As newcomers will notice, myself, MediaGiant, and Sir Horry are well acquainted.
Although we don't often meet, and have occasionally gotten off-side with each other, the fact remains that we are alike in so many ways that you would think that we would get along better than we do.
It could be stubbornness, or it could simply be an inherent rivalry, since each of us is keen to carve out some base existence online.
Although there's the odd person who enters the web with existing celebrity status, the majority of us are unknowns.
From nothing we have to show some skills and build our online profile, that is, 'selling ourselves' in the old vernacular.
A strong independent streak is needed to do this, and there will always be some rivalry. But hopefully a positive or competitive one.
It can be as simple as "am i posting this to increase my postcount, or because i actually have something useful to say?".
Anyway, the fact remains that we're all in the same ocean, if not in the same boat, and prepared to learn from each other in order to grow and survive.
I was informed by Horry (though i know him better as Jdude) that MediaGiant went by the online alias Dredd.
As yet, i still don't know if this is true, or something Horry simply throws into the pot as he is likely to do from time to time.
It's fair to say that Mediagiant and myself haven't met (or talked) since a rather pernicious case of this that occurred around 2000.
It will also be obvious to anyone that Horry investigates the innumerable lies, truth, and wild speculation of UFO research.
My own interest is coding and robotics, which tends towards highly simplified 'fact based' environments, or scientific research.
And not to get too far off topic, the seeds of the name Dredd was the idea that "people mis-judge others without knowing".
Around the time of the 9-11 incident, i was already a regular on Newgrounds BBS, and settled into the Politics section as the lie-based war with Iraq loomed.
At the same time, they were implementing a moderator system, so the theme of a 'Judges group' was born.
They already used "Judgement" within the Flash Portal with it's own 'cop-like' badge system, so it wasn't exactly a great leap of imagination.
When Newgrounds decided to force single usernames, i decided to lock in the "Judge Dredd" name simply because it was still available.
Why do i explain all this you may ask?
In politics there are generally two sides to any contentious issue, and thus, the PC and the DAG formed to take opposing sides.
The PC were essentially the elites, with many mods within their ranks, so we gladly embraced the 'good fight' against that elitism.
Sadly, Horry has stated "Dredd ran a Devil's Advocate Group site" to effectively try to tarnish whatever i post here, as if i'm a simple troll.
It's yet another easily made claim. However, all of Newgrounds BBS is still online, and so is the ÐÄÇ·ßß for anyone to check the facts.
The fact is that we raised valid points to ridiculously one-sided arguments and unintelligent views. That was our stated purpose.
The other fact is that while the digital world is certainly full of wild allegations, it also provides the means for detailed rebuttal and evidence.
So yeah, that's back story for why i chose the alias 'Dredd' (..albeit a wannabe stoned hippy techno mixman 'DJ Dredd' dude ..ah well ..one day!)
Oddly enough, this idea of transparency triumphing over mis-information has also led me to use my legal name on Google+.
Stange how these things eventually pan out.
Origin of the DAG:
http://fate.co.nz/proton/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28Judge Dredd:
http://judgedredd.newgrounds.com/.
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