Wednesday 8 August 2007

The identity inquiry

My slave-mate colleague asked me a few days ago… “Do you introduce yourself zewt in front of other bloggers?”

This question brought me back to the time when I first attended the bloggers get-together party at Federal Hotel. I was asked to write my name on a piece of sticker and put it on me for identification purposes. I pondered for a moment… what should I put? Should I put… zewt… or my real name? I chose the latter.

As I entered the hall with my goodie-bag, I realised most of the people there put up their nick instead. But it’s ok, I reckoned most will not know zewt anyway. As I sat down on one of the table together with Jules, I introduced myself to 2 people already seated there and gave them my real name.

A few weeks ago, I attended the blogger booze at Plaza Damas. And again, there were some new faces and some introduction needs to be done. It did hit again whether I should introduce myself as zewt or disclose my real name. The decision made in that half a second was to disclose my real name.

It was all about disclosing my name until a few person came to me and said… “Hey, are you zewt?”

Well, obviously I said yes and thus begin the … “Hello, I am zewt” introduction line.

Honestly speaking, I am still grey on whether I should introduce myself as zewt or otherwise. What about you all? Those with an identity in the blogosphere, what do you introduce yourself as? Particularly those who has built up their blogosphere nick into designer brand status, do you go….

“Hi, I’m Tom. Pleased to meet you”

Or…

"Hi, I’m do-not-call-me-Tom-but-my-blogging-name. Pleased to meet you”

P/S: Those who would like to know what zewt means can read here.

85 comments:

Helen said...

Now you go by the name zewt. Obviously the picture up in your header is not you either?

Damn! lol

Acute Critique said...

Well i would definitely go by my nickname. As i did post my real pictures, so i guess if any person(s) who know me and are constantly reading my blog, will figure out that i am ME. But then again, for those who don't know me, will only know me by my nick and my looks. :)

conan_cat said...

well obviously your zewt name is much more fehmes in the blogosphere than ur real name... because people who know you in da blogosphere will know who's zewt and not your name becuz you never disclosed ur name! lol

i for one use different names for different occasions (yeah rite XD) when i go for internet gatherings i always use conancat, when i'm in college i use Grey, when i'm at home with family or with my chinese speaking secondary school friends i'll use my real name. :D hehe

rainbow angeles said...

None other than Zewt of course! If you were not Zewt, then who is? ;) It's just a name... like how we always call the Cock, Cocka and NEVER his real name haha... feels kinda weird calling him by his real name liddat...

5xmom.com said...

Ish, I thot this is some sopo
post.

My name is Lilian, tenkiu.

Anonymous said...

from the beginning u shud had used ur real name mah...like kenny sia, jeff ooi and chan lilian, then mah no nid to think so hard wat name to intro urself lor,lol.

Angie Tan said...

lol...

can't imagine how i'll intro myself. coz my blog's name sounds so weird.

i think i'll just put a pic of my dog on my tag since she's getting more fehmes than i am. ;)

Annie said...

If you came up to me and said,
"Hello, I'm Zewt"
I would have replied
"Bless YOU!" and hand you a kleenex

I'd introduce myself as Annie because it's my alter ego they're meeting and have met. They don't know about the other ego.

J.T. said...

It's all about who you want to be in public, be it a bloggers meet or some other social function.

Feel free to use whichever name that makes you comfortable that day. :)

Rashikaps said...

Hey, All of us do things for a reason.. Whatever we do, there's always some reason behind it. There may some reason you stuck to Zewt and didn't use your real name. Right? Think about that reason and introduce yourself accordingly. :)
I'm not famous yet.. but anyway - I use my real name (Rashi Kapur) to blog.

may said...

all problems solved when we have our real name as our blog name, eh? lol!

LOL @ angel's comment -- yup, we don't call Cocka by his real name, that's too "jing king"... tame... how can Cocka not be Cocka?! hahaha!

Weig said...

Don't go to meets. Saves you the trouble. Heh!

Sunshine said...

well... just put zewt aka "your name" that would do the trick :)

narrowband said...

I understand what you mean, zewt. It's about revealing 'revealing' yourself in public eh? It's almost (I repeat, almost) equivalent with posting your picture up on your blog for all to see - which of course, you haven't, I think. But I've seen you from another blog lah.

