Member name sigs: What's up with that?

Superfluous or integral, essential, ontological, existential OR just fluff?

[Webwork]

Given that the poster's name appears directly adjacent to the post isn't the addition of a membername-sig just a bit . . superfluous? What are membername-as-sigs really about? They're a mystery to me. Maybe it's just because I AM an automaton . . so I accept the "machine signing"?

I feel like I'm about to launch into a Jerry Seinfeld routine . . .

"So, what's up with the membername-sigs? Do they stand for:"

"Unlike the others . . me . . I'm really personable . . "? (Gee, now I understand why I like him so much more! He signs his membername!)

"I want you to know IT'S ME . . "? (I feel so . . unknown? I mean he signs his membername and I don't! Then, a tinge of jealousy sets in . . I want one too! I want a membername-sig!)

"This here post is official! It's signed by me!" (Hey, I better pay attention and show my respect! It's by him! Besides, what's not to like about making it official?)

"I AM official, therefore I sign . . "? ("Webwork, CEO, PITA, ESQ")

"In case you didn't notice, this post is brought to you by ME . . "? (Maybe I should sign multiple times . . in bold?)

"I really like myself . . "? (Signed, me, me, me.)

"I'm not getting enough (?) and want more (?). . credit . . presence . . proof of . . "? (Copyright @ Webwork)

"I AM! . . " (See, that's MY name there!)

What happens when everyone starts signing their membername? Oh, the consequences! How will we know . . whatever it is that membernames help us to distinguish . . when everyone has one? Ahhhhhh . .!

Membername sigs are a bit anomolous given the proximity of the bold membername that appears next to the post. There appearance, especially in short posts - such as (I'm not saying who!) posts - leave me feeling just a bit . . puzzled. ;0/ "Oh, this post really was made by membername! Gee, I didn't know that. Thanks for the reassurance."

I guess for the poster their sig is not superfluous - since "it's there . . on the page . . " - but that still leaves me a-wonderin:

What is the etiology of membername sigs?

Do you sign your posts with your membername? Err . . . why, might I ask?

Webwork

Oh no! They're infectious!

[edited by: Webwork at 3:58 pm (utc) on May 16, 2007]

[Marcia]

LOVE ME!
-SONNY

Muah!

{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}
MARCIA

[ann]

That's right. Sigs are fine but my flowers are off limits :)

Ann

[bakedjake]

the moderation in this thread sucks

[webjoker]

I guess sometimes I'm used to sigs and seeing sigs.
Like in your emails that have a signature on the end of it.

~webjoker :)

[D_Blackwell]

I signed up with my name in the open. I'm not generally a flame thrower and don't mind standing up for what I've said - or mind being corrected or shown potentially stronger options either. Occasionally, though rarely, I may have a question or response where it would be professionally prudent not to be attached to the post. In those rare cases I can sign in with an account that's got just a nick.

[Duskrider]

Many times I feel as though I haven't properly concluded my thoughts without a nice formal -ME at the end of the post. Without it, I feel no closure... no sense of a post well completed or even a thought well conceived and articulated. I often find that I even have a hard time making any sense whatsoever if I don't start a post with a nice healthy 'hello', 'whassup', or even the ubiquitous 'Hey Everyone,'

In the rare occasion that I leave both the salutation and closing off of my post, it seems that in the beginning portion I have no substance or flow at all... seeing as my thoughts are distracted by the constant awareness of the discussion lacking a proper salutation.
Towards the end of the post I begin to fret, knowing that I won't have the warm fuzziness of the closing signature to comfort me once I'm done... reassuring me that it has been a post well transcribed. All in all I feel as though without a proper beginning and ending, a post loses all cohesiveness... much as this one has.

Sometimes it's truly hard to determine if I should, or should not, begin or end the post with a salutation or signature depending, of course, upon the mindset within the community I'm posting to. The constant worry of committing a fora faux pas by either including or omitting such bits of essential decorum is a real problem for me.

Counseling hasn't helped. :(