Does my profile name cause offence?

Jimtbrit · Thu 26/10/2006 13:14:03

Should I change my Profile Name?

As it maybe obvious from my profile name, my name is Jim and I am British.
The name originated about eight years ago when I was a camp counsellor at a summer camp in America and I was the only international staff member there. As a result I quickly became nicknamed â€˜Brit'. This nickname was accepted with the brotherly love and humour that it was meant to and was certainly not meant to be a racial or derogatory slur.
Summer camp brings back fond and happy memories and it was for that reason that many years ago I adopted the â€˜Jimtbrit' handle when playing games, in chat rooms, and forum handles.
More and more recently as I have got older, I have become more and more aware of equality and diversity and political correctness. As a result of this I have become concerned that my profile name could be taken negatively and could cause offence.
I do not consider myself to be racist but can see how my chosen name could be taken out of context.
Although I have not posted that much in this forum for many years I have been a silent member; reading posts, downloading games and feeling part of the AGS community.
I know that by far I am not a regularly active member of this forum and my game count is still at the less than one status, but long term, something is comingâ€¦
I admit that something is still in the very early stages, I have a great story concept that really excites me. I just know that I currently lack the knowledge/skills in the programming and graphics areas to give the story the great justice it deserves.
But this post is not about that it is to ask you guys for some advice as to whether my profile name causes offence and if so, should I change it?

Moderators: After reading the rules I considered putting this into the â€˜Newbies introduce yourselves here!' Thread but due to the sensitivity of this topic, I thought it could easily get overlooked. I thought that through creating a new thread, it is given the opportunity to be seen by a larger audience to determine the best course of action.

Many thanks in advance
Jim

ManicMatt · Thu 26/10/2006 13:20:06

You're Jim. You're a Brit. If anyone takes offence at you being British then they're surely racist, not you.

Babar · Thu 26/10/2006 13:21:16

Welcome here!
I'm not quite sure how your name could be taken as being racist or negative? You'll do horrible things and people will badmouth Britishers? You'll have an egotistical tone to your posts because being British is better than being from anywhere else?

There is only one point of importance: Make your game! And since it's your first, don't make it too huge!

SSH · Thu 26/10/2006 13:55:13

Quote from: ManicMatt on Thu 26/10/2006 13:20:06
You're Jim. You're a Brit. If anyone takes offence at you being British then they're surely racist, not you.

But British is one of those nationality you're allowed to be racist about, like the French, Americans and Khazakstan

Domino · Thu 26/10/2006 14:03:29

Maybe you could change it to something less controversial like
SUGARLIPS or something.

Just kidding, your profile name doesn't bother me in the least bit. Keep it.

2ma2 · Thu 26/10/2006 14:07:27

SSH: I think every european nationality is fair game nowadays. Perhaps not Israel though, they're still kind of touchy on the subject.

Nacho · Thu 26/10/2006 14:09:42

It' s better than Eddie Hitler...

voh · Thu 26/10/2006 14:27:54

Quote from: 2ma2 on Thu 26/10/2006 14:07:27
SSH: I think every european nationality is fair game nowadays. Perhaps not Israel though, they're still kind of touchy on the subject.

Good thing Israel isn't a part of Europe then!

Nacho · Thu 26/10/2006 14:36:41

They play the eurocup...

2ma2 · Thu 26/10/2006 14:43:35

I always wondered about their belongings.. heck, I've wondered about the whole of middle east. Eurasia?

scotch · Thu 26/10/2006 15:23:09

If you consider Asia and Europe as different continents in the traditional way then the lines are drawn so the middle east including Israel is part of Asia, so Africa and Asia join at the Egyptian border. Geographers tend to think about it as one Eurasian continent, though.

Personally I look forward to Japan's admission to Eurovision.

Meowster · Thu 26/10/2006 19:06:09

Quote from: Jimtbrit on Thu 26/10/2006 13:14:03
I do not consider myself to be racist but can see how my chosen name could be taken out of context.

how?

Krysis · Thu 26/10/2006 20:23:38

Isn't it obvious - being British is offending lots and lots of people. Change it to Jimtreat or Jimpeace... just kidding.

Its really cool people can find you at Google by just 8 letters.

aussie · Thu 26/10/2006 20:29:41

Quote from: scotch on Thu 26/10/2006 15:23:09
Personally I look forward to Japan's admission to Eurovision.

As soon as Turkey and Rusia become part of the Union, they might as well admit China, India and Japan.

EagerMind · Thu 26/10/2006 20:52:13

Quote from: Krysis on Thu 26/10/2006 20:23:38Isn't it obvious - being British is offending lots and lots of people.

Heh, try being an American!

Quote from: aussie on Thu 26/10/2006 20:29:41As soon as Turkey and Rusia become part of the Union, they might as well admit China, India and Japan.

Hey, if it makes the world a better place, why not? Plus, wouldn't it be sweet to travel from Tokyo to London and never have to go through customs?

LimpingFish · Thu 26/10/2006 21:20:04

You're british!

Of course I hate you.

LimpingFish eats another hearty spoonful of shamrocks and semtex.

Las Naranjas · Thu 26/10/2006 22:55:11

I think he means he's afraid of people thinking he's stressing being a "brit" as opposed to a "paki" or the like, as racists in several countries often stress nationality to distinguish themselves from people of the nationality, but a different background.

So the question might be "Are there any British of a non anglo-celtic background here who feel that I am stressing my status as a brit at the expense of yours?"

skyfire2 · Thu 26/10/2006 23:20:37

I think it's like if i called myself JohnNig. It just depends on how it's interpreted.

Helm · Thu 26/10/2006 23:23:12

Don't you see a difference between a derogatory term used against people who have black skin, and a non-derogatory matter-of-fact term explaining that a person comes from the UK?

skyfire2 · Thu 26/10/2006 23:32:13

Quote from: Helm on Thu 26/10/2006 23:23:12
Don't you see a difference between a derogatory term used against people who have black skin, and a non-derogatory matter-of-fact term explaining that a person comes from the UK?

Do a bit of research before you post something stupid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit

Quote from: Wikipedia
A Brit (a shorter form of Briton in its modern political sense) is a British person, that is, a resident of the United Kingdom, or of the island of Great Britain. In the United States it usually refers to people from England. In Ireland it usually is a derogatory term used by Irish nationalists to denote members of the British army.