diff --git a/apps/threads.lua b/apps/threads.lua
index cec5d81..78050f1 100644
--- a/apps/threads.lua
+++ b/apps/threads.lua
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ app:get("thread_create", "/create", function(self)
   end
   self.all_topics = all_topics
   self.page_title = "creating thread"
+  self.me = user
   return {render = "threads.create"}
 end)
 
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ app:get("thread", "/:slug", function(self)
     LIMIT ? OFFSET ?
   ]], thread.id, POSTS_PER_PAGE, (self.page - 1) * POSTS_PER_PAGE)
   self.topic = Topics:find(thread.topic_id)
-  self.user = util.get_logged_in_user_or_transient(self)
+  self.me = util.get_logged_in_user_or_transient(self)
   self.posts = posts
   
   self.page_title = thread.title
diff --git a/apps/topics.lua b/apps/topics.lua
index 9292394..73cfaf9 100644
--- a/apps/topics.lua
+++ b/apps/topics.lua
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ local ThreadCreateError = {
 
 app:get("all_topics", "", function(self)
   self.topic_list = db.query("select * from topics limit 25;")
-  self.user = util.get_logged_in_user(self) or util.TransientUser
+  self.me = util.get_logged_in_user_or_transient(self)
   return {render = "topics.topics"}
 end)
 
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ app:get("topic_create", "/create", function(self)
   end
 
   self.page_title = "creating topic"
+  self.me = user
 
   return {render = "topics.create"}
 end)
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ app:get("topic", "/:slug", function(self)
   self.threads_list = db.query("SELECT * FROM threads WHERE topic_id = ? ORDER BY is_stickied DESC, created_at DESC", topic.id)
   local user = util.get_logged_in_user_or_transient(self)
   print(topic.is_locked, type(topic.is_locked))
-  self.user = user
+  self.me = user
   self.ThreadCreateError = ThreadCreateError
   self.thread_create_error = ThreadCreateError.OK
   if user:is_logged_in_guest() then
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ app:get("topic_edit", "/:slug/edit", function(self)
     return {redirect_to = self:url_for("all_topics")}
   end
   self.topic = topic
-  
+  self.me = user
   self.page_title = "editing topic " .. topic.name
   
   return {render = "topics.edit"}
diff --git a/apps/users.lua b/apps/users.lua
index f5a443b..6f2c52b 100644
--- a/apps/users.lua
+++ b/apps/users.lua
@@ -131,8 +131,7 @@ app:get("user_delete_confirm", "/:username/delete_confirm", function(self)
     self.err = self.session.flash.error
     self.session.flash = {}
   end
-  self.user = target_user
-
+  self.me = target_user
   self.page_title = "confirm deletion"
 
   return {render = "user.delete_confirm"}
@@ -212,8 +211,7 @@ app:get("user_settings", "/:username/settings", function(self)
       self.flash_msg = flash.error
     end
   end
-  self.user = target_user
-
+  self.me = target_user
   self.page_title = "settings"
 
   return {render = "user.settings"}
@@ -440,4 +438,4 @@ app:post("guest_user", "/guest_user/:user_id", function(self)
   return {redirect_to = self:url_for("user", {username = target_user.username})}
 end)
 
-return app
\ No newline at end of file
+return app
diff --git a/views/common/topnav.etlua b/views/common/topnav.etlua
index 9f5cf85..82100e9 100644
--- a/views/common/topnav.etlua
+++ b/views/common/topnav.etlua
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
     <a href="<%= url_for("all_topics") %>">All topics</a>
   </span>
   <span>
-    <% if user:is_logged_in() then -%>
-      Welcome, <a href="<%= url_for("user", {username = user.username}) %>"><%= user.username %></a>
+    <% if me:is_logged_in() then -%>
+      Welcome, <a href="<%= url_for("user", {username = me.username}) %>"><%= me.username %></a>
     <% else -%>
       Welcome, guest. Please <a href="<%= url_for("user_login") %>">log in</a>
     <% end -%>
diff --git a/views/threads/thread.etlua b/views/threads/thread.etlua
index 1bbc5f1..3269ceb 100644
--- a/views/threads/thread.etlua
+++ b/views/threads/thread.etlua
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<% render("views.common.topnav", {user = user}) -%>
+<% render("views.common.topnav") -%>
 <main>
   <nav id="threadnav">
     <h1 class="thread-title"><%= thread.title %></h1>
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   <% render("views.common.pagination", {page_count = pages, current_page = page}) %>
 </nav>
 
