I wrote the following for the “Mikey aliases” thread that Nigel closed so I think I’ll post it here where Mikey brought it up.
***************************
I don’t know Mikey at all, but I consider myself a pretty good judge of people by reading between the lines (of postings). I never once saw anything “irregular” in anything he wrote. I don’t think Mikey deserved to be put on a spit for anything he said here. There’s an old saying that if you’re LOOKING for trouble, you’ll find it. I often wish the members here would spend that time and energy they use in throwing darts at each other to discuss music….as in MUSIC! That’s one thing I miss about Scott Yee...he’s totally dedicated to the music and loves to discuss the game. I make no judgment call on him personally, but I do give him credit for his enthusiasm for what he does.

As for Mikey having more than one name, if you’re in the business of selling your product (entertainment) do you really want to sell yourself as a children’s entertainer under the name Al Capone? Or as a night club entertainer under the moniker Herman Smith? People have many ways of sizing you up before they even meet you….names being one of them. Really, if everyone is so adamant about not using an alias, how come no one here is using their birth name instead of a screen name?

I have a few names myself. I use a classic one-word name to sell myself as a pianist (like Liberace did), another name I use as a DJ (that fits in with the younger generation), another as a one-man-band, etc. The law states that you can use any name you like as long as it’s not meant to defraud.

About Diki...Diki is many things at different times. The one consistency I find about him is, he’s always educational, always candid, always interesting and always refreshing to read what he has to say. Those of you who poke their finger at him should consider that this forum would not be the same without him and his offerings. I can’t help but think if he took his talents to another site it would be like the Michael Jackson phenomena again. Demonize him while he’s alive and memorialize him after he’s gone. (P.S. I’m NOT Diki).

I started writing this because I really got irked the way some here tried to take Mikey apart (for posting something he intended to be light humor) instead of posting constructive music talk. Very little music is discussed on the SZ and instead “digs” are freely thrown out among the members as fodder.

Now for something positive. I thank cassp for doing the SynthJam. It’s the closest this forum has ever come to actual music. I picked up a lot of ideas from the many DIFFERENT arrangements of Nearness. I’m hoping we can keep the format going. Where I live I don’t have the luxury of seeing other musicians play! I depend on sites like the SynthZone to keep me alive!

Lucky