Myspace: The Day the Web Stood Still

Okay. So I've joined Myspace. Are you happy.

You can wipe that smug look off your face.

I caved under the pressure to join Myspace because the potential networking possibilities were too tempting to not take advantage. A goal of mine is to grow my name. What's that you say?

Well, as I transition fulltime into writing, I also want to gain access to more people, more events and more opportunities. And the only way that's going to happen is by networking, and more importantly, by putting my name out there so folks go "Oh, you're Charles Judson." Which is happening more and more.

At one time I wasn't too happy about being stuck with the moniker Charles Judson. It just didn't slide off my tongue. Going to poetry readings, I dreaded using my name. Everyone else had poet names, like Ravine or Flower's Deep.

Okay, I made those names up and they sound horrible. Which is what I eventually understood.

Some folks had great aliases that reflected what they were about. For others--I'd even say most--it was obvious they were trying too hard. After the thousandth "Pussy Poem" by Ms. [Insert phonetically spelled name] those stage names become ubiquitous with bland, uninteresting, mind-numbing poetry. Oh, and self congratulatory celebration--can't forget that either.

Me? As crazy as I can get, I've always just been Charles. I have plenty of nicknames, but the truth is, I'm just Charles "Judd" Judson. I'm the guy who likes moving through different worlds and schmoozing with folks of all types of backgrounds. I'm the guy who likes art house flicks, John Woo blow-em ups and watching "Gilmore Girls." (Fuck you very much by the way.)

Always in the process of reinvention, the true me is too diverse to choose a new name. I'd be picking a new name every two years.

So, Charles Judson it's been on every public forum I've joined for the last few years. And now those two syllables are out there on the largest social network on the planet (at least, that's what I've been told).

And truth be told I want my work to sell the name Charles Judson and not the name to sell the work. So when folks say "Oh, you're Charles Judson." I know they're saying "I read X and I loved it. Or, "Y was well written, but I hated it." I'll even take "I thought it was badly written and I hated it."

Those are all preferable to: "Oh, you're Charles Judson. What do you do again?"