-<% if not user:is_guest() then %>
+<% if not me:is_guest() then %>
 <h1>Respond to "<%= thread.title %>"</h1>
 <form method="post">
   <textarea id="post_content" name="post_content" placeholder="Response body" required></textarea><br>
diff --git a/views/topics/topic.etlua b/views/topics/topic.etlua
index f242ccf..f1c6e78 100644
--- a/views/topics/topic.etlua
+++ b/views/topics/topic.etlua
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 <p>This topic is locked.</p>
 <% end %>
 
-<% if user:is_mod() then %>
+<% if me:is_mod() then %>
   <br>
   <a href="<%= url_for("topic_edit", {slug = topic.slug}) %>">Edit topic</a>
   <form method="post" action="<%= url_for("topic_edit", {slug = topic.slug}) %>">
diff --git a/views/topics/topics.etlua b/views/topics/topics.etlua
index f0c5323..998e890 100644
--- a/views/topics/topics.etlua
+++ b/views/topics/topics.etlua
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@
   <% end %>
 <% end %>
 </ul>
-<% if user:is_mod() then %>
+<% if me:is_mod() then %>
 <a href="<%= url_for("topic_create") %>">Create new topic</a>
 <% end %>
diff --git a/views/user/delete_confirm.etlua b/views/user/delete_confirm.etlua
index dc183ef..81ea20a 100644
--- a/views/user/delete_confirm.etlua
+++ b/views/user/delete_confirm.etlua
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<h1>Are you sure you want to delete your account, <%= user.username %>?</h1>
+<h1>Are you sure you want to delete your account, <%= me.username %>?</h1>
 <p>This cannot be undone. This will not delete your posts, only anonymize them.</p>
 <p>If you are sure, please type your password below.</p>
 
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   <h2><%= err %></h2>
 <% end %>
 
-<form method="post" action="<%= url_for("user_delete", {username = user.username}) %>">
+<form method="post" action="<%= url_for("user_delete", {username = me.username}) %>">
   <input type="password" name="password" id="password" autocomplete="current-password" placeholder="Password" required><br>
   <input class="critical" type="submit" value="Delete my account (NO UNDO)">
 </form>
diff --git a/views/user/settings.etlua b/views/user/settings.etlua
index f893f11..7f9a661 100644
--- a/views/user/settings.etlua
+++ b/views/user/settings.etlua
@@ -2,19 +2,19 @@
 <% if flash_msg then %>
   <h2><%= flash_msg %></h2>
 <% end %>
-<form method="post" action="<%= url_for("user_set_avatar", {username = user.username}) %>" enctype="multipart/form-data">
-  <img src="<%= avatar_url(user) %>"><br>
+<form method="post" action="<%= url_for("user_set_avatar", {username = me.username}) %>" enctype="multipart/form-data">
+  <img src="<%= avatar_url(me) %>"><br>
   <input id="file" type="file" name="avatar" accept="image/*">
   <input type="submit" value="Update avatar">
-<% if not user:is_default_avatar() then %>
-  <input type="submit" value="Clear avatar" formaction="<%= url_for("user_clear_avatar", {username = user.username}) %>">
+<% if not me:is_default_avatar() then %>
+  <input type="submit" value="Clear avatar" formaction="<%= url_for("user_clear_avatar", {username = me.username}) %>">
 <% end %>
 <br>
 </form>
 <form method="post" action="">
   <label for="status">Status</label>
-  <input type="text" id="status" name="status" value="<%= user.status %>" maxlength="30"><br>
+  <input type="text" id="status" name="status" value="<%= me.status %>" maxlength="30"><br>
   <input type="submit" value="Save status">
 </form>
 <br>
-<a class="linkbutton critical" href="<%= url_for("user_delete_confirm", {username = user.username}) %>">Delete account</a>
+<a class="linkbutton critical" href="<%= url_for("user_delete_confirm", {username = me.username}) %>">Delete account</a>