# Does it bug you when people capitalize your lower-case UserName? **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411 **Category:** In My Humble Opinion **Created:** [October 18, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411 "2000-10-18T15:26:03Z") **Posts on this page:** 20 **Page:** 2
### Author: ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat) #### Post date: [October 18, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/21 "2000-10-18T22:55:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AuntiePam \* > \*\*::slight hijack:: > Another friend named her daughter Siobhan, then got tired of pronouncing it for everyone. How many people outside of the Dope know how to pronunce Siobhan? > :🔚: \*\* Cha-vonn, right? ---
### Author: ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam) #### Post date: [October 18, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/22 "2000-10-18T23:00:23Z")
Yep. Or “Sha-vonn.” But see, you’re a Doper, so you know these things. The ordinary man in the street (or kindergarten teacher) probably isn’t going to know. “Cee-oh-bahn, come to the front of the room, please.” Poor kid. ---
### Author: ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty) #### Post date: [October 18, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/23 "2000-10-18T23:22:07Z")
Try sho-BONN, rhyming with “on.” I couldn’t care less whether any other Doper capitalizes “dougie\_monty” or not. I chose a username without caps because that seemed to be the norm. What irritates me is people who key in proper nouns and _don’t_ capitalize! :mad: ---
### Author: ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/24 "2000-10-19T00:16:39Z")
My username is capitalized, but it doesn’t bother me if somebody forgets to capitalize it. What I do find odd is that quite a few people write me down as **MoFo** instead of **Mofo**. It doesn’t bother me, but where does it come from? I certainly never wrote it that way, and it’s not like it saves time. It actually makes it more difficult to type. (Well, not that difficult.) And for some reason, my good friends call me Mof. ---
### Author: ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/25 "2000-10-19T01:24:58Z")
I prefer to be uncapitilized, but don’t really give a damn. I try to type names exactly as they appear, because it’s common courtesy. ---
### Author: ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/26 "2000-10-19T02:47:31Z")
It used to bother me, before I acquired the god-like powers granted me as a Moderator. Now, if someone does it once, I inform them of the correct spelling. If they do it do it twice, I just correct it myself. The third time, their post mysteriously disappears. The forth time, _they_ mysteriously disappear. 🙂 ---
### Author: ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/27 "2000-10-19T03:02:48Z")
**brachyrhynchos** is a species name (as in _Corvus brachyrhynchos_) and should remain uncapitalized\*. But it doesn’t bother me if people capitalize it or call me brachy or Brachy. Nor does it get my feathers in a ruffle if it gets spelled incorrectly (I knew it was a tough one when I choose it). Like **bouv** and others, I do try to spell Doper names correctly as a common curtesy. But pronounce it wrong and I’ll be all over ya! 😉 I pronounce it: brach-ee-rink-os (equal emphasis and brach rhyming with rat). I’ve heard Siobhan pronounced as Shiv-ahn (emphasis on the ahn). - In science literature, you won’t see _brachyrhynchos_ by itself at the beginning of a sentence. Rather, you’d see something like: “_C. brachyrhynchos_ is a cooperative breeder, forming both genetic and non-genetic alliances.” ---
### Author: ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/28 "2000-10-19T03:35:05Z")
redtail23, no I didn’t have the problem typing in Ender. I never even tried it. I chose Enderw23 because Ender Wiggin is a character from my favorite book and I’m 23 years old. I have an AOL account Enderw19 and Enderw21 (you can guess when I created them). It’s not that I’m obsessed with the book or anything, I’ve just grown comfortable with that SN and kept it whenever possible. I prefer Ender because it’s easier to remember and it flows better, even in written form. Enderw23 sounds like the newest vacuum cleaner model. ---
### Author: ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/29 "2000-10-19T04:16:02Z")
Well, yes it does bother me somewhat. Not enough to go Charles Whitman on people but it doesn’t take any more time to not capitalize it. I did choose it for a reason Of course, at the beginning of sentences, do what makes you feel comfortable. And, yes, I do have other things to be upset over but you know, you can never have too many little nitpicky, annoying things that bother you! 😉 ---
### Author: ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/30 "2000-10-19T04:35:37Z")
Eh, it’s not a big deal. Especially since Andy is a proper name. (even if it’s not mine…) What does bug me somewhat is when people write Andy Girl. It’s one word, dagnabit. I do think that when someone takes the time to get a username right, it indicates a certain amount of care and observation. Right, Evil Beth? ---
### Author: ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/31 "2000-10-19T04:42:16Z")
Coming from the other end of this, while my username contains capitals (and numerals; I’m crazy that way), I don’t really care if anybody spells it all lowercase. Usually, though, if I’m referred to, it’s simply as Birdman. And that’s fine, as I don’t think there are any other Birdmans (Birdmen?) here. ---
