# Why do some of you sign your posts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-of-you-sign-your-posts/121911 "2002-08-01T19:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-of-you-sign-your-posts/121911/21 "2002-08-03T14:09:47Z")
To have a sig underneath? To emphasise that its me, eg when replying? ---
**Author:** ![Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smashed_Ice_Cream)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-of-you-sign-your-posts/121911/22 "2002-08-03T23:49:47Z")
I was actually considering doing that, because I’ve recently discovered that people had no idea that I’m female. When I first started posting, I signed things with my username initials because it was kinda funny. FWIW, I write a lot of letters, and I think I sign almost all my posts, then have to backspace over it before hitting submit. Now I think I’m going to sign my actual name because (a) I like it, and (b) it’s not gender-ambigious like my sn. Matter of fact, I think I’ll try that now. -Cassie ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-of-you-sign-your-posts/121911/23 "2002-08-04T00:49:14Z")
I have a couple of different reasons. Some have been mentioned above, but I will list them anyway. 1. On longer posts, it gives the reader somebody to blame for an idiotic opinion without having to roll everthing back to see who I am. 2. As a journalist I long ago learned that if you take a stand, you should put your name on it. 3. Hi Opal! 4. I’m something of a traditionalist which means that a letter-type thing calls for a signature. 5. When I first came on the board, I noticed that a good number of the posters that I respected seemed to put either their usernames, nicknames or real names at the foot of their posts. So as a sign of respect, so did I. TV ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-of-you-sign-your-posts/121911/24 "2002-08-04T01:17:45Z")
I have a couple of different reasons. Some have been mentioned above, but I will list them anyway. 1. On longer posts, it gives the reader somebody to blame for an idiotic opinion without having to roll everthing back to see who I am. 2. As a journalist I long ago learned that if you take a stand, you should put your name on it. 3. Hi Opal! 4. I’m something of a traditionalist which means that a letter-type thing calls for a signature. 5. When I first came on the board, I noticed that a good number of the posters that I respected seemed to put either their usernames, nicknames or real names at the foot of their posts. So as a sign of respect, so did I. TV ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-of-you-sign-your-posts/121911/25 "2002-08-04T12:27:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Triskadecamus \* > **Back in the day, when the board used HTML codes, I would indent my paragraphs, too. I was really sorry about the change; I have to tell you.** What     change?         Although most HTML code use was eliminated, you can still use ** ** to insert spaces. (You can also click your heels three times to return to Kansas, should anyone wish to do that). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-of-you-sign-your-posts/121911.md?page=1)