One of my duties here is to process name changes. Let’s talk about how this works.
Names have power, and so we have always wanted you to be thoughtful about how you present yourself. Some screen names have become greatly beloved over time and we hope you never change.
But for some people their first choice was not a good fit. Or they came in with something attached to some situation in their lives and that situation has changed. Like getting a tattoo with your SOs name … and then they’re not your SO anymore.
We understand. Now, names shouldn’t be as changeable as last year’s fashions, so again, be thoughtful, because we’re not going to do this multiple times for you.
Should also point out that you can’t use a name change to detach yourself from anything you might have said in the past; it just means from now on everything you said shows up under your new name. It will take a little while to be dispersed on the internets and it won’t change where you were quoted here or where stuff is archived elsewhere.
Here’s what to do:
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Send an email to tubadiva@aol.com from the same email address you used to register to The Straight Dope. We will not accept name changes in posts or PMs. This is to help ensure this request is really coming from you and not, say, your cubicle mate seeing your unattended device and deciding it would be hil-arious to do something to you while you’re out getting coffee. Been there, done that.
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Tell me your name now and what you want your new name to be.
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We do accept most names but there are limits and we reserve the right to ask you to make another choice if your first one is unavailable or inappropriate. Keep in mind we have close to 198,000 names currently registered. We do not recycle user names.
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If all is good, I’ll do it.
Thanks.
