There are CRDT algorithms that are similar to this. Some pick from the middle, some from one end or the other and some randomize the choice. It's the solution

There are CRDT algorithms that are similar to this. Some pick from the middle, some from one end or the other and some randomize the choice. It's the solution I'd probably go with for this specific problem (maybe with a bigger alphabet, although some DBMSs are case-insensitive).