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What's in a Screenname: Why I chose 'Silly' as my handle [blatant late-night (but sober) vanity]
November 12, 2006 | Silly

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


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: fr; handle; justbeing; silly; soberupsilly; vanity; whyrulookinghere
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To: Silly

Silly, I'm glad you're back. I always enjoyed your humor. Now...stay out of trouble!


21 posted on 11/12/2006 1:12:39 AM PST by jellybean (Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: jellybean

BellyJean is not my lover. She's just a girl who says that i am the one.

But the kid is not my son.


22 posted on 11/12/2006 1:16:05 AM PST by Silly (still being silly)
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To: Silly

No, Silly, he's my son :)


23 posted on 11/12/2006 1:43:27 AM PST by jellybean (Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: Silly
To everyone at WFTD: If any of you are up this late, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm always up this late. It's early afternoon. ;-)

24 posted on 11/12/2006 2:44:21 AM PST by Allegra (Help! I'm "Stuck in Iraq!" I KNEW I Should Have Studied Harder....)
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To: Silly

the summer camp pix were some of the most hilarious things we ever did. those were great days and i am glad you are back : )


25 posted on 11/12/2006 2:48:10 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: Allegra

Be safe! Great to hear from you!


26 posted on 11/12/2006 2:49:11 AM PST by Silly (still being silly)
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To: Silly

Where's the free silly? I WANT MY FREE SILLY!!!












































Oh...never mind.


27 posted on 11/12/2006 2:56:34 AM PST by SerpentDove (It's not rocket surgery.)
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To: Silly; xsmommy; VRWCmember
HIYA, SILLY!! It's good to see you aga...

FSYB!: Argh, you dopey ugly fat slob, shouldn't you be skulking around Busty Redheads R Us instead of annoying good people during their election mourning?

Argh: Who you calling dopey, dopey?

FSYB!: You, you submoronic dunce.

Argh: Pretty big talk for a Miami fan.

FSYB!: Who you calling a Miami fan, you mouth-breathing troglodite??

Argh: Oh, yeah? Well at least I can spell "troglodyte", you insipid twerp...


OK, OK, I'm leaving...

28 posted on 11/12/2006 3:30:06 AM PST by Argh
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To: Argh
Free Silly, you bastards!

29 posted on 11/12/2006 3:35:16 AM PST by Silly (still being silly)
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To: Silly

That's tellin' 'em!


30 posted on 11/12/2006 3:42:23 AM PST by Argh
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To: Argh; blood; Roebucks; Slip18; uglybiker
To: blood, Roebucks, Slip18
Alright. Somebody clue me in.

Just what the %#$& is this "FREE SILLY" bull$#!&?

uglybiker aka Poopsie Gigglebrains

238 Posted on 08/30/2001 16:25:18 PDT by uglybiker
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Ah, memories!

31 posted on 11/12/2006 3:50:16 AM PST by Silly (still being silly)
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To: Silly

Do you ever sleep?


32 posted on 11/12/2006 4:23:44 AM PST by Gabz
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To: ferri
...from a ferri that is asked on different sites..."are you a guy?"

I thought you liked boats. ;-)

33 posted on 11/12/2006 5:18:21 AM PST by uglybiker (Don't look at me. I didn't make you stupid.)
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To: Silly; Slip18; Roebucks; blood; Argh

Great! No I gotta remember just what the %#$& this Poopsie Gigglebrains
bull$#!& is.


34 posted on 11/12/2006 5:21:40 AM PST by uglybiker (Don't look at me. I didn't make you stupid.)
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To: Silly
I like non-sequiturs, absurdism, and Pythonesque humor, and, frankly, when I want to play rough, I can do that, too.

If you add Dennis Miller "cerebral" humor, then I feel between you and pissant, this is gonna be good.

Welcome back .

35 posted on 11/12/2006 5:22:35 AM PST by IllumiNaughtyByNature (If a pug barks and no one is around to hear it... they hold a grudge for a long time!)
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To: uglybiker

I think it was a Captain Underpants thing...


36 posted on 11/12/2006 5:36:54 AM PST by Silly (still being silly)
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To: K4Harty

Hang onto your butts!


37 posted on 11/12/2006 5:37:39 AM PST by Silly (still being silly)
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To: Silly; Roebucks; RikaStrom; xsmommy; dubyaismypresident; Slip18; Argh; CholeraJoe; Countyline; ...
Walking with you down memory lane.
38 posted on 11/12/2006 5:52:33 AM PST by .30Carbine (I miss you, Countyline)
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To: Silly

Okay, this is worth it, I guess.


Free Silly! You magnificent bastard!


39 posted on 11/12/2006 5:55:14 AM PST by NicknamedBob (If the Supreme Court has "Judges for Life," why is there any question about Roe vs Wade?)
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To: Silly

Courtesy of the Minister...

40 posted on 11/12/2006 5:57:03 AM PST by IllumiNaughtyByNature (If a pug barks and no one is around to hear it... they hold a grudge for a long time!)
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