You know your username goes at the top of every post, right?

[silenus]

Regards,

Shodan

[Wile_E]

@guizot

The inevitable result of every thread like this is that at least the second poster–probably the third and fourth too–will gratuitously insert a user sign-off. Whether it will still be amusing after all these years is another question.

Beating something to death until it’s so unfunny it generates multiple pit threads is what the SDMB is all about. The “fighting ignorance” thing is just a smokescreen brought on by cattle mutes once in 1960 for 20 minute Death Rays, Band Name! Rio by Duran Duran.

I, for one, welcome our new signature overlords.

Then again, maybe we should nuke this from orbit, it’s the only way to be sure.
Hi!
Opal

[xoferew]

If everyone here did it I would probably do it too, figuring it was a part of the board culture.
If a good chunk of people did it I might think it was a slight waste of time/space.
If a very few people do it (as is the case) I just accept it as a personal quirk.

Those annoying people who don’t capitalize their usernames are much worse. Do they think they are being whimsically eccentric?

[Ludovic]

This post has been sigged by the Sigheiler!

@Scuba_Ben

There are, in fact, other ways to identify yourself. A .sig file and a manual signature aren’t it – posting style works too.

[MeanOldLady]

@Martian Bigfoot

We’re not writing letters. We’re having a conversation. I’m sorry, but if I was talking to someone and he had to sign off every sentence, I would punch him in the face.

Ha ha ha! In their defenses, they don’t sign off every sentence, just every post. It would be more like

Person: [A few sentences about Point A]
Jerk: [A few sentences of agreement/counterpoint/change of subject entirely] Best Wishes, Jerk.
Person: I hate you.
xoxo,
M

[Nava]

@Giles

It’s a bit like emails. You know that your name and email address will display in most email readers, but you still sign it, “Regards, Giles”. (Or whatever your name is.)

(And I’ll resist the temptation.)

Or regular mail, which may even have the information from the company/organization printed all across the top.

And we are writing a conversation; (e/snail)mail exchanges are written conversations too, and I do sign mine.

(The previous parenthesis brought to you as a polite nod to People Who Think Oral Sex Ain’t Sex).

[running_coach]

@Wile_E

Beating something to death until it’s so unfunny it generates multiple pit threads is what the SDMB is all about. The “fighting ignorance” thing is just a smokescreen brought on by cattle mutes once in 1960 for 20 minute Death Rays, Band Name! Rio by Duran Duran.

I, for one, welcome our new signature overlords.

Then again, maybe we should nuke this from orbit, it’s the only way to be sure.
Hi!
Opal

And after all that, penis still ensued.

[kenobi_65]

@lieu

Will too.

DtC

Hee hee hee hee hee…

[Nawth_Chucka]

I know why my Tripler does it (you’ve met him by now over there, right?) but I’ll take that secret to my GRAVE!

[guizot]

@Giles

It’s a bit like emails. You know that your name and email address will display in most email readers, but you still sign it, “Regards, Giles”. (Or whatever your name is.)

Maybe so, but that’s only because on the internet nobody knows if you’re not a dog.

[Giles]

@guizot

Maybe so, but that’s only because on the internet nobody knows if you’re not a dog.

Woof woof!

[Gary_Robson]

This whole subject probably belongs in the “irrational prejudices” thread. Yes, there’s no logical reason to type a signoff, but who cares? If it weren’t for the regularly-recurring fuss about Shodan, I wouldn’t even notice. I couldn’t tell you on a bet who does and doesn’t do this.

@xoferew

Those annoying people who don’t capitalize their usernames are much worse. Do they think they are being whimsically eccentric?

I don’t know. Do they?

[Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party]

Why does this issue seem to bother people so much? I mean, I couldn’t think of anything I’m less bothered about if I tried. I don’t understand why it seems to incite so much ire in posters here.

[Wile_E]

@Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party

Why does this issue seem to bother people so much? I mean, I couldn’t think of anything I’m less bothered about if I tried. I don’t understand why it seems to incite so much ire in posters here.

It certainly is right up there with declawing cats, circumcising babies and Sarah Palin.

[Ann_Onimous]

It doesn’t bother me at all. I just gloss over the signatures that are posted the same way every time.

@Nawth_Chucka

I know why my Tripler does it (you’ve met him by now over there, right?) but I’ll take that secret to my GRAVE!

Tripler’s are hysterical, and always work with his posts. I never miss his. Everybody else - meh.

Anonymously yours,
Ann Onimous

[Shodan]

@Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party

Why does this issue seem to bother people so much? I mean, I couldn’t think of anything I’m less bothered about if I tried. I don’t understand why it seems to incite so much ire in posters here.

I think it bothers people when somebody else does not care what they think.

Regards,
Shodan

[guizot]

@Giles

Woof woof!

Is that your sign-off?

Here’s a bone, then. :–:

[MeanOldLady]

I don’t think a lot of people really get worked up over it. It’s just silly, is all.

Peace,
M

[Jenaroph]

In a similar thread some time ago, someone posted a link to FoxReplace. If you’re using Firefox, you can set a filter that automatically changes certain text on any loaded webpage to some text of your choice. The suggestion is to change whatever signoff phrases you find grating like “Respectfully,” or “Regards,” into something that will amuse you, such as “'Scuse me, my underwear could use a freshening-up,” or “As always, faithfully worshipping Justin Bieber”.

I have since ceased to be annoyed by the signoffs after installing this add-on.

[cochrane]

@Martian Bigfoot

Guess what? There’s also this brand new thing called a signature field! It’s absolutely fantastic. You can just type your signature in there once, and then the board will display it automatically at the bottom of your post every time! Best of all, users who don’t mind seeing signatures can keep this field visible, and those who are annoyed by them can turn if off! That way no one gets annoyed.

But nooo, you can’t put your signature into that, because that would make sense.

Actually, no, the boards will not display a signature at the end of every post. The staff request that a signature is only used once per thread.

How many times should I include my signature in a thread?
Once per thread should be sufficient for people to admire the pearl of wisdom included in your signature. If you post multiple times in a thread it is recommended that you only include the signature in one of your posts.

Since the rules do permit a simple signoff, it’s no problem to me.

I like to sign my name at the end of each of my posts. Is that OK?
You can do a simple signoff of the form:

[complimentary close - optional]
[your name]

… at the end of each post. By “complimentary close” we mean some brief valedictory such as “regards,” “peace,” etc. Please don’t push the envelope.

You may be annoyed, but it’s not against the rules.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7697069&postcount=14

e pluribus unum

cochrane