# Dumb question about posting etiquette (I am not an English major). . .
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 27, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894 "2004-11-27T16:54:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/21 "2004-11-28T04:02:24Z")
Common nouns are capitalized at the beginning of a sentence, so if a user name is a common noun (like mine), then by all means, do so.
For uncapitalized proper nouns, like e e cummings, I believe the answer is to leave it uncapitalized in all instances.
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### Author:  [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/22 "2004-11-28T05:04:13Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> Since our names are now hyperlinks instead of **bold characters** , I generally do not bold other poster’s names anymore. I mean, we weren’t just bolding them to make vanity drive-bys easier, were we?
I thought bolding another poster name was a simple sign of respect. Some one told me that when I was a baby poster.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/23 "2004-11-28T05:08:37Z")
> [@picunurse](#):
>
> I thought bolding another poster name was a simple sign of respect. Some one told me that when I was a baby poster.
Name bolding also makes it easier to follow subdiscussions in long posts and threads.
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### Author:  [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/24 "2004-11-28T05:16:58Z")
The correct internet manner would be to only bold the **'s**. Followed by alot of 111111 and RAWKS! Really, I thought this was common knowledge.
If I may ask the English Nazi’s here, my **burning question**
Which is correct?
Jane and _I_ are going to the movies?
or
Jane and _me_ are going to the movies?
Commence teasing me…3…2…
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### Author:  [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/25 "2004-11-28T05:28:25Z")
The first one.
When in doubt, make the sentence singular, i.e. _I am going to the movies_ vs. _Me am going to the movies_, and it should be more clear.
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### Author:  [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/26 "2004-11-28T05:56:06Z")
> [@ava](#):
>
> I don’t care if people capitalize my name or not. I wrote lower case because I think it looks purdier that way.
You can call me whatever you want. Just don’t call me late for dinner. Yuk, yuk, yuk. (Ducks fruit and vegetables thrown onto the stage.)
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### Author:  [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/27 "2004-11-28T06:26:30Z")
I thought that changing any part of another persons post was a **[no no.**
Leave the missspiellings alone. Bold certain parts if you must but make an attribution about it.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/28 "2004-11-28T06:34:12Z")
> [@phouka](#):
>
> For uncapitalized proper nouns, like e e cummings…
[Cut that out](http://www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/caps.htm).
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### Author:  [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/29 "2004-11-28T06:49:31Z")
Well, I too once heard that it was common to bold a Doper’s name not only in respect, but to differentiate it _as_ a Doper’s name.
Once or twice, in my wee days just after unlurking, I made the mistake of saying Lumpy’s name in vain. However, I was referring to Lumpy, my sister’s (now ‘ex’, thank Og)-boyfriend, and not **Lumpy** the Doper.
But I can think of one particular instance where capitalization might help. He swear’s he’s **lno** , and not **Ino**. It seems the poor guy keeps getting quoted as **Ino** , but he’s not **Ino** , he’s **lno** [sub]Have I beaten this to death yet?[/sub]
But I’m amazed at the interest in this thread. All because I was sitting around in my skivvies with a cup of coffee. 😃
Tripler
Hell, whaddya know. . . What do you think I’m wearing right now? :smack:
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/30 "2004-11-28T07:50:33Z")
> [@picunurse](#):
>
> I thought bolding another poster name was a simple sign of respect. Some one told me that when I was a baby poster.
I’m obviously in the vast minority here but bolding dopernames tends to irk me, especially when the same name is bolded multiple times in a single post. _Every once in awhile_ it will somehow feel appropriate to me and I’ll do it, but more often than not it seems like an ego circle-jerk to me.
“Hey **doperx** , I was just thinking about you **doperx** and I just wanted to know how you got so **doperx** you big fuzzy **doperx** , you!”
Ugh.
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### Author:  [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/31 "2004-11-28T08:02:23Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> I’m obviously in the vast minority here but bolding dopernames tends to irk me, especially when the same name is bolded multiple times in a single post. _Every once in awhile_ it will somehow feel appropriate to me and I’ll do it, but more often than not it seems like an ego circle-jerk to me.
So my previous post to yours is driving you up the wall? 😃
Sorry. It was a lame attempt at written comedy. As my thread title states, I am _NOT_ an English major. . .
Tripler
Gimme a break man, I’m an engineer.
