# Bolding user names **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 6, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166 "2010-04-06T17:06:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/21 "2010-04-07T06:08:41Z")
I’m glad we bold usernames, otherwise people would be confused when I talk about my toodlepip and describe things as wicked toodlepip. They might think I am talking about **toodlepip** , the user. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/22 "2010-04-07T07:11:49Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m glad we bold usernames, otherwise people would be confused when I talk about my toodlepip and describe things as wicked toodlepip. They might think I am talking about **toodlepip** , the user. Dude… um… your zipperjj is open and your toodlepip is showing. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/23 "2010-04-07T10:25:41Z")
I think it’s a nice convention, and conveys some respect for other users. It fits in well with the central ethos of the Dope: respect, kindness, consideration, kittens and rainbows. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/24 "2010-04-07T11:29:44Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Makes it easy to scroll through without reading and see who’s talking shit about me. Oh, boy, I tink I gonna be in beeeeg trouble when the next issue of Teemings comes out… ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/25 "2010-04-07T11:45:49Z")
> [@xash](#): > > Here’s a compromise solution: > > **A** r **n** o **l** d **W** i **n** k **e** l **r** i **e** d That was trippy on my eyes. Whoa. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/26 "2010-04-07T12:59:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Does bolding make my name look fat? > > **Colibri** \*\*But isn’t Colibri a Font in word? \*\* :eek: I hope we wont have to write in font to communicate with you. * * * I don’t make it a habit to Bold names, but I do it when I play Mafia. Then again, Mafia only “works” when you level charges on other players in order to make a case against them. If it is standard convention, then it is beyond standard in thread games. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/27 "2010-04-07T13:03:45Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > I had the reverse happen to me at the SDMB, I almost never put usernames in bold (I want to say never but I have possibly done it once or twice), and someone accused me of putting the username in a normal style with the intent to belittle. Or God forbid you bold everyone’s name except one person’s on accident, and the next thing you know “the smartest folks in the room” are accusing you of a hate crime. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/28 "2010-04-07T13:19:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Does bolding make my name look fat? > > **Colibri** I don’t think “bold” makes a strong enough statement. I think we should add the gratuitous [metal umlaut](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_umlaut): **Cölibri** ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/29 "2010-04-07T14:21:18Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I don’t think “bold” makes a strong enough statement. I think we should add the gratuitous [metal umlaut](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_umlaut): > > **Cölibri** Now, if only we could get the heart dotting the “i” – **Cölibri[sup]❤[/sup]** ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/30 "2010-04-07T14:28:01Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > I had the reverse happen to me at the SDMB, I almost never put usernames in bold (I want to say never but I have possibly done it once or twice), and someone accused me of putting the username in a normal style with the intent to belittle. Geez, are you for real? ---
**Author:** ![toodlepip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@toodlepip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toodlepip)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/31 "2010-04-07T22:10:29Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m glad we bold usernames, otherwise people would be confused when I talk about my toodlepip and describe things as wicked toodlepip. They might think I am talking about **toodlepip** , the user. For the record, that wouldn’t bother me. Close your zipperjj though, it’s draughty down here. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/32 "2010-04-07T23:01:51Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Geez, are you for real? If that question means, did the event (not bolding a username) actually happen as I described, then yes. If you mean, am I really Arnold Winkelried, hero of the battle of Sempach (1386), then no. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/33 "2010-04-08T06:50:19Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > respect, kindness, consideration, kittens and rainbows. You forgot felching. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/34 "2010-04-08T10:18:52Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > You forgot felching. _Blinks_ I totally missed THAT memo. ---
**Author:** ![Lestrade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Lestrade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lestrade)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/35 "2010-04-08T13:40:35Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > \*\*But isn’t Colibri a Font in word? \*\* > > :eek: I hope we wont have to write in font to communicate with you. Swing and a miss, I’m afraid; you’re thinking of [Calibri](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibri). If you want my attention in future, please compose all text in fixedsys. And, as always, all messages that _don’t_ need my immediate attention should be written in Comic Sans. It’s these seemingly silly little board quirks make us one of the top boards on the net. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/36 "2010-04-09T00:10:58Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > I had the reverse happen to me at the SDMB, I almost never put usernames in bold (I want to say never but I have possibly done it once or twice), and someone accused me of putting the username in a normal style with the intent to belittle. Bolding usernames embiggens the smallest man. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/37 "2010-04-10T02:09:18Z")
> [@Lestrade](#): > > Swing and a miss, I’m afraid; you’re thinking of [Calibri](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibri). > > If you want my attention in future, please compose all text in fixedsys. And, as always, all messages that _don’t_ need my immediate attention should be written in Comic Sans. It’s these seemingly silly little board quirks make us one of the top boards on the net. Please ignore this message, **Lestrade**. There’s no need for you to read it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/38 "2010-04-10T04:42:12Z")
I think I first saw it happen here around five years ago, and started to emulate it myself because, like many have pointed out, it is a courtesy to the member and helps clarify the difference between username and regular word. Costs me nothing to do it (double-click to select, tap ctrl-B) so I’m happy to comply. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/39 "2010-04-10T12:31:43Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I think I first saw it happen here around five years ago… It’s been the convention as long as I’ve been posting here, which is coming up on eight years. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166/40 "2010-04-10T12:46:35Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > It’s been the convention as long as I’ve been posting here, which is coming up on eight years. Well. I didn’t notice the **MMP** tradition till about two years after it began. My powers of observation are impaired. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-user-names/535166.md?page=3)