Thread: Birthyear in username? Why?

  1. #1
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Birthyear in username? Why?

    I notice that a lot of people, not just here but all over the web, put the last two digits of their birth year in their username -- at least that's what I'm assuming, since more often than not the digits are 8x (and starting just recently, I'm seeing more 9x).

    Why do people do that? I don't get it. Why not put your home address there too?

  2. #2
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
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    > Why not put your home address there too?
    Are you suggesting that something of value can be stolen through knowing someone's birth year?

    Usernames have to be distinct but easy enough to remember, and that is probably the only reason they are the way they are.

  3. #3
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by citizen View Post
    > Why not put your home address there too?
    Are you suggesting that something of value can be stolen through knowing someone's birth year?
    No. I'm just being sarcastic. However, it does clue me in that I'm dealing with a "minor," sometimes.

    Usernames have to be distinct but easy enough to remember, and that is probably the only reason they are the way they are.
    Because there's no possibility that somebody else was born in the same year as you?

  4. #4
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    Because sometimes your name is taken already and a birth year is a fairly unique number that you can add on to the end and still retain the original name?

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    >> Why not put your home address there too?
    Some people put their zip code or area code if their birth year is taken or they don't want to advertise their age. Others put their graduation year.

    I actually think Govtcheez should have done something like that. Verifying to everybody that you were born in '03 is probably not the wisest move.

  6. #6
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    That way I can be allowed to be cranky because I don't have much time left.

  7. #7
    Registered User Queatrix's Avatar
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    >> However, it does clue me in that I'm dealing with a "minor," sometimes.
    Like Daved sort of said, just because someone has a 2 digit number in their username, doesn't mean it's their birthyear.
    If you continue with that idea, then you may make some enemies really quickly. So be my guest.

  8. #8
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Queatrix View Post
    >> However, it does clue me in that I'm dealing with a "minor," sometimes.
    Like Daved sort of said, just because someone has a 2 digit number in their username, doesn't mean it's their birthyear.
    If you continue with that idea, then you may make some enemies really quickly. So be my guest.
    Everyone trust Queatrix, he knows what he talking about (when it comes to making enemies)

  9. #9
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Queatrix View Post
    >> However, it does clue me in that I'm dealing with a "minor," sometimes.
    Like Daved sort of said, just because someone has a 2 digit number in their username, doesn't mean it's their birthyear.
    If you continue with that idea, then you may make some enemies really quickly. So be my guest.
    It makes no difference to me. But if I was some kind of sicko plying the Internet for underage folks I would probably start by targetting people who had numbers >= 90 at the end of their usernames. That's really my point.

  10. #10
    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    On many forums I try to join most of the SlyMaelstrom variations are taken already so I usually use the name SlyMaelstrom11HarrisStEastOrangeNewJerseyUSA07018A ug101986... but one time that was taken too, so I just appended decided to append a 2 onto the end and voila... I forgot it in a week. I guess that's why you should stick to data you'd know off the top of your head.
    Sent from my iPad®

  11. #11
    Tropical Coder Darryl's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by brewbuck View Post
    It makes no difference to me. But if I was some kind of sicko plying the Internet for underage folks I would probably start by targetting people who had numbers >= 90 at the end of their usernames. That's really my point.
    Yea, that'll be a whole lot easier than just going to myspace!! Scouring internet forums for usernames ending in 90 or greater

  12. #12
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    and maybe 90 is not a birth year but the age at the moment of registration?

    On the second thought - if this is a gal... probably - it is some part of 90-60-90 trinity... Hope not the middle part
    Last edited by vart; 06-26-2007 at 10:12 PM.
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
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  13. #13
    Deathray Engineer MacGyver's Avatar
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    I think the real reason for this Queatrix-like topic is that brewbuck is having a mid-to-late-life crisis.

    It's OK, brewbuck, 92 years of age is not too old to be on the Internet.

  14. #14
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    There is no way to tell it's their year of birth, but if you have to assume that then you should also assume that many forums ask for your birth date and if the requested username is taken what better way to generate an alternative?
    My computer is awesome.

  15. #15
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    FYI, I wasn't born in 0007 AD , nor 2007
    Ie. The number has nothing to do with anything, I just like the number seven :P

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