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