Riot is now Element

Speaking of names, I'm upset that the username I go by is taken. I'm echelon @ { gmail, HN, Twitter, Github, Gitlab, Square Cash, etc }, but found Riot / Matrix just a few months too late to get my username.

I'm not satisfied with the "just stand up your own server" response as an alternative.

I know it's cutting off my nose, but I've avoided using it because of this. I'm OCD about stupid usernames.

I wish unused usernames got garbage collected.

I really like how Discord handles usernames.

Well your username is made of a single common name existing in the dictionary, this situation was very predictable.

Matrix.org is just one of plenty of public homeservers if you don't want to host your own.

You can set your display name to whatever you like, and there are loads of other federated homeservers besides matrix.org.

Pick a more unique user name. echelonhelicopter, for example

Using another instance makes sense, since the official matrix.org instance is super slow and overloaded...

Brandon, why do you make it trivial to find your identity and trace your activities all across the internet? Consider using a different name everywhere for improved privacy.

I don't get why you are getting so many downvotes - perhaps offtopic?

Anyway: the lesson is that unless you own the top-level domain, you should never think of "your" name. Otherwise you are just getting different leases from different properties.

Do you want to be echelon? Register the domain (ideally on ENS, so that no government can take it away from you), adopt federated/decentralized services and push for adoption of OpenID/WebAuth.

I made up a name for an RPG character, and then started using it across the internet.

Then I found out that someone else had already made the name a few years before me and was already doing that.

Even unique names that aren't at all dictionary words are at risk of collision. I think the smarter tactic is to accept that you won't get that same nickname everywhere, and just have a few alternatives that you'll use if necessary. Complaining to the masses that a name is already taken isn't going to work.

echelon on IRC/Matrix and other open source mediums is a friend of mine. It is very much not an unused name.

It sounds like he registered the name on open source platforms and you used it on closed ones.

Interesting seeing worlds collide. One of you is going to need to change :)

I'm not trying to be anonymous.

You can set up your own server. Your name may be taken on @matrix.org but it'll be available @yourownserver.com.

I'm running my own Matrix server, and it federates nicely with other servers, so you're not losing anything.