott1" is simply their real name, chosen due to the unavailability of "scott."
  • Another explains "berkeman" was created to differentiate themselves from other Mikes in their workplace.
  • Some usernames are linked to personal interests, such as "scorpa" being inspired by a motorcycle brand.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features a mix of humor and personal storytelling, with no consensus on the meanings of all usernames. Participants share differing interpretations and anecdotes without resolving the playful debates.

Contextual Notes

Some usernames are based on personal experiences or inside jokes, which may not be universally understood. The discussion reflects a variety of interpretations and playful exchanges, highlighting the subjective nature of username creation.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in online community culture, username creation, or personal storytelling may find this discussion engaging.

  • #31
I'm sure nobody can guess the origin of my name! :-p
 
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  • #32
Lisa! said:
I'm sure nobody can guess the origin of my name! :-p

Easy, Look I am Sure Agirl :confused:
 
  • #33
Danger said:
I probably just lost Astronuc's respect,
Never! :smile:
 
  • #34
Just to set the record (pun intended) straight - I didn't choose my user name because of my love for Country music.
 
  • #35
wolram said:
Easy, Look I am Sure Agirl :confused:
Eh and if you put that ! at the end of my name, the meaning changes!:rolleyes:
 
  • #36
Yeah, Turbo was my ferret. I tacked the "-1" onto his name because turbo was already in use in the member database. He was the smartest and most fun ferret we ever had, and he absolutely loved Ferret Bowling! We discovered the game after my wife and I had a slick Pergo floor installed in the living room. I'd slap my hands of the floor and Turbo would come running over, keeping just out of reach until he wanted to get "caught" - I'd grab him, tickle him, spin him around on his back and bowl him down the living room floor. He'd flip over, with his little feet pumping until he gained enough traction to reverse direction and he'd run back to me a top speed to play the game again. He was usually good for 10-15 minutes of that until he was pooped out and wanted to be held or take a nap.
 
  • #37
phonetic/numerical military radio call-sign. swift, silent, deadly and all that rot.
 
  • #38
There are mythical creatures that sneak around in the night called gergs...I am one of them but I like to disguise it.
 
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  • #39
Here's the story where the word "zoobie" comes from:

http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=2782

from which you can see that a "zoobie" is actually a kind of bigfoot or sasquatch.

A few years ago when I first went online I wanted to be just "zoobie" in an e-mail account, but there were already a slew of them: zoobie24, and zoobie236, and everything in between. "Zooby" was also taken several times over. I cogitated for a while for something to tack onto the end of "zooby" that wouldn't just be a number, and ended up with "shoe". It seemed kind of amusing at the time.

So, a zoobyshoe is just a very, very large shoe that might fit a zoobie. I tend to play down the shoe part and emphasize the zoobie part.
 
  • #40
zoobyshoe said:
So, a zoobyshoe is just a very, very large shoe that might fit a zoobie.
And is a Shoobyzoo just a menagerie for shoobies?
 
  • #41
zoobyshoe said:
Here's the story where the word "zoobie" comes from:

http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_report.asp?id=2782

from which you can see that a "zoobie" is actually a kind of bigfoot or sasquatch.

A few years ago when I first went online I wanted to be just "zoobie" in an e-mail account, but there were already a slew of them: zoobie24, and zoobie236, and everything in between. "Zooby" was also taken several times over. I cogitated for a while for something to tack onto the end of "zooby" that wouldn't just be a number, and ended up with "shoe". It seemed kind of amusing at the time.

So, a zoobyshoe is just a very, very large shoe that might fit a zoobie. I tend to play down the shoe part and emphasize the zoobie part.

Thanks! Mr. Large Hairy Upright Walking Creature...shoe.:biggrin:
 
  • #42
zoobyshoe said:
So, a zoobyshoe is just a very, very large shoe that might fit a zoobie.
A really-big shoe?...http://timstvshowcase.com/sullivan.html
http://timstvshowcase.com/sullivan.jpg
 
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  • #43
Moonbear said:
:rolleyes: Another of the sisterhood's agents has her cover blown. How are we ever going to infiltrate the enemy's headquarters?

