# If someone hasn't posted for a while can I have their username? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 22, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381 "2002-12-22T14:22:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/1 "2002-12-22T14:22:15Z")
When I signed up both Silent and Goldfish were taken as usernames. Hence the one I’ve got now. I’ve never seen Goldfish post, or seen anything come up in searches for that username. Could it be considered retired, and can I change my name to it or is that frowned on? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/2 "2002-12-22T15:40:31Z")
No you cannot have an old username. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/3 "2002-12-22T15:58:06Z")
Fair enough. Thanks. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/4 "2002-12-22T23:56:40Z")
You can still have **Atomic Badger Racing**. Going cheap. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/5 "2002-12-23T00:02:04Z")
Well, I agree with Arnold pretty much, but I’d add that we can be bought. If the name is really way way out of use, and if the price is sufficiently inducive. ---
**Author:** ![RedDevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@RedDevil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedDevil)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/6 "2002-12-23T02:38:45Z")
I’ve now got the whole scenario in my head. **Silentgoldfish** frets for months about asking this question; sometimes he thinks “hey! Why should they say no?”, mostly it keeps him awake for nights. Finally he plucks up the courage to ask and **Arnold** sends him to bed with no supper. > [@](#): > > Fair enough, Thanks. I think this was said in that overly-bright tone where someone wants to give the impression that everything is okay, but really the bottom lip is trembling and they fling themselves on their bed wailing that “life’s not fair!” **Mangetout** ’s suggestion was poptastic and I’m really interested to know what **C K Dexter Haven** ’s bribe-level is. Or…I’m reading way too much into this and I should be in bed. 😉 Seriously, **Silentgoldfish** is a far, far better username than boring old **Goldfish**. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/7 "2002-12-23T04:43:33Z")
Run Silent, Run…well, I guess _deep_ isn’t really the right word to use for a goldfish. Don’t they live in ponds, mostly? (When they’e not living in aquariums I mean.) Run Silent, Run Shallow! ---
**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:** [December 23, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/8 "2002-12-23T05:33:46Z")
**Cheddargoldfish** sounds pretty good! ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/9 "2002-12-23T07:09:47Z")
I was thinking maybe **S. Goldy**. Then I could write bad music and get hos. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2002, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/10 "2002-12-23T10:42:38Z")
**Cyborg Goldfish**? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/11 "2002-12-23T10:56:08Z")
Or **S. Go** and be a ho. (Hey! That rhymes!) ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/12 "2002-12-23T11:48:56Z")
Or get a car and be **S. Car Go**. I slay me. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/13 "2002-12-23T12:51:12Z")
**ViolentGoldfish** would be good too, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/14 "2002-12-23T13:57:03Z")
Violent Goldfish would be confused with Violet Gold fish, which would be unfair to people who are colour-blind. ---
**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:** [December 23, 2002, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/15 "2002-12-23T15:06:00Z")
What colour would a violet goldfish be; gold? violet? both? Perhaps **StealthGoldfish** then… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/16 "2002-12-23T18:45:51Z")
Invisible Pink Goldfish? ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/17 "2002-12-23T19:02:22Z")
How about **pezpunk’s love monkey**? I’ve always thought that would be a superb username. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/18 "2002-12-23T22:24:55Z")
I dunno why people can’t just use their own names. Taking a made-up name, or a name of some fictional character, seems kinda shady to me. What have they got to hide? ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/19 "2002-12-23T22:33:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > \*\*I dunno why people can’t just use their own names. Taking a made-up name, or a name of some fictional character, seems kinda shady to me. What have they got to hide? \*\* You’ve seen some of the questions that get asked… 🙂 ---
**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:** [December 23, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381/20 "2002-12-23T22:38:12Z")
Oooh. **SilentGoldfish** hasn’t posted for a almost ten minutes. Can I have his name? 😃 Zev Steinhardt [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-hasnt-posted-for-a-while-can-i-have-their-username/144381.md?page=2)