It is a Label/Name?

[kokopelle]

People’s use of names has always fascinated me. I first encountered this during the 90s when I was part of the BBS (Bulletin Board System) scene. I ran a general/adult board in Columbus GA. As part of the “in crowd” I knew a lot of the users and attended parties with fellow sysops. It was in this environment that I first ran into the “alias” game. It was reasonable for people to use their bbs handle on the BBS. The weirdness happened when people insisted on being called by their bbs handle all the time, or at the least, in situations where the BBS culture reigned.

Flash-forward about six years. I got involved with the pagan community. There people use "craft names" to convey their identities. Joan Smith became "Shadow Fox Pixie" and so on. The foundational reasoning for this was very similar to that of the bbs handle. People did not want to reveal their “true” or mundane identities when their lifestyle/behavior/spirituality/etc. would not be appreciated by a wider world. This is cool. The weirdness, once again, was that people seemed to become fixated on these alter-egos.

Two things came from this fixation. The first is that some people were never known by their mundane names. They were always "Lady Blue Moon Beam" or "Lord Shadow Raven". Did they have lives outside of the pagan gatherings? Who knows? The other wrinkle was the pomp and circumstance that some people took on with their alter-egos. In the BBS world Joe Smith would become "Laser Rage". In the pagan world people would take on the names of semi-deities and such. Here in the south-east of the United States, there is a large percentage (it seems!) of women who embrace the name "Rhiannon". The proto-celtic meaning of the word is "great queen". This is an excellent intention for a name, but the apparent prevalence begs the question, can everyone who has the name be a great queen?

So why do people do this? The "Rhiannon phenomenon" may answer part of this riddle. The pragmatic reason to assume an alias is to protect another identity from being outed. This could be done with the application of other mundane names. The professional "John Smith" could easily use then name "Bob Grant" when attending a pagan gathering. They don't though! The bbs handle and craft name share the purpose of empowering the person using the alternative name. To continue using our "John Smith", it would be disempowering for his craft name to be "Flatulent Toad". Instead John would choose a name that speaks to a higher goal. He may call himself "Crimson Dragon" instead. Another wrinkle in the pagan world is the use of titles. It is "Lord" this and "Lady" that. The pragmatic use of these titles is to indicate who has X amount of training and degrees. The title empowers the user while conveying their level of seniority/training. The titles also play up to the individuals egos in "empowering" ways, sometimes to the chagrin of their subordinates!

Aliases can be useful for wide group associations. I know of pagans who have used the same craft name for years. They interact with many groups in the pagan world while wearing the alias. For example, In the southeastern United States, if you say "Owl" a good number of pagans will know exactly who you speak of. The group factor sets up interaction dynamics. Some groups are very friendly and safe. Other groups are just known to be pagan. The wider the circle, the more pragmatic the use of the alias becomes. When the group is personal or intimate, the use of the alias becomes grandiose and gaudy. Here's an example. Let's say Jack Smith is the head of a company. It is reasonable for outsiders to call him "President Smith" during introductions. There are those in his company who rightly call him "Mr. Smith". His close friends and direct reports call him "Jack". His kids call him "Dad" and his wife calls him "Poopsie". It is not reasonable for Jack to expect his wife to call him "President Jack Smith" and it is not respectful for his subordinates to call him "Poopsie". BBS handles, craft names, and aliases in general have a proper time and place for their use.

The labels of father, minister, witch, shaman, magnus, psychic, etc. are also an alias. The label is worn to identify the person to the larger group and empower the person individually. The label, like an alias, does not mean the same thing to all people. It is not reasonable to expect this. The label also does not give the wearer the right or expectation for equal usage across all groups. Sometimes a label or alias becomes more of a burden than a advantage. "Minister Smith" must do no wrong and "Psychic Smith" must know all.

