Suggestion: A Break From Alt-Names

[Alex Strife]

I think the point here is being reasonable. If you don't really change names so often, you can make a complete change, because your AKA won't be that long anyway.

If you change usernames every other week, then leave something for others to recognise you?


I know, I live in naive-land.

 

[Tifabelle]

That's exactly what the AKA field is though. That's why we have everyone put in one unchanging name that identifies them.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Even when people change their username, it's not as if everyone else starts calling them by their new name; this is especially the case when people change their name frequently. Everyone here has one name by which they are usually known and addressed, so it's really helpful, especially for new people (and we do want to encourage new members, don't we?) if those names are clearly displayed. When this is in the aka, there's no problem, though I'd suggest it be the first name in the aka. Otherwise there's a real danger that we come across as cliquey and unwelcoming. It's not pleasant to feel like you're the only loser who doesn't know what people's 'real' forum names are.

 

[Kuroto]

I think we're forgotting something here. When you're new, you identify people by their current username. You don't start immediately looking through their AKA field because why would you? It's only after they change their name that you start wondering if you knew them before. For example, I joined TLS when many had a name from Game of Thrones. Only after people started to change their names back did AKA field come in handy for me. So if at that time everyone would have only had their most known names in the AKA field, I wouldn't have recognized them after the name change.

So I take back what I previously said, the AKA field should stay, or at least you should have there your most recent names, even if you had used a name for only a week. But I still don't think that display name thing is not a bad idea, because it took me a long time to know who people were talking about when they mentioned names like Rishi and Tiff, because those weren't on the AKA field.

 

[Hisako]

I think the AKA usernames just need to be prioritised between the shit that's been used just previously and maybe one alt that you want everyone to identify you as for forevers?

I think there just needs to be some semblance of constancy as a reference point

AKA fields don't turn up on the vB default skin (which is my 'SFW skin' per se), but I only really get by because I've been here for a bajillion years and I tend to reference previous posts in order to remember who's posting what now under what new username.
I don't think we need a set "DON'T CHANGE YOUR NAME MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK OR WE'LL BAN YOUR ASS" (hyperbole here) sort of rule, but I think it should generally be an advisory not to randomly change usernames too much like they go out of fashion.

Also, a lot of us have a singular nickname (or real name, even) that regulars call each other by. Maybe just put that at the front of the AKA field (if so inclined, of course), although judging from the responses on the thread a lot of people already do it out of common sense.

 

[Gym Leader Devil]

Also, a lot of us have a singular nickname (or real name, even) that regulars call each other by. Maybe just put that at the front of the AKA field (if so inclined, of course), although judging from the responses on the thread a lot of people already do it out of common sense.

This. I've spent so much time as Gym Leader Devil that I fully expect to be called GLD no matter what name I'm actually using. The only real exceptions are new folk who happen to show up when I'm being something else for a bit, or the odd person who still calls me EG now and then. Thus, the only time Gym Leader Devil isn't the very first name in my aka field is when I'm actually using that name

 

[Alex Strife]

Why of course, Death.

...


We should set a member name map. Something like "User A was called like this, then used that and that name, etc." Yes, I know it's a stupid idea, but it'd be useful for new people (because veterans will pretty much know everyone already).

 

[Flintlock]

We should set a member name map. Something like "User A was called like this, then used that and that name, etc." Yes, I know it's a stupid idea, but it'd be useful for new people (because veterans will pretty much know everyone already).

Something like this?

 

[Cookie Monster]

If it's really such a goddamn problem, set up a TLS wiki page.

 

[Alex Strife]

You read my mind, Flint you rock so much.

 

[Flintlock]

I wouldn't mind making something like that, but I'd require a lot of raw data to do it, and I'm not sure it would be easy to get hold of it: basically, for every person on the chart, I'd need their join date, every username they have used here, and the dates they started and finished using them

 

[Hisako]

Yeah I don't think some of us could actually recall that unless there was some form of record stored in the forum database.

 

[Gym Leader Devil]

I sure as hell couldn't.

 

[Lex]

Wouldn't the "can someone change my username" thread work for that?

 

[Tifabelle]

Something like this?

... how would looking at something like this be easier than looking in someone's aka field?

The record of username changes is in each person's profile (that staff can see). So unless a staff member goes through each individual member's profile and makes a list with the dates, it ain't happening.