I think this dilemma will strike those who didn't start off with their real name in the first place. It's about preserving the anonymity you pledged when you started blogging in the first place - that's why you didn't blog with your real name whut (although zewt is your partial-acronym).

During my first bloggers meeting (Project Petaling Street 2nd anniversary, lightyears ago), I was asked to do the same thing - identify myself using a sticker. I used my nickname. And to be recognized... it feels very different.

Now even when I'm offline some people also call me narrowband. Heh.

narrowband said...

Zewt I love to read your readers' comments. As always, they're all very good feedback. I want to add to j.t's comments... :p

It's not about just that one day, because once you're known on the first day, chances are it's going to be like that for almost every bloggers' meeting in future.

So it's pretty crucial and I think that's why some of us are a little apprehensive about revealing ourselves (once and for all!).

And actually, cirnelle's got a damn good point! :)

Tine said...

I've never been to one of 'em blogger meets, but I do understand what you mean, especially for those of us who blog under a pseudonym. Mine's a childhood nickname, used mainly by my close mates and family, so I reckon it's going to be a bit weird to introduce myself as Tine and hearing strangers calling me that :p

Maybe we should all just wear stickies on our shirt "Hello my name is XXX" :p Saves the trouble of having to actually introduce ourselves.

me said...

obviously you introduce yourself as zewt lah. who's going to know if you introduce yourself as ah kau?? yes, that's right, fellow zewt's fans. his real name is ah kau!. oh no!! i've gone and done it! i've disclosed his greatest secret. sorry, ah kau.

guaisaujai said...

Hahah~ suddenly think of one blogger --> "TiuNiaSing"
When he appears with his blog name..like scolding everyone..

I think depends on what kind of occasion u attending. Blog name..it's like a name given by ur parents when u born in real life..So, under blogosphere I think should use the name that u "born", the blog name.

Kinda weird when introducing urself with blog name...hmm...the best...write this on the tag..

Me
-->this-is-my-real-name
Blog
-->this-is-who-u-know-in-blogosphere

Huei said...

if it's bloggers party..then u should use zewt..since u're known as zewt!

when i first met u u told me u were zewt! hehehhe

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

normally u can go by name then blog address...i find that its lame..but it works..

Unknown said...

i agree with joe.. but doesnt matter anyway coz i'm like nobody in the blogosphere. hahaha.

Ehon said...

my blog name and real name pretty much the same. :P i'd say if it's diff, i'd still go with my blog's name. easier identification mar. later say real name ppl just go, "who is this person?" in their mind.

Purple~MushRooM said...

What's wrong with introducing yourself as 'your real name'? Of course use your real name la. Zewt is only the name you use on blogsphere, not your real name. Meeting you in real person, of course use real name la. Then tell them you're the author of AZAIG.

Eileen said...

Muahahahaha... "I am princess Eileen... No... I dont have royal blood..." Well, I go with my real name but with a "title". *giggles*

But it is funny normally people (esp guys) who know me through the net will address me as Princess from time to time...

Tunku Halim said...

Why got identity crisis, ah? I'm still in Manglish mode. :)

Horny Ang Moh said...

My name is Hor ny! Hor ny Ang Moh! Nice to meet u MR Zewt!Well this will be what I say to u if I meet u in real life! But I suppost this will never happen ( due to all my hor ny posting )! I am very sure in ur mind u will think 'Oh this is how 'hor ny ang moh' look like, he look so ordinary, he do a lot of pokeing meh?'& u will look at me 'there' to see if it is bigger or whatever! Anyway if I meet u in real life I will just intro as myself. No hor ny ang moh from me! He!He! Have a nice day!

Anonymous said...

I would introduce myself by the name I am known, like... err... Zewt :P Otherwise, I'd have to keep explaining who I am. It gets tiring, you know.

Now I have a problem. I used to blog under my real name and a lot of the old-time bloggers know me by that name. I still blog under that name but with a different focus, and my personal blog now operates under a pseudonym. So who do I introduce myself as?? I feel like two different people in the same body...

Jorji said...

afkos u hv to introduce yrself as zewt.

then,the usuall "what is zewt means?"

me got the same problem with my nick,...nobody ask what is jorji means or where it came from...they all just.."eleh..jorji konon!"

nway,jorji=george best!

The EPL is back bro!!

Elizebeth D.L. said...

