Lord Halcion, the Guardian Of The Wastes!
In this day and age, I’ve come to the realization that most of us operate under nicknames or similar monikers. As if the name we were given at child birth wasn’t enough, we now identify ourselves differently depending on the environment we’re in be it virtually or in physical representation amongst friends. It’s like we do not like the name we have, so we go for the one we create or earn amongst those we consider peers. Which is very interesting when you think about it. In a sense we’re social chameleons adapting to blend into social situations. Essentially becoming someone new outside of the norm for people who are uninitiated to our alter egos.
That doesn’t necessarily make us super heroes. We don’t got out and become masked vigilantes to fight crime or similar injustices. We simply interact and find a place for us to express ourselves in some form or another though most typically in an anonymous environment. It is not uncommon for people to learn who you are after trust has been established between strangers from the bond of camaraderie and friendship formed through similar endeavors of interest.
But I digress, let me further explain.
For example, my online name for most everything I participate in via the internet is Lord Halcion. I typically use that handle to play online over xbox live. Depending on the game, it’s gets me recognition both positive and negative amongst peers in what I choose to play. Some people see it and roll their eyes thinking I’ve got some kind of superiority complex or knack for misspelling words. Others come to hate it from losing to me since most games are fun that have some kind of competitive multi-player aspect. There’s some kind of measure for me to be compared to others but most importantly my name is used as a representation of that comparison. Since what I do and say online is a reflection of who I am and typically so, it garners feedback from both peers and adversaries. Sometimes there a compliments on my name other times people use it as means to launch into hate laden diatribes. Since they assume that I am trying to be dominate of the situation.
Without that name or a need to want to play games, I would be one of the nameless faceless entities on the internet. Instead I have that name and it has history for me; Let me break my nickname down: A Lord is someone in control of a situation or someone with prestige. Typically correct spelling of Halcion is Halcyon which is a kind of bird but it can also mean carefree or placid. There’s a saying, “the Halcyon Days of Yore” which is a reference a nostalgic period of peace and calm during one’s youth. Halcion however is a play on that since it is a sleep aid used to help insomniacs rest. Typically most gaming sessions happen in the wee hours of the morning; which can play havoc on one’s biological clock and wind up being turmoil in one’s life once their sleep cycle is disrupted. So it becomes an ironic sort of juxtaposition when put into that comparison.
Essentially it means two things to me and I usually don’t explain that to people since it’s kind of an in joke for me. Lord Halcyon would mean one who controls the good days of their life. Instead it is Lord Halcion which should mean one who should be capable of controlling their sleep schedules. I know that insomnia is a cruel a beast and while I wait for it to quit nipping at mind I game or find a use for the time presented to me.
So readers I have a challenge for ya’ll: If you game be it video games or pnp rpgs then I would like you all to explain to me what goes into your names that you choose for the personas you play. If you could please share it in the comments below. It’s an experiment for which I am quite curious.
________
Bohemia is a monthly journal that features artists, poets, writers, photographers. The magazine’s content reflects the best talent in our region, Central Texas. In addition, we follow our interests: which includes reporting on the arts all over the world. We are always looking for submissions.
Bohemia’s online readership is broad. The monthly issues receive hundreds of “views” and our blog receives hundreds of hits per day (and growing everyday!). You can view and download issues at issuu.com/verymandy for free. Print copies are also available to purchase and we have over 300 subscribers.
Go to our site, www.bohemia-journal.com, to find out more.
Bohemia is a blog. Subscribe to our blog, bohojo.wordpress.com.
Bohemia is a facebook feed, “like” us at www.facebook.com/bohemiajournal.
Follow us on twitter too– www.twitter.com/bohemiajournal.
Our local team calls itself — BoHo Waco! We are BoHo Waco! We love Waco!
October 6, 2012 at 12:03 am
So i have two main aliases i use fairly regularly
one is OniDragon43
Onidragon43 plays to my two sides….
Oni are japanese demons known to cause mischief(in the lighter end of the spectrum) and dragons tend to be associated with protecting things they treasure
the 43?
well that just happens to be what the digits in my social security number add up to
the other is Savvii43
which is a mutation of a nickname i picked up in the navy
that nick name was “Savvy” it was similar enough to my last name
it didnt get its current spelling though until i bought a wii
i chose to use that spelling when i was inviting everyone over for a wii party (or partii if you prefer)… and well the spelling stuck…. and again the 43 same reason as above
October 6, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Mine is LadyHalcion which has two meanings, first, im a lady. Second, my father (Hal) used to call me his little scion
October 6, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Pollonien is the name of the elf who is the protagonist in 13 stories I have written (and many more I have told but have yet to write down). I actually wrote the one which was published in July from scratch … figured the first story to be published should be his first story … and up to that point, I had not plotted it yet alone told it or written it down. I have been telling Pollonien stories for many years.
November 28, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Heres a list: Hairdu, Pvt. Dancer, Rydia, YoungSavage, Lord Baltimore Duke of Earl, Ghoulbez, Cocoanuts, and of course Campfire83. I don’t want to be recognized online. Why is your picture Amanda Pollonien?