I think if people just use the AKA field (and by use I mean look at), it shouldn't be too hard to follow. Everyone already has the most identifiable nick as the first (or only) name in their aka field. Having another line that shows the original is sort of pointless cause you're still going to have to look at it to identify someone. The AKA field already accomplishes this, it's just a matter of utilizing it to identify a member.

As for the other stuff, such as Rishi or Tony, I can't imagine that members would necessarily want to put their irl names in their aka fields. I wouldn't put Kripey in mine cause it's a nickname that my friends gave me. I'd prefer not to have every tom, dick, and harry calling me it. And it's not even something that derived from this board, it came from another one.

I was new too, and sometimes confused by names, but I learned. And that was before the AKA rule. If someone mentions someone, and you're not sure who they're referring to, just ask. I've been on plenty of boards where people refer to or call another member by an old name or their irl name or w/e, and that's without the benefit of an aka field.

I mean, if you're looking over at the username to see who made a post, it's not that much of a stretch to move your eyes to look at the aka field. Hell, why not just look at that instead of looking at the username at all. People do keep their most recognized identifier in their aka as their first one, and also recommend that they put in their most recent name as well. But honestly, one name in the aka field that never changes is perfectly sufficient. It's up to the rest of us to look at it if we want to know who someone is.

 

[Lex]

I think Flint was making a joke about how often people change their names and how complicated a diagram like that would be lol.

 

[Flintlock]

I absolutely wasn't suggesting that it would be easier than the AKA field It just came to mind from Cloche's idea. It might be fun to make/look at, but as I pointed out, it would be far too much work.

 

[Tifabelle]

I kind of figured it was a joke.

 

[Alex Strife]

To be honest, while fancy diagrams would be cool, I think it'd be best if we just had something like a list with the usernames everyone's used, in order. No dates needed, really.

And before someone argues this (), I have to say not everyone writes all their used usernames in the AKA field. People who only change them every now and then, perhaps, but not those who change it so often. And they're the cause of the confusion (in my eyes) anyway. Not that I'm against name changes in any form, by the way. Just stating my views.

And perhaps this list could go on the OP of the "Can someone change my username?" thread.

 

[Fangu]

unless there was some form of record stored in the forum database.

iirc there isn't.

 

[Hisako]

And before someone argues this (), I have to say not everyone writes all their used usernames in the AKA field. People who only change them every now and then, perhaps, but not those who change it so often. And they're the cause of the confusion (in my eyes) anyway. Not that I'm against name changes in any form, by the way. Just stating my views.

I believe the rationale behind why this happens is because currently, users are obligated to leave AKAs from their most recent name changes - and usernames not used for very long or haven't been used in a long time drop off into insignificance after a while. Thus, referring back to them is only really necessary for very old threads where quote tags cite the usernames of the posters at that time, and not really all that relevant.

Also, I'm not sure if there's a character limit on the AKA field.

 

[looneymoon]

back when i was new, i never really bothered paying attention as to who was who tbh.

because it made me less inclined to censor myself if i liked someone and they said something dumb.

then again i've given that up completely now anyways.

 

[Mariketsu]

Personally, while it is a good idea, I'd go with just using the AKA field, but this will only really work if everyone uses it for previous names. Further, it also might be better if the AKA field name list is shortened to the ones used the most, your original name and the last name used before a new one, instead of listing all or most of previous names used. This way lists won't be so long and will make it a little faster to figure out who is who. This is my 2 cents .

EDIT: For this reason, I took out most of my name changes and left the ones I used for a long period of time and my original name (the now defunct Songstress Lenne and my new permanent default, Razael).

EDIT 2: Also going to add, another way to help people recognize each other is maybe members could either place their original name in the Member Title area or, if not, maybe use a Signature you used the most and place it underneath a themed Sig. I say the latter because I find myself recognizing people by Signature a lot when they only change the name but not the avi/sig pics.

~ Raz

 

[Ⓐaron]

unless there was some form of record stored in the forum database.

iirc there isn't.

There is, actually, but currently only staff can access it. It would probably be possible to write a hack to make it accessible to everyone; in fact if I looked at the database structure I could probably come up with psuedocode for it. vB is too complicated for me to write hacks for these days though.

 

[Alessa Gillespie]

who am i

i just dont know anymore