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

[MajesticWhine]

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?

[fanfrickintastic]

It's just so much harder to respond to a post by userxxx. An actual name is much easier. I tend not to respond to userxxx if there's more than one on a thread.

[DailyMailReadersAreThick]

YABU

[DailyMailReadersAreThick]

...and a bit weird

[MajesticWhine]

Thanks . So much better to be weird than to be nobody.

[user1471521456]

It's a key part of online communication userxx To be fair I can kind of see how it is useful to know "who" you are talking to on a chat thread or AIBU but, if I want to ask for family friendly hotel recommendations in Hull or the best way to treat nappy rash, it really doesn't matter what anyone's name is.

[user1471517900]

The OP is right. Can everyone else change, so my name stands out please

[user1471521456]

And apparently it isn't all that easy to change your username. I am autologged on and don't know my password. I asked for a reset about 20 minutes ago and haven't had anything. The next step is to send an email to MNHQ. That really shouldn't be necessary for something as simple as a password reset.

[JassyRadlett]

This thread is a really good example of why the user names make it more difficult to engage with people - I have to keep checking back through the thread to check which user number said what so I don't make an incorrect assumption or statement about the sum total of what they've said.

[Topseyt]

I hate the User12345 system and am glad I registered before it became a thing. I really wish MNHQ would ditch the system.

They are soul-less. Obviously the people behind them aren't, that isn't what I mean, but the names themselves are just clinical and hard to distinguish one from the other.

There are a few sites that will automatically allocate random names, and most are not as bad as this.

[user1495884620]

*We've assigned you the username

user1495884620

and the password XXXXXXXXX for now - if you'd prefer to choose your own
Confirm your account 〉 *

When you sign up, this message is what you get. No suggestion at all that people change their name, just that they can if they like. It's not really any wonder they don't.

PS namechanged obviously!

[nauticant]

Like many others, most of the time when I think about engaging with a post and see that the poster is user123456789 or whatever I then don't bother. It's not completely rational but I'm fine with that.

They all blur into one and engaging with an indistinguishable pool of users is of no interest to me.

[ExConstance]

A plain number is much better than a sweaty name or something that is supposed to be funny.

[Fluffypinkpyjamas]

I simply do not read their posts. If they can't be bothered to get a name, I can't be arsed to read what shit they post.

[nauticant]

I have to say, a sweaty name is also off-putting.

[user1471517900]

Fluffy so you wouldn't help someone who needed it, because of a username?

[Saucery]

You can look at the last 3 digits to differentiate

[peaceout]

Stupid mnhq should sort this out🙄
I shall continue to ignore the indistinguishables

[MajesticWhine]

A sweaty name is a great idea. Like GlisteningForehead Or MalodorousWaft

[nauticant]

The more of a connection someone can feel, however virtual, the more they'll be willing to help. When the other side gives a vibe of being a computer generated bot, the sense of connection will be less.

[stitchglitched]

YANBU. It's really confusing when they start arguing with each other on a thread.

[user1471517900]

Or you could just help because it's nice to do so, regardless of how you feel or don't feel about a user?

[nauticant]

Or you could just pick a distinctive user name because it's nice to do so.

[JayneAusten]

The last two big troll threads I've seen have been started by user12345 type names. I feel like if you're invested enough to want to be a member of the community in any sense you'd choose your own name. I ignore all threads by these types of usernames now.

[PeanutButterJellyTimeforTea]

It's not like you're a somebody just because you've got a name. Who can tell the difference between all the mummyxxxx or the IthinkI'msoClever names anyway? Or know who anyone is with all the constant namechanging? I could be a poster you previously messaged for support or someone you called an uber-dick just yesterday. You have no idea.

If you ignore or engage with people just because of their name, you're a bit of a knob. It's about the content, not the poster. Or should be anyway.

[JanetBrown2015]

There was a fault at one stage on this site which forced you to have that kind (I did for a while) until it was fixed. So don't assume people have actively wanted it. It was impossible to change from it!