When has Plan A ever worked?

I've been reading widely on various feminist and social justice blogs as I get more involved at work with the Culture Change and Diversity teams, and there are quite a few posts I could have made, if only to pass on links. But I haven't...

I have eventually come to the conclusion that the reason I don't want to post is because I no longer identify with my username. I haven't been a barwench for about 6 years now, maybe longer, and it's just not who I want to be now. So, the real question is, what should I change my name to? The gaming handle I use most widely can be easily linked to my real name, so that's out. My next option is... I don't know what my next option is. Nothing is jumping out and saying, 'Yes, that is a one-word embodiment of ME!' Something cat-related, maybe?

I am open to suggestions.

There were plenty of things I could have, and indeed should have done with my day. Have I done them? No. What have I done instead? tvtropes and cracked.com. These are deliberately not real links, so as to save you from my fate.

~x~

followfriday popped up on my reading page and I've been browsing some of the comms and people listed there. I now have a number of tabs open that are causing me some consternation.

Subscribing to communities is easy; I'm interested in the topic or I'm not, and I can always unsubscribe if the comm turns out to not be my thing. Subscribing to fic writers is also easy. I've found them because of their fic, I've left a comment to say I liked the fic and then I've subscribed. No particular mystery there.

But journals of people who make random and witty observations on their own life? I am not sure. I can be very passive on the internet. Even in RL, I'm bad at starting a conversation with a stranger. If they start the conversation I'll be fine and can hold my own on a range of topics. But online there are no visual cues, no common ground or observation about the late train and would the Tories be any better.

I sit here, with my self-doubt, wondering if these people are happy with being linked on followfriday, what their opinion is of random strangers subscribing to them, how I'll be viewed if I randomly chirp up in the middle of a discussion thread when they don't know me from Adam.

So, I'm curious. What's your position on adding random people or being added by them? Us shy and retiring types want to know.

~x~

In totally unrelated news, I really have to clean my oven. I can smell burning cheese (that presumably fell off one of Paz's pizzas), but what is supposed to be cooking is baking potatoes. Definitely time for the Mr Muscle.