# What's in a name? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 3, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245 "2006-01-03T16:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/21 "2006-01-03T18:43:54Z")
> [@parthenokinesis](#): > > Ah, sweet clarification. Thank you, **Q.E.D.** Please disregard my previous STFU. No problem. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/22 "2006-01-03T18:44:29Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > šŸ˜• > > You started THIS THREAD about them! I beg to differ. I **started** the thread about the _rule_, showing that particular gig as an **example** of said rule, stating specifically, that I had no particular beef w/the admonition as a violation of said rule, but that the **rule itself** was stoopid IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/23 "2006-01-03T18:47:26Z")
[QUOTE=wring I **started** the thread about the _rule_, showing that particular gig as an **example** [/QUOTE] Ahā€¦ never mind ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/24 "2006-01-03T18:52:54Z")
I hate Mondaysā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/25 "2006-01-03T18:58:27Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > I hate Mondaysā€¦ Except itā€™s Tuesday. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/26 "2006-01-03T19:01:39Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Ahā€¦ > > never mind no problem. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/27 "2006-01-03T19:02:57Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Except itā€™s Tuesday. šŸ˜ƒ [Donovan] It feels like a Sunday in some ways. [/Donovan] ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/28 "2006-01-03T19:03:27Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > \*::sigh:: > \* > > Itā€™s hard typing clearly with these straps and ropes holding me down. And it comes back to bondage, which is what kicked off the first Pit thread. Itā€™s the Circle of Lifeā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/29 "2006-01-03T19:29:03Z")
> [@wring](#): > > In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=352226&page=2), **Excalibre** gets an official mod warning w/comment about mods discussing posting future for him for calling **Q.E.D.** , ā€œ **G.E.D.** ā€. > > I know the rule. This rule really needs to be specifically defined. I was admonished by **tomndebb** for violating it in the BBQ Pit. I apologized. Later in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=336230) the issue comes up again. **TVeblen** has his to say, emphasis hers. > [@](#): > > The \*\*only \*\*circumstance that causes problems is when former screennames are used. The problem is causes for other posters, especially newer folks who arenā€™t savvy to name changes throughout the boardā€™s history and probably donā€™t care. Confused I was, so I emailed her for a clarification. This was her responseā€“ > [@](#): > > That rule, and the history behind it, was dissected in excruciating detail. The protocols pertaining to GD are probably much stricter than for the Pit though I donā€™t read there often enough to quote chapter and verse. I do remember warnings for using insulting nicknames there, e.g. Collunsbury calling milroyj ā€œMillyā€. That may be what Tom referred to, though it has not applied to the Pit. > > As for the Pit, the sole prohibition is against deliberately using a former screen name. It doesnā€™t matter why a poster may have changed names; we donā€™t police that beyond obvious obscenities, knockoffs of active posters, etc. The reasons behind the rule is prevent confusion among newbies (ā€œWho?ā€) and because the practice is usually used to rake up old squabbles. Old squabbles arenā€™t exactly encouraged because theyā€™re stale news and usually based on personalities. Posters can pursue long-standing grudges if they want to, as long as they at least start from a current screen name. > > It really isnā€™t all that complicated. If a behavior is worth Pitting, it should at least start with a current screen name. > > Veb Now clearly, she thinks **tomndebb** has warned me in GD, not the Pit. Her explanation of the rule could nbot be more clear, however. It only applies to former screen names. Excalibre did not violate the rule, and his warning, as well as mine, should be erased. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/30 "2006-01-03T19:44:06Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Her explanation of the rule could nbot be more clear, however. It only applies to former screen names. Excalibre did not violate the rule, and his warning, as well as mine, should be erased. Interesting. Thank you for unearthing this; I was not aware. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/31 "2006-01-03T19:52:49Z")
