# Why do people sign their posts on internet forums, when their s/n is already visible? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 25, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137 "2014-12-25T04:05:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/21 "2014-12-29T07:53:59Z")
Although, it could be worse. There’s a forum that I used to frequent for a brief while, until it was taken over by gremlins and teenagers. They have it set up so that the signature field is not only impossible to turn off, but visually without any separation from the actual content of the post. Obviously, that doesn’t stop people from putting all kinds of crap in there. So I’ll be reading “…and that’s why Bergman is the greatest director in the history of cinema. I like cookies!” And I’m thinking, that’s some interesting points you’re making there, but what’s with the cookies? And I’ll spend an hour trying to figure out the symbolic significance of cookies in the oevre of Bergman. Then, later, I’ll see a few more contributions by the same poster, and I’ll notice that they end every single post by declaring how much they like cookies. Right. It’s the freaking sig field. I guess that’s why I keep coming back to the SDMB, in spite of its minor annoyances. Because on the outside lies barbarism. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/22 "2014-12-29T11:01:53Z")
A signature was useful in the days when folks had personal web pages, live journals, and the like and wanted to promote traffic to those sites. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/23 "2014-12-30T03:01:31Z")
I personally think it’s incredibly annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/24 "2014-12-30T04:02:39Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I personally think it’s incredibly annoying. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/25 "2014-12-30T04:19:32Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > I can understand why he would sign his name after a post, but others (who remain nameless) do it even on one-liner posts which just seems tedious and pretentious. What’s tedious or pretentious about it? I don’t always sign sign my posts but I often do because that’s how I was taught to end a letter. I also hit the space bar twice between the period at the end of a sentence and the beginning of a new one which I’m told isn’t necessary these days either. Your Loyal Servant, Odesio ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/26 "2014-12-30T04:29:15Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Look, people, sign your posts all you want. All I ask of you is that you do it in the signature field. That way, those of us who are annoyed by the practice can turn visible sigs off, so we don’t have to see them, and those who don’t care can leave it on. Win-win. > > Isn’t that what the signature field is for in the first place? Or am I just totally not getting it (again)? Is there some reason behind some posters’ apparent unwillingness to use it? I don’t mean to be impolite but I don’t know how else to delicately put it; I don’t really care if some people are annoyed by the practice. The people who are annoyed by the practice seem to be an insignificant minority. Putting a signature at the end of a post is so innocuous a practice that I can’t quite fathom how it could possibly annoy anyone in the slightest. We’re not talking about something not atrocious spelling, poor grammar, or typing in call capital letters which makes reading a post difficult. We’re talking about a name at the end of a post. But we all have our pet peeves I suppose. As for the signature field, I don’t use it because I don’t have any desire to use it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/27 "2014-12-30T04:36:32Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > There was a time when real Internet access and use required a bit acumen, an honest sharing of ideas and friendly debate, professionalism and respect. Perhaps some yearn for those good old days. I don’t! Edited to not add my sig because I can’t do that when editing. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/28 "2014-12-30T04:39:12Z")
Ah, there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/29 "2014-12-30T04:46:39Z")
I used to sign all of my posts because it felt like writing a letter to me. I felt like it was more personal. I stopped doing it because I saw all the uproar about it, but I sort of like it. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/30 "2014-12-30T06:48:21Z")
Look, I once was firmly entrenched in the _“It kinda disrupts the flow of the conversation”_ camp, but now I’ve changed sides to the \*“I really don’t have a right to tell others how to format their posts” \*group. I mean, I’ve never seen Shodan start a thread telling everyone else to sign their posts. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/31 "2014-12-30T07:26:09Z")
You guys are REALLY making me want to start signing my posts again. Those of you who like it are making me want to do it because I agree with you, and those of you who \*dislike \*it are making me want to do it because it will piss you the fuck off…Regards, TRM ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/32 "2014-12-30T08:59:17Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > You guys are REALLY making me want to start signing my posts again. Those of you who like it are making me want to do it because I agree with you, and those of you who \*dislike \*it are making me want to do it because it will piss you the fuck off…Regards, TRM Well, if your goal is to piss people off, then I get it. But in that case there are probably more efficient ways to go about it. For starters: Comic Sans. Then: Purple. And for the triple whammy: Text speak. Not to give anyone ideas or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/33 "2014-12-30T09:16:57Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Well, if your goal is to piss people off, then I get it. > > But in that case there are probably more efficient ways to go about it. For starters: Comic Sans. Then: Purple. And for the triple whammy: Text speak. > > Not to give anyone ideas or anything. 1 l1k3 1t! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/34 "2014-12-30T11:27:43Z")
This is further evidence, as if we needed it, that people will get annoyed at just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/35 "2014-12-30T22:24:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This is further evidence, as if we needed it, that people will get annoyed at just about anything. Your name ought to be hyphenated. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/36 "2014-12-31T01:51:35Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Your name ought to be hyphenated. > 😉 The-Lmalou, prounounced “the lammalou.” I like it. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/37 "2014-12-31T09:25:15Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The-Lmalou, prounounced “the lammalou.” I like it. The-Lmalou: a favorite of cryptozoologists EVERYWHERE! Nosmo King is obsessed with finding that creature! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/38 "2014-12-31T14:10:03Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > The-Lmalou: a favorite of cryptozoologists EVERYWHERE! > > Nosmo King is obsessed with finding that creature! You can track it by its mating call, which sounds like a saxophone being pushed into a Vitamix on low speed, then dialed slowly up to high. And its characteristic scent smells like a Cuban cigar being stubbed out on the hood of a 1953 Chevy. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/39 "2014-12-31T20:35:04Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It`s obvious, but the sig includes phone and other contact information, as well as any notices required by the company’s legal department. Sometimes we don’t have a choice, like with my current company. An auto sig is required by corporate policy. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/40 "2014-12-31T23:05:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The-Lmalou, prounounced “the lammalou.” I like it. I’m so gonna steal this! I needed a name for a demon for my next fantasy story! “Lammalou” actually works! (Constantine just had “Lamasthu,” and this is blissfully close to that.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137.md?page=3)