Because I think firstname_lastname@example.com is ugly. Specifically, the underscore as "separator".

[pne]

I wonder how many people pick out or reject possible future jobs by the likely format of the email address they will be assigned there (based on email addresses they've already seen, e.g. the HR contact person or people who've posted on mailing lists).

Comments

[pne.livejournal.com]

Is that because the "x" is supposed to be a middle initial and you haven't got one?

(A friend of mine had an email address of firstname.f.lastname for similar reasons; he didn't have a middle name so they used the initial of his first name as his "middle initial".)

And on a slightly similar note, I got an email from "michellex.lastname@example.com" once and commented on her given name, and she said the 'x' was added because she's an external contractor. I think I'd hate to be philipx.newton@example.com; it just looks really odd.

[opal1159.livejournal.com]

Yep. Requiring a "middle initial" became the law of the land for new hires within the last few years as a measure to help prevent emailing the wrong person. A lot of people still have firstname.lastname because they got that initially and didn't have to change, and some experienced people have middle initial because they felt like it, I guess. In lieu of a middle initial for differentiation, they also accept a location/role modifier, like john.uk.smith or something. It's probably confusing to clients to see so many variations, but it's a huge company.

On your similar note, ick, imagine if your name was Louise or something.

[pne.livejournal.com]

On your similar note, ick, imagine if your name was Louise or something.

Eww, yeah, that'd be unfortunate.