# Is a Member allowed to register the name of a famous person as their Member name? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 15, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015 "2019-05-15T18:26:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/21 "2019-05-16T18:42:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And once the claim is out there, the facts dont matter. If that’s your starting point, then what’s stopping anyone from just saying that Barack Obama posted on a message board that all Christians should be drawn and quartered? The existence of a post under that username would just be a (really shitty) supporting fact, and who cares about those, amirite? \*_Not the Shout guy. The 80s one, not the Isley brothers, but I’m not them either._ ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/22 "2019-05-16T18:42:21Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > From the registration agreement: > > There’s no bright line rule on what kind of name would trigger this provision. In the past, I think a name something like, ‘fuckthemods’ was disallowed. Similarly for names that were part of some kind of spam or advertising. Based on what criteria should the name in question be disallowed? > > There is no George Bush (41 or 43), but we also have [Bill Clinton](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php). [Ronald regan](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php), and [Ronald Raygun](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php). No Jimmy Carter, but there is [John Carter of Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) (that’s a stretch). Honorable mention to [Wesley Clark.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) > > Lots of people pick names or derivations of names of well known figures. That’s not enough to disallow a name. Dunno what Jimmy Carter has to do with the (multiple) fictional characters named John Carter (the Mars guy or the ER guy). Besides, how do you know someone using a name of a celeb isn’t themselves also named that IRL? I know a few people that have the same name as famous people (or what name the famous person goes by, not always their actual name). Not likely with, say Barak Obama, but I’m sure there are many other people out there named Bill Clinton other than the former president (whose given name isn’t really that either! he got the name Clinton from his step-father). We don’t want people having to post birth certificates to post under certain names, do we? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/23 "2019-05-16T20:07:49Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > If that’s your starting point, then what’s stopping anyone from just saying that Barack Obama posted on a message board that all Christians should be drawn and quartered? The existence of a post under that username would just be a (really shitty) supporting fact, and who cares about those, amirite? > > … Because some dont know the difference between a twitter account and a message board. Trump twits all day, and people quote his twits. It wouldn’t seem strange to say “Barack Obama posted this today: ‘_Christians should be drawn and quartered_’”. And here’s the point, if it simply didnt happen, that’s one thing, but if indeed our BO did say "_Christians should be drawn and quartered"_ then you can link to that, and then that much is True. And what benefit is there to this MB if we allow this? None. ---
**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:** [May 16, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/24 "2019-05-16T20:18:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Because some dont know the difference between a twitter account and a message board. Trump twits all day, and people quote his twits. It wouldn’t seem strange to say “Barack Obama posted this today: ‘_Christians should be drawn and quartered_’”. > > And here’s the point, if it simply didnt happen, that’s one thing, but if indeed our BO did say "_Christians should be drawn and quartered"_ then you can link to that, and then that much is True. > > And what benefit is there to this MB if we allow this? None. It has been allowed for years-can you point to any problems that have come up so far? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/25 "2019-05-16T20:19:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It has been allowed for years-can you point to any problems that have come up so far? can you point to any _benefits_ that have come up so far? ---
**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:** [May 16, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/26 "2019-05-16T20:22:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > can you point to any _benefits_ that have come up so far? The exact same benefits that exist because you named yourself **DrDeth** and I named myself **Czarcasm**. ---
**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:** [May 16, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/27 "2019-05-16T20:27:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And here’s the point, if it simply didnt happen, that’s one thing, but if indeed our BO did say "_Christians should be drawn and quartered"_ then you can link to that, and then that much is True. People quote The Onion in serious debates and even news articles. It’s pointless to try to regulate usernames on a message board. If anyone here ever actively impersonates a famous individual then I’d worry about that specific user. But sarcastic use of a famous name is a non-issue. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/28 "2019-05-16T20:50:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > can you point to any _benefits_ that have come up so far? I think we should err on the side of allowing things rather than not, if all else is equal. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/29 "2019-05-16T21:09:34Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > From the registration agreement: > > There’s no bright line rule on what kind of name would trigger this provision. In the past, I think a name something like, ‘fuckthemods’ was disallowed. Similarly for names that were part of some kind of spam or advertising. Based on what criteria should the name in question be disallowed? > > There is no George Bush (41 or 43), but we also have [Bill Clinton](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php). [Ronald regan](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php), and [Ronald Raygun](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php). No Jimmy Carter, but there is [John Carter of Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) (that’s a stretch). Honorable mention to [Wesley Clark.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php) > > Lots of people pick names or derivations of names of well known figures. That’s not enough to disallow a name. I don’t mind derivations, just actual names. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/30 "2019-05-16T21:10:19Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I don’t mind derivations, just actual names. Sure, derivations can even be a little funny. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/31 "2019-05-16T21:55:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And **Jim Butcher** , if you’re reading this, when can we expect the next Dresden Files book? I’m eager to see more of a certain character, after a certain major change in that character’s life at the end of _Skin Game_. I actually got a chance to ask him when _Peace Talks_ is coming out face-to-face a couple months ago. He equivocated, I gathered he has several things in his own life he needs to get a handle on WHILE trying to finish the book AND, as he darkly muttered, “manage the brand”. Also darkly muttered about the business of being a writer taking time away from _actually writing_. Also found out a _bit_ more than has been made widely public about the book but, um… spoilers. _ **Jim, finish the damn book already!** _ But, seriously - I’d rather wait a bit and have a GOOD book than have an author rush and produce crap. So I keep repeating to myself. Grrrr… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/32 "2019-05-16T22:49:02Z")
Isn’t the stuff that takes away time from actually writing supposed to be done by an agent? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015/33 "2019-05-16T23:28:16Z")
I did not ask for details. I suppose it is possible one of the problems might have been an inadequate agent, or perhaps taking on too much himself. Or something else. It was not a prolonged conversation and I was not interested into prying into Mr. Butcher’s issues. I will point out that an agent can not make a personal appearance for the author, and being at a SF Con was basically what Mr. Butcher was doing at the time. Perhaps he has overscheduled. I don’t know. Basically, I thanked him for many entertaining hours and asked if the next book was coming out soon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-member-allowed-to-register-the-name-of-a-famous-person-as-their-member-name/834015.md?page=1)