Re: Reason for usernames
by Typist on February 5th, 2012, 7:18 pm
My screen name, which I've been using for a few years now, came to me in a flash I think, and wasn't the result of a lot of reflection. After the fact, I've come to understand the reasoning behind the flash of inspiration, and have embraced it.
First, "Typist" might imply "I'm just a typist" which creates an entertaining irony against what is some times an aggressively confident, um I mean arrogant, style of writing. I once read a very nice modest polite lady whose screen name was Momzilla. Like that.
On another day, it really does mean I'm just a typist. That is, on certain kinds of topics, writing, um I mean blowharding, comes so utterly naturally to me that it's like it's not really me doing it.
I just lay my hands on the keyboard, and all kinds of crap just starts spontaneously blasting forth, seemingly powered by a life of it's own. Sometimes I just sit here listening to the clickety clack of the keys, and watch it unfold on the screen, as if observing from a distance.
For me typing is a lot like playing the piano. When you sit down to play the piano you don't have a point, other than hearing the notes rise and fall and blend together. Writing can be like that, but the notes are language and concepts. It's just fun to watch them happen, and the actual content is not much more important than the lyrics to some cheesy song you sing only because you like the melody.
I live for that place, where your head is bent over the piano and you're totally lost in the music that is bubbling forth around you. The music is, and you are not. Except I do it on computer keyboard. I played real music for years, but typing is where I really belong.
On some days, the screen name Typist is a public admission of the addiction I have to the sound of my own voice. Typist, Typist, Typist, Typist typing all day long, so long as it's all about Typist.
Which reminds me, time to wrap this up!