# Why do people think my login name in Karl? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 13, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633 "2004-12-13T18:13:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/1 "2004-12-13T18:13:57Z")
It is Kel. Plain as fucking day. Read it with me - K E L. No A. No R. Why do people constantly mistake Karl for Kel? What up wid dat? Just the latest example: > **[Holy crap! I just saw the best DS9 ever!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=291610)** > > Deep Space 9 I just saw an old rerun that I’d never seen before. It was the one where Jetsia-dax(sp?) runs in to an ex-wife of hers from a former life. Well, anyway to make a long story short; Jetsia totally makes out with another hot chick!! I’m... Jesus wep (not really). ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/2 "2004-12-13T18:15:17Z")
is Karl NOT in Karl ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/3 "2004-12-13T18:16:30Z")
I think the “ar” after the V screws with people’s heads. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/4 "2004-12-13T18:16:57Z")
Maybe they’re confusing you with the fellow from Sling Blade. The one who killed his mother and her lover cause they were “doin’ wrong”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/5 "2004-12-13T18:19:16Z")
In some of the most recent threads you have appeared in, “asshole” is used to refer to you far more often than either Karl or Kel. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/6 "2004-12-13T18:26:05Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > In some of the most recent threads you have appeared in, “asshole” is used to refer to you far more often than either Karl or Kel. 🙂 Sure, I can see someone calling me an asshole, but Karl? All they have to do it read the name over the post. To determine I am not as asshole in those threads they would have to open their hearts to God and love. I am not sure they can do that, but I sure they can read three little letters. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/7 "2004-12-13T18:27:49Z")
Awwww, is Karl not getting enough attention? Hey everybody, let’s all look at Karl! Karl’s doing something again! He’s so interesting! ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/8 "2004-12-13T18:29:28Z")
> [@Karl](#): > > It is Kel. Plain as fucking day. Read it with me - K E L. No A. No R. Why do people constantly mistake Karl for Kel? What up wid dat? > > Just the latest example: Wait, what’s the problem again? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/9 "2004-12-13T18:30:52Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > To determine I am not as asshole in those threads **they would have to open their hearts to God and love.** :dubious: I know this must be code for something, but what? Drugs? A full frontal lobotomy? Teleportation to a bizarro anti-world where night is day and frogs hop backward? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/10 "2004-12-13T18:32:53Z")
Geez, at this rate, Attention should leave $20 on **Kel Varnsen** ’s nightstand for services performed. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/11 "2004-12-13T18:36:13Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Karl’s doing something again! Yeah, he’s hitting on Kobe’s wife! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/12 "2004-12-13T18:36:58Z")
I always think it’s Kal…Kal Vernson…seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/13 "2004-12-13T18:37:54Z")
Lighten up, Karl. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/14 "2004-12-13T18:45:17Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > Jesus **wep** (not really). :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/15 "2004-12-13T18:48:59Z")
It shows how much attention people really pay to you karl. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/16 "2004-12-13T18:54:42Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I know this must be code for something, but what? Drugs? A full frontal lobotomy? Teleportation to a bizarro anti-world where night is day and frogs hop backward? Apparently, **Karl** thinks you can’t be an asshole and a religious nutter at the same time. **Karl** is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/17 "2004-12-13T18:57:04Z")
Boy howdy, would you ever be a god-awful librarian or sniper. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/18 "2004-12-13T19:49:34Z")
At a guess, I’d say that it’s a combination of factors. Part of it is that we tend to scan stuff instead of scrutinizing it closely, and we just scan things wrong sometimes. “Children” gets read as “chicken,” that sort of thing. Happens all the time. When the word something scans as doesn’t seem to make sense in that context, we go back and reread. In this case, Karl makes as much sense as Kel, so people don’t bother to look closer. Part of it is that your username is long, and the focus of interest tends to be more on the second half than the first half. So people are scanning the name because it’s long, and paying attention to the Latex Division bit rather than the Kel bit. That makes it even easier to scan Kel as Karl. Karl being so much more common a name than Kel also makes it easy to scan the name incorrectly. And, of course, there’s the issue of you coming across as a sanctimonious asshat here lately. Mind, I’m not saying you _are_ a sanctimonious asshat, just that that’s the impression your posts tend to give. People round here tend not to like folks who come across as sanctimonious asshats, and if you don’t like someone, why should you pay special attention and scrutinize their name to make sure you get it right? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/19 "2004-12-13T19:56:15Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > I think the “ar” after the V screws with people’s heads. What I want to know is, who’s [Karl Vensen?](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22karl+vensen%22) ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633/20 "2004-12-13T20:06:23Z")
Yeah, what the hell’s up with that “Latex Division” thing, anyway, Karl? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-think-my-login-name-in-karl/279633.md?page=2)