# Stupid User Names **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775 "2001-01-06T23:51:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/101 "2001-01-12T19:50:22Z")
Not to nitpick here, barstow, but John was acutally replying to a legitimate question, not mounting a soapbox. You may accord this post whatever respect you feel it deserves; I don’t give a damn. ---
**Author:** ![barstow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90db22/32.png) [@barstow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barstow)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/102 "2001-01-12T20:07:34Z")
The usual answer to what is a sock is a single link. To say more is to invite a change of topic. That’s all I was saying. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/103 "2001-01-12T20:28:09Z")
Huh. Which link? I must admit that any time someone asked “what’s a troll?” or “what’s a sock?” I went ahead and gave the full answer. I must not be jaded enough yet. Anyways, I don’t want to hijack the scintilating conversation about what types of usernames suck and what doesn’t, so let’s not hijack this too much further. ---
**Author:** ![Silly\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Silly\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/104 "2001-01-12T21:10:28Z")
As **Sealemon88** said: _While I agree that ten is the way to go, what’s wrong with being silly?_ I like silly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![isopropyl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@isopropyl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isopropyl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/105 "2001-01-12T22:43:55Z")
Yes, silly names are fun. Everyone here has a silly name, (except Homer and SpiderWoman). Here I can be glamourous **isopropyl** , while at home I’m just plain old **Ms. Rubbing Alcohol** ---
**Author:** ![unnameable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ad7895/32.png) [@unnameable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unnameable)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/106 "2001-01-13T01:57:12Z")
On subject I may not have a name but at least it’s got ten letters Off subject “Sock” seems inappropriate because a sock is is a deadend, a cul-de-sack whereas I gather a sock usually does lead somewhere else? “Windsock” seems more appropriate as it’s a tube though it could be confused with winsock which means something else to those who know more than me “Oldsock” would do because (mine anyway) match the windsock in function. Not that I wish to continue the hijacking of this erudite thread. Even further off subject As a nervous newbie, I hereby reassure myself with a warm welcome. I’ll read it back later and feel relieved. ---
**Author:** ![FormerlyKnownAsBlank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@FormerlyKnownAsBlank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerlyKnownAsBlank)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/107 "2001-01-13T04:37:26Z")
Oldsock, oldscratch, sounds like a retirement home around here 😉 ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/108 "2001-01-13T04:48:16Z")
Personally, I think all wrong-thinking people are right. Actually, we should all have boring, bland, non-humorous user names. A stimulating or intriguing user name could distract a thread reader from the scintillating content of our posts. ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/109 "2001-01-13T16:32:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Sealemon88! Long time no sea! How ya been? Pretty good, thanks. I had taken a long vacation from the Internet to focus on the holidays and family. I knew that I could come back to these boards anytime, and everything would be the same an– **COLDFIRE’S A MODERATOR??** Fuck. Oh well. I’ve never seen a message board implode before. That should be good for some cheap entertainment. (Seriously, a very belated congrats to the Clogboy. Moderating seems to suit you) ---
**Author:** ![beakerxf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@beakerxf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beakerxf)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/110 "2001-01-13T19:53:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Pit and The Pendulum \* > I’m not seeing a problem in this area as UncleBeer. > Maybe I’m on a different browser? Can you check the thread below? I don’t know if it’s different browsers, but font size could be a cause. I never have a problem with long usernames unless I increase my font size. Oh, and I’ll be the first to admit that I have a stupid user name. People rarely ever get it right. I’ve been called beakerfx, beakerxt, etc. I just threw the last two letters on there because “Beaker” was already in use everywhere else. I wanted a name that was guaranteed to be available. Beaker ---
**Author:** ![AWOL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@AWOL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWOL)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/111 "2001-01-13T21:54:28Z")
No problem here either. Internet Explorer 5.5 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/112 "2001-01-15T20:05:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by oldscratch \* > \*\*Personally anything over 10 characters is excesive in length and somewhat silly. > > Anything under 10 characters isn’t nearly descriptive enough and is somewhat confusing. > > 😃 \*\* I agree TheMermaid 12345678910 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775/113 "2001-01-16T04:13:38Z")
10 letters is perfect! And, ideally it should give you a clue as to the user’s hobby (astronomy), gender, and have a mysterious and unexplained number at the end! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-user-names/48775.md?page=5)