So, a little more than a month ago I attended a Meet and Greet. I was talking to two other hobbyists and come to find out we had all three had the pleasure of spending time with the same woman. I knew one of the guy's first name as we had talked at a previous M&G at the same location. So, I said to the other guy "hey XXXX said he's been with her and you said you've been with her, what's your name"? The guy pauses and says, "chief".
OK, so I'll call you chief then, but I'm thinking, don't you realize we've all been screened just to be allowed to attend. This is the one forum that we can be free to let our hair down, relax and discuss the hobby. Hell, if he wants me to call him Rumplestiltzkin, then that's what I'll do, and I certainly don't want to know his last name. Does anyone else think that this is overkill? I'm quite sure his real name isn't chief. I get that he wants to protect his identity, but let's just say for a moment his name is really Tom, how many Tom's are in the big city?Then again, there are thousands of other dudes in the USA that have the same first name that I do, so it's not really an issue.
Overkill? Need you ask?
It's easier and if it makes them feel safer, by all means.
It's more important to recall a name/handle.
So I will call you as you wish, but you only get one shot at a name, don't even try to get me to call you something else later, lol.
Once you have a name, that's it, done deal, can't call you anything else, lol. Guarantee to never forget, lol.
you could change your name once a week and I wouldn't be any wiser... I'm horrible with names and envy your talent... on the other hand, I will remember your face forever...
Yes, something I picked up in school...once I get a name face, priceless, its forever.
Faces are something that I have seen some actually forget due to a hairstyle change.
That is also a talent.
"chief" is a bit overkill. IMO
My last name is not "escalade1964" so I still would not offer my last name
even though we are screened
I've only attended one Meet and Greet and for the event I went with a fake first name too. But I used a very common first name that no one would think twice about it.
When it comes to keeping your identity private I'm all on board with whatever makes that person comfortable.
IMO, he made it more awkward or uncomfortable than it needed to be. Id guess he was caught off guard and thus didn't have a smooth or humorous reply on hand. 
While I think that declining to give a first name in that situation may have been pointless, I definitely respect others' comfort levels on this matter. Don't give out any more info than you're comfortable giving, but try not to make others uncomfortable in the process.
If he hadn't paused, but instead had quickly replied with an obviously fake name, making a joke out of it...... you may have come away with a much different impression of him. It's all in the delivery, if you will. LOL. ;-P
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Just because we're screened, the ladies don't give us their real life first names. I'm pretty sure that Zayla and Rasha aren't their real names. Is Russ your real name? If it is, you obviously have nothing to lose if you're found out. Maybe "Chief" has just a little more on the line. I understand where he's coming from.
Besides, I've seen way too much craziness in this hobby to trust anyone, guy or girl. Let's just have fun anonymously, and go on our merry way. Ironic that he used "Chief". Wasn't it The Chief who murdered his atf in a fit of rage? Yep, we're all sane here.
That's odd in and of itself.
But why do you even care? Are you just finding out that paranoia is rampant in our little world? And do you know for a fact he was screened? No, you don't.
You say you don't care and you will call him whatever he wants to be called but then you say you think it's overkill.
I'll put you down for non sequitur of the year bro.
Cheers,
Dartanian
No it has not been on my mind for over a month. I attended a holiday party last night and the process of introductions sparked my memory.
I really don't care what his first name is, as I said if he wants me to call him rumplestiltzkin, then that's what I'll call him. I find it peculiar is all, let's just say for the moment that his real first name is Bob, how many Bob's are there in the big city? And, what motivation would I, a hobbyist myself, have to dig into his personal life?
My real first name, which I shared with him in the conversation, is not a common first name and I felt free to share it, but then again I don't have anything to lose and I'm damn proud of it.
You are correct in one respect, I don't know for sure that he was screened, but I do know that I was at all three of the M&G's that I've attended, so I made an assumption.
In the end, I respect his need for anonymity and I understand why he might be paranoid. If he indeed would have told me his real it's very likely that I would have forgotten it. The other hobbyist and I had introduced ourselves and talked at the previous M&G at this location and it took this second introduction and discussion to recall his name from memory.
You know what Jack? You might benefit from going to your local Community College and taking a reading comprehension course, RC 101 would probably suffice
Or maybe you forgot this little world of ours is illegal and that there are numerous stories of gals outing dudes and ruining their lives???
Again, who gives a fuck what he tells you? He has his reasons even if they don't meet your bizarre curiousity.
And I just might go to the community college to scope out a few hotties.
While there, do you need me to get your transcript? LOL
I take pity on you for being so miserable. I mean participating in our wonderful corner of the world, and still being a miserable soul, yeah I feel sorry for you. There is help out there for you, do some research, get help.
By the way, you won't need to pick up my Community College transcripts, I have them in my desk. Mommy and Daddy couldn't afford to finance my college, I had to pay for that and every other thing that I have with my own money. So, I am very proud of getting my Associate degree at a Junior college and finishing my Bachelor at a State College. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth as it appears you were, but my parents gave me something even more valuable, a lesson of respecting others until they give you a reason not to.
I believe there is chance for you to grow up someday, if you put in the effort.
Just saying!
By the way, you won't need to pick up my Community College transcripts, I have them in my desk. Mommy and Daddy couldn't afford to finance my college, I had to pay for that and every other thing that I have with my own money. So, I am very proud of getting my Associate degree at a Junior college and finishing my Bachelor at a State College. I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth as it appears you were, but my parents gave me something even more valuable, a lesson of respecting others until they give you a reason not to.
I believe there is chance for you to grow up someday, if you put in the effort.
The first people I saw was a guy i know who attends food and wine socials that I attend. I obviously know his real name. The M&G had just begun. I approached a few ladies I knew to say hello and POOF he was gone. I guess he didn't want me to know his handle?
How should I deal with this should we cross paths IRL? Should I ignore him like most providers say they prefer? I'm so confused ...
wtf ... smh ... lol? I just don't know
Based upon his reaction, I would ignore him or at the very least ignore the fact that you seen each other at a M&G.
Although it still perplexes me that he would respond like that. I mean the very fact that you are both at a M&G, a very specific party which requires screening which means you have both participated.
Should you discuss meeting at a M&G when you are at a future food and wine social? No, you're both adults, you should be able to process that discretion.
But my first name is very very common. So it's not like it can be used to track me down.
OK, so I'll call you chief then, but I'm thinking, don't you realize we've all been screened just to be allowed to attend. This is the one forum that we can be free to let our hair down, relax and discuss the hobby. Hell, if he wants me to call him Rumplestiltzkin, then that's what I'll do, and I certainly don't want to know his last name.
Does anyone else think that this is overkill? I'm quite sure his real name isn't chief. I get that he wants to protect his identity, but let's just say for a moment his name is really Tom, how many Tom's are in the big city?
BoB
It confuses many...just the way I like it 
...I don't see much risk in offering up your first name only.
I guess some people need to keep the mystery going, even off the clock.
I have several "real" names.
Dick, hey you, hon, honey, you there, and obviously Mr. Smith