Although The Anime Fanlistings Network is a volunteer, unpaid project of mine, it represents a large chunk of my life for the past five years (it, and fanlistings in general.) As such, I want to expand on my previous announcement — this time, hopefully without the bombastic anonymous commenting — and discuss some of the things TFL (and later, TAFL) changed in my life.

Both this post and the last one (and future ones on the same topic) are titled with lyrics from Gone by U2. It’s hard to describe in words exactly why the lyrics seem so poignant and relevant to this situation; I guess I feel like I’ve been wearing a “suit of lights” for almost five years.

You changed your name
Well that’s okay, it’s necessary

One forgotten fact in my years of staffing is that, at the time I joined The Fanlistings Network as a staffer, it was required to use your real first name, not an online nickname. At that time (2003) I was still using Bronzemongoose but transitioning to Hoshichan, and I certainly never used my actual, REAL name anywhere online. I had to think about it for a while before committing and giving up my assumed identities, at least for the purposes of staffing @ TFL.

In short, TFL was the first place I appeared as Danielle.

And what you leave behind you don’t miss anyway.

As the years went by, I grew fond of the communities attached to my real name, and gradually found myself more comfortable appearing as myself. Eventually, when I opened my webdev business, I went under my name (I’ve Googled it; apparently I’m the only Danielle Signor in the United States.) I still use my nickname Hoshichan everywhere; it’s my online identity, my personal branding, my website and blog. My copyright statements are half and half these days (half Hoshichan, half DS.) Most of my personal fansites and fanlistings are so long-established as “owned by Hoshichan” that I’ve no real desire to change it. (Besides, I’d have to change most of my domain-based email addresses, meh.)

These days, depending on where I’m at, I represent myself by my real name or my established nickname (more often than not, by my real name.) I can still remember, however, my online identities and how strange it was to be addressed by name, first at TFL and then at TAFL. I don’t really miss being “anonymous”, hiding behind a nickname. I still use a nickname, but no longer as a protective measure; more of a persona.

Some people know me as Danielle, some as Hoshichan (…that’s Hoshichan! Stop dropping my honorific, people, it’s there for a reason.) I answer to either. (Also D-mama, thanks to TAFL.)

So that’s a little bit of how TFL/TAFL changed my life. I’ll post more as it comes to me. No matter what name you know me by, you’re welcome here!