Post
by Just Karen » Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:17 am
I've used a number of usernames online. The one I use here - Just Karen - came from an epiphany I had a while back. I posted about it on another site (that I can't link), so I'm copypastaing it, editing for content/comments on new information, and adding geeky commentary.
"My friends will probably notice - I just changed my name here on (this site). While I was doing that, I also changed my gender listing from "Trans - mtf" to straight F. Why? Because I'm a woman, and unless I'm sleeping with them there's no need for someone to know the status of my genitalia. {Note: I no longer fully agree with this; I don't *hide* my status, I simply don't state it. If it comes up as relevant to a discussion about another topic, I'll mention it.}
More than that, it reflects a shift in attitude for me. When I made this account, I hadn't even started my transition. It made sense to me to differentiate myself from the general public. Later, as I started the shift in public appearance, it made sense to clarify to those around me why I was a bit odd. I no longer feel the need to do so. At this point, I do not define myself - sexually or in society - as a transgender woman, but rather as a woman with a transgender history. With that in mind, why would I use a name that immediately brings that history to the fore? {The accuracy of the bolded part varies on a day to day basis. Some days it's "eh, whatever" and some days it's "oh woe is me".}
Honestly, I've wanted to change the name for months - I've changed it at most of the other social networking sites I use - but I was having trouble thinking of a witty and/or original name to use that fits the 2-15 character limit.
But you know what? I don't need a witty name, and no 16 character identifier can define me. So I'm just Karen, and the rest is up to you to find out."
"
Begin geeky commentary:
There actually is a source of the name. I wanted to use (on the other site) "Just Plain Karen", as a takeoff of "Just Plain Pavek" - a character from the Darksun "Chronicles of Athas" series. It was slightly too long, and my OCD would not allow skipping spaces between words.
Begin social commentary:
I was incredibly naive about not disclosing my status. I have had to disclose my status to doctors (of course), accountants (uhh...), lawyers (..?), *bankers* (... oh come on), and a myriad of other people that deal with legal paperwork.
Other usernames I've used, in reverse order, with their own short stories
Transkaren: Obvious, and discussed above.
Karindra: A few months before I started my transition, I transferred WoW servers. I wanted a name that was close to Karen, to get me used to answering to the name.
Viridios ("Vir"): Latin for "green, fresh, verdant man"! Perfect for a druid, even if he was a bull.
Shevaresh ("Shev"): A long running name; I'd used it for close to a decade in gaming circles. Based on Shevarash of "Forgotten Realms", the God of slaughtering drow.
Talona ("Tal"): My character on the WoW server was a Warlock. Talona's the goddess of curses (and poison) in Forgotten Realms. Warlocks use curses as their primary weapon. Wife was Loviatar the Paladin, back when Blood Elves were torturing the power out of the Naaru. (Loviatar being a Forgotten Realms goddess of pain).
Tzenn. Jewel Dawnchaser: Tzenn was my wife's character; she hated EVE and gave her account to me. Jewel was my favorite character from an old D&D game; a wild mage (2e) that had a life's goal of "mastering every spell in every reality". Long-running game - the character semi-retired, and as an Elf was effectively immortal - so she actually managed to make a pretty good dent in the list (full PHB, plus most of the other core & forgotten realms sourcebooks except the encylcopedic ones.)
Dragonbait: Named after a character from Forgotten Realms. Never did a whole bunch with it.