Many users, especially those who have been around computers for a long time have handles, nicknames, etc. that may predate many current organizations (such as Perl Monks) that they may belong to. I, for example, have been using madbombX since the days of my 300 baud modem to dial into 1 and 2 lines BBSs and to talk on usenet message boards. Although in the age of terrorism, I could see how my nick could lend itself to a mild amount of criticism/skepticism, I wouldn't change it.

Generally speaking, I use the nick all over the place. The only reason I would even consider changing it is if I had the need to sound professional (which once again brings me back to my issue of the terrorist related ideas).

To me that then begs the question, what's in a (nick)name? I think it should be somewhat descriptive of you, weather it contain a portion of your real name or it contains something significant about you.

Now on to my answer. I wouldn't change it because I have accounts in so many other places with the same nick, it would be weird to take my cloak off its hook where the hook is labelled differently. If I had to change it, I wouldn't. Make a decision and stick with it.

Eric

"..giving another chance to every monk to change their username, even if the chosen name already exists.."

Right, I'll have tilly.
No, on second thought I'll have dragonchild.
Actually no, I'll have Zaxo instead.
Hangon, no - gimme Ovid.
Er, no - I'll have BrowserUK, I mean, er.... merlyn.

Bugger it, give me vroom.

*grin*

Allowing one change before reaching some level, Monk say, would allow people to change a poor choice such as "TotalNewbie" before they were known too widely by that name. (A "formerly TotalNebie" extention, for a few weeks in "by lines", and longer or permanently on the bio node, would be valuable with this.)