Psëúdonymic Curiosity

[Virgil Showlion]

A tentative top 15 list of the most curious NMSNM pseudonyms. Minor mysteries like this often pique my curiosity. Perhaps I'm not alone.

Any insights would be appreciated.


ZaireinHD - "Zaire" almost certainly refers to the former name of the current Democratic Republic of the Congo. The likelihood that ZaireinHD hails from the former DRoC is negligible. Furthermore, "inHD" (presumably, 'in high definition') is a curious description of a nation--or, for that matter, a human. Insights?

Suggested: A reference to the 1999 documentary "King of Zaire", converted to high definition?

ysi - Initials, possibly? Yvonne? Yvette?

RESOLVED: Acronym for 'You Simplified It'.

Snerdley Snicklefritz - Almost Seussian in its construction. "Snicklefritz" turns up as the name for certain brands of beer, a rare medical condition, and various others. "Snerdley" is prominently associated with Mr. Rush Limbaugh, who also used it as a pseudonym. It is a genuine (albeit uncommon) surname. The alliteration between the names is obvious. We may also assume that the name as a whole was selected for its whimsical, uncommon construction. Still, what prompted the selection of these particular names?

colleenz - 'colleen' is almost certainly a reference to English name "Colleen", the z is the last initial?

RESOLVED: Short for 'Colleen Z.'

nqtykarabo - Described once as a mnemonic for "naughty caribou". The reason for using a mnemonic (in particular, the silent 'q') is a mystery. "Naughty Caribou", as a moniker, also escapes any obvious interpretation. Insights?

RESOLVED: NQTY is an acronym for 'Not Quite There Yet'. These rest is a nickname by DH.

Bob Ross - Would normally imply fanship to television painter/instructor Bob Ross. However, the "Family Guy" satirical avatar/byline that accompany the name (portraying Mr. Ross as violent and unstable) are among the most negative, hostile, and inaccurate representations of the Mr. Rogers-esque painter. A symbol of respect, a symbol of disrespect, or neither?

Naggie - referring to a genuine tendency to nag? And to the extent that you would use it to define an online identity?

RESOLVED: Nickname bestowed by Naggie's grandfather during her youth. The reason why "Naggie" was chosen is a mystery, but the RL Naggie is putatively quite stoic.

Empire - Short for 'Sue Empire', the origin and meaning of "Empire" are a mystery. Insights?

RESOLVED: "Empire" is a reference to the Empire City casino, wherein Sue Empire won a windfall.

dianartemis - Presumably a contraction of "Diana Artemis", although the name is missing an 'a'. This could simply be for brevity, or for readability. There is also some question to the pronunciation, which could fairly be "die-anne ar-tim-iss", "die-anne-are-temmis", or "Diana Artemis"? Insights?

whiskmav - Initially interpreted by me to mean "Whisk Maven", leading to a rather embarrassing "Virgil, you realize he's a guy" moment after roughly two years of conversation with him. "Whisk" could potentially be a shortening of "whisky", but "mav" as well as the overall construction of the name remain a mystery. Insights?

RESOLVED: Contraction of "Whiskey Maverick".

patstab - Pat stab? Pat's tab? Or another construction entirely?

RESOLVED: Contraction of "Patriotic Stablist".

chiver78 - Chicago ... 1978? Insights?

RESOLVED: Morphed nickname.

Verrip1 - Insights?

RESOLVED: Contraction for "Very Ripped One".

yclept - Insights?

RESOLVED: Means "called" in Old English, in the sense of an appellation, which yclept found amusing.

dezilooooo - Insights?

RESOLVED: "Desilu" refers to a production company created by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in the 1940's.

[Bluerobin]

Virgl, give me a toke!!

[moon/Laura]

ysi = You Simplified It (think this was the former msn name -now uhhh, simplified!)

nqtykarabo = Not Quite There Yet for the first.. not sure about the last. First part was old msn name, i believe.


that's all i've got.

[Virgil Showlion]

Blue, you would be interested in the many definitions of snicklefritz.

ETA: Ah. Makes good sense, moon. There's one I can put to rest.

[NancysSummerSip]

I didn't make the top 15 most curious list? Nancy sad. . And I've been so nice to Virgil, too.

[Virgil Showlion]

I'm assuming you're a woman named Nancy living in Florida?

[pig]

I dunno but everytime I see patstab all I think of is pabst blue ribbon beer.

Isn't yclept a musical term for something?

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Empire might stand for NYC.

Have you figured out mine?

ETA, make that New York State, the Empire state.

[NancysSummerSip]

Well, yeah, but I still thought I was a curiosity, yanno?