Here's the IMO part of the article. I personally stay away from labels and aliases. I use one on LJ and MySpace for the pragmatic purpose of "protecting" my work-a-day identity. I work with some wonderful guys and gals. Most are heavily Christian. All of them know I am different, but it would not be beneficial to me for them to know HOW different I am. I use my mundane name at pagan gatherings. I will use that name when/if I meet any of you personally. This is my thing. IMO there are as many traps to using an alias or label as there are benefits. Some people may need the assurance that a "Lord This" or "Lady That" may give them. Some functional labels of "Minister Who" and "Shaman Her" are completely appropriate to identify abilities and responsibilities. This is all fine, but I would like to meet people who don't mind stepping forward and saying, "my name is Jane, John, Jack or Jacky".

$.02 (clink clunk plunk)
so says the Nerd God... (smile)

Comments

[iskender.livejournal.com]

Titles may share certain characteristics with aliases, but they are distinct. Titles are linked to offices, aliases with identities. Titles are facets; aliases are whole.

I'm not going into a full explanation of how I see aliases. Of course there are the standard psychological explanations of fantasy and the like.

One thing I will mention is something you didn't mention. It may not be strictly about power. It may be about immersion. Paganism, like other alternative movements that are trying to be something new or reach something that is lost, is allergic to the mundane world. Even among practitioners, there is a tendency to break the illusion, to withdraw and see this all as fake. So adopting a persona prevents someone from withdrawing, or at least promises to.

I've never understood why people adopt such personae; I understand that it promises immersion, but I see that it actually can foster detachment if used as a crutch. I prefer to make myself grow.

Then again, I am a writer of fiction and I have role-played in my life. But when I'm doing heavy character work on myself, I'd much rather play myself in a new way than adopt a new character. But if someone needs a buffer to try new things, that's fine.

It's a short-term thing, I think. As paganism grows (as it seems to), people won't need to play at it so much. When temples are built, when a little bit of capital is invested, people will be able to believe. Of course, then you're back at the beginning, but eh.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

The immersion you reference is what I was calling the "empowerment" of an alias. Empowerment is not always about outward power. For many it is about creating something fresh, new or untaintend from the rest of their life.

I agree that titles and aliases are not identical. While they may share characteristics, there are differences in form and function. The degree of the similarity probably differs from person-to-person. For me an alias is a facet. If pushed, I will call myself "Aragorn" for pagan craft identification. This is very much a facet and not a "wholeness" of me.

[elegy-of-flames.livejournal.com]

Hoo boy, the Name Game. This is one I sadly know too much about, because I did once fall into a trap much like the one you describe - which is to say, I pretty much lived on one specific IRC chatroom from the age of 13 to 16. I think you can imagine the scenario - exhibit A, one shy teenager acting much more confident, outgoing, etc within the confines of a text-only environment and under an assumed name...

The trap was that eventually, under two different names, I acted like rather different people, one of whom was far more likable than the other; and being able to escape into this "persona" kept me from working to improve the life I had that was far more tangible. Eventually a sharp shock snapped me out of it, and I've been using a different online name ever since; I'm also fairly insistent on being called by my given name in any real-life scenario.

This might not be making sense, but I've ommitted a fair few of the facts to avoid a very personal tl;dr.

Having been both a writer and an RPer in my life, yes, I certainly concur with iskender's statement that "...when I'm doing heavy character work on myself I'd much rather play myself in a new way than adopt a new character"; this comes of, ultimately, having become comfortable in my own skin.

I've never had a problem with my given name, except when I was very young and thought it was too unusual, so I've never really had to "avoid shattering the mystique" - you've seen my friendslocked post and you know I run around under the weight of a dual name that means "Lady" in two different dead languages. What Lady Sunshine Rainbow Sparklypoo could ask for more? :P

And of course, because my name is so unusual, whilst I have no problem giving it out to people I actually have some vague claim to knowing and some vague reason to trust, I'm aware that I'm "eccentric" enough that, should I ever need to keep a certain kind of job, my eccentricities should remain low-profile. Thus I make sure to friendslock all posts referencing my name so that I'm not findable on the Intarwebz. Google gives you all of two hits for me, and both of them are...me....

