I am whoever I say I am
In contrast to Martin and Daniel, I really don’t care how you refer to me. My parents called me David, most people call me Dave, in my teenage years a few friends only referred to me as Murph or Murphy, particular ex-colleagues persist in using my childhood nickname of Smurf, and the vast majority of people I interact with primarily through IRC know me as Schwuk. Various other nicknames have also been used and discarded throughout my life. Schwuk, Smurf and the rest are as much as part of my identity as my given names, so I have no problem with others using them in real life.
One of the refreshing things about coming to Canonical from a more traditional company was the widespread use of IRC and the opportunity for my personal and professional identities to merge.
Then again, maybe I’m just strange. 
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look good
04 Apr 2008 4:04 pm
Good attitude.
I think Martin & Daniel need to remember that ‘they’ chose to build relationships with people using a particular nickname. They should then expect people to address them that way. If they wish to change this behavior for people they meet in person, fine but they also need to realize that they’re responsible for the ‘problem’ and shouldn’t be annoyed by it.
04 Apr 2008 5:28 pm
@nnonix
There is nothing as important as your name and it is IMO totally okay and natural if they want to be called by there name.
Most of the time (in net) you have to use a nickname, because you cannot use your real name. (I believe there is more than one “Martin” and more than one “Daniel” using IRC)
If you meet someone in RL there is nothing that is preventing someone to use your real name.
04 Apr 2008 6:40 pm
@Timo
There are several things more important than your name. Let’s not get dramatic. Additionally, while it might be natural for you to want to be called by your name it is also natural for a person who is used to addressing you as X to call you by that name.
Daniel & Martin could solve this problem by using Martin44 and Daniel99 (change number to something relevant). People would then naturally drop the numbers in polite conversation and lead to IRC friends calling them Martin & Daniel.
I think it is completely legitimate to point out that they are complaining about a problem they created themselves.
05 Apr 2008 12:23 pm
@nnonix
>here are several things more important than your name.
not from a psychological point of view. A real good reference is Nikolaus B. Enkelmann - “Name Power” (I don’t know if there is a english translation available) (I believe that Brian Tracy should also have a chapter in one of his books about this topic)
>it is also natural for a person who is used to addressing you as
>X to call you by that name.
ACK. But here is my point - if you ask someone to call you by another name it is just a act of respect to do it.
Side note: I also call some friends by their nicknames and they call me by mine, that is okay if everybody is comfortable with it.
>I think it is completely legitimate to point out that they are
>complaining about a problem they created themselves
ACK.
It is IMHO okay to call someone by his nickname as long as everyone is comfortable with it and if it is appropriate. On the other hand it is - just as I mentioned - a act of respect to stop using a nickname in RL if someone requests it.
06 Apr 2008 7:40 am
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