# What a rigamarole!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-rigamarole/389>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 15, 1999, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-rigamarole/389 "1999-05-15T20:06:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 1999, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-rigamarole/389/1 "1999-05-15T20:06:00Z")

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This is about the most complex registration process I’ve ever come across for any forum, and I’ve participated in quite a few. What’s the point? What the heck is an “ICQ” number, and why did you need to ask for mine? Why couldn’t I set my own password? And why are they case-sensitive?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 1999, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-rigamarole/389/2 "1999-05-15T20:51:00Z")

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You can change your password by clicking on the “pefs” link. You should have gotten an e-mail explaining it. I did.

The ICQ number is just like having your e-mail adress listed . . . it’s so if people want to talk to you privately, they can track you down on ICQ.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 1999, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-rigamarole/389/3 "1999-05-15T20:54:00Z")

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Sorry! I meant the “prefs” link. You can change all of your info.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 1999, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-rigamarole/389/4 "1999-05-17T06:30:00Z")

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What’s so complicated? It took me all of 15 seconds (after I spent three weeks deciding on a user name).

And Lissa-- You explained that an ICQ number is to identify you on ICQ. Well and good. But what the heck is ICQ???

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 1999, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-rigamarole/389/5 "1999-05-17T06:47:00Z")

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Alan;

ICQ is a free internet relay chat program which also has some other functions available to it. You can get more information and a free download from [http://www.mirabilis.com](http://www.mirabilis.com) .

Gxis revido!  
-Cxip