For the record, if anyone calls me any of the following names, Iā€™m OK with it: Smeg Smegster Smeggy Smegtastic Smegorama Smegalamadingdong ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/32 "2006-01-03T19:59:08Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > For the record, if anyone calls me any of the following names, Iā€™m OK with it: > > Smeg > Smegster > Smeggy > Smegtastic > Smegorama > Smegalamadingdong Iā€™ll get this memo right over to Rob Schneider. šŸ˜ƒ Seriously, I thought the name abuse prohibition was more encompassing, because it indicates a fundamental antagonism so deep that it makes further interaction useless. It says ā€œI donā€™t even respect you enough as a human being to call you by your chosen nameā€ which cuts to a whole different level that ā€˜Youā€™re a doodiehead and your ideas suck.ā€™ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/33 "2006-01-03T20:17:56Z")
What was that, Turtle-Man? Ow! Stop hitting me! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/34 "2006-01-03T20:42:10Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Seriously, I thought the name abuse prohibition was more encompassing, because it indicates a fundamental antagonism so deep that it makes further interaction useless. It says ā€œI donā€™t even respect you enough as a human being to call you by your chosen nameā€ which cuts to a whole different level that ā€˜Youā€™re a doodiehead and your ideas suck.ā€™ I disagree. Some one fucking w/my name (especially as is usually done, in some childish play on words type of way, which is the norm for such inanity) is, IMHO, behaving like a petulant 3 year old badly in need of a nap and a blankie. the fact that a poster is addressing comments to the other poster belies the ā€œfundemental antagonism so deep that it makes further interaction uselessā€ MHO. refusing to address some one by their (chosen) name certainly is rude, childish (in many cases) etc. but I canā€™t see it as more deeply cutting than the aforementioned ā€˜goat felchingā€™ etc. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/35 "2006-01-03T21:58:33Z")
[noob butts in] Excuse my ignorance, but, can somebody tell me what is so deeply offensive about ā€œG.E.Dā€? **Excalibre** claims that he was not intentionally insulting **Q.E.D.** by mis-spelling the username, and that it was in fact a typo. Now Iā€™m not sure about that given G and Qā€™s mutual non-proximity on the keyboard, _but_ I can easily imagine getting a letter wrong when typing a username which is entirely an acronym. If somebody could explain to me what obscene sexual practice ā€œG.E.Dā€ stands for, it would help me better understand why Excalibreā€™s posting privileges are being discussed by the moderators. Thanks [/nbi] ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/36 "2006-01-03T22:07:07Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > [noob butts in] > > Excuse my ignorance, but, can somebody tell me what is so deeply offensive about ā€œG.E.Dā€? **Excalibre** claims that he was not intentionally insulting **Q.E.D.** by mis-spelling the username, and that it was in fact a typo. Now Iā€™m not sure about that given G and Qā€™s mutual non-proximity on the keyboard, _but_ I can easily imagine getting a letter wrong when typing a username which is entirely an acronym. > > If somebody could explain to me what obscene sexual practice ā€œG.E.Dā€ stands for, it would help me better understand why Excalibreā€™s posting privileges are being discussed by the moderators. > > Thanks > > [/nbi] A G. E. D. is a test one can take if one fails to graduate from high-school, that is considered equivalent to getting a diploma. The implied insult is that **Q. E. D.** was too stupid to graduate from high-school. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/37 "2006-01-03T23:06:23Z")
Aha! Thankyou. :Thereā€™s no smiley with a lightbulb above the head, but if there was, it would be here: ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/38 "2006-01-04T00:52:37Z")
> [@parthenokinesis](#): > > A G. E. D. is a test one can take if one fails to graduate from high-school, that is considered equivalent to getting a diploma. The implied insult is that **Q. E. D.** was too stupid to graduate from high-school. Not to mention that a GED is equivalent to an 8th grade educational level. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/39 "2006-01-04T00:58:30Z")
> [@Xploder](#): > > Not to mention that a GED is equivalent to an 8th grade educational level. I always understood it is the equivalent of a high-school diploma. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245/40 "2006-01-04T01:00:39Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > I always understood it is the equivalent of a high-school diploma. Well sure, but youā€™re lucky if you even get close to an eighth grade level after 13 years of puplic schooling (K-12) ;j [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-a-name/338245.md?page=3)