# Should I change my username? (And do you like these ideas?)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 10, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049 "2004-12-10T01:39:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/1 "2004-12-10T01:39:14Z")
Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=290572), I’m thinking maybe I could use a more interesting user name. I didn’t put any thought into my current name, it’s just my name plus the first three digits of my favorite number, pi. (Yeah, I’m a dork.)
Anyway, I’d kind of like to have a name with a bit more je ne sais quoi. On the other hand, I kind of hope that at least a few people on here are starting to get a sense of who I am, what kinds of posts you can expect from me, etc. A new name seems like it would sort of destroy any identity I’ve created for myself. On the other hand (yes, I have three hands), I suspect most people on here would say “ **tim314** – who the hell is that?” so it probably doesn’t matter.
Anyway, I don’t want to use a name someone else comes up with, because what’s the point of having a clever name if not to show off your own cleverness? But here are the ones I thought of for the other thread. Please let me know if you like any of them.
(Also, I didn’t check to see if any of them are taken – If I’ve inadvertently stolen your name, I apologize.)
**superstring cheese
4good||4awesome
^^vv\<\>\<\>BAstart
[symbol]p[/symbol]rate captain
I Pit E, the fool!
mmmfreegoo
I voted for Kodos
the 1st rule of fnord club
sporklift
NoMagentaMonopoles?
flipped-out hippo**
Explanations and some pros and cons:
**superstring cheese** : Superstring theory is a popular theory in physics. string cheese is a tasty snack. A nice thing about this name is it tells you a bit about me – I really do like physics and cheese. However, I know basically nothing about string theory, and I’m certainly not a string theorist. So maybe it misrepresents me. On the other hand, I am a physics student, and I could potentially end up being a string theorist someday.
**4good||4awesome** : most of you know [homestarrunner.com](http://homestarrunner.com), a site which features funny original cartoons. This is a reference to one of the “strongbad emails” on that site, in which Strongbad replies to an e-mail by asking if the writer is “some kind of robot”, “and if so, what powers do you have, and do you use them for good or for awesome?” || is the “or” operator in C++ and several other programming languages. Advantages of this name: I like [homestarrunner.com](http://homestarrunner.com) (although I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan), it’s formatted in a distinctive way, it’s a joke that a lot of people on this site would get.
**^^vv\<\>\<\>BAstart** : This is the konami code: up up down down left right left right B A Start. It was a code for lots of classic Nintendo games. Advantages: It’s visually distinctive. It’s a little tricky to figure out, but is a joke a lot of people would get. Disadvantages: I’m not really that into video games, so maybe it doesn’t represent me that well.
**[symbol]p[/symbol]rate captain**: I can think of various other ways to work the symbol [symbol]p[/symbol] (i.e., pi) into words, but this is one example. Advantages: I like pi (3.14159265358979…), pirates are funny
**I Pit E, the fool!** : It’s what Mr. T. says: “I Pity the fool!” I don’t really know how well this works as a username. It’s something I wanted to use for a joke thread in the Pit, except joke threads aren’t allowed in the Pit.
**mmmfreegoo** : Simpsons reference. Because goo is funny, and eating goo is funnier.
**I voted for Kodos** : Simpsons reference. From the 1996 election episode – probably my favorite episode. Kang (an alien) is elected President and enslaves humanity. Homer says, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.” Who was of course also an alien who wanted to enslave the world.
**the 1st rule of fnord club** : a reference to [fnord](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord), and also to the movie Fight Club, the first rule of which is “Do not talk about Fight Club.” Fight Club is one of my favorite movies. I have no particular attachment to the word fnord, but it is something I first heard about from this site.
**sporklift** like a forklift with sporks. Because sporks are funny. Alternatively, I could use **sporklift driver** – although, for the record, I have never driven a forklift _or_ a sporklift
**NoMagentaMonopoles?** : a reference to magnetic monopoles, something which physicists have searched for but never detected, and which (so far as I know) probably don’t exist (unlike, say, the selectron, which has never been detected and probably _does_ exist). For some reason, I changed magnetic to magenta. Advantages: it reflects my interest in physics, and I find it kind of funny. Disadvantages: I’m not sure the joke makes any sense – “magenta” monopoles?? It’s not even pronounced like magnetic (wrong kind of g).
**flipped-out hippo** : A reference to [www.realultimatepower.net](http://www.realultimatepower.net), a funny website about how cool ninjas are, because they like to “flip out and kill people.” If you search the site, you can find a page where it paradies itself by talking (in almost the exact same words) about how cool hippos are, because they flip out and eat people. Advantages: A lot of people on this site would probably get it, and even if they don’t, hippos are inherently funny (because of the large mouths, I think.)
OK, so those are my thoughts, what are yours? Should I change my name? Do you think any of these would be good choices? Do you have any suggestions for how to choose a good username (again, I don’t want actual username suggestions – I’d prefer something I thought of myself. But feel free to use other names as examples of what you think makes a good username.)
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### Author:  [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/2 "2004-12-10T01:55:38Z")
If you ever pit me, you can title the thread “I Pit E, the fool!” Then it won’t be a joke.
Of course, I’m staying on my best behavior. Would it be better if I insulted your choices of username?
E.
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### Author:  [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/3 "2004-12-10T02:07:00Z")
I don’t really like any of them except **sporklift**. The homestarrunner one and the Konami code are nice semi-obscure references, but I don’t like special characters in names. I especially think the Konami one would be hard to type out, if someone wanted to address you in a thread. Be prepared for people to call you “bastart.”
