Barry the Sprout

Mouse · 06-19-2004, 06:09 PM

Sorry if anyone got frightened by the topic header, but short of dancing nekkid on the roof of my abode, I am at a loss as to how to resolve my conundrum.....which is this.....

Barry the Sprout is a longtime and revered member of IW (joined 19/10/2001 if my memory serves me well). I have noticed a connection between his online identity and the works of a certain English author by the name of Robert Rankin.

Bear with me , oh best beloved, while I put my proposal forward for general dissection...

I have read several of the multitudinous ourpourings of the abovementioned author, and, though not fully cognisant of his general worldview, I have never come across a character called Barry the Sprout, general Brentfordness and other miscellaneous oddities not withstanding.

However, as I peruse the wondrous magnificence of "The Witches of Chiswick", lo and behold, slap bang in the first third of the book, who should turn up but BARRY THE SPROUT!!!. This book was first published in 2003!!

Now, my question is this, how the heck did Bary the Sprout become a member here two years before he appeared in the works of the author with whom he is obviously attached??

Enquiring minds (well mine) want to know

Xen · 06-19-2004, 06:19 PM

I don`t know. You should ask him. (PM)

Mouse · 06-19-2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Xen:
I don`t know. You should ask him. (PM)

Too easy, and not likely to generate enough speculation....

Animal · 06-19-2004, 06:30 PM

Perhaps it was written long before it was published? Perhaps Robert Rankin and Barry the Sprout are one in the same? Maybe, Robert Rankin stole the name Barry the Sprout from IW?

I'm not sure, but I smell a conspiracy!

Ladyzekke · 06-19-2004, 08:25 PM

Of course it could also be just coincidence. Working in a patent and trademark office, I cannot tell you how many times a client has come to us wanting to trademark a name for their business, and it sounds so unique, yet when we do a search for all the trademarks already out there, we find the exact same name, sometimes many of them, even for the same type of business. I guess it is one of those GMTA things. [img]smile.gif[/img]

But I could be wrong! Just speculating.

Ziroc · 06-19-2004, 08:46 PM

You would be surprised at who has become a member here.. MANY Authors of Novels--some using their real names, some a nickname. Not just Authors either. Many Game Dev's and even some Hollywood people. When it first happened, I was VERY shocked they would even find IW.. but it is humbling.

Mouse, I bet Barry is that Author..

Jorath Calar · 06-19-2004, 08:53 PM

New Slogan for IW

Ironworks, the home of the stars...

[img]smile.gif[/img]

Stormymystic · 06-19-2004, 09:01 PM

or perhaps he is just a figment of our imaginations?

Vaskez · 06-19-2004, 09:20 PM

No Barry's a student, just graduating, I doubt he's that author. "Barry the Sprout" is probably not a unique name.

Stormymystic · 06-19-2004, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vaskez:
No Barry's a student, just graduating, I doubt he's that author. "Barry the Sprout" is probably not a unique name.

so you are saying just because he is a student, he can not be an author as well? wow talk about your sterotyping

06-19-2004, 06:09 PM	#1
Mouse Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,788	Sorry if anyone got frightened by the topic header, but short of dancing nekkid on the roof of my abode, I am at a loss as to how to resolve my conundrum.....which is this..... Barry the Sprout is a longtime and revered member of IW (joined 19/10/2001 if my memory serves me well). I have noticed a connection between his online identity and the works of a certain English author by the name of Robert Rankin. Bear with me , oh best beloved, while I put my proposal forward for general dissection... I have read several of the multitudinous ourpourings of the abovementioned author, and, though not fully cognisant of his general worldview, I have never come across a character called Barry the Sprout, general Brentfordness and other miscellaneous oddities not withstanding. However, as I peruse the wondrous magnificence of "The Witches of Chiswick", lo and behold, slap bang in the first third of the book, who should turn up but BARRY THE SPROUT!!!. This book was first published in 2003!! Now, my question is this, how the heck did Bary the Sprout become a member here two years before he appeared in the works of the author with whom he is obviously attached?? Enquiring minds (well mine) want to know __________________ Regards Mouse (Occasional crooner and all round friendly Scottish rodent)

06-19-2004, 06:30 PM	#4
Animal Gold Dragon Join Date: March 29, 2002 Location: Canada Age: 51 Posts: 2,534	Perhaps it was written long before it was published? Perhaps Robert Rankin and Barry the Sprout are one in the same? Maybe, Robert Rankin stole the name Barry the Sprout from IW? I'm not sure, but I smell a conspiracy! __________________ It\'s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye...then it becomes a sport.<br /> [img]\"http://members.shaw.ca/mtholdings/bsmeter.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

06-19-2004, 08:25 PM	#5
Ladyzekke Ironworks Atomic Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Virginia, U.S.A. Age: 57 Posts: 9,005	Of course it could also be just coincidence. Working in a patent and trademark office, I cannot tell you how many times a client has come to us wanting to trademark a name for their business, and it sounds so unique, yet when we do a search for all the trademarks already out there, we find the exact same name, sometimes many of them, even for the same type of business. I guess it is one of those GMTA things. [img]smile.gif[/img] But I could be wrong! Just speculating. __________________ Reality Show Recaps

06-19-2004, 08:46 PM	#6
Ziroc Ironworks Webmaster *Bow to the Meow* Join Date: January 4, 2001 Location: Lakeland, Florida Age: 51 Posts: 11,720	You would be surprised at who has become a member here.. MANY Authors of Novels--some using their real names, some a nickname. Not just Authors either. Many Game Dev's and even some Hollywood people. When it first happened, I was VERY shocked they would even find IW.. but it is humbling. Mouse, I bet Barry is that Author.. __________________ Ziroc™ Ironworks Gaming Webmaster www.ironworksgaming.com The Great Escape Studios - 2D/3D Modeling www.tgeweb.com & Ziroc's Facebook Page Visit My Flickr Photo Album

06-19-2004, 09:01 PM	#8
Stormymystic Knight of the Rose Join Date: April 8, 2003 Location: Arkansas Age: 48 Posts: 4,442	or perhaps he is just a figment of our imaginations? __________________ [url]\"http://stormymystic.deviantart.com/gallery/\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3968/stormyvx6.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

06-19-2004, 06:19 PM	#2
Xen Symbol of Moradin Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Slovenia,Ljubljana Age: 36 Posts: 8,554	I don`t know. You should ask him. (PM)

06-19-2004, 08:53 PM	#7
Jorath Calar Harper Join Date: October 6, 2001 Location: Iceland Posts: 4,706	New Slogan for IW Ironworks, the home of the stars... [img]smile.gif[/img]

06-19-2004, 09:20 PM	#9
Vaskez Takhisis Follower Join Date: April 30, 2001 Location: szép Magyarország (well not right now) Posts: 5,089	No Barry's a student, just graduating, I doubt he's that author. "Barry the Sprout" is probably not a unique name. __________________ Too set in his ways to ever relate If he could set that aside, there'd be heaven to pay But weathered and aged, time swept him to grave Love conquers all? Damn, I'd say that area's gray

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