Posted on 11/12/2006 12:15:30 AM PST by Silly
Everybody asks me about my handle, "Silly."
Okay, no one asks me, but since I'm posting again on FR after about being absent since 2002, I thought I'd formally say hello to everyone again, and this was the best way I could think to do so.
Years and years ago, when I first began posting on the Internet, including FR, CNN, and other boards, I was a bit, well, let's say, unaware of the effect my strange sense of humor had on others. Of course I knew it was over the top and harmless, but I just couldn't understand why other people didn't have that figured out! I like non-sequiturs, absurdism, and Pythonesque humor, and, frankly, when I want to play rough, I can do that, too. It drove people crazy!
So let's just say that for the first few years I had to re-register on several sites and come up with different handles. (Mostly, I used my real name.)
One of my favorite pasttimes was posting anagrams. You know, like, "Senator Hillary = Another sly liar." Except I wouldn't bother telling people they were anagrams, or posting the first half. So the anagrams, like much of my humor, were mistaken as trolling, because they looked like non-sequiturs and really annoyed people! (My very first anagram won a prize at David Letterman's Website. It was, "Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinsky = A C.I.A. mink and wild, sloppy intern." I got a Late Night sponge for that effort.)
My on-line social life completely changed when I stumbled on the handle Silly. It was the perfect name for me. Now, everyone seemed to know where I was coming from, and knew to think twice before taking my comments seriously (though most of them were). Suddenly I could do no wrong!
I immediately began making dozens of friends. Suddenly, FR became a place primarily of friendship, then politics. As you know, you can argue more easily with people who trust and like you than those who don't understand you.
I was, however, eventually banned from FR again, if I remember correctly, due to my comments to a conspiracy nut who I loved to harass and ridicule. It may have been another reason -- I forget, and can't seem to reconstruct it from old freepmails.
THEN CAME THE "FREE SILLY" CAMPAIGN, which I will never forget. Everyone at the WFTD thread started lobbying to get me unbanned. Photoshop images with the words, "Free Silly!" started showing up everywhere on FR, to the confusion of most FReepers. I think my favorite one was a picture of Jim Rob in a blue T-shirt with the words FREE SILLY, which really got a lot of mileage in the laugh department. Everyone, everywhere on FR was asking, "Who's Silly?"
Someone even registered a new account with the screenname, "Free Silly, You Bastards!" which I think is still around, and makes me laugh out loud whenever I think of it. In those days, we were all laughing so hard milk was coming out of our noses while we ate breakfast and posted on the WFTD thread first thing each morning. (Remember pictures of summer camp?)
Well, last summer, I wrote to John Rob, and politely asked if I could have my old handle back. I was so amazed when he unbanned me! It was like I was alive again, and all the old memories came flooding back.
Except for a few posts last summer, I didn't get really involved again on FR until recently. Now I've been having a lot of fun. I've changed a lot since 2002, for the better, and ironically my behavior is not as silly as it once was. But I sure am glad I found that handle!
Anyway, I just wanted to formally say hi again to everyone. I love you all, wish you all God's richest blessings, and look forward to some in-person activities and lively posting here at FR.
Still being,
Silly
To everyone at WFTD: If any of you are up this late, I'd love to hear from you.
Good morning.
Okay. I can buy this vanity.
Good to see you around again, Silly!
Regards,
LH
Well, I for one have thoroughly enjoyed your early morning post!
Thanks, everyone. Glad to see someone else is up this time of night!
New York Police Department analyst Madeleine Gruen is way sillier than you.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737187/posts
I remember silly you!
Welcome back.
Still being...silly. ;o)
Hmmm - I got pinged so I guess I'm on the WFTD pinglist. But what do the initials stand for? If I may be so bold as to ask.
;-)
Well that's just silly.
Word For The Day...
I get that a lot!
Now free A+Bert
And don't forget to free Sabertooth!
from an old Smoker's Lounge thread
wow, being fairly new here this was something special to read! :) welcome back Silly! from a ferri that is asked on different sites..."are you a guy?" LOL (answer: oh! I'll ask my husband!!"
What a cool thing to say. I'm glad it touched you, and thanks for letting me know.
well i have to say i have found some wonderful people here on FR. :) i just love some of them to death even though i have never 'met' them. ;) you sound like my kind of person! (i hope you are on pookie18's toon ping list!!!)
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