I’ve been wondering if the 314 in your name was a reference to pi. Now I know. 🙂 Maybe just put a decimal point in that, to make it more distinctive? Or change your name to have a direct pi reference, like **three point fourteen**?
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### Author:  [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/4 "2004-12-10T02:16:04Z")
Of course, you could just use the first however-many digits of Pi as your name, with no letters at all (unless SDMB won’t accept that as a name).
Other than that, I’m not too enamored of the choices you put forth. (But then, I’m not too enamored of my own name these days, either!) 🙂
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/5 "2004-12-10T02:23:45Z")
I like **sporklift** too. Or you could just go with **Yeah, I’m a Dork**. 😃
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/6 "2004-12-10T02:27:16Z")
No, wait! **When Come Back, Bring Pi**. :D:D:D
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### Author:  [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/7 "2004-12-10T02:38:45Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#):
>
> I like **sporklift** too. Or you could just go with **Yeah, I’m a Dork**. 😃
Hmm . . . and here I was thinking the best potential username I used in a parenthetical comment in the OP was “yes, I have three hands”
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### Author:  [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/8 "2004-12-10T03:06:20Z")
> [@tim314](#):
>
> Hmm . . . and here I was thinking the best potential username I used in a parenthetical comment in the OP was “yes, I have three hands”
Either one’s good, because **Also, I didn’t check to see if any of them are taken – If I’ve inadvertently stolen your name, I apologize** is unique and to the point, but a tad wordy.
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### Author:  [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/9 "2004-12-10T03:45:24Z")
**sporklift** is definitely my favorite. \*\*4good| |4awesome \*\* is pretty sweet, but special characters are kinda hard to type - I had to look at find the | button.
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### Author:  [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/10 "2004-12-10T03:48:40Z")
**Thirty-One Four Or Fight!**
Darnit, it’d be better if pi was 31.40.
I find names with special characters kind of annoying sometimes ( **DeepFried** gets a pass since his is so artistic), and **I Voted for Kodos** …well, I had never even heard the phrase before this election, and it’s been so played out in the past couple months that I’m sick of it already.
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### Author:  [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/11 "2004-12-10T03:49:42Z")
I like **superstring cheese** but don’t care for any of the rest, especially the ones using special characters. They’re a bitch to type out and you’re an Ent Doper so I don’t want to have to give myself carpal tunnel to reply to one of your points.
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### Author:  [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/12 "2004-12-10T03:50:51Z")
> [@tim314](#):
>
> I don’t want to use a name someone else comes up with, because what’s the point of having a clever name if not to show off your own cleverness?
Bravo for your honesty and common sense. Thredas that ask people to think up name for their kids or their online handle invariably end up as a complete waste of time, with the person choosing what they wanted all along.
Looking at your proposals, I think you should stick with what you’ve already got. That’s what people are familiar with.
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/13 "2004-12-10T04:25:29Z")
**Superstring Cheese** is a good one.
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### Author:  [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/14 "2004-12-10T04:36:23Z")
**superstring cheese** (mmm, cheesy) or **sporklift** are the best ones.
Wow, a lot of people seem to be changing their usernames lately.
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### Author:  [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/15 "2004-12-10T08:51:03Z")
Yeah, the wusses.
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### Author:  [@Theodore\_Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore_Striker)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/16 "2004-12-10T16:03:42Z")
have to go with **superstring cheese** , but only because I have an aggressive interest in SS theory. **Sporklift** is good, but for some reason I like \*\*sporklift driver \*\* better.
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### Author:  [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/17 "2004-12-10T16:47:12Z")
\*\*Superstring Cheese \*\* or **Sporklift** , if you must change. Truth to tell, they don’t do much for me, but at least they avoid special characters and “in” cultural references. Believe it or not, a lot of folks here won’t get Simpsons or gaming references.
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### Author:  [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2004, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/18 "2004-12-11T11:48:53Z")
I think **mmmfreegoo** is the best one out of the list.
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### Author:  [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/19 "2004-12-11T21:37:35Z")
> [@AngelicGemma](#):
>
> I think **mmmfreegoo** is the best one out of the list.
I was scrolling all the way through the list thinking that I could be uniqe. Could be the first one to vote for **mmmfreegoo**. But nooo. now I’m just a wanna-be copying **AngelicGemma**. Sigh. I wish _I_ had magic angel powers too.
Special characters just remnd me of the morons who think they are cool using L337 sp33k on gaming boards. (That’s “leet speek” from “elite speak” as in “I is an L337 gamer.”)
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### Author:  [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username-and-do-you-like-these-ideas/279049/20 "2004-12-11T23:09:50Z")
Another vote for **superstring cheese**. Not only am I a cheese (in any variety nut) but I looooove Silly String. What a great combination! Edible, wearable and play-with-able.
I usually agree with others about special characters. Again, **deepfried** withstanding.
**I Pit E, the fool!** – Hey! Is this aimed at me? 😛
I like **mmmfreegoo** too. And think that both **I voted for Kodos** and \*\*
the 1st rule of fnord club\*\* are especially clever.
**flipped-out hippo** is just cute. But then, every once in a while, I can appreciate that sorta thing. Maybe that’s why I really liked **Death to Smoochy**. Sick adorable. Ultimately, my favorite lies with the play on “The first rule…” quip. Although I do see ties to Ed here. Yum, incredi-actor Mr. Norton. 😃
::: pant :::
What? 😉
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