<p>A few weeks ago, I posted a survey about how folks here chose their usernames and images and several people asked me to share the results. Statistically, it’s not significant because of the small number of responses (about 50), but people shared some really thoughtful ideas that gave me lots of insight on how we construct our online identities. (The thread seems to have disappeared.)</p>
<p>The choice of user name is not random for most people, but is inspired by either their own interests or those of their child. Interestingly, no one said their name was inspired by their pet, but a large number of users chose images of their pets when CC introduced the avatar option. User names hold at least some significance for almost all users, but images were less significant, possibly due to their newness. (And almost 40% of respondents were just using the default CC image at the time of the survey.)</p>
<p>We tend to be a trusting lot here – if someone’s name is something like “soccermom” we assume they are in fact a mother who either likes/plays soccer or has a child who does. But we also evaluate the content of the posts as part of our perception of the poster. Several people said they think of the people here as “friends” – what my kids call my invisible friends.</p>
<p>Not that these statistics are meaningful, but I was interested to find that 81% of respondents identified as female, and 79% said they were in the 46-65 age group – both probably influenced by where on CC I posted the survey. Thanks to everyone who participated, and I hope this summary doesn’t violate TOS!</p>
<p>Several times I’ve been amazed to discover that a CC parent I’ve been corresponding with is male (or female) when I assumed otherwise from the screen name. On the theater forum there’s a poster named SDonCC. I always though it was a male parent named “Don” but the lowercase “on”, she informed us, is the preposition “on”, as in “SD on CC”. When I changed my avatar to an image of Benjamin Franklin, a few thought I was male (I’m not, but their assumption is entirely reasonable, given the image!) </p>
<p>As to the level of trust, I’ve met and become real-life friends with many parents here. Usually this happens after a prolonged period of PM or email communication, but sometimes it’s been quicker, for example if a parent contacts me with specific questions about a school that one of my kids attends and that their son or daughter is in the process of deciding on. </p>
<p>Thanks for letting us know the results of your survey, Stradmom!</p>
<p>@glassharmonica, every time I see your Benjamin Franklin icon my head immediately goes to male even though I know you are female - lol. When I first saw your name I had never heard of a glass harmonica and so I googled it. This just goes to show that user names can also be educational!</p>
<p>@stadmom, thanks for the results!</p>
<p>Wow – great research. My D now loves you!! (We are research fanatics here!). I didn’t see or participate in the study, but that is an awesome idea.
And I know this has nothing to do with anything, but I just have to say, I wish all the “major” forums (e.g. Science) were as knowledgeable or helpful and friendly as this one. You guys totally rock. :D</p>
<p>My avatar isn’t a pet, he is the cardinal who claims our back yard and yells at me when I let the feeders go empty. He also is very haughty about his looks, something I wish I could be. If I chose avatars of my pets, it would probably a picture of the bruises and bite marks from our pet birds:)</p>
<p>I though it was a MusicPrrt.</p>
<p>I also want to thank glassharmonica because I, too, googled it and was very happy to learn about it!! :)</p>
<p>I actually heard/saw a glass harmonica used in Lucia di Lammermoor at San Francisco Opera House. It was very very cool.</p>
<p>Lucky you, POTO Mom; that is very, very cool!</p>
<p>I thought MWstringmom’s avatar was so cute I decided to try making one for myself. Mine doesn’t have the personality hers does, but I’m chuffed with myself for making it anyway. I’m building my online identity in baby steps…</p>
<p>Your avatar is VERY cute dec51995!</p>