# Let's Ban Users With Long UserNames!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [February 18, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326 "2000-02-18T23:05:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chicksan\_Line](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@Chicksan\_Line](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicksan_Line)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326/1 "2000-02-18T23:05:00Z")

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I’m sick of it.

I’m tired of seeing “Mike\_who\_loves\_mathematics,” or whatever the hell name he has, ruining threads by pushing the relevant text too far to the right.

Bastards!

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326/2 "2000-02-18T23:09:00Z")

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Could easily be accomplished by (a) limiting total name length or (b) allowing a name to be as long as they currently can (255 characters?) but requiring a space after a maximum of, say, every ten characters (allowing for Arnold von Winkelreid, or perhaps The Peyote Coyote might change his name to The Psilocybe Armadillo).

Hmmm…this may be the first thread to be kicked out of the Pit into About This Message Board! 😃

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**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326/3 "2000-02-18T23:29:00Z")

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I think I may be safe on this one… 🙂

* * *

“I’m the best there is Fats. Even if you beat me, I’m still the best.”  
(Paul Newman in The Hustler)

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**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326/4 "2000-02-19T02:31:00Z")

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And pray what of Imthecowgodmoo? What should he switch to? Elsie?

No, some things are best left alone.

Veb

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**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326/5 "2000-02-19T13:31:00Z")

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just to be contrary, I am now…

Azazelputschrelevantmistermurgatroyddanifer

…Naaaah, why bother?

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**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326/6 "2000-02-19T14:57:00Z")

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I think this is gonna need to be a case-by-case basis, the ruling relying heavily on the _Don’t be an asshole_ clause in the TOS agreement.

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**Author:** ![mikan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mikan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikan)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ban-users-with-long-usernames/4326/7 "2000-02-19T16:30:00Z")

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No, a fixed rule is needed.  
I say ban everyone with a username longer than 5 letters.