Day 3: Court is now in session.

So far we’ve seen that:
1) Mr. Vizzini’s and UnKaH’s views are indistinguishable from one
another.
2) Mr. Vizzini has a long history of posting to forums from different
accounts.

Today: Is UnKaH an alter-ego created by Mr. Vizzini?

Why a public figure would have need of a secret alter-ego should be
fairly obvious, and we will address more specifics of that on another
day. For now let us turn our attention to the concept of an alter-
ego.

The most common examples in pop culture are the Super-heroes, such as
‘Clark Kent/Superman’ or ‘Peter Parker/Spiderman’. No one is going to
mistake UnKaH for a super-hero, so let’s look at a darker example: Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

As you are probably already aware, the Stevenson classic explores the
dark side of human nature and our struggle to repress that dark side.
Dr. Jekyll drinks a potion that allows the unrestrained Mr. Hyde to
take control.

We are not ready to make that direct connection to Mr. Vizzini and
UnKaH quite yet, but let us note some of the benefits of a separated
‘Mr. Hyde’. Mr. Hyde can take sole possession of the embarrassing
traits that Dr. Jekyll does not want to show. Mr. Hyde can say the
things that Dr. Jekyll is not willing to say. Mr. Hyde can express
the most vile, abusive, offensive opinions that can be conceived, and
Dr. Jekyll remains clean.

Does UnKaH fit the role of a Mr. Hyde? Does he exhibit any attitude
other than contempt? Does he ever show anything other than a dark
side? Are there any redeeming characteristics to his persona at all?
Or is he simply a Mr. Hyde to someone’s Dr. Jekyll?

A closer look at Unkah’s pen names reveals an interesting point. Most
Usenet posters show some consistency in their identity over time. Mr.
Vizzini certainly does, as his posts have usually contained the same
format, signature, web link, etc.

Does UnKaH show such consistency? Or does he change over time, more
like a persona or an invented character? Let us take a look at the
ever-changing Unkah:

Account: Monsterbaby@alltel.net (Feb/02 - Dec/04)
Date: .............Nickname ....................Signature
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb/02 ..........Unka Hooka Puffa .........Unka Timmy
Aug/02 ..........Hooka Puffa ..................Unka Timmy
Oct/04 ..........Hooka ...........................UnKaH
Dec/04 ..........Hooka / UnKaH .............Tim

Account: Monsterbaby@essential-skills.com (Jan/05 - Jan/06)
Jan/05 ...........UnKaH.........................Tim
Sept/05 .........UnKaH........................ (no sig)

Account: Monsterbrat49@yahoo.com (Jan/06 - present)
Aug/06 ...........UnKa / Hellboy ...........Tim / UnKaH / Hellboy
Sep/06 ...........Hellboy ......................Hellboy / UnKaH Timmy
Nov/06 ...........UnKaH / Hellbrat .........UnKaH / Hellbrat
Dec/06 ...........Hellbrat .....................Hellbwat
Jun/07 ...........Hellbwat ......................Tim
Today ............Hellbwat ......................UnKaH

So: Real person, or a ‘character’ that is being shaped to strike the
right tone? A sadly disturbed person? Or a ‘Mr. Hyde’ persona used
for darker purposes?

Impossible to say with any certainty, but for now let the record show
that:
3) There is evidence that UnKaH is a created persona.

Tomorrow: UnKaH’s first words.

Court is adjourned.