# What short version of your username do you prefer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216 "2008-12-30T15:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/61 "2008-12-31T05:38:46Z")
People have used both \*\*Suburban \*\*and \*\*Plankton \*\*on occasion. I don’t mind either, but prefer **Plankton**. I think it’s slightly unsettling to be reduced to nothing but an adjective. **SP** is just fine, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/62 "2008-12-31T05:43:52Z")
I don’t particularly care what short forms people use. Funnily enough, people rarely shorten my username (I’ve seen lou or f’lou the odd time), and I don’t tend to get nicknames in real life, either. It must be my gravitas. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/63 "2008-12-31T05:48:40Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > \ > Apropos of abso-frakkin’-lutely nothing, but this constantly confuses me…there’s a completely different person on several other boards I’m on who has a username that also shortens to Rebo. :smack: Really? Hmm. People say I look like someone they know, too, but I’m not them. I have a doppelganger! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/64 "2008-12-31T06:43:59Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I like **olives,** and slightly prefer it to **olive**. ‘‘Olives’’ has significance in my social sphere. It means ‘‘I love you.’’ > > I’ve never had anyone attempt any nickname other than the ones above. They would have to be pretty creative to do so. I can be pretty freakin’ creative, marchy. Dolores Reborn, you are going to think I am not too bright, but I gotta ask. Were you serious about being called rebo. Cause that is delighting me for some unknown reason. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/65 "2008-12-31T07:01:08Z")
People are welcome to call me by whatever name floats their boats. js, jsg, goddess, odd, whatever. Or call me Julie, since that’s the one I have the most practice responding to! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Klutz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captain_klutz/32/4993_2.png) [@Captain\_Klutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Klutz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/66 "2008-12-31T10:24:55Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I don’t think anyone ever shortens mine! 😃 Why not? 😉 For me, I’ve seen Cap’n, CK and others, but I prefer the short, sharp, simple **Klutz**. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/67 "2008-12-31T12:05:11Z")
In my previous incarnation (but at another community), I must admit I was a bit surprised the first time my screen name was shortened to “Quix” (from “Quixotic”) for those of you with sigs turned off). Utterly obvious but somehow unexpected, and led to the even more obvious “Quix are for kids!” jibes. Pretty funny. I’ve since gone to a more accurate representation of my own name, as you can see. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/68 "2008-12-31T14:33:31Z")
Everyone can feel free to call me Sarah. I’m pretty sure it was Kalhoun who once called me The Feena, which kind of amused me. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/69 "2008-12-31T15:57:25Z")
I’ve got a choice? **Cal** seems to be pretty much of a given. Nobody’s ever shortened it to anything else. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/70 "2008-12-31T15:58:59Z")
To the extent that I am actually referenced, I don’t recall seeing my username shortened. Even \*\*WM \*\*doesn’t scan quite right. IRL, my friends that call me WordMan (there are a few, which is where I got it for a username) sometimes call me \*\*Word \*\*or **Verb** , short for “verbiage” as in “you talk too much, dude…” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/71 "2008-12-31T16:11:50Z")
Don’t really care one way or the other. **Elendil** and **EH** are the two most common nicknames I’ve been given here, and that’s fine with me. I’ve been mistaken for a gal more than once, though (in which case I’d be **Elendil’s Heiress** ). I thought my gender would be obvious but it isn’t for some. No biggy. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/72 "2008-12-31T16:36:26Z")
I’m glad this came up because I adore calling you people by nicknames. A username is just not nicknamie enough for me, I suppose. It seems too formal to use the whole thing, like I don’t know you or something! (I always want to call Elendil, there, “El” or even Ellen" for some crazy reason. :eek: 🆒) But to answer the question, nearly everyone will call me “Ellen” which is just lovely because it’s my actual name, after all. Anyone who wants to call me Lady Ellen de la Cerise Délicieuse is entirely welcome to, though. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/73 "2008-12-31T16:39:07Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I’m glad this came up because I adore calling you people by nicknames. A username is just not nicknamie enough for me, I suppose. It seems too formal to use the whole thing, like I don’t know you or something! (I always want to call Elendil, there, “El” or even Ellen" for some crazy reason. :eek: 🆒) > > But to answer the question, nearly everyone will call me “Ellen” which is just lovely because it’s my actual name, after all. Anyone who wants to call me Lady Ellen de la Cerise Délicieuse is entirely welcome to, though. 😛 Not only will I call you that, but it’s possible I’ll write a villanelle about you, just for the pleasure of rhyming “Cerise.” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/74 "2008-12-31T17:12:27Z")
I see What, What?, WhatExit or even WE? I don’t mind any of them and I never mind Jim, especially in a thread I am in as I have obviously invited people to use my real nickname by signing off as said. Actually **PRR** , \*\*QtM \*\*, \*\*ETF \*\*and **DtC** are a few nicknames I use regularly as they work well when I cannot just cut and paste it. I think I use Skald as often as **Skald the Rhymer**. I’ve occasionally used other abbreviations but I usually try to avoid them. I wonder why \*\*StR \*\*doesn’t feel right for **Skald**? **Eleanor of Aquitaine** , I always cut and paste your name. For some reason the \*\*EoA \*\*doesn’t seem right for you and I am fearful of misspelling your name. I just realized I always think of \*\*Least Original User Name Ever \*\*as LOUNE. I have butchered **eleanorigby** ’s name many times as I either add the extra R back in or use Elanor as in Elanor Gardner of Middle Earth. Jim (When I originally changed my user name, I had seriously thought it would include Jim. “Jersey Jim” was a strong possibility. I really like What Exit? though and I am forever thankful to \*\*Crotalus \*\*for suggesting it.) ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/75 "2008-12-31T18:10:03Z")
I’ve always enjoyed “fuckin’ dick”. I hear it much more in real life however. Much easier to be polite when you type your reply. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/76 "2008-12-31T18:12:08Z")
**Skaldie** , what a peach you are! C’est-que cest? J’Aime le fruit. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/77 "2008-12-31T18:14:20Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Jim (When I originally changed my user name, I had seriously thought it would include Jim. “Jersey Jim” was a strong possibility. I really like What Exit? though and I am forever thankful to \*\*Crotalus \*\*for suggesting it.) Refresh my memory: what was your former user name? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/78 "2008-12-31T18:18:16Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I just realized I always think of \*\*Least Original User Name Ever \*\*as LOUNE. Once you hang out with him for a while this nickname will make infinitely more sense than the username upon which it is based. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/79 "2008-12-31T18:22:28Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Refresh my memory: what was your former user name? PM’d over to you. > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Once you hang out with him for a while this nickname will make infinitely more sense than the username upon which it is based. 😉 I hung out with him just enough on the board that the loon homonym seems appropriate if used in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216/80 "2008-12-31T19:58:07Z")
I prefer **Geek** to my “initials”. I realized long after I came up with my username that the nickname “JAG-off” was waiting to happen. Sadly, I haven’t been anywhere near annoying enough to get flamed and have someone bother to call me that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-short-version-of-your-username-do-you-prefer/479216.md?page=5)