# FYI: changing usernames to insult people in the Pit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910 "2006-01-07T18:22:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/21 "2006-01-09T06:11:17Z")
> [@imthjckaz](#): > > So, if I get your drift, someone could then Pit Lib and could refer to him as\*\* Liberaltarian\*\*? Sure, I don’t see why not. I wouldn’t make a hobby out of it or anything, but otherwise I think it’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/22 "2006-01-09T14:50:27Z")
Just a thought: isn’t changing someone’s name in order to Pit them akin to calling them names as was done, oh in 4th grade? It’s nice to have the clarification and all, but if you’re reduced to calling someone Longneck or Geoffrey or Ger’off instead of Giraffe–haven’t you already lost enough face? Just a thought. I see no reason to ban such behavior(not that you asked!), but IMO the use of it reflects more poorly on the user than the object of derision. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/23 "2006-01-09T16:53:58Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Just a thought: isn’t changing someone’s name in order to Pit them akin to calling them names as was done, oh in 4th grade? Since when has immaturity been a problem around here? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/24 "2006-01-09T17:01:38Z")
Hey **Giraffe** , there is still some confusion, per this post by **TVeblen** – > [@](#): > > The only circumstance that causes problems is when former screennames are used. The problem is causes for other posters, especially newer folks who aren’t savvy to name changes throughout the board’s history and probably don’t care. It seems that calling Liberal Liberaltarian comes might dang close to that prohibition. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/25 "2006-01-09T17:31:20Z")
FWIW, given his apparent wide knowledge base, calling **Q.E.D.** a less flattering “G.E.D.” was actually kind of funny. I have nothing against either poster, and I’m not saying that I thought the slight was intentional. I just got a chuckle out of it is all. It probably wouldn’t be so funny if it was used again, though, but it was more clever than calling him a dumbass or blowhard or something along those lines, if that was the original intent. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/26 "2006-01-09T17:36:52Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Hey **Giraffe** , there is still some confusion, per this post by **TVeblen** – > > > [@TVeblen](#): > > > > The only circumstance that causes problems is when former screennames are used. The problem is causes for other posters, especially newer folks who aren’t savvy to name changes throughout the board’s history and probably don’t care. I think that’s essentially what I wrote – refusing to acknowledge screenname changes or repeatedly using an old one just to piss someone is considered jerkish behavior. > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > It seems that calling Liberal Liberaltarian comes might dang close to that prohibition. What we’re really looking at is the pattern and motivation. If you’re in a heated political argument (in the Pit) and want to reference **Liberal** ’s libertarian leanings by calling him **Liberaltarian** , no problem. If you start calling him **Liberaltarian** every time you post in the Pit, even when you aren’t interacting with him or in threads he’s not posting to, that’s kind of jerkish/trollish and may be viewed negatively. If you’re ever unsure if a username mod is within the rules, I suggest using “assface” instead. Assface is always OK! ---
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/27 "2006-01-09T22:34:26Z")
gigglegiggle_FreezerBurn_gigglegiggle Though admittedly old school - still funny. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/28 "2006-01-09T22:44:21Z")
> [@coocookachoo](#): > > Just a thought: isn’t changing someone’s name in order to Pit them akin to calling them names as was done, oh in 4th grade? There are so many things I did in the 4th grade that remain fun, not just that one. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/29 "2006-01-09T22:51:19Z")
Maybe it’s just the annoying literalist in me, but when I saw this thread title and thought “Cool! Now I can finally change my username to **Fuck You Giraffe, You Fucking Fuck!** ” Not that I’d really want to do that, but it amuses me to think that I could. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/30 "2006-01-10T09:47:05Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > There are so many things I did in the 4th grade that remain fun, not just that one. > > Erek Such a shame that sticking your head in the blender wasn’t one of them. 😃 /gratuitous swipe ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/31 "2006-01-10T22:10:56Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Such a shame that sticking your head in the blender wasn’t one of them. The frog never seemed to like it so I figured I would take his advice. Erek ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/32 "2006-01-11T08:16:03Z")
**BURMA!** ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/33 "2006-01-13T06:12:57Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > **BURMA!** Watch it! They’ll send the Myanmarines after you! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/34 "2006-01-13T11:27:41Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Liberal Liberal Bo Biberal Banana Fana Fo Fiberal Fee Fi Fo Fiberal…LIBERAL! Should be “Fee Fi Fo Miberal” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/35 "2006-01-14T03:30:57Z")
_**Myanmar dictators should get a hint. Was the Myanmar Road the one cleared? Myanmarese cats can be found in print? Did we Myanmar-Shave our beard? Burma, durn it!**_ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/36 "2006-01-14T03:53:33Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > **BURMA!** Be Upstairs Ready My Angel? ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/37 "2006-01-15T22:04:24Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Watch it! They’ll send the Myanmarines after you! 😛 Wow, I didn’t expect the Myanmar Imposition! ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/38 "2006-01-15T22:07:30Z")
> [@Dijon Warlock](#): > > Wow, I didn’t expect the Myanmar Imposition! NOBODY expects…a big hug! ((((Dijon Warlock)))) Well, you didn’t expect it, did you! ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/39 "2006-01-15T22:09:56Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > NOBODY expects…a big hug! ((((Dijon Warlock)))) > > Well, you didn’t expect it, did you! No, I didn’t, but my nipples explode with delight! ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2006, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910/40 "2006-01-22T23:40:28Z")
Maybe we should see what **banhattan** thinks about this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-changing-usernames-to-insult-people-in-the-pit/338910.md?page=3)