# Board courtesy question regarding usernames **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 23, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901 "2011-11-23T18:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/21 "2011-11-24T02:33:59Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I usually capitalize the first letter of a username when it is the first word in a sentence. Otherwise it looks funny to me. If a member objects to the first character of his or her name being capitalized, that person can correct me and I will respect and try to remember his wishes. That’s pretty much my stance on it as well. I was just curious to see how others felt about it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/22 "2011-11-24T02:47:36Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Since the problem never arose before the Internet, the grammar is still being worked out, and will probably become what the most common practice is. I believe they have been worked out, and from when I worked as a reporter\*, I recall that the rule is that you should leave a proper noun untouched re. capitalization, no matter where in a sentence it occurs. \*Business reporter dealing with several companies with wacky names. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/23 "2011-11-24T04:28:40Z")
> [@](#): > > All of which brings up my regret of not using " **FtG** ’ instead of “ **ftg** ” when I signed up. Most sites didn’t user name with caps back in the old, old days. So I defaulted to no caps. Which explains why I refer to **Mrs. FtG** and such. Oh well. Actually, you can ask to have your name changed, including different capitalization, and such a request is almost always granted, as long as you’re not changing your name too often. Just email me or another admin, using the email account that’s associated with your SDMB name, and we’ll be happy to do it. But I think that most of us are kinda busy on Thursday, so maybe in a couple of days would be better. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/24 "2011-11-24T05:01:27Z")
Oh, so turkey and cranberries are more important that your charges at the 'Dope. eh? Oh wait, no, not the jackboots! Please, no! Argh! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/25 "2011-11-24T06:08:47Z")
Yes, turkeys and cranberries are infinitely more important to me, at certain times. OK, no jackboots. Just the Comfy Chair for YOU. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/26 "2011-11-24T08:08:44Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Actually, contrary to popular belief E.E. Cummings [usually uppercased his name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._E._Cummings#Name_and_capitalization). Indeed - the lower-case version was a special-purpose affectation, in fact not unlike an alias on a message board - which was my point. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/27 "2011-11-26T20:10:48Z")
If the name is lowercase, I tend to leave it that way at the beginning of a sentence, but that’s why I like bolding in the first place. It clearly sets off the poster’s name from the rest of the statement, and with some of the clever names we have here it’s virtually essential. I’ve noticed some names even look like insults when they’re not clearly distinguished from the context in which they’re used. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/28 "2011-11-26T20:49:55Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I’ve noticed some names even look like insults when they’re not clearly distinguished from the context in which they’re used. Lowanimalcunning. CraftyPiker. Yeah, O can see that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/29 "2011-11-26T23:44:37Z")
My name was tbg until I asked for it to be changed to TBG because it looked better on certain places it shows up automatically on a page. Whatever, just don’t call me late for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/30 "2011-11-27T04:11:32Z")
This is not a matter of courtesy. It is a matter of style. Different people choose different styles and in an informal forum such as a discussion board it hardly matters. I’m a little amused by the OP’s seeming to approach this issue so seriously. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/31 "2011-11-27T06:32:54Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’m a little amused by the OP’s seeming to approach this issue so seriously. It’s called being polite. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/32 "2011-11-27T11:56:22Z")
That’s called being circular. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/33 "2011-11-27T16:04:06Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > That’s called being circular. You lost me on that. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/34 "2011-11-27T16:20:54Z")
It’s a matter of courtesy because it’s polite? That’s a circular argument. There is no courtesy surrounding capitalization or boldface. It’s a matter of (1) linguistic convention, (2) chosen typographic style, and (3) convenience. To make this into a question of courtesy is not only unnecessary; it’s also annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/35 "2011-11-27T16:25:16Z")
I think I’m guilty of “taking liberties” with many Dopers’ names sometimes. When it’s a long three part name, I’ll use the 1st letter of each one (ABC) and hope that person doesn’t take offense. Sometimes, when it’s someone really close, I may add an “ie” at the end, again no offense meant. It’s like a term of endearment for lack of a better term. For the most part, I think we’re all very courteous to each other, and I really like that we bold our names. I believe that began here, and I see it as giving our co-respondents a measure of respect, whether or not we agree. That said, I don’t flip out when someone _doesn’t_ bold mine, or even calls me by my real name. I’m totally okay with all of it. Thanks Quasimodem 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/36 "2011-11-27T23:25:37Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > There is no courtesy surrounding capitalization or boldface. It’s a matter of (1) linguistic convention, (2) chosen typographic style, and (3) convenience. In general, you are correct. However, when someone expresses a preference for how they want their own name given, it is a matter of courtesy to conform to their preference. I knew a guy named “Danny” - not “Daniel”, “Danny”. Calling him Daniel would be wrong, and if you knew it would also be discourtious. If **carnivorousplant** , for example, wants to be lower case, then capitalizing it is against his stated preference. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/37 "2011-11-27T23:41:45Z")
(1) A user name or other internet handle is not someone’s actual name. It doesn’t carry the same aura that an actual name does. (2) Insisting or even expecting that people are going to follow silly preferences like not capitalizing or boldfacing your name is juvenile, pretentious, and a series of other choice adjectives. (3) In the informal context of an internet message board, it’s a failure of a sense roportion to expect people to capitalize even anyone’s actual name in any particular way. (And anyway, even if it was someone’s name, I still wouldn’t put up with any silly non-capitalization nonsense. I refuse to engage in that kind of stupidity. Capitalization is based on linguistic convention, not a personal preference, and boldface definitely isn’t. Seriously, someone in real life walks up to you and insists his name can only be written in boldface?) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/38 "2011-11-27T23:52:43Z")
acsenray, thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/39 "2011-11-28T01:50:52Z")
It was nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901/40 "2011-11-28T17:15:59Z")
You asked how courtesy entered into it. If someone expresses a preference, it is courtesy to comply. Where that courtesy fits on the grand scale of value is, of course, yours to decide for yourself. How much is courtesy worth? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/board-courtesy-question-regarding-usernames/603901.md?page=1)