Lastly, yep, title =/= alias, and for that reason I've never claimed a title. I haven't got the experience it implies, and am not ready for the responsibility it brings with it!

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...

Well, during an entire year of high school, despite using my real name on my school work, I had people convinced my name was Amy. In fact, years after when they saw me, they'd still call me Amy. Part of this probably has to do with the fact that I did not feel safe at that particular school.

But I'm not stranger to nicknames. I normally let people call me whatever name. Through 2 years of High School, people mistakenly called me "Jessica". And they'd be like "sorry, I can't remember your name". And eventually I just told 'em, "eh, go ahead and call me Jessica, I don't mind." And for most of those 2 years I had different nicknames for different groups that I hung out with throughout the day.

One of the names you may recall me using on LJ was "The Duchess of Salty Waters". That one was a title given to me by a Discordian friend. :) Most of my stuff online does not have my real name on it for the same reason you don't have yours. I have people on my myspace from work, but none on here. This is possibly the reason why I don't use the journal feature on myspace.

The funny thing is that once I change my name, I'm planning on keeping my maiden name in my art stuff, since it's pretty well known by now (at least, on Elfwood). Although, most people know me by the nickname, rather than the last name.

Okay, this comment got a little long. A time and place for everything, yes. It's important not to get carried away though.

[anchasta.livejournal.com]

Hi, I am Amber! ;D

Born and bred, named due to Jaundice.

Screw a craft name!

[apocalypsegrrl.livejournal.com]

I was kinda lucky in the sense that my birth name's already pretty unique and chock-full of symbolic guishiness. I mainly started using a nickname because nobody could pronounce it correctly (funny enough, that's how I met my housemate- the teacher kept saying both our names wrong in class).

I pretty much go by "Ro[e]" with most of my family (the nick originally came from my favorite cousin), friends and most social situations (even all my friends introduce me to people as Ro). My aunts and older relatives use my full first name.

My birth name is the only name I get edgy about- it's a family name, so I don't like it used casually by people who aren't my family. Work's the only exception- be kinda hard to land a job with 'Ro' on the resume.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

What sometimes bothers me in pagan circles, especially Wiccan, is when people choose names because "it sounds cool" or "everyone else is doing it" or "I should pick this name because it sounds witchy and magical and I want to be accepted."
For example, I knew a young woman who had just joined a strict Wiccan coven. The name she had chosen for herself was Silver Raven Moonstar. However, I really don't think she believed in the power of identity. She seemed to throw the name around to try and impress people. She seemed very flighty and "fluffy." She was very typical of new pagans (especially Wiccans) who have no idea what it all entails and just wants to look cool and wear pentagram jewelry to be different.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

I related question my lovely mate asks is, "why does every choose variations of the same name?". In our area the words "Raven", "Wolf", "Mystic", "Moon" and "Shadow" are really popular. It must be some kind of archetype vortex (grin).

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I thought I'd show you some webcomic scenes that humorously illustrate this point, with "Wannabe Wiccan Girl":

http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20020726.html
http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20021115.html
http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20030304.html
http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20030310.html

[lupini.livejournal.com]

Some friends and I said the something similar after facilitating several shamanic 101 circles. "Why do so many people come back with bear, wolf, eagle, etc.?"

I journeyed on it and got this message: "Those people are so power depleted that they *need* the BIG energy of bears, wolves, eagles, etc. to rediscover their own power. When people start getting mice, fish, sparrows and other "smaller" creatures, that is an indicator that they are empowered enough that they can actually be a partner to the more subtle energies. The big energies build confidence and power quickly. The more subtle energies take skill and patience."

Note that big and smaller do not, according to them mean greater/lesser. However, after hearing that, I pay *special* attention to those that admit to connecting to something like earth-worm or gerbil as a spirit guide. :-)

:shrug: Anyway, that was what *my* guides told me. Your mileage may vary.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Good mileage! The same could be same for the list of Wiccan/pagan words I listed.

