Great topic. I, too find the choice of nyms and avatars quite interesting. None of us got to choose our "real" names, but we each get to choose our on-line monikers. Thus, that coice is likely to be frought with below-the-surface significance.
Ive had several on-line nyms, but I chose Charlie Who? for THIS venue for several reasons. Primarily because "Charlie" is so common a name as to be almost a non-name. Adding the "Who?" makes it even more anonymous.
It also reflects a part of my past that is significant to me. I lived on an island in the Carribbean for several years and had 3 froends who all hung together. Each of them was named, "Charlie". So, in any conversation where "Charlie" was mentioned, somebody would ask, "Charlie who?"
Two of the three Charlie's are dead now and for all I know, so is the third. Im 61 and at my age, friends are dropping like flies. So, keeping the old quesrion, "Charlie who?" alive is kind of my tribute to those three friends.
The avatar? Im just a big fan of r.crumb, LOL.
CW