# My selfish rant... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848 "2001-06-06T22:19:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BBB\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@BBB\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BBB_1)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/1 "2001-06-06T22:19:12Z")
I started posting on this board with a the single lettered user name, **B** …Then I get and email saying that in it’s simplistic eligance it stimies the search mechanism and if I wouldn’t ,ind would I please pick another… I replied, yes I do mind. I have been going by the nickname B for almost 15 years, it is easy to remember and I like it. I know of someone on another UBB that uses a single letter for their username and had no problem… I don’t recall when I registered that a certain amount of letters were required for a username… I come on today and they changed my user name to Bwjc31…aaarrgg!! Thanks for letting me vent. **B** ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/2 "2001-06-06T22:29:55Z")
Welcome to the board. We don’t use UBB, but vB. And if you really _do_ mind to cooperate with this simple request, there’s no one keeping you here. Thanks for being such a good sport. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/3 "2001-06-06T23:12:19Z")
A lot of posters have petitioned for name changes. If I were you I’d think about emailing an administrator and requesting a name you do want, maybe “I Am B” or “Letter B” or something along those lines. Sooner or later, if you stick around and obey the rules, everybody will just call you “B” anyway. _God-damn, I’m diplomatic. I ought to be a moderator!!_ Or, take **Coldfire** ’s advice and hit the road. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/4 "2001-06-06T23:29:03Z")
“Pardon me, sir, but would you mind too terribly taking off your black-soled boots in the restaurant? I’m sorry, but they make marks on our hardwood. We can offer you your choice of slippers you may wear while you’re with us.” “Yes, I mind! I love these boots, they’re comfortable, and I won’t take them off. Besides, a friend of mine eats at another restaurant, and _his_ shoes have never marked the floors.” “Fair enough. Guido! Jim-Jim! Kindly remove the gentleman’s shoes. And put these loafers on him. If he still wishes to order dinner, please show him to his table.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/5 "2001-06-07T00:23:32Z")
::sternly:: Jack, stop fishing for a compliment. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/6 "2001-06-07T03:54:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*A lot of posters have petitioned for name changes. > If I were you I’d think about emailing an administrator and requesting a name you do want, maybe “I Am B” or “Letter B” or something along those lines. Sooner or later, if you stick around and obey the rules, everybody will just call you “B” anyway. > > _God-damn, I’m diplomatic. I ought to be a moderator!!_ > > Or, take **Coldfire** ’s advice and hit the road. \*\* “I am B” won’t work. The search engine needs at least three consecutive alphanumeric digits to work with. I don’t remember how it was with UBB, but I do know that with THIS search engine, we need at least three digits in a row. I check new registrations periodically, for this and other problems. I’m sorry that you find this rule so burdensome, but I thought that my letter made it clear that you had a choice of changing your name or not using this message board. I’d like to note, too, that this is one of THE largest message boards around, and we have to have certain rules in order for it to work. That’s one of them. We haven’t put it in the registration because people rarely choose such a short name. Lynn Bodoni Administrator For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/7 "2001-06-07T04:49:33Z")
Just out of curiosity, what exactly happens if you pick a name with less than 3 consecutive characters? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/8 "2001-06-07T05:25:35Z")
If you search for a user name with less than three consecutive alphanumeric digits, you get this: > [@](#): > > Please specify either some search words or a username to search by. Aside: **andros** Member Registered: Sep 1999 Posts: 0 Very odd. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/9 "2001-06-07T07:38:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mikahw \* > \*\*Just out of curiosity, what exactly happens if you pick a name with less than 3 consecutive characters? \*\* You get a note from me, asking you what you’d like it changed to. OH, you mean what happens on the board? It messes up the search engine, and we all know that the search engine is flaky enough as it is. Lynn ---
**Author:** ![BBB\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@BBB\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BBB_1)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/10 "2001-06-07T11:27:38Z")
Since I cannot use my intial choice for a user name and I do not like the one chosen for me, how do I change to one I like? Thanks, B 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/11 "2001-06-07T11:39:02Z")
E mail Tubadiva. She’ll change it for you. If I recall, her E Mail address is [tubadiva@aol.com](mailto:tubadiva@aol.com). If you do change, be creative. Names like Dave (my real name) are soooo boring. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/12 "2001-06-07T16:40:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cajun Man \* > \*\*\Aside: > > andros > Member > > Registered: Sep 1999 > Posts: 0 > > Very odd. > \*\* I was wondering that myself. Maybe **Andros** is like the UBER-NEWBIE - never gets any post count no matter how long he’s been around posting. 😃 (Hey **B** , maybe you could use “BEE” as your username.) ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/13 "2001-06-07T16:47:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > > Or, take Coldfire’s advice and hit the road. Man. This just struck me as funny. I’m still laughing, minutes after reading it. Jack Batty…you’re a miracle. 🙂 jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/14 "2001-06-07T17:08:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\*“I am B” won’t work. The search engine needs at least three consecutive alphanumeric digits to work with. I don’t remember how it was with UBB, but I do know that with THIS search engine, we need at least three digits in a row. \*\* But if one does a search with the name in quotes as a string, wouldn’t that work? For the heck of it, I typed “pa” (with the quote marks), and the resulting message said there was no user by that name. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/15 "2001-06-07T20:07:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > > But if one does a search with the name in quotes as a string, wouldn’t that work? For the heck of it, I typed “pa” (with the quote marks), and the resulting message said there was no user by that name. I believe the search engine considers the quotation mark as a character, therefore “pa” would be considered a 4 character string. I was wondering about **Andros** myself, 'cause I remember him from way back. Maybe he was a baaaad boy? ---
**Author:** ![BBB\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@BBB\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BBB_1)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/16 "2001-06-07T21:00:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Or, take Coldfire’s advice and hit the road. Damn Jack Batty, why would I want to leave a place filled with cold blooded, cynical bastards like myself 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/17 "2001-06-07T21:17:20Z")
I wasn’t really suggesting anybody actually leave. I just wanted to crack **jarbabyj** up, ya know, being the miracle that I am and all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/18 "2001-06-07T22:34:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe Andros is like the UBER-NEWBIE - never gets any post count no matter how long he’s been around posting. Oh, now _that_ would be cool! ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/19 "2001-06-07T23:51:32Z")
If quotation marks count, maybe you can be **“B”**. Or **The Poster Formerly Known as B** - what’s the length limit on usernames? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848/20 "2001-06-08T03:29:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ENugent \* > \*\*If quotation marks count, maybe you can be **“B”**. Or **The Poster Formerly Known as B** - what’s the length limit on usernames? \*\* When I first signed up I tried to enter **Bewitched, Bothered & Bemildewed** as my username and it wouldn’t take that, so I think there must be _some_ limit. Either that, or the system is programmed to reject really bad jokes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-rant/67848.md?page=2)