[wulfwalker.livejournal.com]

IMO, the "name Game" in pagan circles seems to originate in almost a fog of group paranoia. " the FEEBIES/Xtians/Fundies are watching and taking pictures, don't use your real name". Also there seems to be a belief that part of being pagan is a "craft name" or "outer Court" name, that people come up with. imagination takes time to engage, so the names tend to be very similar or something well recognized. I am SOO glad the "Charmed Ones" didn't have craft names or there would be a million of them also. I remember back in the CB craze of the 70's, *groan* (I am dating myself now) you could always tell someone now, because the women all were "Suzie'Q" and the guys were "Rubber Duck" until they were in the CB world long enough to think about it and come up with a more original or more personally meaningful name. It takes a lot of time to reinvent yourself, to build an alias to "own" a name/identity. Rhiannon was a very popular Fleetwood Mac song in an area of the country where they are vey popular. maybe that's why it is so widely used down here. Paganism has become its own subculture with some people having "common use", run around a gathering names/sign on to websites like MS or LJ, "outer court", coven or group affiliation names, and then "inner court" very private in the "names have power, Laws of Magic sense".

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Of the inner court names you know, how many of them had "power" when associated with the users? Where they as flavorful as "Moon Shadow Raven", or did they indicate more thought/research/meditation?

[wulfwalker.livejournal.com]

now it gets complicated...in BTW you had an "inner court ritual name" that was derived in part from numerology of your real(mundane) name, connection to the particular pantheon you were dedicated to, and personal identification to that deity/path and/or descriptive of the type of path/walk. for instance a Goddess affiliation like Selene or Gaia, herbal affiliation like datura or wolfsbane, belief structure affiliation like Rhiannon or Merlin, or a path dedication like Ariadne or Hypatea, or just to make it REALLY interesting any combination therein or any you want to throw into the mix. outer court or gathering/public ritual names can be self initiated or assigned/gifted by your elders in your coven or teaching circle. for a while in one of my groups my outer court was AmberWolf. then I moved to a new coven who felt that name was too "powerful" and they "gifted" me the name Garnet as outer court/common useage. I use Wulfwalker for many reasons. I do wolf hybrid breeding and rescuing, I work as a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator with a lot of experience with wolves, and they are both a totem animal and a spirit guide for me. I used to be "WolfWalker" and then a series of books were published, and the name became popular, so I just tweaked it to wulfwalker. but it is irritating to see people new to sites and pagan type boards who view a name like it and then assume it.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Sexy Wulfwalker...

[greensh.livejournal.com]

'Round The World With The Rubber Duck (http://www.lyricshosting.com/artists/03/c_w_mccall/round_the_world_with_the_rubber_duck.html)

Breaker, one-nine, this here's the Duck again. You got a copy on me Pig Pen, c'mon? Ah, negatory, Pig Pen, there ain't no way out 'cept for that one Atlantic Ocean. Now listen, drop them hogs off in Omaha and get over here in a short, 'cause it definitely looks like we got us a problem.

(chorus)
Yo ho ho, and a thousand trucks
Gonna take a bath with a Rubber Duck
Yo ho ho, and a lots a' luck
'Round the world with the Rubber Ducky!

[lupini.livejournal.com]

My theories on names...

Names are not just a few words long. One's true name is almost a description of all that one ever was, is, and will be. It is constantly evolving and changing. Oddly enough, years after working out my theory, the author Elizabeth Haydon came up with something almost precisely like what I'd been taught/believed in her "Rhapsody" series of books.

What we, as incarnated beings, believe to be our "name" is actually only small bits of our whole, true name. Our true name is like a "rhapsody" of music, a part of our soul song. Like a rhapsody, it is irregular, chaotic and always changing. People can work "magic" on themselves by consciously changing a part of their name, thus changing the harmonics of their own self. They can also request others to "find a name" for them and thus work the magic that way.

