Should I change my username?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Due to certain events of the last few days, I have been wondering off and on to myself whether it would be a good idea to change my username. Mainly, I’m afraid that the cause of all the trouble will continue to monitor what I am doing through this board. That probably will not happen, but I’ve heard worse, so I’m choosing to be careful, if not actually paranoid. I’m not even sure whether I should or not, so please help me decide.

Pros:

[ul]
[li]I get to post under a new identity.[/li][li]People will make up more nicknames for me.[/li][li]Just in case I’m being monitored, this will hopefully foil it.[/li][li]I get to confuse people. (yes, I’m evil like that sometimes)[/li][li]It’ll be another piece of trivia for the eventual “What were the former usernames of these people?” trivia thread.[/li][/ul]
Cons:

[ul]
[li]Tuba already has enough to do without changing my useername, as well.[/li][li]Even if I do change my username, if the person decides to monitor me, he could easily do so by looking at my post count and figuring out that I was Flamsterette_X in a previous incarnation. (especially if people slip up on the boards and call me that! :eek:)[/li][li]Maybe I’m being too paranoid, and making a mountain out of a molehill, as a friend told me the other night.[/li][li]People might get confused. (too much confusion = bad mojo)[/li][li]I’ve only been here for four months, and I’m changing my username already?!? I should really make up my mind! (even though this is not really on a capricious whim or anything)[/li][li]I’ll have to remember to change my sig accordingly.[/li][/ul]
I think I’ll let this thread go for at least a couple of days before I decide whether to email Tuba and petition her for a change of username. And if I do change my username, you can bet I’ll tell certain people who have already requested to be told about it if it happens. :wink: Just because I want most of this stuff taken to email doesn’t mean I don’t want any replies in this thread! :stuck_out_tongue:

So what do you think? Please state your reasons as to whether I should, or shouldn’t. For obvious reasons, I’m not posting what I think I should change my username to. If you have any suggestions, you can email me. Sure, you could post them, but if the person sees this thread and makes the connection, then I’m screwed, aren’t I? (or maybe I’m being too paranoid) Bring it on, then! (as they say)

Oh, and if I do change my username, those of you who are used to calling me variants of Flamsterette_X in chat and IM can continue to do so. I’m almost sure that’s safe from monitoring. (I hope… tell me if I’m wrong)

No, this is not a thinly disguised ploy to get me more email. I have more than enough, thank you very much. It’s just that, right now, I think taking it to email would be the best course of action.

F_X

2

Others have changed their username without a lot of undue confusion. But in those cases, it’s been a very public process. I’m assuming that for personal reasons, you’d make the switch without telling anyone.

One day Flamsterette_X is here, and the next day not here, never to be heard from again.

Everyone would wonder where you went of course, until some enterprising poster figured it out (and you know they would eventually, even if you had Tuba allow you to retire completely and re-register with a new name and a zero post count, because there is no one as prolific as you. You can run but you can’t hide).

Then the cat would be out of the bag. You can count on the fact that someone would indeed let it slip that poster anonymous used to be poster Flamsterette_X. Then the whole purpose of sneaking around would be defeated.

Unless your “stalker” is not very diligent, or you change your posting patterns, I don’t see how changing your username will accomplish anything.

Either way, I wish you the best, whomever you end up being.

3

I don’t think changing your username will make a great deal of difference. If the person already knows your posting style that combined with the frequency of your posts will mean that they just find you out again under the new username.

4

If you change it I won’t try to remember what your new nick is because there are too many
names here already that I can’t remember, much less new changes :slight_smile:

Besides, I like your name. Not that I would ask your out for dinner or something because of it…

5

No. Unless you let me pick your new name. :wink:

6

Algernon, I’m not sure that I would change my posting pattern or anything, even. So I guess that’s out the window. Of course, I’m not sure that they guy would decide to monitor me through the SDMB.

I’ve been here for enough time to figure out that there is always somebody who will figure out everything. And I’ve definitely been here long enough for me to know that slips do occur.

As for everyone wondering where I went, I’m not too sure that would happen. (or at least, I wouldn’t expect to see a “Where did Flamsterette_X go?” thread for a few days) Then again, maybe it’s my low self-esteem kicking in… never mind me. Yes, I know people care about me, but whether they REALLY do is another question entirely.

leechbabe, that is probably very true. I’m not that sure I’m unduly worried, but you never know. It would take a disaster of catastrophic dimensions to get me to change my posting frequency (especially with this working mouse and keyboard!), and a lot of time to change my style. (I tried that for English class a couple of times… it was kind of hard to do so)

handy: you’re right in that there are a lot of names here to remember, and a bunch of changes and stuff happening as well. If you won’t bother to remember what the new one is (if there is a new one, mind you), I won’t be too discomfited. Of course, you might wonder where I was.