So, what's your real name then?;)

I started using Elizebeth D.L. also because don't want to expose my real name in blog. I takut nanti kena tangkap atau lokap sebab cakap manyak pasal about 'orang from where I living now', if you know what I mean;)

Anonymous said...

ah.. i had to announce my real name. i dont know which nick to use lah. tingtitlei?dailantong?darth vader? haha

Daniel said...

hmmm.... never thought of that before.. good point, though..

Can give it a thought.. hehe

Arth Akal said...

"Hi, my name is Arthur Akal. Please to meet you."

Anonymous said...

Haha! Well, if people know you as zewt then go with zewt.

Since my real life nickname is Aput, then I'll go with Aput in an informal meeting.

I'm not gonna walk into a corporate meeting and go "Hello, I'm Aput", that'll just be plain weird...

Angel Eyes said...

Hi, i'm Angel Eyes...

My real name is wayy to long lah.

rinnah said...

I'd just use my blogging name. It's easier to identify the person, especially if meeting for the first time. :o)

But then again, rinnah is just my name in shortform spelled differently, so no biggie for me. *grin*

If I ever meet you in real life, I think I'd ask you (after introductions), "Hey, are you zewt?"

sereneannabelle said...

erm...i wouldnt introduce myself as goodshithappens. hahahaha.

Lingzie said...

ah kau!! LOL, i love reading comments by Me cos they're really so funny!
so hi ah kau!!! the mystery has *finally been revealed*!

i've never attended a blogger meet, but i think zewt's the way to go. cos ppl already know you as zewt...but then again, if you do introduce yourself as zewt to me, my next question would be 'what's your real name?' (ah kau!) heeheeeheee...

Anonymous said...

my blogging name and what my frens call me is the same. so it's easy for me if I go to intro myself during parties or bloggers' meet. but when I intro myself in a new workplace, I use my real name and prefer to be called by my real name.

Anonymous said...

hahahaa can't stop laughing seeing this post.. remind me of gathering in CB.. CB policies require them to write customer drinks on the cup and shout out for collection.
if one have a 'special/kinky' nick..collecting drinks with people looking is no fun yunno~

It is OK to introduce yourself with a nickname, least you have a cool name. :D

Anonymous said...

Btw, The world is a stage, for we are actors and actresses in it; a nick is like a mask in a masquerade party. To Reveal is is a final option.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter really. I know you anyway...:)

No man is an island and even if we use different names, they will still know you as you.

But given the privacy the internet provides, many would feel uncomfortable to reveal themselves simply because they don't know who they are actually speaking to (in person I mean).

This is a risk any bloggers would take (which incidentally, I have yet to decide to be one given the lack of creativity juice).

What A Lulu said...

did i go "eeee.... zewt! i'm lulu!"
or "eeee.... zewt! i'm ___. I blog as lulu"?

J u n e said...

i'll most probably use my very long name. -_- Angry Young Child.

Jacss said...

it does not matter for me to address myself as Jaclyn coz i'm not famous like U ma.....blek!!

BaitiBadarudin said...

was at a bloggers' get-together yesterday and must confess that i still feel a lil shy about my nick; just one of those things you'll get used to

Iced Nyior said...

for some reason I had errors posting this earlier - hope it doesnt come out twice

well usually in blog gatherings i introduce my real name then *pause for a few seconds to savour the looks on their faces as they search in their mind for who's blog they read who has that name* then I say Iced nyior or coco (as in coconutice - my older blog nick).

Kenny Mah said...

Haiya... it's easier if like me, blog name = real name, all same! :P

But then with a "blogname", I guess it's like Bruce Wayne/Batman or Clark Kent/Superman, right? Wah, maybe you have a superhero syndrome?

Jun said...

i s'pose one can go by their blogger identity too, judging by the "names" ppl use when they leave comments. and yeah, i do drop by every now and then without making my presence known ;)

svllee said...

Hi Zewt..it would be nice to know your real name too..

Steven

jessbabe said...

I didn't know I was sitting the same table with you when we were in Federal Hotel. Sad isn't it???

Then, I bumped into you so many times around my area and saw your pictures in every other blogs but yours. That's how I know who is the real ZEWT. you're way mysterious!

ManaL said...

Hi...a/s/l

Unknown said...

Hai I am cikgu KTN.

Cocka Doodle said...

Hi I'm Doodle...Cocka Doodle.

I like my ice milo shaken...not stirred.

How did that sound?

erinalaw said...

Erina is my name. I am proud of my name lor............