Where problems arise is when those who don't recognize that they are only dealing with bits of the whole end up defining themselves with only the name-parts of which they are aware. They end up slowing or stagnating their own growth. This also happens to those that claim that only one part of their whole name is the complete and true name--they limit themselves to never go beyond whatever "Otter" or "Raven" means to them.

Over the thousands of years of humanity, there have been many tribes where a person's name changed multiple times. They would receive a child name, and then another upon puberty. Their name might change several more times to reflect some event in their life, their skills, or character or physical traits. Elders often would change their names to reflect their change in status.

I have "spirit" names, and sometimes use them. However, it is usually situation specific, and I may use different combinations depending on the need. I aways go by my given name, however. Since no single piece of my name parts can sum me up, I elect to use my given name as that tool. I do not wish to fracture myself by using certain names for only certain purposes. I do believe that there was reason behind the name I was gifted. Denise is a powerful name: Denise/Dennis derived from Denys derived from Dionysus. The god of mystery, madness, and the vine and wine has many powerful aspects and lessons for me. To *not* use that name, to me, would seem an insult to the universe and to my ancestors (who will have had something to do with my parents choice).

The above theory is also one reason why I don't get weirded out by people knowing my magical names. There is the line of thought where if you share your name with others, they'll have power over you. This is true in part, because we are sharing a piece of what we are. However, no one will ever be able to have *complete* power over me, because they'll never know my "true name"--only the universe as a whole, interconnected creative spirit can know that.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

I like your analysis. The 'spiritual' names we use can be part of a larger life journey.

The shamanic path has its share of "spirit names". These are typically animal oriented names that describe some quality of the person. They can be temporary or a life-long possession. On my shamanic walk, I am now using the name "Sun Fox". A person I know is called "Painted Vulture". I have to admit that these simple names can seem hokey to the outside world. They are not to the users. I was "given" mine during a sweatlodge. These names are very real to the shamanic practitioners who embrace them.

[elegy-of-flames.livejournal.com]

IMO, a name isn't "hokey" if it's meaningful to the person using it. I'm inclined to be slightly more dubious when people with no relation whatsoever to a particular path start using names connected to it. For example, I've never had any real affinity for Native American spirituality, so why on earth would I call myself something like "Wily Coyote"? (Yes, now I may possibly be taking the piss slighly...but at the very least this does prove my point in terms of knowing nothing about that particular path!)

If everyone chose a name that was personally meaningful to them, then there would be a lot fewer Ravens and a lot more variety, I think; but the problem with any kind of spirituality where there's very few hard-and-fast rules, guidelines, and boundaries, is that people who want to rename themselves, for whatever personal reasons, don't know where to start or what is appropriate - so they emulate the pattern of names chosen by those around them, so the cliches multiply.

Maybe it begs the question of why we feel the need to "shed our skin" so publicly, and make such a point of it, if ultimately the process is aiming for internal change.

Incidentally, I know a girl whose given name is Rhiannon, so it can happen....

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Maybe it begs the question of why we feel the need to "shed our skin" so publicly, and make such a point of it, if ultimately the process is aiming for internal change.

Names are part of our ego definition. The way we decorate and modify our bodies is also part of the ego definition. I have the theory that somewhere, deep in the human psyche, we all have the need to make ourselves distinctive. We do this both as individuals and as generational groups. A common way of showing distinction is through the use of body modifications - radical dress, hair color, tattoos, piercings. There is a wide gamut of possibilities. Changes are made both for the dedication of the new and the defiance of the old.

Just as each generation must feel "unique" in it's identity, the individual is driven to "shed" for reasons of dedication and defiance. Names dedicate an individual to a new purpose. Names also defy old norms. "Mother, Wife, and Christian Woman" Beth is transformed into "Shadow Raven" pagan woman. "No longer a doormat for others" Joe becomes "Prowling Bear".

Dropping back to physical examples, "no longer a teenager under your roof thank you very much" Jack becomes "I have studs in five places because I can" adult Jack. It's cool stuff. The really funny thing, and I wonder if names are this way, is that every generation seems to forget that they did their own change thing.