[973beachbum]

NQTY stands for not quite there yet. I have no idea what the karabo stand for. ;D

I used to have my name in my old MSN name but everyone ignored it and called me 97, so I took it out. I added the 973 because it was an old number of ours and msn wouldn't let me have my desired screen name without a number in it.

So what does yours mean? Have you always wanted to be King?

[Bluerobin]

Interesting Virgil, now quit hogging the bong!

[moon/Laura]

you're thinking of "clef" pig

[Virgil Showlion]

Ken: It must be a New Yorker thing. I suppose it is the "Empire State". I think I've got your name figured out.

Beachbum: I have no idea what "Kink" is.

ETA: I've always used 'yclept' as a mnemonic for "You Can't Let Every Person Trade", which would be somewhat consistent with yclept's philosophy. But this is a total shot in the dark.

[chiver78]

well, I will sort of explain mine, and then take a stab at a couple others. in return, I'm curious about your own username.

chiver78 - you were right on the 1978. "chiver" is the end result of an evolving nickname from back in college. I'm not sure I even remember the whole story at this point. suffice to say it was a name that stuck.

whiskmav - maybe the 'mav' is for maverick?

patstab - patstab was patriotic stablest on the old boards. don't know what the meaning was, but this is just a shorter version.

[pig]

movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809410886/info

Could refer to this movie in HD for Zaire?

[swamp]

Patstab's name on the old board was Patriotic Stablest, or something like that.

Whiskmav is Whiskey Maverick, I believe.

You're not curious about the origins of Swamp?

[pig]

Oh and Naggie's name fits perfectly I don't think that should be on the list.

Most of us know that was your old nickname Swamp.

[973beachbum]

Yclept means to be called. I thought he was being funny by being called a word that means being called.

It was a typo. I asked if you always wanted to be king.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Jun 24, 2011 11:20:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

Patstab's name on the old board was Patriotic Stablest, or something like that.

Whiskmav is Whiskey Maverick, I believe.

You're not curious about the origins of Swamp?

Yes, and where is "BFE?"

[swamp]

Jun 24, 2011 11:23:52 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Jun 24, 2011 11:20:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

Patstab's name on the old board was Patriotic Stablest, or something like that.

Whiskmav is Whiskey Maverick, I believe.

You're not curious about the origins of Swamp?

Yes, and where is "BFE?"

Butt F*** Egypt. aka In The Middle of Nowhere.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Well I'm near Delaware on the Eastern shore of Maryland.

[Bluerobin]

BFE is near BUF!!

ETA, I am forgetting my codes!

[Virgil Showlion]

chiver: "Virgil" is a reference to the Roman poet Virgil, prominently featured in "Dante's Inferno". "Sovereign" met the criteria of being: unrhymable, starting with an 'S', distinguished-sounding.

Beachbum, re "yclept": No kidding!?

So we now have ysi, nqtykarabo, patstab, chiver, verrip, yclept, whiskmav clearly explained. You guys know your stuff.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Jun 24, 2011 11:28:48 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

chiver: "Virgil" is a reference to the Roman poet Virgil, prominently featured in "Dante's Inferno". "Sovereign" met the criteria of being: unrhymable, starting with an 'S', distinguished-sounding.

Beachbum, re "yclept": No kidding!?

So we now have ysi, nqtykarabo, patstab, chiver, verrip, yclept, whiskmav clearly explained. You guys know your stuff.

And who called us slackers?

[Virgil Showlion]

Setting this thread as an announcement would be an abuse. It's too bad, though, because I've always been curious about Dezi, and he never comes to EE.

[973beachbum]

"Beachbum, re "yclept": No kidding!?"

Yclept means:
"By the name of; called.

Once this was the standard way of forming the past participle of the verb clepe, to call (or, more strictly, its Old English precursor, cleopian). For the past few hundred years it has only turned up as a deliberately archaic form, mostly in poetry, or as light relief. It surfaces occasionally as ponderous humour."

I thought he was being funny by having the name "name". I could be wrong but he is well read.

[swamp]

I think Naggie's nickname IRL is Naggie.

[swamp]

Jun 24, 2011 11:33:38 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Setting this thread as an announcement would be an abuse. It's too bad, though, because I've always been curious about Dezi, and he never comes to EE.

Isn't Desilu the name of the production company Dezi Arnaz and Lucille Ball had?

[Deleted]

[Taxman10]

Jun 24, 2011 11:20:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

Patstab's name on the old board was Patriotic Stablest, or something like that.

Whiskmav is Whiskey Maverick, I believe.

You're not curious about the origins of Swamp?

I am!!