talking-dog1At the risk of becoming just another social media site, the Watercooler is seeking to learn more about the folks who read and write for The Seminal.  We’re doing this by asking you to explain how and why you got your screenname.  We’ll get the ball rolling with a few of our regular authors:

Bill Egnor (aka "somethingthedogsaid"):   "In 2005 I was arguing with a conservative friend of mine about the war in Iraq. At one point he slams his beer down and tells me my ideas are about the same quality as the dog that told the Son of Sam to kill people. About two weeks later I was signing up on the Great Orange Satan and I wanted to be anonymous. I needed a screen name. Then it hit me, I would tell the world ‘Something The Dog Said."

Jim Moss (aka "justjim73"):  "It was on the first day of a New Testament Ethics class when I was in seminary. The professor made us play one of those dorky get-to-know-you games. Everyone had to come up with an adjective to describe themselves that started with the same letter as their first name. I couldn’t think of anything, so when it came to be my turn, I blurted out, ‘I don’t know. I guess I’m just Jim.’ My friends all thought it was a brilliant pun to emphasize my interest in social justice (though I didn’t intend it that way), so the name stuck."

Jason Rosenbaum (aka "fatbyjhnsn"):  "I picked it when I was in middle school because I thought it was funny. And never changed it." 

Hmmm… It sounds like there’s more to this story that Jason’s not telling.  Anyway, we’d love to hear about your screen names, and of course, whatever is on your mind tonight.