# Why do you people type other's usernames in bold when replying? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714 "2003-10-21T15:17:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DirtyKash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@DirtyKash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirtyKash)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/1 "2003-10-21T15:17:25Z")
Is it some sort of superiority complex (if there is such a thing)? Don’t you think that we can read your words without it being in bold? I don’t get it, what’s the deal? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/2 "2003-10-21T15:33:11Z")
It’s not an ego thing for me at all, **Dirtykash** , it’s been more of a status quo thing for the SDMB. Everyone else does it. I guess I thought myself more independant than I actually am. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/3 "2003-10-21T15:37:01Z")
_DirtyKash_, I suppose it’s just a way of making it clear who the reply is to. It isn’t mandatory or anything. Do it if you like or not. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/4 "2003-10-21T15:39:40Z")
While I agree with **stpauler** , personally I see it as a way to give a nod of respect to whomever you are speaking about. If I take the extra time to bold their name, they know I actually took the time to read what they said and aknowledge them. We really are a close community, no matter how big the boards get, and we like to see each other with a measure of parity. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/5 "2003-10-21T15:40:37Z")
Refering to them by name is polite, because if they do a vanity search, the thread will come up, and they will know that someone was talking to them or about them. You bold the name to make it stand out on a quick scan of the page. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/6 "2003-10-21T15:45:24Z")
I started doing it because everyone else seemed to do it that way. Then I realized that it really is helpful to be able see quickly (in a thread with multiple “conversations” going on, for example) who’s talking to _me_. Since I liked that convenience, I usually bold people’s names when I’m replying to their comments or writing about them. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/7 "2003-10-21T15:47:33Z")
Also, certain usernames are common enough words that occasionally it may become confusing if this weren’t done - usernames like **december** , **vanilla** , **Gravity** , **Q.E.D.** , and so forth. It also reduces the likelihood of confusion when using abbreviations for a username, like **QtM** for **Qadgop the Mercotan**. Bolding the abbreviation clues you in that this might be a username rather than some acronym that you’re not familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/8 "2003-10-21T15:50:24Z")
Just pretty much so that if I mention someone’s name, they’ll have an easier time realizing it. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/9 "2003-10-21T15:54:27Z")
I appreciate when someone bold types a reply to me because sometimes the threads get so long that I don’t read each response in detail. Usually I will do this if I have a specific reply to another member participating in the thread. Why not read every response in detail? **Justhink** about some of the responses that one might encounter and in time you will understand. 😉 A little inside joke…search for Justhink and see what ya find. I bet you’ll get it pretty quick. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/10 "2003-10-21T16:53:36Z")
I wouldn’t have started the concept myself, but since it’s established, I bold other poster’s name out of respect. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/11 "2003-10-21T17:00:42Z")
I usually do it when I’m replying to a couple people in the same post. Like so: **t-keela** : That’s an interesting smiley you used. **KidCharlemagne** : True enough. ---
**Author:** ![scotcho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@scotcho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotcho)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/12 "2003-10-21T18:30:13Z")
If i’m replying to something that’s a few post above me, i like to use a bolded **name** so the person directly above me doesn’t think that my reply was intended for them. That and i’m a conformist… Scotcho ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/13 "2003-10-21T18:33:26Z")
If you typically bold other posters’ names in a reply, then you can use the unbolded form to demonstrate that you don’t respect that person. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/14 "2003-10-21T18:37:03Z")
It’s a convention. And it just looks better. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-people-type-others-usernames-in-bold-when-replying/208714/15 "2003-10-21T18:46:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DirtyKash \* > \*\*Is it some sort of superiority complex (if there is such a thing)? Don’t you think that we can read your words without it being in bold? I don’t get it, what’s the deal? 😕 \*\* Just so nobody accuses you of having a superiority complex, or any of us of foisting one upon you, we can, if you insist, refrain from placing your name in **bold text** , DirtyKash. 'n K? 😛