Bobs of the SDN

[Former Member]

I see a number of users naming themselves what they apparently are not.

Not that I complain.

It is fine if we have a 'Pizzaman!', and still fine if a 'pizzagirl' appears on the same forum (this is the max flirting/flattering moderators would allow ).

It is still ok if someone calls himself 'smartone_s' or 'IamSmurf..OK', though I start feeling a little put of by the later.

However, I now see some having a normal enough name, say 'sam mathew', but it seems that is not their real name. Don't ask me how I 'know', just that I am reasonably sure of it being so.

It may seem as harmless as other cases above, but for whatever reason it seems disingenuous to me.

Is the objective to appear what you are not, to solicit better responses (assuming some names - maybe western enough, maybe feminine enough, I don't know what parameter if any it is based on); or, is it some Freudian thing (not that I would get it even if it were), or just a fancy at the time of SDN registration?

When I reply to a post by someone who has a normal name but to me that seems like not the real one, it feels as if some cheating is going on.

I mean you reply to someone addressing him Bob because that is what he calls himself, and to you it is evident he is, say, Nakatomi, it somehow smacks of something unfair.

Ever got that feeling?

[pokrakam]

I much prefer to people using their real names but it if has to be otherwise I prefer an obviously false name rather than a 'real sounding' one which is fake (and gives an appearance of dishonesty).

Usually I mention something in my replies and on at least one occasion it has been successful - e.g. at least decided to emulate a Danish beer instead of the original "guest01"

Regarding the earlier comment that people assume names to avoid being found out for interviews... well, that's just

a) dishonest if you're trying to blag your way through an interview,

b) shooting yourself in the foot if you land a job that's beyond your capabilities

c) complete rubbish. I've hired candidates with less experience than others - partly because I found posts that showed intelligence and ability to solve a problem. It's pretty difficult to know everything, thus the <i>way</i> someone asks a questions is often more important than the question itself.

Just my 2p.

Cheers,

Mike

[Former Member]

> a) dishonest if you're trying to blag your way

> through an interview,

Hey Mike...I glad you say <b>blag</b> and not <b>Blag</b> LOL

Greetings,

Blag.

[pokrakam]

Thought you might notice

For those who aren't familiar with the British use of the verb "to blag":

<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=blag">http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=blag</a>

[Former Member]

I don;t know what you mean.

Regards

Janet

[suresh_datti]

Barry,

That was verry funny.. you could have also said.. ping me .. my email id is cuatninedotcom !

~Suresh

[former_member196299]

hey guys ..

Did anyone notice a name ' send_to_me ' .. . what is this person trying to do in SDN .. it drives me to laughter at times ..

Cheers ,

Ranjita

[Former Member]

Although whatever may be the record SDN shows of registered members (Globally)...the fact remains that SAP world (Consultants, Users, Developers)still makes a very small proportion...!! many of them are beginners & learning SAP...although i agree that one of the core use of SDN forums is to give & share knowledge among users for their benefit.

What I have observed & understood (in India) is that many people do not register from there original name on SDN because of the apprehension that soon they might be giving any interview in any IT Firm and the interviewer might recognize him by saying Dude i have noticed/tracked you on SDN asking silly questions and i know what level of knowledge you are having...and kaboom...that poor fellow's story ends there.

null

Message was edited by:

Nitesh Nagpal

[suresh_datti]

>>Ever got that feeling? YES

I couldn't get to that thread.. there was a discussion a little while ago on insisting the Users to use their 'own' names.. but then, Pizzaman or Portalgirl is a safe bet than a sam mathew.. I hate to bring it up..but remember the Gareth Ellem episode?

~Suresh

[Former Member]

I guess what I am driving at is this

- Is the 'alternate name' a random one, or is there some thought in what name to pick?

Ie do I want to pose as a 'fairer sex', as a european/american, or whatever else, because I think this helps me in some way (in getting attention to my post / responses), or helps me in some other way (in acting something that I know I am not)?

Or is it just randomly chosen?

Maybe I am reading something which isn't there. Maybe because I want to?

As an aside, I found <a href="https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/">Project Implicit</a> a good one to learn about oneself.

[suresh_datti]

Ok I see your point & agree that there does seem to be a 'motive' in picking a name.. It is not always randomly chosen..at least in a few a cases..

S(C)DN isn't a chat corner.. there is no reason to 'hide' one's name.. At the least they can start emulating 'Blag' & use their fancy assumed names for signature!

~Suresh

[Former Member]

Roger Federer just joined the BI forums

[suresh_datti]

OK..pl do not answer Federer's questions..as only Nadal can give a fitting reply!

this is turning out funny.. thanks Ajay..

~Suresh

[Former Member]

@Suresh When I join the SDN I was dying to use <b>Blag</b> as my name...But after reading some of the rules...I came up with my real name....Which is of course better -:)

Actually, in the ABAP Spanish Forums, my name is Blag, but I show my real name on my signature....Just the opposite as here on SDN...Weird -:P Also, some people confused my alter-ego name...Calling me names like <b>Flag, Black, Blak, Blaq and even Flat</b> -:'(

@Bhanu Roger Federer? Really? Maybe he can give me some Tennis teaching while he's not doing BI development -;)

Greetings,

Blag.

[Former Member]

@ Alvaro: I wish he just stays to what he does <i>the</i> best: Tennis

[Former Member]

Flat is nice. I loooooved <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Gx7wKwqWQ">him</a>!

)

[Former Member]

Well , I don't think its because they want to get answers and think they'll get them if they seem to be someone else.

I think its because they are asking very basic questions and know they know that, they must be on a project having claimed a lot of experience etc.

So obviously they do no want to be seen with their real names , just in case someone notices .

Regards

[pokrakam]

> I think its because they are asking very basic

> questions and know they know that, they must be on a

> project having claimed a lot of experience etc.

...which is exactly my point about being dishonest. Whichever way you dress it up it's a lie. Either they lied their way through an interview or they're taking part in deceiving or even defrauding the customer.

[Former Member]

Can I just ask you all - are you permanent employees or contractors?

[Former Member]

Yes. But for appearances sake at least Sam and Bob should not sign off as Reddy...

[Former Member]

Hi Bhanu and guys,

It's a little bit off-topic. From that time (two years ago???) when we discovered the first point hunters (asking the questions, answering them and rewarding themselfs), I noticed that mayby in 70-80 % of all cases in their name was "Reddy". Is it a most popular name in India? Or it means something?

Best regards,

[Former Member]

Reddy is one of the common family names in one (of 25 odd) state in India. However among IT workers in or from India, Reddy's population is disproportionately large (as you could see on SDN as well).

On your point regarding point-hunters being Reddy umm say 'at (often) times'; I will only share my observation that Reddys are quite 'enterpreneurial' in career matters.

There, I have shown my worst - gone for a cheap shot of sterotyping I now need a new user avtar - is 'Rafael Nadal' still available?