# Poll: Should I change my screenname? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235 "2003-09-23T03:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 23, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/1 "2003-09-23T03:10:47Z")
This has been bugging me for a while. I identify as a member of the United States Air Force, and I always will. I worked hard to get where I am now. I’ve been in combat, I’ll soon be a decorated combat veteran (as soon as my Air Medal comes through), and I remain a member of the Air National Guard in good standing, ready to go for the next war. However, I will be demobilizing at the end of the year, and as a result will cease being active duty. That, my friends, will be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life. I found a job and people that I love, and I’ll be told to pack it up and get a job, except for my 4 times a month flying and once a month UTAs. So, I want, nay, NEED to know. Would any of you have any objections to me keeping my screenname the same, under the circumstances? It’s important for me to be up-front about this, since it might change the way some of you look at my words and opinions. Some people don’t think that the Guard is Air Force, that we’re just playing at airmen. I need to know what the prevailing opinion is from you guys. Needless to say, I find this to be extremely important. So, tell me what you think. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/2 "2003-09-23T03:26:16Z")
Well I was in the Air Force, probably before you were born, and still consider myself “an Airman”. Keep the name. It’s the only YOU we know. /Signed/ AF14701724. Yeah, that was back before they used Social Security numbers! ---
**Author:** ![peritrochoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peritrochoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peritrochoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/3 "2003-09-23T03:42:54Z")
Keep it! Regretfully, I’ve never had the pleasure to have served in the Air Force (or any branch of the services), but I say once an Airman, always an Airman. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/4 "2003-09-23T03:49:16Z")
Yeah, keep it. It doesn’t matter if you make a few changes in your life. I been using the same name for 56 plus years. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/5 "2003-09-23T04:16:12Z")
Good grief, **Airman** , ::checks the OP, notices again the phrase "decorated combat veteran ":: keep the name! ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/6 "2003-09-23T04:30:43Z")
Absolutely you should keep that name! I served in the 82nd Airborne and in the 3/75th quite some time ago (wow - thinking back I’ve been out 11 years) in peacetime and in war. I haven’t touched a weapon or run an obstacle course in over a decade, but I’ll be an Airborne Ranger 'til the day I die. You earned that screen name! Wear it with pride. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/7 "2003-09-23T04:30:43Z")
Absolutely you should keep that name! I served in the 82nd Airborne and in the 3/75th quite some time ago (wow - thinking back I’ve been out 11 years) in peacetime and in war. I haven’t touched a weapon or run an obstacle course in over a decade, but I’ll be an Airborne Ranger 'til the day I die. You earned that screen name! Wear it with pride. ---
**Author:** ![Publius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Publius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Publius)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/8 "2003-09-23T04:34:08Z")
My heartfelt thanks for your service to our country, **Airman**. I’ve never been in the military (I’m too young, actually), but I think you should keep the name. If you don’t mind me asking, what did you fly, and how’d you get the Air Medal? ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/9 "2003-09-23T06:00:00Z")
As a fellow service member who has made the transition from active military service to the Reserves and currently the National Guard (and a decorated combat veteran to boot), I see no reason why you’d need to change the name. However, were I a new user I might easily make the mistake that you were on active duty based on the USAF in your screen name, not that this would lessen or change my opinion of your military aptitude. The MOST you might want to do (if anything), is to simply become **Airman Doors**. That way all the bases are covered no matter your service status. Since I’ve been out of the active military for going on 10 years, my knowledge of the way things are currently working there is fading. Any knowledge I spew out now is mostly based on how things work in my particular state militia, though we are still regulated by federal policies and doctrine. It’s still a far cry from eating, sleeping, and breathing the military life every day. SGT Horseflesh, KSARNG ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/10 "2003-09-23T07:21:24Z")
Can you add retired at the end ? **Airman Doors, USAF (ret)** ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/11 "2003-09-23T08:28:33Z")
How would we know you if you dropped the Airman, **Airman**? Keep it! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/12 "2003-09-23T09:40:33Z")
Now, if you were DEPORTED, then I think the “USAF” part would need to be clipped. So, you know, uh, don’t get deported! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/13 "2003-09-23T10:14:50Z")
Your username should be an accurate reflection of you as a person. Signed: **spooje** 😃 Oh, hell, keep it! ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/14 "2003-09-23T13:05:07Z")
If the screen name of one of the better liked and more respected posters is put back on the free agent pile, you don’t know what sort of dickhead might pick it up and sully your well earned reputation. Keep it, and be proud of it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/15 "2003-09-23T15:50:26Z")
Hey, it’s yours. You earned it. And specially, it refers to “a job and people [you] love”, one that you will still be formally linked to for 4 to 6 more years at least. Like **Horseflesh** said, you could drop the USAF tag if you found it cumbersome or potentially misleading. Who do you see in the mirror? “Joe Doors, regular schmo”, or “Airman Doors”? (Of course, if the Missus has a better idea, go with it. Always. You don’t have to live with _us_ 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/16 "2003-09-23T16:05:21Z")
Crap. **JRD** beat me to the, “It’s better than Civilian Dave” tag. I say don’t change it just because nobody will remember who you are if you do. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/17 "2003-09-23T16:51:02Z")
Keep it! You earned it. Maybe do as they say and drop the USAF, cuz we’ll all know anyways… -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/18 "2003-09-23T17:05:34Z")
Ditto dropping the USAF, but I think it’s unanimous! Keep Airman. BTW, ask me sometime how Mr. Moto is a Navy nickname. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/19 "2003-09-23T17:10:26Z")
Hmmm…B930806 checking in here, also combat veteran. I was a Navy E-7 (Seabees). Perhaps I should change my name to **Chiefguy**? Nah, I like to cook more than I like to fight. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235/20 "2003-09-23T17:11:10Z")
“Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia.” -C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. You could do a lot worse than emulating CS Lewis (relatively speaking, of course:)). [sub]Keep it … just keep it![/sub] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-i-change-my-screenname/203235.md?page=2)