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AIBU?

To ask users with a name like user123456788 to name change?

134 replies

MajesticWhine · 27/05/2017 11:34

Hate these usernames. I don't know why they started and they are not conducive to communicating with others online. You can't recognise the person easily if they post on different threads. You can't form an impression of the identity of the poster. It's just rubbish. Please can we stop it?

OP posts:

Report

user1471545174 · 27/05/2017 18:56

With great joy, my first

I've had three proper MN usernames that just fell over and locked me out for no reason.

Number with the 5s, 7s and 4s has never let me down.

Plus it keeps my former goaders at bay, which is fine by me.

YABU.

Iggi999 · 27/05/2017 18:32

There even used to be an unofficial rule of no numbers tacked on the end of names, perhaps for this reason
Oops

user1471506380 · 27/05/2017 18:25

I would like to have a username of my choice but despite trying a few times have not been able to change!

Laiste · 27/05/2017 17:49

Now i think about it, I scan read and tend to skim over the user name posts as well. Hard to explain why - I don't intend to, they just don't seem to register so my mind filters them out.

Giving this thought - if it's a thread which interests me (and why would you follow a thread if it doesn't?) i like to see who's posting what and i do keep a subconscious note of names. It's nice to see familiar names, and even if they're unfamiliar keep up with who's arguing with talking to who within the thread.

The annoying habit of posting without RTFT is on the increase, maybe these instantly forgettable names are part of the same thing - meaningless posts are symptomatic of meaningless names and a meaningless identity?

AfunaMbatata · 27/05/2017 17:43

I just ignore them, cannot be bothered to keep scrolling back to check the last 3 numbers of posters on a thread. Gives me a headache.

BertieBotts · 27/05/2017 17:28

People don't necessarily namecheck on threads because it's not always necessary to do so. But sometimes it's unclear which poster an answer is directed towards so it's useful to be able to identify in that case.

Honestly though, and I realise this is shallow and wholely subjective, I think having many similar names with numbers involved just looks uglier than names which are formed from words. There even used to be an unofficial rule of no numbers tacked on the end of names, perhaps for this reason.

kali110 · 27/05/2017 17:11

and i never have trouble keeping up with who is who, i simply use copy and paste

kali110 · 27/05/2017 17:10

If someone wants to keep their user1212 then that's up to them!
Fgs anyone could be a goady fucker!

AStickInTime · 27/05/2017 16:52

I was never assigned user124456789 but I can't remember how it used to work in the good old days when people joined?

TeddyIsaHe · 27/05/2017 16:50

I just see user as one person. And if there is a ridiculous troll thread started 9 times out of 10 it's by a user63738292937.

Orlantina · 27/05/2017 16:46

And if one user is being a dickhead, it's hard to recognise if someone else with a similar user number is the same one you've argued with before.

So I tend to ignore them.

Orlantina · 27/05/2017 16:45

But very few people on this thread are namechecking other posters, so you are just replying to the posts, regardless of who has posted

There are posters who I recognise and who become regulars. It's more engaging TBH if you are engaging with people you 'know' through regular MN threads.

It's easy to remember names. It's harder to remember long numbers.

user1491401693 · 27/05/2017 16:40

But very few people on this thread are namechecking other posters, so you are just replying to the posts, regardless of who has posted.

And the site is so big now that there are not many recognisable posters any more, unless you are on a long running quiche thread.

GretchenFranklin · 27/05/2017 16:11

yabu probably but I agree, it's like talking to some robots

Highalert · 27/05/2017 16:10

I ignore them. Hard to engage when there's loads of them on the same thread. They all merge into one user for me.

gotthemoononastick · 27/05/2017 16:05

OFF WITH THEIR DRATTED HEADS!!!!
(the oldest queen from the ancien regime)

JanetBrown2015 · 27/05/2017 16:05

If we are talking about name change I think MN recommends it particularly after the hacking problem.

BertieBotts · 27/05/2017 16:01

Yes apparently a random name generator created names they didn't like I don't get it.

Really not sure what not liking user0o7987 names has to do with posters who repeatedly namechange though. Not knowing that CherryApple is the same person as ToneAleHub or whatever is much less of an issue than trying to detangle a conversation between user 34, user 67, and user 93 especially when the numbers are much longer.

Yellowbird54321 · 27/05/2017 15:55

Not RTFT but I do seem to recall when I signed up, I had to create a username with letters and numbers. Once registered I fully intended to change it and ditch the numbers but I never got round to it and I've grown quite fond of the word / number mix now -no idea why I am explaining this, I do realise it's not specifically relevant or interesting

Ceto · 27/05/2017 15:40

What irritates me is that MN acknowledged that this was a problem around a year ago and said they were working on it, and intermittently come back when someone grumbles to repeat the same thing, but nothing changes. Is it really that complicated to sort out?

MajesticWhine · 27/05/2017 15:40

Sorry that was meant to be a quote.

OP posts:

MajesticWhine · 27/05/2017 15:39

Why is it confusing to see different people posting with a similar user name but not the same person posting with two usernames. Surely the latter is harder?

Both of these scenarios cause confusion. It's not a case of either or.

OP posts:

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Davros · 27/05/2017 15:27

Not everyone name changes all the time. I've had the same User Name since I joined MN 14 years ago.
YANBU

MissTakesOurMaid · 27/05/2017 15:21

I find it annoying considering there's loads of user123456789s around - it's hard to distinguish between posters. So I'm inclined to agree op though I suppose asking people to name change is a bit iffy.

I think it'd be a better approach if MN used a 'captcha' style thing to generate random phrases for usernames (e.g. WhiteApplepeel) and you would be allowed to choose from a list of randomly generated names rather than just being a number. That way it keeps the anonymity that PPs have said they like, while meaning it's easier to tell who is who on a thread.

Birdsgottaf1y · 27/05/2017 15:18

Well there's no real reason behind the hatred.

Just a load of posters who don't like the influx of new posters that are different.

So they want to take away their autonomy.

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