You would think that after spending two or three years on the Internet, users would know the significance of an ID and a password. Of course not! I just sent an email to an ID, something similar to mynmx862134 (changed, but I do not think giving the original one would make it easy for anyone to remember). I have sent emails to IDs which were geek codes, abbreviations of song names, etc. However, this email was the tipping point. This call is with the ambitious goal of eliminating absurd email IDs.
Username/User ID/ID is for Identification, it should Easy to Remember
The username or user ID or ID is to identify you. You want it to be easy to remember, for you and others. I have come across people who forget their previous email IDs and keep creating new ones. The ID is your identification in the online world. Computers, services that you use and other netizens will know you with this ID. It is better if it is something comprehensible and something that can be associated with you.
When I have asked in the past about the complex IDs, the answer has usually hovered around security. An email ID, by itself, does not involve any security, it is purely your name, if you will, in the online world.
Password is for Authentication, it should be Cryptic and Personal
The danger really is when the crooks get their hands on your password. The ID identifies you and when you enter the password it ensures that it is really you and not an impersonator. If someone else gets to know of the password, he/she can use it to convince the computer or other netizens that it is really you. You have to be careful that you do not give out your password to anyone, or write it down in a public place! The best way is to use a scheme that only you know and weave some numbers that only you understand. A password is something that is very very personal, only you should know about it. Unfortunately I have met people who very easily give out their passwords and like to keep complex and you-will-want-to-pull-your-hair-when-you-read IDs.
Of course you could argue that it is the combination of the ID and password that poses the danger, and only the password, by itself, cannot do much. However, each of them play a role. Just like your name and signature in the real world. The name identifies you, and hopefully you want others to associate the name with you and remember it. However, you do not want others to remember or copy your signatures, which is why you do it with a personal style. Use the same analogy for IDs and passwords.
Having said that, publicizing your email address can invite spam, but the ones who spam you are unaffected by the ease or difficulty of your ID. At least make it usable for the ones who want to contact you for good reasons.
So, if you are about to create another ID for yourself on the Web, do consider others who will have to remember it to contact you or to reach you. If not for yourself, at least do it for people like me.
