I guess I'll go ahead and tell mine because it's got a fun story.
I was up in Asheville, NC with my girlfriend just exploring the town for a day, when suddenly we came upon a man in the crowd who was dressed in simple robes. I made eye contact with the guy, and seeing me he immediately adressed me by saying, "Hey, may I talk to you for a moment?" Seeing our reluctance to talk to a random man on the street he immediately followed with, "Don't worry, I'm a monk, not a punk." He then proceeded to talk to us about the practice of yoga as a religion, but, unlike so many similar people, he spoke civilly and clearly about what he believed to be his truth. He never once insulted us by attempting to describe how his religion was better than all others, he merely just described it to us honestly and earnestly. The way he addressed us total strangers was brave, as he put out his beliefs with a true and steady conviction, and though neither me nor my girlfriend are religious, we were caught up by the respectful way in which he spoke to us and addressed us.
I chose the name Munk to remind me of this man in all that I do on the internet. I chose it as a way to remind me that the person on the other side of those letters is just as human as me, and that they deserve the full breadth of my respect, just as that monk thought I deserved his. Though the phrase, "I'm Munk, not a punk" may not always hold true in what I do, saying that little mantra before I respond helps me to try and pause before I reply to anything online. So the next time you see me tearing down someone else's view just remember, that's just me being human and breaking that mantra