You like my name? Well, thank you for saying that. I know it’s not a “I like your screen name… can we go out for dinner?” thing… so don’t worry!

kat, email me! (unless you already have… I haven’t checked my email for hours, since before I posted this thread)

Hey, I like these responses. Keep them coming! :slight_smile:

F_X

7

My whole gig on screen names:

I like short, easy to remember, easy to spell names. Why, like mine for example. :smiley:

FOr folks who have longer names, I almost inevitably shorten it up to one/two letters or one/two syllables. And spelling it right is always a gamble - I keep my browser set at the highest resolution, so the type face is huge, and even so, can mix up lower case a’s e’s and o’s pretty easily. and, typically can’t see up far enough to read some ones screen name.

So, if I were responding to you in a thread, I’d likely say "Flamster" or even “F-X” , or ‘Flamey’ even.

But that’s just me. :smiley:

8

X?

To echo several previous respondents, your posting frequency and style are such that you’re not going to throw anyone off your trail by changing your nick.

Now I just realized tonight that I’d always read the first syllable of your username as “Flame” although I guess it could be read as “Flam.”

9

What do you mean when you talk about being “monitored”? I confused. Must have missed a something or two.

10

She has another post about some guy who’s been sending her creepy emails, and apparently, he checks the boards sometimes.

If this guy checks up on the boards, then it’s quite possible he’s read this post and knows you’re going to change your name. Once that’s established, it probably won’t take more than a simple glance through the boards to figure out who used to be Flamsterrete-X.

So no, don’t change your name. It’s a good name. Well, don’t change it if this person is the reason. If you want a new name, go for it. Otherwise, to change it in order to avoid someone, you’re wasting your time, because even if they don’t use the board, they’ll find some other way to keep pestering you.

Might I suggest a molotov coctail? It suits your name, and should get them to leave you alone REAL fast.

11

They wont let you change to a name of 1 or 2 letters. Tuba told me that. Although you can join with that many, yet it’s humbug since you can’t search for your name (to find a thread you posted too).

But I do think 4 to 6 is the ideal amount of letters.

Even if you change you name any threads you may have started will still list your original name on the search page. So they would only have to click on that to open the thread and see your original name. If you do a thread title search for “thread haunted” with the last 2 years you’
ll find one started by Brother Rat, that was me. But if you open it you’ll find my new name, Osiris.

If this is a serious problem you could talk with Tuba and see about retiring this account and opening a new one with 0 post count. Of course like other sais, style and amount should still give you away.

C’est la vie.

12

Flamsterette_X, since your asking for opinions here, I don’t think you should change your name. Every time I see you on the boards I know it will always be a nice post from a nice person, nothing entirely evil :D. I like your name and have since the first day I saw it. Of course it’s up to you, but I too would always wonder where the real Flamsterette_X went :).

13

I agree with the not throwing people off your trail with the name change. As for more nicknames, oh, I could think of tons of nicknames for you already. :smiley:

Frankly, I kind of like the username Flamsterette_X and variations thereof myself.

14

wring, I know people abbreviate names around here. I’ve seen it numerous times. But “Flamey”? First time someone’s ever called me THAT around here. Don’t worry, I won’t take it TOO personally should you ever attempt to spell the long version of my name and screw it up somehow.

Ringo: believe me, the first syllable of my name is supposed to be read as “Flam.” (read this for more information)

dantheman, El Elvis Rojo has it right. From what I could glean from the email before I got my brother to put it in my trash folder and delete it, the guy said he read my posts since I’d blocked his email and ICQ. Don’t know if he’ll do it in future, but you never know.

El Elvis Rojo, a Molotov cocktail? Just a bit too dangerous. But thanks for the idea… I might use it in future. :wink: (note to mods: this is not saying that I will use it on any person at all in the future… I am joking)

Osiris, I wouldn’t go to a name of less than four letters for the very reason you stated: I can’t do vanity searches! :stuck_out_tongue: Thanks for the insight on what it would mean if I did change my name and searching for old threads and stuff. I’m not sure that the problem is that serious to totally retire my account and start fresh.

dreamer. thanks for your opinion. I will definitely take that into consideration. :slight_smile:

Now I think I really ought to check my email. As of now, I have 27 messages waiting for me.

F_X

15

But…if you change your username, you can’t use my quote in your sig anymore. :frowning:

16

lel, I know you like the variations on my nickname. Heck, you call me by them every time we’re in chat, or on IM or something. Even on this board. (another reason not to change it: if he does read my posts under a new name, he’ll figure it out)

Res: then think of another quote! :smiley: And yeah, I kind of considered that, as well. (see “changing sig” reason in OP)

F_X

17

[hijack]

I must be wring’s worst enemy

[/hijack]

18

Well, it’s either you or youreeitherherbiographyoryou’renot. I don’t recall seeing any other really long usernames. (or maybe I have, but I forget)

F_X

19

why fred, how could you think such a thing? :smiley: (it’s kinda like a steak, I’m not likely to shove the whole t-bone into my mouth, I’ll cut it up into nice little bite sized pieces)

20

A guy’s been sending you creepy emails? But you have his email blocked, sooo… :slight_smile:

Plus you know you can hide your email address on here, right? At least you could.

But even so, maybe I’m missing the point. So someone reads your posts on here. At least you can stop him from emailing you by blocking the address. And if he gets another email address and keeps doing it, you can report him to his ISP. And if he’s a member here, you can report him to the admins.

Just seems a bit silly to change a name because some nutjob emails you.