[elegy-of-flames.livejournal.com]

H'm. I suppose that my personal attitude regarding the way I treat my body is, "Well, it's the one thing you're wearing all the time..." "A common way of showing distinction is through the use of body modifications - radical dress, hair color, tattoos, piercings." If I had the time I might automatically attempt to defend the concept of subcultures here - I've always been largely in it for the music - but on average, I would modify your statement to "Changes are made for the dedication of the new and the defiance or the rededication of the old."

I'm really not questioning the need to shed one's skin as a philosophical concept and psychological process - I've been looking for an ouroboros amulet *grin* What I'm questioning is the need to externalize an internal process. The wide umbrella of body modification aside (because I'd be a hypocrite if I claimed not to see the reason for it - as a note, I started accumulating piercings well before I hit the My Parents Are Out To Get Me! age ^^), the ego definition is internal. Why externalize it, unless you are not confident enough in your ability to redefine yourself, and therefore try to make it more "tangible" by urging others to perceive you in the desired way?

I suppose that's the reason why I can understand taking a private spiritual name, or at least one you don't share a round a lot - if it's so deeply meaningful and personal to you, it seems like running around naked for every Joe (or "Prowling Bear"!) to know you by it when they don't know much else about you.

Furthermore, since I do identify as part of a counter-culture, I am rather familiar with the trap of "cookie-cutter rebellion" or being "unique, just like everybody else". If I redefine myself by getting a bright green mohawk and wearing ripped clothes, but Annie, Bob, and Cindy down the street are all doing exactly the same thing, I'm not exactly breaking new ground. Perhaps it fulfills the dual need of both setting oneself apart and still having a "tribe" to belong to. The fact is, though, that IMO uniqueness is ultimately not something you pursue or ensure; it's innate simply because of the vast variety the human species displays. "Unique, just like everybody else" is not really that much of an understatement - go far enough beneath the surface, and nobody's quite alike. That's the fun of it :)

As for the generation gap, I can't honestly say I understand it yet. I think part of the way in which I experienced it had to do with the fact that, between the time when my parents were born and the time when I was born, the world changed a great deal, so it was easy enough for them to dismiss their own redefinitions whilst entering adulthood as connected to different times and circumstances; the other possibility is that their reasoning runs, "Well, Jack was treated like a prince whilst under our roof, so why does he feel the need to shove bits of metal through his eyebrow and call himself Burping Iguana?" You've got a bit more perspective on this, so you tell me what you've figured out - as of yet I can only guess *grin*

[greensh.livejournal.com]

*What I'm questioning is the need to externalize an internal process.*

LOL... I believe that most spiritual/emotional processes/growth are internalized. It is the exception that puts it out there for everyone to see. Soon I will write an article about how I work more internally than externally, though my writing does "tell" on me to a degree.

I suppose that's the reason why I can understand taking a private spiritual name, or at least one you don't share a round a lot - if it's so deeply meaningful and personal to you, it seems like running around naked for every Joe (or "Prowling Bear"!) to know you by it when they don't know much else about you.

*Furthermore, since I do identify as part of a counter-culture, I am rather familiar with the trap of "cookie-cutter rebellion" or being "unique, just like everybody else". *

Yep... the diversity of sameness is something of a joke. This year I saw "pre-stained" jeans at the local Wal-Mart superstore. The incredible joke is that they are all stained and patched the same. I laughed at this, imagining two super-hip people getting together, comparing clothes, and their hipness going right out the door.

* Perhaps it fulfills the dual need of both setting oneself apart and still having a "tribe" to belong to.*

This does offer a really interesting dynamic. A tribe that uses the physical to set themselves aside will do so, but in the process, they will look the same. Well, close to the same. The anthropologically minded person could still find subtle differences in the unique "sameness".