Wickedsa said...

at least it's fine that you're zewt.
better than pookyma.
I don't know how others would react when he says:" Hi!I am Pookyma!!!"

Chen said...

my profile name is my real name :)
so i won't have any trouble introducing myself :D

zewt said...

Helen - that's me actually... gotcha!

Soulblade - well, yours a cool nick, i will certainly use it too.

conan-cat - grey? why grey pulak? wow... triple identity... that' a first.

angel - hmmm... wat is cocka's real name? i wanna see how it sounds like haha!

5xmom - hahahaha... i am not u... i wanna be the one to bring you siew yok not share the siew yok with u... ya lilian?

sooi2 - hahahaha... i should... but not glamour enough... not mysterious.

Angie Tan - Since you've already disclosed Angie, should keep it that way. A dog with the name Angie doesnt really go though.

zewt said...

Annie - kleenex huh... that's how i sound like to u... hmmm... what is that alter ego?

JT - how about... hi, i am the author of AZAIG... huh? :P

Rashikaps - cos it has been my nick for the longest time and i like it. and it has never occur to me that i will actually need to intro myself as such. :)

may - jing king huh... now i really wanna know his name.

cirnelle - hahahah... that's a good remedy.

Sunshine - shouldnt it be 'my name' aka zewt?

zewt said...

narrowband - you're right... one you intro yourself using your nick, you will be known as such henceforth. not a bad thing though... particularly in the current blogging climate, dont think a lot of us wanna make our real name known...hehe... indeed, to be recognised is quite a different feeling.

Tine - hahaha... then you will probably have a lot of ppl that go... "Hi" (look at your sticker) xxx"... quite the same eh?

me - hahaha... i didnt know i have that name until today. at least mine not aunty' name ok! kakakaka... ok ok, dont make fun of ppl's name.

guaisaujai - hahahahaha... that's exactly what i was thinking too... hi, i am tiuniasing... damn cool. that's also a blog called kukujiao... that is quite something.

Huei - i think i only intro myself as zewt to those who think know zewt. that time... if i say... hi, i am zewt... i got a few blank stares.

Constant craver joe - hi, i am zewt.blogspot.com... hmmmm... that will be a first!

zewt said...

Jason - oh c'mon, i am sure u will be one in time to come.

ehon - precisely... those blank stare... in that blogger booze, i said... my name is "real-name"... the next question was... do you blog?

purple mushroom - hahaha... yup, like what i told ehon... in that blogger booze, i said... my name is "real-name"... the next question was... do you blog?

Princess Eileen - i guess you want them too right? hahaha... dont hate me.

Tunku Halim - remember the time i attended lydia's interview? i was confused on how to intro myself.

Hor Ny - hahahaha... your nick is the coolest la... imagine... Hi, i am horny... imagine the kinda reaction girls will get. hey... u might just get lucky... who knows?

Sunflower - hahaha... you have a split personality now... maybe you can combine both name.

zewt said...

Elizebeth DL - damn... and i tot all these while... that is your real name! i got conned!

tingtitlei - tingtitlei quite ok mah... but luckily i know your real name, thus i know it was you when you intro-ed yourself that day.

landed-angel - your nick is cool enough to be used :)

Arth Akal - hi there! welcome! pleased to meet you too. arth is cool enough.

Aput - hey bro! how are u? hahaha... imagine their reaction when you say aput in an official meeting. why dont u try that :P

Angel Eyes - long? try me...

rinnah - that is if you recognise me... can u? :P

King's wife said...

I always introduce myself as King's wife. Never a second thought. They will eventually know my real name after they get to know me better.

zewt said...

goodshithappens - hahahahaha.... now...isnt that a cool way to intro yourself... it's like you're telling that person something.

lingzie - hahaha... if you ask that... then i will say... ah kau lor... :P

cibol - why not cibol too.. hahaha.... quite ok mah.

-=Sin=- - CB? hmmm... i wonder if we work in the same firm. indeed... the whole world is a stage... it's better to hide behind a nick than to hide behind a facade.

anon @ 1.52 - trust me, you dont lack in creativity juice. by the way... despite you commenting anonymously... i still know who you are... i guess you dont need a nick.

What a lulu - hahaha... i think you called my real name immediately ...

AngryYoungChild - AYC... sounds cool... acronym.

zewt said...

Jacss - maybe one day you will... who knows?

