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Usernames / Handles / Online Persona's
Before I begin, I feel like this has been discussed before, but I could not find a relevant thread on the forum. The closest I found was this thread: http://forum.frontrowcrew.com/index.php?p=/discussion/2276/your-account-name/p1 The end of the started going in the direction I hope this one goes, but I don't think that was the original purpose of that forum thread.
I've always felt a good username has several characteristics.
1) Short & Simple, a word, or a few small words put together
2) Something unique, not likely to be taken anywhere.
3) Pronounceable, something you can say to another person and not worry about them messing up the spelling.
4) Does not have numbers/letters/symbols appended to the end to make the name work.
5) Domain name, ideally, I'd also like to register a related domain name.
I've been fond of Reol, it was the first username I created after my early teen years where it was all about Dragons, Wizards, or, "Your Mom" etc.... Think FPS, "Reol was killed by Your Mom"
A problem I've been running into the last several years is that "Reol" is too short to use for a lot of websites or new services out there, my alternate username "Tselen" is just a mess to say or get others to spell. I've had to resort to adding a number/letter combo to my name just to be able to use it in places.
I've been thinking about changing my username, as I would like a single username I can use on most, if not all of the interwebs. If I only change the name on places/services I use, then actually changing it shouldn't be too hard. The problem I'm coming across is that damn near everything I've come up with that I find acceptable is already taken somewhere.
So I'm fine with what I'm using, if I can come up with something to change to, that's also good. I'm open to suggestions, if anyone has any ideas that may help my dilemma. I'm sure I'll find something I'm happy with before too long.
But that's not why I'm posting this.
What's going to happen in the future? I feel like I'm having a pretty hard time now just coming up with something new, what are my kids & their kids going to do? Are usernames going to be replaced by something in the future? Will all usernames a decade from now be a proper noun with 4-6 digits attached to it? Will we start passing usernames down to our kids as we do our last name?
I'm just curious what others think. Everyone I've talked to about it just seems to think I'm crazy and there's no problem. At the same time though, I feel like this may be a problem for the future, and I think the general populace of the forum might understand this issue better than some people I've spoken with.
I've always felt a good username has several characteristics.
1) Short & Simple, a word, or a few small words put together
2) Something unique, not likely to be taken anywhere.
3) Pronounceable, something you can say to another person and not worry about them messing up the spelling.
4) Does not have numbers/letters/symbols appended to the end to make the name work.
5) Domain name, ideally, I'd also like to register a related domain name.
I've been fond of Reol, it was the first username I created after my early teen years where it was all about Dragons, Wizards, or, "Your Mom" etc.... Think FPS, "Reol was killed by Your Mom"
A problem I've been running into the last several years is that "Reol" is too short to use for a lot of websites or new services out there, my alternate username "Tselen" is just a mess to say or get others to spell. I've had to resort to adding a number/letter combo to my name just to be able to use it in places.
I've been thinking about changing my username, as I would like a single username I can use on most, if not all of the interwebs. If I only change the name on places/services I use, then actually changing it shouldn't be too hard. The problem I'm coming across is that damn near everything I've come up with that I find acceptable is already taken somewhere.
So I'm fine with what I'm using, if I can come up with something to change to, that's also good. I'm open to suggestions, if anyone has any ideas that may help my dilemma. I'm sure I'll find something I'm happy with before too long.
But that's not why I'm posting this.
What's going to happen in the future? I feel like I'm having a pretty hard time now just coming up with something new, what are my kids & their kids going to do? Are usernames going to be replaced by something in the future? Will all usernames a decade from now be a proper noun with 4-6 digits attached to it? Will we start passing usernames down to our kids as we do our last name?
I'm just curious what others think. Everyone I've talked to about it just seems to think I'm crazy and there's no problem. At the same time though, I feel like this may be a problem for the future, and I think the general populace of the forum might understand this issue better than some people I've spoken with.
Comments
With exception of new folks here, I will probably always be known as that asshole (though they're more likely to say "dick" and be wrong in doing so). Even though I've had more usernames, and accounts, than most people here combined.
As for the future, it depends. Depends on governments and how well they succeed in obtaining that which they so hungrily are looking for. Control. Take Facebook for example. You cannot sign up there without a valid, real-looking name (and even then it sometimes still says no). Why? Power/control. Information is worth a lot more if you can tie it to a specific individual. Governments want in on that shit. It might be that in the future you don't just register your child's name(s) at birth, but also digital identifying information (possibly a chip with a number).
Which brings me back to you still living in 2064, get with the times, identity means more than whatever username you picked. Usernames are like the clothes you wear. Changeable. Don't worry about 'being stuck' with the same old stuff.
We'll likely just have people Web 2.0 this more and remove vowels from their names. Which doesn't really work for you, Rl.
And what the hell does "djyboes" mean?
First, long long ago, I needed to create a fictional person to use as dummy for stuff like EWeek magazine trials, online services I was iffy about, etc. So, I named him "Michael Alexander Frost". I then started using his name as a place holder for male characters in my short stories. Finally, I needed a cool name for a website where I could put my misc projects that I wanted to have a layer of separation from myself (This was before I took up "Frost" as my moniker) so I got the domain TheFrostSyndicate.com
When I realized that I needed a more pronounceable stage name, I decided to just take up the Frost name.
Secondly, it sounds cool (if you'll forgive the pun).
Third, people often make the connection between "Victor Frost" and "Victor Fries" which is (if you don't know) the real name of Batman villain "Mr. Freeze", one of my favorite villains.
Most of my accounts use the username "VentureJ" now, which can be good or bad, but I'm generally not hiding anything, anyway. I use a more professional username for work and business.
Top results for my name + "Joe" result in various references to this username, social networks, friends mentioning me online, etc. Things that, although not at all embarrassing or tarnishing of my name, wouldn't be considered particularly professional. A search for my name + "Joseph," however, results in positive reviews of my piano recital performances, my teaching bio page for MIT Splash, other really good, professional things. I guess that's one of the implicit benefits to having a persistent nickname like I have. Yeah alright, "Boe Joomer."
Or should I say... "Joe Boomer"
WHAT'S UP. BOMBSHELL DROPPED, YO.