Names and Usernames

acrouch · Post by **acrouch** » July 30th, 2008, 2:44 pm

Can we hack the forum to show both people's names and usernames next to each post? I know Roy made a temp patch for firefox a while ago, but is there some more permanent solution? Or can we update that one?

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » July 30th, 2008, 5:19 pm

I added my name after my location and it seemed to work alright. I guess it might not work as well if someone has a shorter string for their location.

Maybe there's a way to add a new profile field to display? BobA?

KathyRose · Post by **KathyRose** » July 30th, 2008, 7:06 pm

A user's real name can easily be added to the signature text; however, an explicit field in the profile would be better, especially if it's a required field. (Doesn't ensure honesty, but does make sure the request for information is not overlooked.)

Post by **bradisntclever** » July 30th, 2008, 7:39 pm

Yeah, if this is going to be done, Bob would have to do it. It's part of the template files which can only really be accessed from the FTP server.

I'm not sure how many people would be a fan of the idea, however.

Marc Majcher · Post by **Marc Majcher** » July 30th, 2008, 10:42 pm

bradisntclever wrote: I'm not sure how many people would be a fan of the idea, however.

Big fan, right here. I like knowing names, especially since there's so many new folks coming our way these days.

(The only real question is, is Bob a big fan of the idea?)

KathyRose · Post by **KathyRose** » July 30th, 2008, 10:49 pm

bradisntclever wrote:I'm not sure how many people would be a fan of the idea, however.

Why not?

When I first visited the AIC website and looked at the member profile, I thought it was very strange that a user's name was not included, so I used my real name as my user name. I have nothing to hide, and I wanted people to get to know me as me.

Why the secrecy? It was like joining a community of lizards hiding under rocks. Or an elitist society, in which you had to decipher user identities before being acknowledged as a worthy supplicant. Neither image was appealing or welcoming.

I know that some people find a certain whacked-out thrill in hiding behind the mask of playing characters; but c'mon ... at some point, everyone needs to grow a spine, and stand behind their posts and their work.

Post by **bradisntclever** » July 31st, 2008, 12:57 am

Kathy Rose Center wrote: Why not?

I'm not one of them, but some people wish to preserve their privacy.

One immediate scenario I can think of is the College Debate Listserv I used to be a part of. It's huge and every e-mail thread is archived on a pretty regular basis. Jokers would occasionally make some off-handed remarks about certain people, or accuse people of heinous crimes. If your full name is used, or even parts, it's not too hard for Google to dig it up. This was especially a problem for these college debaters, because top law schools and law firms really like to research their applicants.

Again, I don't think it would be a problem, personally.

Aden · Post by **Aden** » July 31st, 2008, 6:37 am

Maybe first names would be alright, which is what I use as my user name (I changed it when people had no idea who i was due to my user name being nothing like my actual name). I'd be hesitant to have my last name show up on all of my posts. When i do a current google on my name, there are posts that come up on forums I have posted on in the past. So far nothing terrible has come up, probably because I don't indulge in flame wars, but it always kind of weirds me out.

KathyRose · Post by **KathyRose** » July 31st, 2008, 8:59 am

Aden wrote:Maybe first names would be alright ... When i do a current google on my name, there are posts that come up on forums I have posted on in the past.

Right now, the Avatar block is dynamically displayed, not "stored" with the post, so the Google concern is not really an issue. (I just tested my own name.) However, putting the user's full name on every post would be unnecessary since the information would be just one click away, in the member's profile.

KathyRose · Post by **KathyRose** » July 31st, 2008, 9:32 am

bradisntclever wrote:Jokers would occasionally make some off-handed remarks about certain people, or accuse people of heinous crimes.

Ah, yes ... such "jokers" aren't humorists; they are snipers, assassins, predators, bullies and cowards, one step away from a white hooded cloak. Anonymity empowers them.

Let us encourage responsible communication by removing the cloak of obscurity.

My tongue doeth lash; but 'tis still mine own tongue.

York99 · Post by **York99** » July 31st, 2008, 1:03 pm

I prefer not knowing who people are. It makes for fun discoveries. I went about a year and a half before I figured out Frank. But what fun I had upon making that discovery!!

KathyRose · Post by **KathyRose** » July 31st, 2008, 1:26 pm

York99 wrote:I prefer not knowing who people are.

Then putting the full name only in the profile is a perfect compromise. If you wish to peek under the mantle, peek. Or not, as you will.

acrouch · Post by **acrouch** » July 31st, 2008, 1:59 pm

Kathy Rose Center wrote:
York99 wrote:I prefer not knowing who people are.
Then putting the full name only in the profile is a perfect compromise. If you wish to peek under the mantle, peek. Or not, as you will.

That would work for me.

Marc Majcher · Post by **Marc Majcher** » July 31st, 2008, 4:41 pm

York99 wrote:I went about a year and a half before I figured out Frank.

I'm not sure that anyone has really figured out Frank.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » July 31st, 2008, 6:12 pm

Honestly, if someone wants to make their real name available, they already have the means to do so. Many of us do so, and I'm all for encouraging people to do so, but if they don't want to, so be it. Besides, how else could such lovelies as Arthurina grace us with their presence?