Forum Display Name

[Richard Marler]

The club has received a considerable amount of negative comments concerning forum users changing their display name. Some users seem to want to change their display name on a regular basis, which makes it hard for other forum users to know who is making comments. I can see no positive reason to allow users to continuously change their forum display name and intend, therefore, to disable this option.

Please comment below if you see a benefit to keeping the option enabled.

I will leave the vote for a week and will act upon the results. Forum users wanting to change their display name to a permanent choice should do so now.

Some people think the use of real names makes the forum more personal and friendly. Also, the use of real names may help when people meet for real world social gatherings, but it is entirely up to users what forum display name they choose.

[ross]

Nope, it's a pain.  It should maybe be allowed by request if there are mitigating circumstances though, but would have to be handled manually.

[DADOH]

No benefits to my mind, having said that I can usually spot who made the profile change from the avatar, but yes it does get confusing. Have now changed mine so no more cryptic alias 

[Richard Marler]

[quote="Ross McWilliam"]
It should maybe be allowed by request if there are mitigating circumstances though, but would have to be handled manually.
[/quote]

Exactly what I had planned Ross. I think that approach makes most sense.

Obviously avatars can also be changed, so the idea would be that the name would be consistent.

[Heywood-Yablowme]

Don't you guys have anything better to do? Geezo.... I like changing my screen name,just because...I feel like it.Freedom of choice. I might even be the king of name changes.

Who the f^ck would bitch about someone changing their screen name?  Some anal slob who is obsessed with uniformity is all that comes to mind...

This site gets more silly by the day!

[Driver]

People should pick something and stay with it. Cuts down on thread confusion and if real names are used it may make for a more friendly forum. I've already modified my Tagline, the rest later.

[NormLarson]

I don't think that it is hard to keep up with at all.  From my perspective, a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist.  Also, I have never read that it was preferred for us to use our real names, is this something new or did I just miss it? 

[benyeats]

I don't think it is a struggle to keep up with at all, if a post is made by someone with loads of posts who I don't know I just assume it was Mad Max Atom who is the only one who changes his name regularly and get on with my life.

Ben

[NormLarson]

[quote="benyeats"]
I don't think it is a struggle to keep up with at all, if a post is made by someone with loads of posts who I don't know I just assume it was Mad Max Atom who is the only one who changes his name regularly and get on with my life.

Ben
[/quote]

Yeah, that does about say it ....

[Driver]

Says two people who actually use their real name...   I think one thing to keep in mind is what a newbie reads when they first come upon the board and start trying to read up on the various threads. In that respect some consistency would help.

[Richard Marler]

incorrect user name, if you feel this forum sucks, please feel free to leave. The job of the club and moderators is simply to reflect the majority desire and opinion. If the majority would rather users keep a single display name, and that option is available in the forum software, then that's how it will be. If the majority opinion is against it, then likewise that's how it will be.

[bodnet]

Most other forums I read never had the option to repeatedly change your name in the first place. Only one forum I would like to read insists that your real name is mentioned in your name or sig - for that reason I have never joined!

I feel it would cause more confusion now if people started to change their names en mass - Cobra Driver Bolus Spaz Wisp etc have their own identities regardless of their real name 

For my part "Bod" is all that some of my best friends know me as! To me it is as much a 'real' name as my actual one....


"Bod"

[Richard Marler]

The real names part is only preference, not a rule. And certainly long standing forum users, who have a kept a name that we now all recognise, are more than welcome to keep that name.

The consistency part is what is really important, as it allows people to get to know other forum users more quickly and easily. This is obviously particularly important for new users, that maybe don't have the historical knowledge of forum usage patterns :p

[Heywood-Yablowme]

A you shitting me? Newbies won't know one asshole from the other.....so what is the difference? Consistency.Ha!  Consistent load of bullshit delivered on a weekly basis. Thank GOD the Atom is not a reflection of the attitude that the owners of this "club" seem to enjoy.   Historical knowledge of forum usage patterns...holy shitsticks!

[Bruce Fielding]

Dear incorrect user name,

I can't place the name, but the style is definitely familiar...