# Should I change my username? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242 "2004-12-05T18:15:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/1 "2004-12-05T18:15:34Z")
I’ll admit that I like **zweisamkeit** , but honestly, the SDMB is the only place I use it. My instant messenger names are variations on “shadows on the sun” (my Neopets account follows this as well). On Livejournal and various other messageboards I’ve been on, I go by “hotaru” or “h0taru” (if the first is taken) and that seems to be my “online name” that most know me by. “zweisamkeit”, while neat, also seems to be a bit of a hindrance in terms of remembering me. It’s a rather long and weird name and I could see people just thinking, “that z-weird name person”. So, what are people’s opinions? ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/2 "2004-12-05T19:14:29Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > “zweisamkeit”, while neat, also seems to be a bit of a hindrance in terms of remembering me. It’s a rather long and weird name and I could see people just thinking, “that z-weird name person”. You nailed it. Mind explaining the reference (or at least the reason) while you’re at it? Something German perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/3 "2004-12-06T00:46:53Z")
Well, it’s your name, and if you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters. If you want something a little easier to remember, or something that stands out a little better, then, yeah, change it. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/4 "2004-12-06T01:17:10Z")
zugswang? zweishenzug? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/5 "2004-12-06T09:48:17Z")
Schadenfreude? Weltschmerz? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/6 "2004-12-06T14:11:00Z")
Heh heh. I’m not married to the German username; I was thinking of changing it to hotaru/h0taru. “zweisamkeit” is something I got from Rammstein: [http://herzeleid.com/en/lyrics/herzeleid#herzeleid](http://herzeleid.com/en/lyrics/herzeleid#herzeleid) “Einsamkeit” means loneliness (alone in ones, basically), so zweisamkeit is kind of a pun (alone in twos/pairs). I love German (though I need someone I can actually _talk_ to in German around here; I’m rapidly losing my abilities :() ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/7 "2004-12-06T17:48:16Z")
We get threads like this now and then, and the OP never takes my advice. This time will be different. Here’s my advice: (a)Keep the old name. (b)Change it. (c)Don’t use any name I suggested. Ha! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/8 "2004-12-07T01:57:29Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > You nailed it. > > Mind explaining the reference (or at least the reason) while you’re at it? Something German perhaps? I agree with that I-weird name person. Relax, I kid. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/9 "2004-12-07T02:05:28Z")
I actually hate my username and regret having chosen it. It’s an annoying nickname given to me by an annoying bunch of people for an annoying reason. But Man, you bring up changing usernames, and it’s like the mods are glaring at you with fiery beams of annoyance, boring right through the screen at you, causing you to squirm like an ant under a magnifying glass. OK, maybe it’s not that bad, but it sure seems frowned upon, and I have it from the Highest Authorities that you can only do it once. So choose well. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/10 "2004-12-07T11:20:29Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > I actually hate my username and regret having chosen it. It’s an annoying nickname given to me by an annoying bunch of people for an annoying reason. But Man, you bring up changing usernames, and it’s like the mods are glaring at you with fiery beams of annoyance, boring right through the screen at you, causing you to squirm like an ant under a magnifying glass. OK, maybe it’s not that bad, but it sure seems frowned upon, and I have it from the Highest Authorities that you can only do it once. So choose well. Not my experience - I had to change my username quite recently {for somewhat messy reasons I won’t go into}, and **Lynn** was completely cool and understanding about it {Thanks again, **Lynn** }: that said, I can see that vanity changes could get annoying to The Powers That Be - I honestly don’t think it matters that much what your username is - this isn’t {or shouldn’t be, numerous MPSIMS threads on who has the “coolest” name notwithstanding} high-school; I think the content of your posts matters way more than your name - if you have something intelligent or witty to contribute, you’ll make your mark: if you don’t, it doesn’t matter what you call yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/11 "2004-12-07T16:47:01Z")
I always liked your name a whole lot. It’s clever. Then again, I’ve studied a bit of German. I vote not to change it. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-change-my-username/278242/12 "2004-12-07T17:42:19Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Not my experience - I had to change my username quite recently {for somewhat messy reasons I won’t go into}, and **Lynn** was completely cool and understanding about it {Thanks again, **Lynn** }: that said, I can see that vanity changes could get annoying to The Powers That Be - I honestly don’t think it matters that much what your username is - this isn’t {or shouldn’t be, numerous MPSIMS threads on who has the “coolest” name notwithstanding} high-school; I think the content of your posts matters way more than your name - if you have something intelligent or witty to contribute, you’ll make your mark: if you don’t, it doesn’t matter what you call yourself. Well, in your case, you actually have a good reason to change. In my case the reason is “Waaaaah, I did something stupid, and now I wanna take it back!” 😉