Well everyone. I want to thank you all personally for following and reading nakedpastor. I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and there’s something I want to share with you.
For quite a while now I have struggled with the domain name, nakedpastor. It is a great and memorable name! It sticks in the minds of so many people, for good or ill. It has gotten the blog to where it is today. It captures so well one facet of who I am: a pastor who bares his heart, mind and soul online. I am introduced to complete strangers and I sometimes get the reaction, “Oh! You’re the nakedpastor!” Sometimes pleasant. Sometimes not.
However, there are two major problems with the name nakedpastor. One is: it is not a friendly name. For anyone who is in a public library, a university or college, at their place of work, or at home behind any kind of porn or accountability filter, nakedpastor is completely access denied! I want my blog to be accessible. So I’ve had a growing discontent and even frustration with the name “nakedpastor”.
Secondly, as a friend of mine put it, “David, one thing I have found when I switched to my own name as my domain name is that I forgot all about trying to tie into an identity that I had made up and I started being more … myself.” I am not only a pastor, but a cartoonist, a musician, and an artist. I believe in authenticity and in the freedom to integrate who I am in one person and in one place. I don’t want to divvy myself up into different personalities and sites. I want to give you all of me.
So: I have purchased and activated davidhayward.net. What do you think? I would love your thoughts on this. Reactions? I will always be nakedpastor. That is definitely a part of who I am. But what do you think about me eventually switching over to davidhayward.net? Will you still love me? I know it will take a few months to regain my footing, but is it worth it in the long run? I have in the past been accused of self-sabotage. Is this another case in point? Or is davidhayward a friendlier and more accessible name? Let me know what you think.
And, with affection I say, thanks again.
If you like what nakedpastor has to say, your support is appreciated.
artist. cartoonist. teacher.
I like Naked Pastor. It is so right.
Naked Pastor is an attention grabber. And I certainly don’t find it offensive. I can understand how you might feel a Tad uncomfortable with the domain. Keep in mind you might lose some of the punch and identity you’ve gained. I will keep following regardless.
I like your arguments for switching to davidhayward, they’ve convinced me… love your blog, no matter what you call it.
I’d prefer you just keep Nakedpastor but will support what ever choice you make.
Preference for nakedpastor, people don’t forget it, but can understand why you might want to change.
You could go for Mark14-52 as the domain name
After following this thread, and having made two comments soon after it started, I can only add one thing.
PLEASE KEEP THE NAME!!!
You could change your domain name, so that people have more access, but still title your blog “Naked Pastor”. (You might even be able to keep everything at your current domain, and set up a different domain which simply displays all the same content but with a “friendlier” url.)
I like nakedpastor because it holds true to what and who you are so I don’t see anything limiting about that domain name HOWEVER I will read your posts anywhere.
denisha. nice to know. really.
I also love the naked pastor name but those dang filters and political correctness do probably create barriers for some people. I know I will keep reading and passing it on regardless of what you decide. Why don’t you name it something catchy like…. “Bob”….that could work eh? LOL!
Richard