19 Comments
User's avatar
sixes's avatar

ðŸĪ  😎

Clint Collide's avatar

ðŸĪ ðŸŒˆðŸĪŠ

Dr Ray Lightbown's avatar

I have a similar comment to Michael's. Actors, singers and others have usually had their "birth" name and their professional name. Many writers publish under a different name and, when they change to a different genre, they may create another nom de plume.

Many people who have channels on YouTube, TikTok, have podcasts or whatever have a different name for each of them. They may or may not be different identities. For me, I have reservations about identities. Is Ray the son, Ray the brother, Ray the father, Ray the lover, Ray the psychologist, Ray the professor, Ray the writer, Ray the retired old foreign man in Thailand, etc etc different people? Am I the same person when I write as Fraser Cameron or Cameron Fraser as I am as Ray Lightbown?

The reality is that names are merely labels, usually without any intrinsic meaning. That is why we often forget someone's name on re-meeting.

As my last comment about change and rebirth hints - I am not the same person that I was five minutes ago. Hundreds of things within my body have changed and more will change over the next five minutes.

I have conversations with myself, dialogues, trilogues, more rarely conferences with all of my Inner Children (me as a baby, me at 5, 10, 15, 20....). They are not different "me' identities but simply different aspects of me, at other times, other situations.

Clint or Brian or any other name or label is who or what you are or choose to be.

Clint Collide's avatar

Thank you, Uncle Ray. I’ve been having a bit of an identity crisis since coming out of the cave last year. For several years, I didn’t really want an identity. I just wanted to fade into the woodwork. But then I started fighting to be remembered and ultimately seen. Forever a work-in-progress, but I love the Clint side of Brian. He’s a little more fearless than the rest of Brian. Gives fewer fucks and as a result is a little freer to fall down, get up, and try it all over again. I feel like I’m walking on a solid foundation for the first time in a long time. Even my balance is better since making this clarification for myself. Strangeâ€Ķand true. Cheers!

Dr Ray Lightbown's avatar

I like the idea of alter-egos - Batman/Bruce, Spiderman/Peter, Superman/Clark and so on.

I mentioned different aspects of me. I am not exactly the same person with my family as I am when I am appearing on TV or speaking in public. Each of them is me, a true and valid presentation of me but with different nuances.

So happy to be told of your solid foundations and better balance. I look forward to you getting a suitable therapist and integrating all of your egos.

Clint Collide's avatar

Thanks, Uncle Ray! “All My Egos” would be a great title for a new Substack. Of which I’m not doing. :-p

Clarke Fountain's avatar

You go, guy. Whatever you decide on the identity front, I appreciate you and what you've done. The pressures of your life-of-origin and the work you did there, I have heart for your pain, there. Boxes, even odd shaped boxes, are too small.

Clint Collide's avatar

Thanks, Clarke. Yeah, at my size, it’s hard to fit in anything but a caftan. :-p

Doug Thompson's avatar

Welcome Brian. 👍 Cheers DougT

Clint Collide's avatar

Thank you, dear Doug. I hope you know how much I appreciate you, boo!

Doug Thompson's avatar

Boo is a 2way street....

Clint Collide's avatar

Boo is a universal, international, super highway.

I’m not sure which side of the road to drive on though. lol

Doug Thompson's avatar

ðŸ˜ĩ‍ðŸ’Ŧ😁

Michael Horvich's avatar

A Clint-umdrum. Pen names have been around forever. Sometimes having separate identities is the correct way to go. Obviously only you can decide. The world of us queer folx is still far from perfect in relation to acceptance by others. For me, at a certain point I said FUCK IT. I am too old to care. No longer in the trenches of elementary school teaching, with most of my family dead, I no longer care who knows what and if my stories can support the younger generations and remind the older ones, mission accomplished. Fondly Michael

Clint Collide's avatar

Quite a Clint-umdrum, Michael, huh? Actually, it’s gotten pretty simple: I just like writing as “Clint” more than “Brian.” I think I could make videos under either name, but the writing comes easier for me as “Clint.” So I’m going with itâ€Ķfor now anyway. Love what you do, boo!

Michael Horvich's avatar

Clint is unique, sexy, strong. Brian means strong, virtuous, honorable. So two out of two = strong. And the rest are good. On the ship now? Photos please. Fondly, Michael

Clint Collide's avatar

Thanks for the name meaning comparison, Michael. The strongest thing about Brian and Clint are their shared stubbornness. lol As for the cruise, it commences tomorrow and I plan on flooding my Notes with photos (and video) of the adventure. Cheers, my dears!

Michael Horvich's avatar

Can’t wait! Safe travels. Fondly, Michael

Clint Collide's avatar

Thank you, my dear!