# Can I please have a longer username? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 12, 2002, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738 "2002-03-12T00:55:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 17, 2003, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738/21 "2003-01-17T11:18:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*“Arnold Winkelried” > Is 17 spaces… So, kind sir, how did you get around the previous 15 space limit? \*\* > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni_ > **the newer version** doesn’t allow usernames shorter than three alphanumeric characters, or longer than 15 characters. The implication is that the older version **did** permit longer names. **wolfstu:** I think I’m going to stop pushing **Atomic Badger Racing** and start pushing **Elastic Moral Standards** instead. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738/22 "2003-01-17T17:17:19Z")
May I suggest that the rule for the boards be that no _name_ exceed 30 characters (the new size limit) but that _no word in a name_ exceed 10 characters, requiring a space (not hyphen or underscore) between words in a name. Don’t lists usually wrap long names exceeding the available column width, if there is spacing permitting a wrap? ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738/23 "2003-01-17T17:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*May I suggest that the rule for the boards be that no _name_ exceed 30 characters (the new size limit) but that _no word in a name_ exceed 10 characters, requiring a space (not hyphen or underscore) between words in a name. \*\* Well, I guess I’m lucky that “Steinhardt” is exactly 10 characters long. I guess I’d be out of luck if my name was “Steinharter.” 🙂 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738/24 "2003-01-17T22:23:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*The implication is that the older version **did** permit longer names. > > **wolfstu:** I think I’m going to stop pushing **Atomic Badger Racing** and start pushing **Elastic Moral Standards** instead. \*\* Sounds like a good one. Also: **Collapses Compactly in Column** **Reduces Radically on the Right** **Malleable Marginal Moniker** But not: **Tremendous\_Title\_Tightener** **Persistent\_Pixel\_Pusher** **Mache\_Monde\_et\_Marge** ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738/25 "2003-01-18T00:46:16Z")
What they can do is set by [http://www.vbulletin.com/](http://www.vbulletin.com/) As a matter of fact, you can visit that site & get into a live chat with the people who make the software & ask them what user name limitations it has if you want. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738/26 "2003-01-19T05:24:29Z")
Um, longer usernames used to be allowed. Certainly under UBB, and I thought originally in vB. I don’t think it was a software version change that limited it, but a conscious decision of the mods/admins here because of extra long username abuse. They control the limit in the software setup, which is how they reset it to 30 characters. So **Arnold Winkelreid** got past the 15 character limit by registering before they set the limit to 15 characters. Do a search in ATMB. **Polycarp** , why **10** characters? Why not at least 15, and maybe even 19? And would this rule be applied retroactively, so all current posters would now have to make their names conform? **happyheathen** (12) and **Libertarian** (11) might not appreciate that, to name a couple. Or would there be grandfathering of old names? But that would get yet more rounds of new members crying unfair and calling the mods names. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738/27 "2003-01-20T21:22:12Z")
For what it’s worth, the last I remember this coming up, the limit was 25 characters, as, for instance, in “ **Nanook of the North Shore** ” (whom I think has since changed names). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-please-have-a-longer-username/97738.md?page=1)