Should Fictional Legendary Magician User Names be Banned

[boboff]

Now, I am as happy as the next man to see User names entirely up to the free will of the User themselves, as adults to choose, but find the recent surge in Fictional Character names from the Dark Ages Especially really worrying.

Now provided we stick within the realms of decency, we should be able to choose names that suit ourselves or our personality, but the new trend in pretending to be magical sooth sayers is a little worrying, and I think should be snuffed out quickly and with a firm hand.

Therein lies only problems, and probable questions on Insulation and the difference between Summer and Autumn Raspberries, let alone the probable inevitable asking a question and then disagree with ALL the advice given in reply, which would only lead to one of those odd Sililoquays about Pubs and community and the fact Andy used to run the whole Forum on 14p a year, and slept in a hollowed out log in order to afford that, which I think you will all agree is not something we want.

And whilst we are at it, lets Ban Disney references and any character names from Dickens, and also having Avatars of your animals, especially if those animals are now dead........

[oldfella]

Looking forward to replies to this Topic

[gregorach]

Now, I am as happy as the next man to see User names entirely up to the free will of the User themselves, as adults to choose, but find the recent surge in Fictional Character names from the Dark Ages Especially really worrying.

Actually, there's a fair bit of historical evidence for the existence of Myrddin Wyllt (who is the prototype of the wizard in question) in the late 6th century, and Geoffrey of Monmouth's fictionalisation of him and integration with the Arthurian legends was well after the Dark Ages. So, either fictional or from the Dark Ages, but not both. [/pedantry]

[Odsox]

Umm, also in pedantic mode .....
I always thought the "dark ages" ended somewhere during the 11th or 12th centuries. Robert of Monmouth wrote Prophetiae Merlini during the 1130's, so not that irrelevant.

[Millymollymandy]

Anyway, Merlin and all 'that lot' were Breton, didn't you know that? It's funny cos I grew up thinking they were British myths until I came here and found they all lived in the forest of Broceliande.

[Millymollymandy]

and also having Avatars of your animals, especially if those animals are now dead........

Having avatars of your flowers, especially if those flowers are now dead, is just as bad. Shame on such people.

[MKG]

Avatars and user names utilising anything should be banned. There should be no use of living things, animal or vegetable, no reference to religious or non-religious beliefs, no marking of historical or mythical stories, no marking of geographical locations or relationships to other family members. Or anything else for that matter. The flagrant use of such highly emotionally charged material should be punishable by banishment to the Moon.

Oh - get that bloody Moon banned while we're at it.

Mike

[Susie]

I am slightly ashamed to admit this but, my partner actually works on Geoffrey of Monmouth (although I don't think he ever published his translation of the Vita Merlini): he says he is 'quite mad and horribly subversive', which I believe to be a compliment (i.e. Geoffrey is, not my partner. Although...).

So, ban Geoffrey too?

[Green Aura]

Anyway, Merlin and all 'that lot' were Breton, didn't you know that? It's funny cos I grew up thinking they were British myths until I came here and found they all lived in the forest of Broceliande.

Or Welsh, living in an old slate cavern in Corris

Anyway the only thing I want banned is/are? avatars that scare me

Just seen Susie's post - It would appear we have several descendants of old Geoff on here these days.

[gregorach]

Umm, also in pedantic mode .....
I always thought the "dark ages" ended somewhere during the 11th or 12th centuries. Robert of Monmouth wrote Prophetiae Merlini during the 1130's, so not that irrelevant.

Well, it's one of those things people argue about... Personally I'd say the Dark Ages end once you start getting decent historical documentation around the 8th or 9th century. I would definitely say that they're well over by the time of the Normal conquest. Wikipedia says 500 - 1000 AD...

[MKG]

Yep - used to be from the Romans leaving Britain (410 AD) to the Norman Conquest (errrmm ...1066). The term "Dark Ages" is now deprecated amongst historical and archaeological cognoscenti, and has been replaced by "Early Medieval" (or, if you're as pedantic as I am, Early Mediaeval). What used to be early medieval is now simply medieval (sometimes High Medieval), merging into late medieval, which ends with the Tudors.

[gregorach]

Up here it's "Late Scottish Iron Age" right up until the 8th C...

[Green Aura]

Have a care Dunc, I read that as 18thC and spat my coffee all over the screen

[gregorach]

In some parts, that's not as far from the truth as you might think...

[Green Aura]

(I think I might live in one of them )