# Why do people sign their posts on internet forums, when their s/n is already visible?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137>\
**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:** 3\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/41 "2014-12-31T23:09:23Z")

</div>

> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> 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.)

But [Lamashtu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamashtu) is actually a thing. A Lammalou is just some bizarro version of a SDMB poster…

…yeah, okay - I guess that is terrifying :D.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/42 "2014-12-31T23:21:36Z")

</div>

> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> But [Lamashtu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamashtu) is actually a thing. A Lammalou is just some bizarro version of a SDMB poster…
> 
> …yeah, okay - I guess that is terrifying :D.

From Wikipedia:

> [@](#):
>
> In Mesopotamian mythology, Lamashtu (Akkadian dLa-maš-tu; Sumerian Dimme dDim3-me) was a female demon, monster, malevolent goddess or demigoddess who menaced women during childbirth and, if possible, kidnapped children while they were breastfeeding. She would gnaw on their bones and suck their blood, as well as being charged with a number of other evil deeds. She was a daughter of the Sky God Anu.
> 
> Lamashtu is depicted as a mythological hybrid, with a hairy body, a lioness’ head with donkey’s teeth and ears, long fingers and fingernails, and the feet of a bird with sharp talons. She is often shown standing or kneeling on a donkey, nursing a pig and a dog, and holding snakes. She thus bears some functions and resemblance to the Mesopotamian demon Lilith.

MOMMY? Is that you?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-sign-their-posts-on-internet-forums-when-their-s-n-is-already-visible/708137/43 "2015-01-01T01:47:08Z")

</div>

> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> But [Lamashtu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamashtu) is actually a thing. A Lammalou is just some bizarro version of a SDMB poster…
> 
> …yeah, okay - I guess that is terrifying :D.

Grin! My point was that it’s something original that I could use in a fantasy story, without borrowing from extant mythology. It’s HARD making up new fantasy names!

(One is reminded of Theodore Sturgeon naming the Vulcan club-axe a “Lirpa” by reversing the name of the month of April. Somehow, a Yam or Enuj just doesn’t cut the mustard…)

[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=2)