Words That Doom Your User Name
- Wednesday, December 15 2010 @ 09:43 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 2,426
The other day I was checking out profiles with a friend, and I saw a profile name that almost caused my iced tea to spray across the screen. The name? Tool Bag (or something similar; slightly changed to protect identity). Now, maybe the guy was a master carpenter, but his name conjured up many more images, none of them good.
It got me thinking about profile names and how they really say a lot about our personalities – maybe even more than you intend. You might have chosen your profile name based on your favorite athletic team, but it says quite a bit more: that you're a sporty type, maybe what college you went to, possibly the sorts of activities you like.
Sometimes a profile name can reveal parts of your personality. Something with the name “Princess” in it might conjure up someone high-maintenance. Words like “drama” or “witch” or “wild” might get your bold personality across, but they might also bring up a host of negative connotations – best to leave those alone.
In men more than women, I tend to see self-deprecating profile names: ones that have words like “nerd” or “dork.” They're also more likely to be more straightforward and self-deprecating about their appearance, using words like “skinny” or “teddy bear.” These sorts of names are a bit of a gamble; depending on the rest of the profile, they either send a message that you're easy-going with a sense of humor, or that you simply have low self-esteem.
So, how to choose a good profile name? Well, instead of focusing on your appearance or your personality, try some simple hobby or fact that reflects you. If you love cooking, try using “chef.” If you like a particular book or TV show, try using a reference from those. In using an interest or hobby, your user name might actually make you stand out to someone with a common interest, “grabbing” them from the get-go. Don't worry about getting your personality across in your user name; that's what the rest of the profile is for.
If you decide your user name is completely inappropriate, most online dating sites have ways you can easily change it. If you think your name needs a change, don't waste time in doing so! Just as a user name can grab the reader, so too can it instantly turn them off. Is your user name sending the right message?
It got me thinking about profile names and how they really say a lot about our personalities – maybe even more than you intend. You might have chosen your profile name based on your favorite athletic team, but it says quite a bit more: that you're a sporty type, maybe what college you went to, possibly the sorts of activities you like.
Sometimes a profile name can reveal parts of your personality. Something with the name “Princess” in it might conjure up someone high-maintenance. Words like “drama” or “witch” or “wild” might get your bold personality across, but they might also bring up a host of negative connotations – best to leave those alone.
In men more than women, I tend to see self-deprecating profile names: ones that have words like “nerd” or “dork.” They're also more likely to be more straightforward and self-deprecating about their appearance, using words like “skinny” or “teddy bear.” These sorts of names are a bit of a gamble; depending on the rest of the profile, they either send a message that you're easy-going with a sense of humor, or that you simply have low self-esteem.
So, how to choose a good profile name? Well, instead of focusing on your appearance or your personality, try some simple hobby or fact that reflects you. If you love cooking, try using “chef.” If you like a particular book or TV show, try using a reference from those. In using an interest or hobby, your user name might actually make you stand out to someone with a common interest, “grabbing” them from the get-go. Don't worry about getting your personality across in your user name; that's what the rest of the profile is for.
If you decide your user name is completely inappropriate, most online dating sites have ways you can easily change it. If you think your name needs a change, don't waste time in doing so! Just as a user name can grab the reader, so too can it instantly turn them off. Is your user name sending the right message?
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