Question about HTF Username Policy revision

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Also, how to change username/nickname once you've done the change? I just added my nickname and now that icon for that is gone? Anyone?

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Once you've done the change, that should be it. The idea is to give existing members the same opportunity as a new signup to select a user name, not to have user names become something that's constantly revised like a signature.

Good question! I wish I knew the answer. Have to defer to Ron and Parker.

M.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Mike:

To quote BTO:


Parker

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Should the policy really by first name only? Part of what I liked about the old policy was the lack of anomynity; anything anybody posted was posted with the knowledge it would be directly tied to the real world person behind the keyboard. I think this is a big factor in the general level of respect and civility on the HTF.
Additionally, as time goes forward I could see it getting confusing with a lot of Johns and Michaels and Adams flying about.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

First name has always been acceptable. I know some people wouldn't want their full name up--it caused problems for Ernest R., I believe. I don't have a problem with it, as my name obviously shows, though I am not too thrilled with the idea of nicknames.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Seems like some people can't wait to lose their real names. I've noticed in a thread in the Movies area one member who's been here since 1999 is now going by the name TheBat and thats it, who was he originally?
At least people should include their real names, or at least what looks like a real name, under the alias.

I'm afraid the HTF is going to start looking a little childish now with people naming themselves Fat Nerd, Darth Pimple, Mike Rotch etc

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

That's required. Please report any poster who is using only a nickname, using the usual "report this post" function.

M.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

To reiterate what Michael has just said....

Please report to us any member with a nickname that
doesn't have a real name listed below it.

You know, we do something rather cool for our members
wanting to use a nickname. All we ask is that a REAL FIRST
NAME is also supplied beneath that nickname. If members
continue to ignore our requests to adhere to this policy, it
is going to ruin things for everyone here.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Hmm....

I only get one chance for a nickname.

"Den-den"?
"Uncle Boo"?
"Fluff Pump's Daddy"?
"Flufferdoodle's Daddy"?

I'll have to think very carefully about this. Meanwhile, does Mike Frezon get to go by "Mr. Freeze"? Does Cees Alons get to go by "Case the joint"?

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

The real name field preferably gets your real first name and real family name. But there could be reason for someone not to enter their family name, so the real first name is all that's officially required. At least.

But we still like it very much if you care to give your full real name.


Cees

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

A REAL FIRST NAME is a must! No getting around it.

This real first name will appear beneath the nickname you choose.

As of today, we are no longer permitting members to change
their usernames on their own. Too many people were abusing
our policy.

If you absolutely must change your current username to a nickname,
I will need to following sent to me via email:

Email Subject: To Ron: Username Change

1. Your current HTF Username
2. Your email address that you registered with
3. The Username (nickname) you wish to change to
4. Your REAL FIRST NAME (last is optional) you want displayed
beneath nickname.

Send all that to: repstein@hometheaterforum.com

Be absolutely certain, please, to address the email subject line
accordingly as I get a lot of spam.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Wow! You guys don't have enough work to do maintaining this site? Now, you guys have to police membership sign ups because a few idiots apparently cannot comprehend simple English. Isn't there any way to set a requirement that **ALL** fields must be filled out before the nickname is accepted? Underneath that, in big bold letters, a statement that membership will be automatically terminated if it is discovered that a real first name has not been supplied under the nom de plume. After all, if they are unwilling to follow even a simple rule request, do you really want them as members of your board?

There must be a simpler way to control the sign up process than you guys having to vet each and every request for a nickname.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Edwin:

We are going to be taking care of changing out usernames so members will have to email Ron with not only the choice of nickname they want and their real name to user too.

Parker

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Hi Edwin!

The problem is this....

Nobody reads a thing.

When we had a stricter username signup policy we put notices
in bold red print beneath the signup field requesting a real first name.

The majority of registrants never bothered to read it.

We live in a day and age where signing up and using a forum such
as this (and there are thousands out there) is a no-brainer experience.
Most any board you can register any way you wish and nobody reads
the rules of the house.

I suppose because of the fact that our rules are unique to anyone
else's board, it's a rather difficult expectation for us to think people
are going to read rules before registering.

Our new signup policy actually helps. People can register with a nickname
and will get approved much easier as long as they also supply a real first
name.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

I can understand, from the main body of your post, the point you are making with this statement. However, there is also an unintended irony in your statement, since your board is all about reading.

I understand the reasoning for setting up the system for registering nicknames the way you guys have. It is just too bad that your workload has to be upped because some people can't be bothered to "read a thing": not even one simple instruction. That seems say something about a lack of respect in our society.

Moderating and keeping this board functioning is probably a near to a full time job, on top of whatever day jobs you guys do to bring home the bacon. The least people could do is help lessen the load by following a simple instruction. However, I guess that is just too much to ask for in our present day and age. Anyhow, carry on. You guys run a great board here and I'm pretty sure you're not getting rich doing it......probably just sleep deprived from the number of hours that are put into it.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

It should really be, your real name as your sign in name and your nickname underneath. Whenever people quote others, it's annoying to see:
I'd rather have my real name being quoted.

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

My preference too.
The real name is required, so we can address people by their first names.


Cees

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

I missed this announcement, where can I find it?

I am also in the camp that liked it better when everyone had a real name. I didn't see the announcment, but I have been noticing a lot of nicknames recently and was wondering what was going on.

One of the charms about this place for me has always been the abscence of Nicknames or handles and the use of real names gives this place a more professional feel to it. if you ever want to take a vote about this whole nickname policy, you can put me down as against it.

Chris

Re: Question about HTF USername Policy revision

Chris,

I pulled the announcement, and I'll get to the reason why in
just a moment.

We had a major problem on this forum concerning usernames.

With over 60,000 members, every single first name, first name
last initial and first name last two initials were used up. People
that were registering to this forum were having an awful time
finding an available username that they could use.

You can see that we were forced into a position where we had
to do something to fix the problem.

Instead of making the First Name the focal point of the
signup, we made it secondary. This way, people could register
with a Nickname (there are thousands of them available)
first and then a real first name second.

People still are required to register with a real first name, Chris.
That first name is still showing up in the display. The only difference
from before is that it now resides below the nickname.

We did post an announcement a month or two ago about the
new policy and instructions to existing members on how to change
their username to a nickname (but still providing a real name). We
decided to remove that announcement after members abused the
policy by not following instructions correctly. Now, if a member
wants to change their username they need to contact us first.

I realize that this decision did compromise a structure we and the
membership were very proud of. What else was there for us to do
when it was becoming nearly impossible for new registrants to obtain
a username?

I hope that you can understand our reasons for shifting to this
new policy.

Re: Question about HTF Username Policy revision

I have nothing to contribute to this thread, other than to say that I'm pleased to see Ron is a Kentucky Fried Movie fan.

Re: Question about HTF Username Policy revision

Nathan,

Funniest movie ever made, my friend!

Re: Question about HTF Username Policy revision

I suppose I missed the announcement on changing usernames. My bad.

I do want to change mine, but not sure how to do it, or what the rammifications are. When I signed up, the board would not accept hyphenated last names, so I used my commonly used nickname in conjunction with the last half of my hyphenated name, which belongs to my now-ex.

Three years on, I am not really thrilled to be bearing my ex's last name on the forum I frequent most. I would like to change it to my real surname.

Thanks, guys!

Re: Question about HTF Username Policy revision

Yep. That's the way: contact Ron.


Cees

Re: Question about HTF Username Policy revision

I did. However, I have been on the forum for eight years, and I can't remember my email back then. So, I got most of the info. Hopefully, Ron will be merciful.