When we were kids we often created secret clubs. This was especially true of my girl friends. We had several “no boys allowed” clubs and we made up elaborate membership rules. Of course the number one rule was that you had to know the “secret password” to gain entrance to a meeting. And your name had to be on The List.
Not much has changed. I still belong to several “secret clubs” and each requires a user name and password. The only difference is that the clubs- forums, websites, shopping accounts, social networks- are online. I was thinking about my passwords the other day when I had to look up one that I don’t use very often. I have a notebook where I keep four pages of user names and passwords. It’s not like I’ve tried to confuse the issue. It’s just that the three user names and two passwords I normally use weren’t accepted at many sites. “Already in use” or “must contain a number” or “will be assigned” are the arbitrary rules that created my lengthy list.
I suppose on some sites I have the option of changing my user name and/or password. Frankly, I’m too lazy to do a systematic switch and anything less would probably just result in more confusion. I have no trouble remembering the passwords for the five sites I use on a daily basis. I have to look at the password each and every time for one of my genealogy sites, and one of the sites I have “administration privileges” to, because both are odd combinations of repeating letters. There are a dozen other sites that I just use once a month or less, and it doesn’t seem like too much trouble to flip open my notebook and see who I am on that site.
I suppose the bright side of this little daily dilemma is that it will keep my mind active. They say that we all need to access our memories regularly and keep our brains processing. Each time a little empty box flashes on my computer screen I have to process through a dozen combinations of letters and numbers stored in my memory so I can remember how to gain access to the club! Brain exercise…good for me.
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