Use dictionary words for new-user usernames

Question

When users first use Stack Exchange, usernames are automatically assigned for them. (They don't pick one themselves, as that would increase the number of hurdles to jump to use the site.) The usernames are of the form user#, assigned according to user ID number; thus, the user with ID number 314159 is assigned username user314159.

This similarity of username is^[1] confusing to a moderator, who sometimes needs to remember things about users from one day to the next in order to keep track of a pattern of behavior. I propose that, instead of user314159, a random word from the English dictionary (vulgarities removed) is used.

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^[1] Personal experience.

Answer 1

It seems like the problem you're trying to solve is that a mass of "userXYZ" usernames are difficult to distinguish, and moderators view users as individuals that they would like to be able to keep distinct from each other. Assuming I'm correct in that goal...

Dictionary words for user names is not going to happen, although it would be a fun experiment to see how people react to different words.... ;)

However, we are working on a change to our onboarding process that will prompt new signups to set a custom display name. (It won't be required, just encouraged.) This won't retroactively fix the existing generic usernames on any site, but we're hopeful that new users will take advantage of the prompt to create an actual persona (display name and avatar) rather than relying on our generic defaults.

I think that solution meets you at least halfway on solving your problem; I'll update here when we roll that out.

Answer 2

I don't think this offers any benefit so I don't think this should be implemented. The current username pattern (user###) is much easier than a random word from the dictionary. Plus, as ChrisF points out, maintaining a dictionary would be incredibly difficult.

Even though they are generic, the current pattern is unique because they are tied to the user id for each person. I personally think it would be much more complicated to try to tie this to a dictionary and the benefit just isn't there.

I foresee complaints from users because they didn't like the random selected word for their username.

Answer 3

The amount of effort required to create and maintain a dictionary of globally "safe" words would be prohibitive.

Then you've got the problem (as others have mentioned) that you'll run out of words. What do you do then?

• Allow plurals ('cos that ain't going to be confusing!)
• Allow compound words (your task of getting "safe" names has just increased by an order of magnitude).
• Reuse words (but now you have users going around with the same usernames! Worse than before!)

You've got the Gravitar/identicon - which will be different - to distinguish users.

No, I can't see this one ever working.

Answer 4

I can imagine that users named, say, "refrigerator" or "cockroach" might object, though I suppose it's one way to encourage people to choose names. :-)

Since the primary issue is moderators keeping track of user314159 as distinct from user314519 etc, would attaching the "annotations" indicator to user cards¹ (for moderators only) address the problem? That way when you see an answer from that user with a track record of (insert problem behavior), you'll be reminded passively that there's something about this user. If user314159 has never caused problems you'll see nothing remarkable, and when user314519, that guy with the track record, pops up, you'll see it.

¹ By "user card" I mean that block of gravatar, name, rep, and badges that shows up under posts. I don't mean the full multi-site cards that people sometimes use.