# Bolding usernames **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 16, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605 "2003-11-16T23:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![agiantdwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@agiantdwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agiantdwarf)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/1 "2003-11-16T23:33:27Z")
Why do people do this? WHY? IT’S SO. FUCKING. ANNOYING. “Correct, **[Insert username with lame pun here]**. Your assessment of the situation is OP FWIW ROFMLAMsadas” End of rant. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/2 "2003-11-16T23:36:05Z")
SO people find it easier to see where they’re being referred to. Next question? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/3 "2003-11-16T23:39:32Z")
I hate lame rants from people who have no idea what they’re talking about! Why do people do this. IT’S SO. FUCKING. ANNOYING. :wally: ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/4 "2003-11-16T23:50:46Z")
So people can tell at a glance if it’s a username being referred to, vs. a regular word/acronym. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/5 "2003-11-17T00:01:59Z")
So I was having a conversation with **a stick of gum** the other day… See how strange it would sound if I didn’t specify that it was a person? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/6 "2003-11-17T00:04:16Z")
So that, if I’m addressing you **agiantdwarf** and not just asking: again, tdwarf? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/7 "2003-11-17T01:07:19Z")
Get over it, **agiantdwarf**. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/8 "2003-11-17T01:08:23Z")
**At these times, when i wander through the sacred forest, stopping to smell the scent of fresh pine needles after a spring rain, i think to myself: Self, why, oh why, do we bold the names of the users? And then suddenly it dawned on me! agiantdwarf, does thou not know, that it is less annoying than this?** ---
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/9 "2003-11-17T01:13:03Z")
Pure vanity! Getting a kick out of someone referring to you by name! Makes one feel important and validated… isn’t that what we are all looking for??? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/10 "2003-11-17T01:13:10Z")
Oh for Christ’s sake. It’s the custom over here and it makes for clarity. Notice that it’s not required. Haj ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/11 "2003-11-17T01:38:31Z")
How about a new rule! If you post lame rants that come off more like whines, you’re kicked off the board. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/12 "2003-11-17T01:46:55Z")
Here’s a bastardized example from a while back:[ul]Mr. A likes being rimmed. Mr. B enjoys rimming strange women in the washrooms of sushi bars. Mr. C enjoys straight sex.[/ul]My wife lurks. ---
**Author:** ![Coffeeguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@Coffeeguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coffeeguy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/13 "2003-11-17T01:47:31Z")
Amost as annoying as people who use boldface and strings of nonsense like “OP FWIW ROFMLAMsadas”. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/14 "2003-11-17T03:43:34Z")
Because usernames are bolded on the forum index, the thread list, and the left column of thread views like this one. Bolding usernames in your own writing gives your posts a clean, consistent, professional look, thus increasing your Board Popularity Quotient and your chances of getting laid at Dopefests. ---
**Author:** ![Coffeeguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@Coffeeguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coffeeguy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/15 "2003-11-17T04:28:54Z")
'zactly, **Mr2001** ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/16 "2003-11-17T04:55:31Z")
Well, **agiantdwarf** , we actually didn’t do it before you, **agiantdwarf** , got here. We heard you (that is, **agiantdwarf** ) were coming to our little board, and decided to start it up as a trend to annoy **agiantdwarf**. Success! Mwa ha ha! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/17 "2003-11-17T06:17:45Z")
I do it so that the user I’m referring to can easily spot that I’m talking about them. That way if they have anything they want to add, correct or disagree with they can do so. It’s just a courtesy. It’s the equivelant of not whispering about someone else who’s in the room. Incidentally, I generally only try to bold any given poster’s name only once per post. Any subsequent uses of the name I leave unbolded. Basically, I’m trying to make it easy for them to notice their own names if their scrolling quickly down a thread. Once they see their names they can read the post without the need for extra attention. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/18 "2003-11-17T07:01:36Z")
**Item!** Putting names in bold also helps you feel like an [entertainment columnist](http://www.theonion.com/onion3917/matrix_bug.html), keeping the world updated on all the **hot new trends** and the latest **celebrity gossip**. How exciting! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/19 "2003-11-17T07:11:39Z")
Fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605/20 "2003-11-17T08:16:10Z")
I find it incredibly helpful myself. After X many responses I just sort of scan the rest of the thread. If someone is asking for me to elaborate (or calling me an idiot) I’d like to be able to pick my name out easily and reply. This is also helpful if I noticed someone else’s comments that I agreed/disagreed with and someone is responding to them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolding-usernames/213605.md?page=2)