Text Box: Text Box: Text Box: Welcome to this month’s discussion article. To write this article next time, please submit no more than 500 words here. It goes without saying that anything deemed inappropriate or discriminating will not be published. Enjoy! ‘What’s in an Email address?’ By Chris Miller, 22/7/08 “Well I’ve got two– one for me personal mail and one for when I apply for jobs and stuff.” Interesting isn’t it? That was a quote from a friend of mine who I asked that very question. And why does she have two email addresses? Well one is the generic Joe.Blogs@warmpost.com and then we have the one she created years ago, the greenonion@warmpost.com. Of course she couldn’t use that one could she?! It baffles me how much importance people attach to formality with email addresses. I remember at my previous employer when myself and my former colleague were assigned to work through the emails coming into the Inbox. I noticed one had popped in from an email address along the lines of ‘red_slinky_thong@warmpost.com’. I tell you what, even the bloke at Silverstone doesn’t flag that quick. I actually happen to believe that there is a stigma attached to email addresses and that is why, along with probably a fair dose of stubbornness that I refuse to change mine. HCOREM4LYF@hotmail.com... What’s wrong with that?! I’ve had that address for the best part of twelve years and I’ll be damned if I’m changing it now! Plus what are the chances I will get Chris.Miller at anything other than at chrisonline.biz?! I’m proud of the roots of my address, hcore is obviously short for ‘Hardcore’, M for ‘Miller’ (did you get that one?!) and 4lyf is a slogan the nWo used to have within WCW (that’s wrestling, very influential form of pop culture you see). Together it’s a homage to my old pals calling me ‘Hardcore Miller’ at school. Admittedly if I’d realized my whole life hinged on it, maybe I’d have given it more thought! So regardless of whether it means a lifetime of missed opportunities, funny noises down the phone and endless remarks of ‘Ooh that’s a funny one”, I don’t care. If people want to judge me by an email address then surely it is their narrow-mindedness that is at fault. <—Think you can do better? Ts&Cs at ‘About Me’, Click here to give Feedback Text Box: Links and affiliates Contact Me