### Author: ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/32 "2000-10-19T07:37:15Z")
I wouldn’t say it bothers me, but I do notice…and draw conclusions… ---
### Author: ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/33 "2000-10-19T07:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\* > > I do think that when someone takes the time to get a username right, it indicates a certain amount of care and observation. Right, Evil Beth? \*\* Exactly. \*\*Posted by _ricepad_ > [@](#): > > but I do notice…and draw conclusions… \*\* Ditto. ---
### Author: ![Byzantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Byzantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Byzantine) #### Post date: [October 19, 2000, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/34 "2000-10-19T08:07:46Z")
Capitalize it? Sheesh! I expect them to GLORIFY it! It’s not just my name, it’s my whole being! But I’m okay with the familiar Byz… but don’t get too cozy; I can get bitchy in a heart beat. I don’t know what the hell YOU are getting all wacked about… Hell! I don’t even remember who you are! 🙂 ---
### Author: ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam) #### Post date: [October 20, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/35 "2000-10-20T02:15:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\*Try sho-BONN, rhyming with “on.” > \*\* You mean mom doesn’t even say the kid’s name right? Mom calls her Sha-vonn. \ ---
### Author: ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal) #### Post date: [October 21, 2000, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/36 "2000-10-21T10:59:22Z")
Nope, doesn’t bother me at all. When I come across lowercase usernames, I’ll capitalize it if it’s at the beginning of a sentence; if it’s mid-sentence, I’ll leave it as is. ---
### Author: ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha) #### Post date: [October 21, 2000, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/37 "2000-10-21T11:25:47Z")
I type posters’ SNs as they appear in the Author column. To me, each poster has deliberately chosen the typographical elements his or her name contains, and I should do my best to preserve it. I only alter SNs if I know the person or am joking around with them. ---
### Author: ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl) #### Post date: [October 21, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/38 "2000-10-21T13:41:04Z")
Capitalizing doesn’t bother me, but just like IRL, I have been called many variants of my name, including ‘Screech’, ‘Screechy’, ‘screechy’, and ‘Owl’. [Whenever I see SO in a posting, I have to read carefully to see if the poster is discussing a **S** ignificant **O** ther, or a **S** creech- **O** wl - SO is the designation on the medical charts for Screech Owl.] Shortening the name implies a familiarity and close comfort level; my username just lends itself to that. Then again, I would nver dream of shortening **bibliophage** to **bib** or **bp** (except in the aforementioned example); as you stated, if you wanted a capital, you would have reigisterd a capital. And in accordance with your wishes, I shall not be capitalizing it. I generally don’t mind, depends on who is shortening the name, and in what context - playful banter back and forth is one thing, ferocious PIT-iness is whole 'nuther thing. [hijack] Truthfully, I find it amusing that you started this thread - for a long time, I completely misread _your_ username and thought it was something else completely [Poster names you got wrong…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=42720&pagenumber=2) [hijack] ---
### Author: ![tiny\_cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@tiny\_cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_cow) #### Post date: [October 22, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/39 "2000-10-22T03:58:07Z")
I don’t normally post, but if you’ll let me nitpick for a minute, I’ll admit that I prefer uncapitalization. I am a **tiny cow**. I am the **tiny cow**. I am not **Tiny Cow** (nor am I **TinyCow** or **tinycow** ). I’m usually called various names; everything from **TC** to **tiny** to **microheifer** (hi, **PUNdit** ) to **ALVIN**. Cool with me. By far the majority name is **tiny**. Although I confess a slight preference for just plain **cow** (or **cowe** , if you’ve been in chat recently, heh) as opposed to **tiny** , just about anything goes. The bottom line for me is that I don’t really care what others call me, or how they type my username. When it comes to others, I type their username exactly as they’ve spelled it, beginning of the sentence or not. (“E.e. cummings” or “e.e. cummings?”) ---
### Author: ![annalamerino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@annalamerino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annalamerino) #### Post date: [October 22, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411/40 "2000-10-22T04:28:27Z")
It does seem odd to see Annalamerino. If they want to use caps, I expect it to come out Anna Lamerino, as IRL. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-bug-you-when-people-capitalize-your-lower-case-username/37411.md?page=3)