The Origin Story of Joesteel
What name do you use on the Internet?
I use joesteel almost everywhere.
Do you keep the same name everywhere?
There are a few accounts from a long time ago that use other names, but they're for obsolete services.
Where did it come from?
In 2005, when I started work at Sony Pictures Imageworks, a coordinator (they manage artists) started calling me "JOE STEEL". He would say it really loudly, just like that. Soon, the other production people were calling me that.
What does it mean to you?
It doesn't have any special meaning to me.
Why did you choose it?
I adopted the nickname as a username for services because my full name is just so clumsy to use, particularly for Twitter where you want to have as short a name as possible.
Do you ever think of changing it?
Not really.
Why do you / don’t you use your real name?
Rosensteel is too long, and most people don't know how to spell it correctly. When they look at it, at a glance, they often mispronounce it. I get "Rosenthal" and "Rosenstel" (short e) all the time in real life. The last name is pretty simple, rose+n+steel. Using the components of a name is for a username is pretty common, but "rose" isn't really the best name for me. "Steel" is pretty ludicrous - like a comic book name, or the star of ... Other kinds of videos. It seemed silly enough to work.
What was your first internet screen name?
I can't remember exactly, but it had "rose" in it. Not a great idea.
What is your favorite name you’ve seen in your travels across the net?
Dr. Drang. It makes him seem like a super villain. Although, a super villain that plotted against a city using stress fractures in infrastructure seems less exciting than most other super villains.
Whose origin story would you like to hear next?
I think you've hit everyone I know of that has a unique name.
Now that people have heard your story, where can they go to find out more about you?
Twitter is where I'm most active, as @joesteel. My blog is where ramblings go (http://joe-steel.com. Lastly, the podcast I do with Dan Sturm (http://defocused.co).