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### Author:  [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/32 "2004-11-28T16:54:28Z")
> [@Aesiron](#):
>
> I use the same method as most in this thread do although now I’m curious about something: for those that don’t like their names capitalized or otherwise changed, how do you feel about shortenings? If **Ultrafilter** and **Iampunha** bothers you so much, what about \*\*ultra \*\*and **punha**?
Doesn’t bother me, but it might make it tough to pick out that it’s my name and not something else.
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### Author:  [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/33 "2004-11-28T18:10:40Z")
> [@phouka](#):
>
> Common nouns are capitalized at the beginning of a sentence, so if a user name is a common noun (like mine), then by all means, do so.
>
> For uncapitalized proper nouns, like e e cummings, I believe the answer is to leave it uncapitalized in all instances.
But . . . how do I tell the difference between a “common noun” that isn’t common and a proper noun that isn’t capitalized?
There are a lot of posters whose user names are “clever” but non-obvious.
But the real answer to the question is do it however you feel like. Somebody is probably going to be annoyed, but somebody else will do it just the way you do.
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### Author:  [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/34 "2004-11-28T18:36:17Z")
> [@Tripler](#):
>
> Well, here goes:
>
> I’m sitting here after a shower in my knickers
Washing machine on the fritz? Or is this just a personal preference?
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### Author:  [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/35 "2004-11-28T19:02:15Z")
> [@Clothahump](#):
>
> Washing machine on the fritz? Or is this just a personal preference?
Give him a break man, he’s an engineer, not an English major. 😉
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/36 "2004-11-28T20:16:11Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#):
>
> Or a [capital](http://www.bartleby.com/64/C003/056.html) letter, even… ;j
>
> Well, the word “well” isn’t normally capitalized, but it is when it begins a sentence. Thus, I don’t think it’s incorrect to type “ **Ultrafilter** disagrees”, but I also believe in calling a person what he/she wishes to be called. So I generally take the approach you do and find a way to begin the sentence with a more “neutral” word.
>
> As you may have noticed, I not only made direct reference to your confusion of _capital_ and _capitol_, but subsequently corrected the spelling of “capitalize” in quoting your post. Since fighting ignorance\* is one of the aims of this board, I’ve made similar “edits” in quoting other messages. Do any other Dopers (or should that be **Dopers**?) have opinions, pro or con, on this practice?
>
> - Yes, I realize that the poster’s error may have been a mere typo, but other readers can still benefit from seeing the correct spelling.
I did make those mistakes and if you feel a need to correct them go ahead. I am not ashamed by making a common spelling error.
However the ‘As you may have noticed’ part is insulting. I can plainly see the hyperlink and the editor’s marks you added to my quote. Do you think I’m blind? Probably not so that leads me to the conclusion that you think I’m stupid. Pointing out that I may be so stupid to not notice how much smarter, or rather, more careful about spelling you are than myself, to me is insulting.
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### Author:  [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/37 "2004-11-28T22:30:34Z")
> [@David Simmons](#):
>
> You can call me whatever you want. Just don’t call me late for dinner. Yuk, yuk, yuk. (Ducks fruit and vegetables thrown onto the stage.)
OMG you are a dork. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/38 "2004-11-29T03:58:20Z")
> [@Tripler](#):
>
> Once or twice, in my wee days just after unlurking, I made the mistake of saying Lumpy’s name in vain. However, I was referring to Lumpy, my sister’s (now ‘ex’, thank Og)-boyfriend, and not **Lumpy** the Doper.
There is a poster who calls himself **ThatGuy**. Since well over a year ago, when **JoeyHemlock** (I think it was him) told me to stop calling my ex-SO/father of my son my “baby daddy”, I’ve been calling him That Guy. So if anyone sees a post or something in which I call That Guy an ass, or whatever, just know I’m not talking about **ThatGuy** the Doper. 😛
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### Author:  [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2004, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/39 "2004-11-29T12:02:00Z")
> [@David Simmons](#):
>
> You can call me whatever you want. Just don’t call me late for dinner. Yuk, yuk, yuk. (Ducks fruit and vegetables thrown onto the stage.)
Why would anyone throw a duck onto a stage?
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### Author:  [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-question-about-posting-etiquette-i-am-not-an-english-major/276894/40 "2004-11-29T12:53:19Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#):
>
> Why would anyone throw a duck onto a stage?
People could throw a ducks onto a stage to show **David Simmons** that his joke quacked em up.
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