Thanks, I distracted myself by having a look at tumblr. Didn't work too well. So I took the shower. 

Great thread--I started a similar one on a different, non-Sherlock message board because I wanted to know about people's aliases (the preferred word in that fandom for user name)...   

So I'll explain mine, not that it really needs much explaining.  In my other fandom, of which I've been a member far longer than I have been here, I chose a user name based on real but very uncommon names I liked.  As time went on, however, I regretted not creating one that was related to that particular fandom and historical period.

So when I decided to join here, I spent a fair amount of time trying to think of a name that somehow connected to the show and would be something I would still enjoy using years down the road.  I saw lots of names that were puns of some sort and, since I enjoy wordplay, decided to try something similar.  But "Sherlock" as an anagram didn't work nor did other words I tried (I don't now remember what they were).  I liked the idea of a two-word user name and finally hit upon what can be construed as, possibly, an actual name: Sherli for its obvious connection to Sherlock, and Bakerst as an--I hoped!--amusing version of his place of abode.

As for my avatar, this is the second one I've used.  The first was a photo of a statue of the Dance of Shiva, which I'd bought in India and felt was rather appropriate given the context here.  But then I decided I wanted something more closely related to the show and one night, when I was bored, I created the current image.  I found a picture of Our Hero and added in the text, which is one of my favorite lines of dialog of the whole show.  I used the color purple because, well, Sherlock looks so damn fine in it!  The color pink just seemed to make the image symmetrical to me--it needed a bright color to balance/complement the purple.  And so a few hours later, hey presto--I had a new avatar.

As for my signature, the text in my avatar used to be that instead, along with another line of dialog.  Actually, that was my second signature.  The first was two lines of dialog from Hounds.  But my current signature is a quotation that I found in childhood and have adopted as sort of my general philosophy.  I like to think it's something Sherlock believes, too.

I really like your avatar, Sherli.
And Russell's, too. I attended a beekeeping course last year. Bees are fascinating.

I always find it difficult to talk about myself, but I'll try to explain my stuff.
In the past I have used very short user names on forums, mostly consisting of three or four letters. It was also typical for me to be very reluctant and rarely post anything. Then I thought, if I ever join a forum again, I should try not to be too shy, try to be a part of the community. Otherwise it doesn't make much sense. A long, noticeable user name would be a good start, I thought. So I chose QuiteExtraordinary, which is also a quote, of course, from the touching scene in ASiP where John tells Sherlock that his deduction skills are "amazing" and "extraordinary" and Sherlock almost cannot believe it.

The avatar is one I made and used a couple of times before. It doesn't have a special meaning. Perhaps it could be interpreted as an image of what is going on in my brain most of the time.

My signature is a picture taken from Reichenbach with the quote. I liked the surreal look of Sherlock's face in that scene.

The little quote above it (get the point - good - let's dance) is meant as a tribute to my original fandom. I admire Michael Jackson a lot and as a teenager I was a huge fan of his. The quote is one he borrowed from one of his sister's albums and used it during his performance at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, which IMO was one of the greatest dancing performances in the world ever. If anyone's interested, the part with the quote can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=280sGC16jmA. And I better shut up now before I start rambling on MJ.

I leave for a few hours and look what happens, people post on the board (of all things!) 

QuiteExtraordinary nice to see you growing in confidence on this board. Sometimes it's hard to gauge. I've been a member of boards where you are quite literally scared to post in case someone shouts at you or you get reprimanded by an overzealous mod (makes you feel like a child being dragged in to see the headmaster or something.) But this board has a uniquely well balanced group of members. 

horserider99 One of the reasons I picked my avatar is so I could spot my posts in a crowd. But failed to take into account that the skull is the same shade of blue that is prevalent throughout the design of this board. So I often scroll past mine anyway. That's also partly why I added the eyes to my sig. So if I missed the skull I'd definitely notice my ugly mush staring back at me. There's nothing wrong with being an introvert or being selective over who you pick as friends. I don't befriend people on a whim either. But now I want to know why 99 is your favourite number. 

Mnemosyne wrote:

One of the reasons I picked my avatar is so I could spot my posts in a crowd.

That's part of why I sue that one avatar most of the time. Occasionally I'll use a shot of me drifting my MX-5 on car forums, but I know that image quite well, as well, so it also stands out. Alternate avatar:

Last edited by equiraptor (January 4, 2013 1:28 am)

Mnemosyne wrote:

But now I want to know why 99 is your favourite number.

I don't know why. o.O It's actually the name of the highway which was one of the first roads I learned, come to think of it.

Last edited by horserider99 (January 4, 2013 2:51 am)

So, basically I don't have a reason for liking it.

My best friend and her little sister think he's ugly. I have to work on them....

horserider99 wrote:

My best friend and her little sister think he's ugly. I have to work on them....

I have friends who refuse to watch the show, just because they think Ben is ugly. Apparently he's an acquired taste, as the expression goes, and everyone here on the forum has acquired it, to say the least, but some of my pals have not.  One of the things I like about his looks is that he's unusual. I've been on planet Earth a long, long time, and I gotta tell you, I have never seen a man wrapped up in such an attractive-unique way. Either someone gets it, or they don't. And I pity the fools that don't, lol.

Mnemosyne wrote:

Refusing to watch a show because they think an actor is in unattractive is ridiculous. You might as well say 'I don't watch that show because they drink tea in it, I hate tea!'

What someone likes or doesn't in regards to a fandom is very subjective, and each to his own. It's a big wide world out there with millions of choices, so...  I have friends who are gaga about the guy in Castle, and about that Dexter show with the serial killer who only does away with people who "deserve it" (that's entertainment?), so...  that's what makes a horse race, as they say-- everyone likes something different.