* "Well, Jack was treated like a prince whilst under our roof, so why does he feel the need to shove bits of metal through his eyebrow and call himself Burping Iguana?" You've got a bit more perspective on this, so you tell me what you've figured out - as of yet I can only guess *grin**

Like I said before, I really believe that people have to reinvent themselves. It's not enough just to be told what life is about. The model of the childhood is used as the "compare" to the "contrast" that the individuals employ. While I believe in this phenomenon, I still don't know how I "acted out". I walked away from my parent's faith. Maybe that was it. It's possible that none of us see the forest through our own trees.

[elegy-of-flames.livejournal.com]

(Bear with me if this is confused, it's 5am post-gig and the closest thing to a stimulant in the house is Perrier. I wouldn't quite trade my kingdom for a mug of coffee, but that's probably because I'm holding out for a kingdom that incorporates many coffee plantations.)

"I believe that most spiritual/emotional processes/growth are internalized. It is the exception that puts it out there for everyone to see." Do you mean that we deliberately keep those processes internal, or that they are usually internal by default? Both are true I suppose, but if the latter was what you mainly had in mind by that statement, then let me rephrase my original question as: if personal processes are usually internal and do not need to go outside the self to be deeply meaningful, then why do some people feel the need to "put themselves on display" in this way?

"though my writing does "tell" on me to a degree" I suppose it does - that's one reason to deliberately externalise an internal process that I can understand. In sharing your ideas in this manner, you're not simply making a statement about yourself, you're also sharing ideas that may be more universal, or, day I say...transpersonal? :) I did read your "Why do I blog" entry, though I didn't get around to answering, and I distinctly recall seeing something about a teacher archetype in there! However, some people externalise private things without entering into any kind of dialogue, that is, without producing a meaningful exchange of ideas which justifies the choice to share these personal aspects, and that's the thing I find confusing.

"the diversity of sameness is something of a joke." You get that in any kind of collective movement where image is a factor. Being a black sheep in a black flock seems to defeat the point. "The anthropologically minded person could still find subtle differences in the unique "sameness"." Ahh, you mean the paradigm of the "participant observer"? That can be a great deal of fun!

On the other hand, any sense of group identity is based on something shared, whether this be history or aesthetic or beliefs etc. If a number of people identify as "kin" because of some common factor, then some form of potential uniformity is inevitable.

"I really believe that people have to reinvent themselves." Again agreed; this is a philosophy that's become increasingly important to me over time; it seems to fit with what you suggest, that this personal reinvention is the thing that marks the transition between childhood and adulthood (although I'm not implying its importance ends there).

"It's not enough just to be told what life is about. The model of the childhood is used as the "compare" to the "contrast" that the individuals employ." That means you don't need to be deliberately thumbing your nose at the childhood influences in order to reject them, then. Maybe you made your own choices and reinvented yourself without ever "acting out", that these personal choices were an chosen action on your part rather than an instinctive reaction to the systems you were taught in childhood.

The idea that teenagers deliberately "act out" seems to be an explanation that's imposed on the phenomenon by incredulous adults who fail to understand their confused, hormonal offspring's behaviour. I could be seeing this through rose-tinted goggles, but most of my fairly "dramatic" action a few years back were not prompted by a need to prove something to anyone, except possibly myself. (Note - most! I'm not claiming I've never acted rashly in my life. Umm. Yeah. *grin*)

If this is the case, it seems better to me - if your life is determined by a reaction to some external pressure instead of internal factors, then these pressures are playing an inordinate role in shaping your choices. Which is to say, I believe it's better to be what you choose to make yourself than what your environment makes you into.

[valleysailor.livejournal.com]

*steps forward*
Hi, I'm Jan'et, nice to meet you (again).
I think names have certain power, too. I'm not sure how much power my only 'alias' of Valleysailor portends. While at one time I was peripherally involved with both the Wiccan and Native American cultures and ideology, I never felt it incumbant upon me to adopt to another name. I know that I am ever thankful that my dad was able to talk my mom out of the birth name she initially selected for me: Leticia with ultimate plans to call me "Tish". Those who know me will understand my total inability to ever picture myself with such a name.

tee shirt pokemon tee shirt u2

[(Anonymous)]

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