# IMPORTANT! If your user name has a space in it or a non-alphanumeric character READ THIS **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 12, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560 "2020-06-12T20:15:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/101 "2020-06-14T14:31:56Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > I imagine my username doesn’t come across well, does it? Lightnin You lose the apostrophe, that’s it ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/102 "2020-06-15T10:12:05Z")
I’d really rather not have my username be **ASL\_v2\_0** or **ASLv20** or however the hell it ports. Honestly, I’d rather not even have my username be **ASL v2.0** as it is now. Could I just be… **ASL** ? Is that doable? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/103 "2020-06-15T10:30:14Z")
So if we have to change our passwords for Discourse, how do we log in to Discourse to change our passwords? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/104 "2020-06-15T11:03:53Z")
When you first try to login, you’ll be prompted to change your password. That’s why they’re trying to make sure everyone has a correct email in their user info for the process. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/105 "2020-06-15T13:21:05Z")
If Earl Snake-Hips Tucker comes across wonky or truncated, I’d prefer Earl\_SnakeHips\_Tucker. If that’s too long, then just SnakeHipsTucker. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/106 "2020-06-15T13:30:21Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > If Earl Snake-Hips Tucker comes across wonky or truncated, I’d prefer Earl\_SnakeHips\_Tucker. If that’s too long, then just SnakeHipsTucker. Yours comes across as Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/107 "2020-06-15T13:36:13Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Yours comes across as Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker That’s cool. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/108 "2020-06-15T13:36:54Z")
**TO ALL THE PEOPLE GIVING ME NAME CHANGES:** The Dev team has asked that I belay all those changes until after we’re live on the new site. I can assist with email addresses if you can’t get in to fix that yourself and I can assist with resetting passwords if you need that to get in, but for the time being I’m not doing any name changes. Jenny your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/109 "2020-06-15T13:38:15Z")
Thank you for being so thorough! Your hard work and thoughtfulness are appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/110 "2020-06-15T13:42:38Z")
Roger. ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/111 "2020-06-15T19:20:53Z")
The issue with spaces might explain why I got shut out twice recently. OK, now what? Do I wait until the system automatically puts an underscore in my handle or should I resolve this manually? I tried to edit my profile and there does not seem to be a renaming option. However, if the system does this automatically, I’ll let it. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/112 "2020-06-15T20:27:33Z")
Is there a target date for the changeover? I ask because I am not one of those people who read their email every 3 hours. More like every 3 days. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/113 "2020-06-15T20:30:41Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Is there a target date for the changeover? I ask because I am not one of those people who read their email every 3 hours. More like every 3 days. > [@Tuba](#): > > The tentative go date to move to Discourse is Thursday June 18. From [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/announcement.php?f=2). ---
**Author:** ![Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skinnybones_lampshade/32/2872_2.png) [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skinnybones_Lampshade)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/114 "2020-06-16T03:42:10Z")
Then I guess that Skinnybones Lampshade is way too long? It was the only thing I ever said that made my mother laugh. Could I become Skinnyshade? If so, how would I have to do it? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/115 "2020-06-16T03:50:16Z")
> [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](#): > > Then I guess that Skinnybones Lampshade is way too long? It was the only thing I ever said that made my mother laugh. Could I become Skinnyshade? If so, how would I have to do it? Thanks! Doesn’t that sound too close to “Slim Shady”? ---
**Author:** ![Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skinnybones_lampshade/32/2872_2.png) [@Skinnybones\_Lampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skinnybones_Lampshade)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/116 "2020-06-16T04:03:29Z")
☹ I didn’t think of that. I just was hoping for something close to the name I’ve always had. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/117 "2020-06-17T14:11:43Z")
This sucks. Computers should do what people want, not the other way around. So I would be **Elendil\_s\_Heir**? If I can’t keep my current username just as is, my next-best option would be **Elendils\_Heir** , please. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/118 "2020-06-17T14:24:00Z")
So my user name will become Wendell\_Wagner, right? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/119 "2020-06-17T16:42:03Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > In this case, can you soften those password rules to not require the special characters? I prefer to use weak passwords for internet forums and such because I couldn’t care less if those accounts get hacked. I use strong passwords for things that matter… Same. I like easy passwords that are easy to type for low-security items like “logging into a chat site”. In the extremely unlikely event that someone broke into my account on a chat site, I would contact the admin and ask them to fix the problem. And then I’d apologize to anyone the intruder insulted. And… I think that would take care of it, really. I actually had someone impersonate me maliciously on a chat site once (complicated story, nothing to do with passwords) and the other users figured it out before I’d logged in to notice. And once I did, it got fixed as soon as the admin had time to do it. And no harm was done, except I suppose the admin spent a little time dealing with it. the person who did it caused a lot of other problems, too. It wasn’t a random drive-by thing. It was a disgruntled poster looking for ways to cause problems. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560/120 "2020-06-17T16:54:41Z")
This doesn’t worry those of us who are still using their username from a 90’s DOS based BBS (he said, smugly) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-if-your-user-name-has-a-space-in-it-or-a-non-alphanumeric-character-read-this/855560.md?page=7)