Thread: Account username change

Originally Posted by Bruno

...And changing names will unravel the board / community over the long term.

This simply does not work, and while it may be fun for the individual, it has only negative consequences for the community. Being a member of the community also means that you have to care about the wellbeing of the community, and not just your own community experience.

The owners of most of the forums that I frequent prefer to just change the username of an account. When they have done so, the new username replaces the old username in all the posts where the previous username was used. The thread continuity remains.

I do understand the wellbeing of the community, thus the discussion of this issue. I cannot be the only member of SRP that has contemplated changing their username, nor creating another account.

[quote=Bruno;182950]Deleting the accounts is impossible, as it would require deleting your posts, and this would unravel early discussions.

Disabling the accounts would leave us with a board full of banned user, not to mention an explosion in the number of accounts.

And changing names will unravel the board / community over the long term.

I want to send a PM to foo but I cannot find him anymore...
Ah but now he is bar, try sending a PM to him...
No that was yesterday. Now he is named 'furby'

This simply does not work, and while it may be fun for the individual, it has only negative consequences for the community. Being a member of the community also means that you have to care about the wellbeing of the community, and not just your own community experience.[/quote]
Bruno for President in '08

Originally Posted by Vardeman Sneed

I cannot be the only member of SRP that has contemplated changing their username, nor creating another account.

I don't think you're the only one who might want a username change, seeing how Taz and Lynn both changed theirs recently. But you're talking about changing yours every other month, and that is probably way more than anyone else. If you have a username and after a few years realise that you might want something else that's one thing, but if you constantly change your username it becomes confusing.

I frequent one forum where people can change their username at a maximum of once a month. Most people keep some part of their username constant, so "Member X" becomes "X is a member" or "Hello I am X" or something like that, but it's not a rule and not everyone does it, and it really messes up old threads because people refer to posts by the username of posters.

Say I have a thread where Bruno posts something and then JMS disagrees, then I post "I agree with Bruno". And then both Bruno and JMS change their usernames. Then my post suddenly refers to something that doesn't exists (namely someone called "Bruno"). Or what if we want people who are starting out with restorations and I want to say "Check out Bruno's hand sanding guide"... etc. etc.


I personally think you just need to pick a username and stick with it. You don't ask your friends you call you something else each month either, do you.

Originally Posted by bjrn

I don't think you're the only one who might want a username change, seeing how Taz and Lynn both changed theirs recently....

Interesting.... I was not aware that Taz and Lynn changed their usernames.

Has the policy changed, or are only a select few allowed a username change? It was only this past January, that my request to have my username changed was denied. (I am not trying to flame anyone, only to raise a point for discussion.)

One thought may be to allow a change of username after 6 months of use, or maybe after a year.

Originally Posted by bjrn

Say I have a thread where Bruno posts something and then JMS disagrees, then I post "I agree with Bruno". And then both Bruno and JMS change their usernames. Then my post suddenly refers to something that doesn't exists (namely someone called "Bruno"). Or what if we want people who are starting out with restorations and I want to say "Check out Bruno's hand sanding guide"... etc. etc.

Good forum etiquette would be to quote the pertinent points that you are agreeing with. That way, you are agreeing with a statement, or point.

Originally Posted by bjrn

... You don't ask your friends you call you something else each month either, do you.

You never know!

Bjrn, Vardeman Sneed,

I knew that Taz changed his handle to Don, which I gather is his real name. I didn't realize that Lynn had changed his handle from adjustme69 to Lynn, but it makes sense for both of them to do what they did. As our hobby becomes more popular, being able to refer to the go-to people by their real name simplifies communication and I appreciate those changes. However, changing one's handle from one cute appellation to another serves no purpose that I can perceive other than to stroke an ego.

Originally Posted by Vardeman Sneed

When they have done so, the new username replaces the old username in all the posts where the previous username was used.

For the record, what you say is not true. When you rename a user all of the linkable references to their username are automatically changed. But textual references do not. For example, suppose in the body of a post I said "Vardeman Sneed had a situation like that... why not PM him"... that reference WOULD NOT be changed if the admin changed your name. This can be quite confusing to new members who don't know people by multiple persona... hence it's good for the community to not create the confusion. There are also some security elements to consider. The bottom line is thousands of other members are living with the restriction just fine. I suggest you drop it and move on to more important and fun things like str8 shaving.

I can only weigh in and say I find it mildly annoying when people radically change their Avatars, so a total name change is really over the top to me. I come to recognize people by their names and if someone wants to be MEMBER of the community they have to participate for a while. Someone who has had three names in a year may have been in the community for a year but they are not a MEMBER until they establish themseves in personality, contribution, and identity.

Originally Posted by Bruce

Bjrn, Vardeman Sneed,

I knew that Taz changed his handle to Don, which I gather is his real name. I didn't realize that Lynn had changed his handle from adjustme69 to Lynn, but it makes sense for both of them to do what they did. As our hobby becomes more popular, being able to refer to the go-to people by their real name simplifies communication and I appreciate those changes. However, changing one's handle from one cute appellation to another serves no purpose that I can perceive other than to stroke an ego.

Bruce you are right on the money. As the sight grows we felt that people should know us by our names. Old timers do but new comers do not and we thouht it would be better. Now as for name changes it will stay a request and there would need to be a valid reason. Monthly name changes do not make sense. Hrd to build friendships when you are always changing your name. Also multiple accounts are not allwed.
Any questions just shoot me a a pm
Thanks Don

Okay, I think we've covered this issue pretty well.