QueenB - i guess i just have to get use to being zewt... right?

Iced Nyior - hello there. hahaha... i know exactly how u feel, that stare is quite insteresting. thanks for dropping by. hope to see ya more!

Kenny Mah - hahaha... superhero syndrome... zewt's gonna save the world? or save zewt... save the world... :P

Jun - hi, good to see you again... maybe you should make your presence known then... make some noise! :)

svllee - when the time is right then :)

jessbabe - being mysterious is good. by the way... 'around your area'? hmmmm... where?

J u n e said...

Haha true, but i always tot my AYC sounds like " Eh Why See? "

zewt said...

Manal - hahaha... nampaknya... manal dahulunya kuat icq.

Kata Tak Nak - Hi.. i am zewt.

Cocka Doodle - ice milo shaken? u sure u drink that?

erinalaw - that's a good thing. but are you saying all of us not proud of our name ah?

baby sa - how about tiuniasing... or kukujiao.com? hahahaha... that's quite something isnt it?

Chen - that's good. but i think you can also go by... loctor chen... right?

King's wife - that's what you intro-ed yourself at during the blogger get together... so... what's your real name ah?

AngryYoungChild - oh... never thought of that... hahha.. imagine you go... Hi, I am angry... that would probably scares ppl away. but you always end your entry as June... so you can also do that.

Anonymous said...

that's right my friend...:)

Alvin said...

i ..don hv a nickname =_= i put Alvin Lim...and my own pic there... so..don think i got anything to hide =_=

Acute Critique said...

LOL~ my nickname was chosen based on one old ps game.. but then now i think the 'blade' in my "soulblade" is actually 'cutting' my 'soul'!

LOL~ darn.. should choose another nick instead..

jessbabe said...

I saw you a few times in Leisure Mall cheras...

Sivin Kit said...

mine is simple as - Hi! My name is "Sivin"

and then they say "Stephen?"

nope ... Sivin .. then I have to spell it.

S
I
V
N

:-) you are having fun as a blogger aren't you?

zewt said...

Anon @ 10.12 - indeed :)

Alvin - well, you're not blogging anything sensitive... so should be ok lor.

soulblade - dont... learn how to control it :)

jessbabe - oh, i think you got the wrong person. i think i have only been there once in the last... 2 years?

Sivin Kit - honestly... when i first heard your name... i was thinking... what kinda name is that??? hahahahahahaha! yeah, definitely enjoying myself.

jessbabe said...

haha.. probably I am. It was after movie around midnight and you were with someone else..probably it's not you again...hehe!

zewt said...

jessbabe - :)... when i was there... i think i havent started blogging yet.

jessbabe said...

haha XD wrong person then :P

Anonymous said...

Since its a blogger's meet,use your blogging name la.It's only fair cos u never actually tell people your real name (although like me and some others, we got lucky and found out anyways.LOL.)

As for me,my blog nick and what some of my friends call me are the same.Actually,I'd rather use my nick in any situation rather than my plain name...but I never got around to intro myself as Mar when I meet someone new...then when they already know my plain name kinda hard to get them to call me by my nick.Haiyah.My bad.Hehe...

When I do meet you zewt,I will probably do what I do best: "Are you Zewt?" then sms cibol and bongkersz: "OMG! I talked to Zewt! In person!!!"

Hehehe...oops...this is a long comment.

Anonymous said...

hi, i'm bongkersz. lol lol lol... that sounds weird.. really.. never have the chance to say that.. just yet.. :)

zewt said...

jessbabe - haha... i guess my face is very common then.

mar - hahahahaha.... maybe bongkersz may beat you to it since he is in KL. had he appeared in that blogger booze, then i would have met him already.

bongkersz - you should have went to that blogger booze, then you would have had your chance.

missironic said...

If for me, I'll go with my blogger name.. there's a reason why u use ur blogger nick rather than ur real name in your blog rite? so, since u attending such functions for bloggers..make it known by ur blogger nick..yea?

zewt said...

missironic - yeah, after reading all the comments, i guess i have to go with that... zewt is the way to go then :)

missironic said...

3 cheers to that..hip hip hooray! =D

Anonymous said...

hahaa...even so,I doubt bongkersz will sms me "OMG! I met Zewt in person!!!" LOL...

zewt said...

missironic - thanks for the cheers :)

mar - haha... it's ok. i dont mind really :)

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