I’ve always been curious as to why people choose the names of their Pinside handles. Mine (Honey Badger) came from a nickname a few of my buddies gave me. What’s the story behind your handle?
(Topic ID: 284665)
I was a computer science major in college. Some of us picked names of lizards to name our computers / use as a network handle - I chose ‘skink’.
Warrenton, VA
Many years ago a few friends said “ this is the ultimate game room, it’s like Dave and Busters but the games, food, beer and liquor are all free!”
Chuck - nick name from high school
Wurt - family nick name (last name Wurtenberger)
Chuckwurt was my AIM handle back in 00-01. Kept it for everything online since.
I was (am) a huge mark for Dean Malenko. Unfortunately people think its a Milenko / Insane Clown Posse reference and that makes me sad.
Kingston, ON
icanswim derived from a 10 year career as a paid professional swimmer, and 70 was for my grandfather who passed away at 70. Has been my online handle for about a decade now!
Quoted from Malenko:I was (am) a huge mark for Dean Malenko. Unfortunately people think its a Milenko / Insane Clown Posse reference and that makes me sad.
I only know one malenko and it’s Dean. I was a huge wrestling fan in 99-02 or so and he was my favorite.
Sataneatscheese
Huge Weird Al fan here. Remember back in the day there were all sorts of controversies and rumors about bands putting subliminal and satanic messages in their music? Weird Al parodied this and put funny messages in a few of his songs when played backwards. In particular his "Nature Trail To Hell" song plays "Satan Eats Cheese Wiz" when played backwards.
12 year old me thought this was hilarious, and when I chose my first usernames, I used this. This became my throwaway user name over the years. I had to register for an account on pinside to ask a question, and used my old throwaway. I was not planning to tumble this far down the pinball rabbit hole, but I don't think any of us were. I'd change my name on here to something else, but in a forum that deals with buying and selling, reputation is important, so I have not changed my username nor have I changed my avatar since joining.
Here is the Weird Al reference.
Quoted from chuckwurt:Looks like 3 others have had the Krupps epiphany as well. Haha
And I thought I was being so random and original! Wonder what their stories are...hopefully all named after the coffee maker.
I would say lack of originality combined with recently reading Ernest Cline's book when I signed up. Never had an online name before and I agree with SantaEatsCheese, wasn't necessarily planning on being as active on the site as I am at the time.
More stories to peruse...
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/what-does-your-screen-name-mean-ive-always-wondered
My name is Elliott and have always been a easy/chill guy...
Friend in high school starting calling me easye and this has always been my nickname
Also group of friends of mine all had AIM screen names ending in 9901...
No meaning to the 9901, we just thought it was cool 
Quoted from Bryan_Kelly:I never got into screen names or handles.
Things like that don't matter when you get to a certain age.
Quoted from beelzeboob:Things like that don't matter when you get to a certain age.
When did screen names/handles become popular? Early 80's during the video game era?
I was 25 in 1980 and building my first house. Never got into gaming or had time for it.
42 year career field printer service engineer . Field service is a ongoing sea of negatively . Having positive outlook key to getting best possible results with lifes issues .
Enjoy your day Shane
I was bored and decided to check out the sight. It was meant as a temporary name thinking I could change it later on.
Quoted from Bryan_Kelly:When did screen names/handles become popular? Early 80's during the video game era?
I was 25 in 1980 and building my first house. Never got into gaming or had time for it.
Same age as Bryan so also never had a video game handle. Jenk = first letters of last name plus 540i = one of the best cars I ever owned.
Izegem
My avatar is a picture of our Persian pinball cat from the country of Oman. Sometimes we have to block off the pinball room when he gets feisty, as he will jump up on the machines relentlessly to chase the ball around.
The name Ockey is a nick-name I sometimes call my wife. The cat's name is Oman.
Reading sword and sorcery stories in the USAF during Vietnam,the stories of Count Brass in the chronicles of Castle Brass,Dorian Van Hawkmoon was the main hero, and I also had that handle during the 70s cb radio craze!!!
Quoted from Bryan_Kelly:When did screen names/handles become popular? Early 80's during the video game era?
AOL in the 90s, I think. And hey!...I'm with you on this one.
Quoted from SantaEatsCheese:Sataneatscheese
Huge Weird Al fan here. Remember back in the day there were all sorts of controversies and rumors about bands putting subliminal and satanic messages in their music? Weird Al parodied this and put funny messages in a few of his songs when played backwards. In particular his "Nature Trail To Hell" song plays "Satan Eats Cheese Wiz" when played backwards.
12 year old me thought this was hilarious, and when I chose my first usernames, I used this. This became my throwaway user name over the years. I had to register for an account on pinside to ask a question, and used my old throwaway. I was not planning to tumble this far down the pinball rabbit hole, but I don't think any of us were. I'd change my name on here to something else, but in a forum that deals with buying and selling, reputation is important, so I have not changed my username nor have I changed my avatar since joining.
Here is the Weird Al reference.
Since you are on Pinside quite often I was curious to why your user name was so shockingly silly. I pictured you as possibly a guy w/ a pointed goatee & wearing an upside down cross around your neck, etc. Anyhow, good to know that another Pinsider isn't going to be abducted then sacrificed when they pick up a machine from you.
Been running since my first race when I was 5 years old and still to this day up at 430AM many days and still running up to 100 miles a week.
Quoted from beelzeboob:Things like that don't matter when you get to a certain age.
Try releasing copyrighted material on BBSes during the 90s using your real name..
Quoted from Budman:My family has been in the beer distribution business, primarily Anheuser-Busch, for 72 years.
I'll bet you have some old Bud neon signs around the old man-cave worth a good bit!! 
If you’re really interested, check out post 424 on this topic:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/what-does-your-screen-name-mean-ive-always-wondered
Or post 17 on this topic:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/fun-splain-your-username
Or post 9 on this topic:
Quoted from mtn-:Try releasing copyrighted material on BBSes during the 90s using your real name..
I was making fun of Bryan_Kelly being older than dirt.
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