If you call me Cindy, you’d better be someone from my family of origin—and it’s really only safe if you’re old enough to have changed my diapers. If neither of those applies, you’re in trouble.
If you call me Cyn, you almost certainly met me online.
If you call me Cynthia, we’ve probably worked together.
If you call me CynLyn or CynthiaLyn, you met me on AOL in the early 90s.
If you call me FlameOpal, you met me on AOL around 1994–1995.
If you call me TLA CYN, you worked Tech Live with me on AOL.
If you call me ProfCyn or TeachCyn, you worked the homework help room with me on AOL.
(I had other AOL screen names, but I can’t remember them now because I didn’t use them much.)
If you call me TechnoMom, you met me online during or since 1995 or worked with me at MindSpring.
If you call me Tara, you’ve played in one of sambear’s D&D games in the last few years.
If you call me Annabelle, you played Mage with us.
If you call me Seauclaire, you’ve played in one of sambear’s more recent D&D games.
If you call me Mrs. Hall, you’re 17 years out of touch with me.
If you call me Mrs. Armistead, you’re either making assumptions about my marital status, or you missed the divorce a decade ago.
If you call me Mrs. Smathers, you knew me during a VERY brief marriage in the mid-90s — and you’re probably looking for husband v.3 anyway.
If you call me Ms. Armistead-Smathers, you’re probably someone in the press who wants an interview.
(And the form designers of the world should all be very happy that I dropped those surnames except for the one I share with my daughter.)
If you call me Mrs. Chupp, you’re making assumptions again — and probably trying to sell me something.
If you call me Ms. or Mrs. Hildebrand, you’re 1) calling from the stepkids’ school to tell me one of them is in trouble (not an issue since they moved); or 2) are an idiot looking for sambear’s ex-wife.
If you call me Miss or Ms. Roberson, you do business with my parents.
There are others, but they’re private and this is a public post.
