Should I change my username? Whaddya think?

dan - I know what you mean, because it was the same for me: I picked a username pretty much on the spur of the moment so I could post, and three and a half years later, I’ve still got this greasepaint moustache. :wink:

A from-the-inside view: for me, at this point, to change my username would feel like I was going into the Witness Protection Program. This name and I have built up an identity of sorts - it’s how people know who I am in this corner of cyberspace. It would be a very strange thing to change, even if I liked my new name a lot better.

From the outside perspective, even simple name changes can be confusing. For instance, I think Stuffy is the former stuffinb, but I’m not 100% sure. (I keep meaning to ask.) And when it’s to a totally different name, I’m generally totally thrown. (I wish I could remember who Hello Again and Why A Duck were before they took on those names.)

So I’ll vote for “don’t change”. I feel like I’m getting to know who you are, at this point, and I don’t want to start over from scratch, which is what it always feels like when someone changes their name.

And thanks for including me in your sig! :slight_smile:

[Third time posting this - maybe this time I’ll remember to copy it for safekeeping …]

Thanks, Rufus T. I should point out that this thread really was just a lark; that is, I didn’t harbor any serious thoughts of changing the name. I was curious what people thought about it, and I’m glad to see the comments in this thread.

I think there’s a point when one has been here long enough to know the SDMB nuances (i.e., the in jokes, who is a respectable person, when and where to post, and so forth) but not so long that people instantly recognize one’s username. I feel that this point is the best time to change one’s name, as doing so won’t alienate too many people (since they don’t really know you).

Oh, and the sig: It’s a vanity thing. I thought it would be neat to include things people said to/about me, and the comments from you, Canty, and Medea’s were excellent. Thank you for the material!

How about DandytheMonkey?