I'm going with Tom's story for how my name came to exist. Only select members of the sisterhood know its true origins (and no, it has nothing to do with Carebears! ).

Can't you give us a hint at where Moonbear came from?
 
  • #44
Don't forget we have two other threads that describe the origin of our chosen user names (aka PF handle).

This one going back to December 3, 2004 called:
What's the Etymology of your PF Name?

And this one only back on August 17, 2005 called
User name
 
  • #45
Moonbear said:
:rolleyes: Another of the sisterhood's agents has her cover blown. How are we ever going to infiltrate the enemy's headquarters?

I'm going with Tom's story for how my name came to exist. Only select members of the sisterhood know its true origins (and no, it has nothing to do with Carebears! ).
I have some suspicion that this involves mooning, and a bear...:bugeye:
 
  • #46
Aether said:
A really-big shoe?...http://timstvshowcase.com/sullivan.html
http://timstvshowcase.com/sullivan.jpg
[/URL]
Yes, Ed's hands are demonstrating the size of the shoe, and you, Aether, are , apparently, revealing your age.
 
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  • #47
Incidentally, does anyone remember PF member username? I used to think it was hysterically funny until a few conversations with him proved he had just been following instructions: "Put username here."
 
  • #48
zoobyshoe said:
Incidentally, does anyone remember PF member username? I used to think it was hysterically funny until a few conversations with him proved he had just been following instructions: "Put username here."
:smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #49
I don't recall any specific posts, but I do remember the name. Until now, I always thought that he did it as a joke.
 
  • #50
wolram said:
Well at least i have famous ancestors, as for my first name a cruel coincidence that a robin landed on the bedroom window sill as i was berthed.
I think you have a very beautiful name, Wol. It sounds very important and distinguished. My first love had the same first name as you so maybe I am a little biased. :redface:
 
  • #51
i was young (3 yrs ago) I thought it made me sound like a member of the xmen, or possibly even the justice league...
 
  • #52
Math Is Hard said:
I think you have a very beautiful name, Wol. It sounds very important and distinguished. My first love had the same first name as you so maybe I am a little biased. :redface:

Oo er, i just came over all hot :smile:
 
  • #53
  • #54
zoobyshoe said:
Yes, Ed's hands are demonstrating the size of the shoe, and you, Aether, are , apparently, revealing your age.
That's pretty big alright...I'm in my early 40's now, and the Ed Sullivan show last aired when I was about seven years old. I always liked to hear him say his signature phrase "it's going to be a really-big sheeew...".
 
  • #55
Mattara said:
http://www.mattarafestival.org.au/ :O

That is very odd. I just found this website. It wasn't because of that. My username is completely random
Did you use a program to get the random like Wolram did? When I saw your username, the first thing I thought was it was a combo first and last name.
 
  • #56
I chose my name becase I was listening to a lot of Jools Holland at the time, and I think Hootenanny sounds cool. :approve:
 
  • #57
I am Jimmy "James" Snyder.
 
  • #58
\ell\epsilon\sigma\aleph\alpha\Re\partial\phi <br /> \varsigma\iota\partial\iota\varsigma
 
  • #59
Aether said:
That's pretty big alright...I'm in my early 40's now, and the Ed Sullivan show last aired when I was about seven years old. I always liked to hear him say his signature phrase "it's going to be a really-big sheeew...".
It's funny cause Ivan also flashed back to Ed Sullivan the first time I explained what "zoobyshoe" meant.

Yeah, our family made a point to watch Ed every week. It was a pretty entertaining show. I actually saw the Beatles' first performance.
 
  • #60
mine comes from a corny poster that was on the wall in my HS physics room :)