Name changes

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff]Argh. The constant name changes on this board are killing me.

It's so annoying when someone changes their name and doesn't put something their sig to say "My name is changed to..."

It makes me think that they're a completely different person, and that I don't know them at all, and it's really very frustrating.

I mean, two minutes ago, I just found out that Generic NPC #3 is Semjaza because Sage called him "semmy." Is Tony trying to make me feel stupid by changing his name? Switching it up so that he can avoid me on the boards, the crazy weirdo that I am?

Obviously that's not true, and I'm only using Tony as an example (please don't be offended. I loves you Semji. *huggle*), but there are so many people running around these boards changing their names every two seconds that I just can't keep up with them all.

I mean, how would you all like if it, tomorrow, when you came to OB, James has changed his name to "The sandman," Panda was "Machine of Doom," and wristcutter was "HappyEasterBunny" and none of them told you they had changed their name? (I have nothing against those people either. Merely more examples.) It's really really really annoying.

I'd really like it if people kept the line "Former user name: _____" for at least a month or two, or SOMETHING to indicate that their username is different. Ever since OB allowed name changes, I feel like I don't know almost anybody anymore, and I bet half the people on this board are still from v4, lol. (v4 was when I joined. ... yeah.)

If something, [i]anything[/i] could be done to clear up confusion, it would be muchly appreciated by me. (or if you have any other suggestions how to clarify name changes, please feel free to post them here.)


P.S.: I sincerely apologize if this post sounds annoying, yelling-ish, or whiny. I have a cold, and I feel like everything I say is extremely funny in one way or another. But I have been thinking about asking about this name change stuff for a while, and now that I'm at home with time on my hands, here I am in the suggestions forum.

P.P.S.: I did not mean to offend anyone by using their name in this post. It was merely for examples. I love you all![/color]

[Semjaza]

It was in my signature actually (Dagger did it automatically), but I wound up removing it because there was no room for my help request for a site I was working on. Now that I got the help, I guess I should just put it back in there for a short while.

[Dagger]

I've been adding the "Former Username" tag to the signatures of the members whose names I've changed... but they usually get rid of it pretty quickly. :animeswea

I completely sympathize with your complaint; until I actually started performing them myself, name changes often confused the heck out of me--even if the one involved already had a very distinctive post style. I agree that it would be extremely helpful if members who have name changes tried to make at least some reference to their former handles.

On that note, I've seen people erase the line I added to their signatures, replacing it with a more creatively worded way of indicating who they used to be. This works fine, too, as long as the phrasing is relatively clear; at any rate it's better than nothing.

~Dagger~

[Japan]

[COLOR=Navy]I think that when people do that, it's fun to find out what their username use to be.

Like...after reading Tony's post in the 'What is your set-up' thread, (he posted a picture of his tv, games, and systems) I finally figured out who he was...cause I reconized the room...

Anyways, I don't know why I still need it this tag in my sig anymore.....I'm the only one with a country as a username as far as I know.[/COLOR]

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]I believe that it used to be 'law' for a member who had recently changed their name to keep that note in their signature for a few weeks, [b]at the least[/b]. I don't know what hapened to that...it seems to me that it kind of fell in the cracks somewhere. But yeah, I think it used to be a rule, and I think it could do with re-definition.[/size]

[Sakura]

[font=Verdana][size=2][color=navy]Well, most people still have something in their sig, but yes there are a few that are missing it. I think there was a kind of thing that everyone stuck by about the keep it for a few weeks. I think that people may be taking it out for lack of room for some people, like Generic said, because last time there wasn't a limit of characters in our sigs.[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Verdana][size=2][color=#000080]But I've got mine, I hope people understand it ^^;;[/color][/size][/font]

[font=Verdana][size=2][color=#000080]Besides, my banner still says Ohkami anyway, until I change my banner.[/color][/size][/font]

[TheShinje]

[size=1][color=DarkRed][color=Green][b]On the occasions[/b] that I have changed my OB User Name, i have left the fomer username tag in for a few weeks. I usually keep my banner and avatars for a while too, to aid in the re-adjustment.

I don't see a big deal though. If a member doesn't want to have the former username in the sig, that should be up to that user. The only problem I see is the member might find himself re-aquainting with his/her online friends more often that way. [/color]:animesmil
[/color][/size]

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff]That's exactly why it bothers me. I like to know who visits Otakuboards. If they all change their names and don't put it in their sigs, and since I'm not friends with [b]every single person[/b] on Otakuboards, how will they re-acquaint themselves with me? You see? That was my original request. =/

I realize it's not very practical for the mods to run around as the signature police, yelling at people who don't leave it in there (lol, that's kind of silly too), but at the very least, maybe an announcement/ reminder for people to leave it in there? v.v[/color]

[James]

[color=#B0251E]Maybe we can add something into people's profiles that lists their previous username. I'm really not sure. But I don't think it's practical to simply ask people to leave it in their signatures, because many simply won't. And I don't want that to become an actual rule on the site.

So, perhaps we can add a field in their profiles where Dagger can type in their previous name or something. That way if you really want to know, you can check their profile and find out.[/color]

[Skye]

[size=1][color=green]I can see where that is a problem. Most of us make it nifty looking, like Sakura's. Treno, Jian, and I (Formerly Reise, Tash, and Rhian) have all put all our former user names in our signatures. It looks pretty nifty, too. :p

But yeah, it would be useful to find a way to show who used to be who. ^_^ It is also confusing when someone abruptly changes their style of banner and ava, and don't put their name on it.

(On a side note, I actually remember when I had: Former Username: callmegoddess04 in my signature, and I put my name in bold. xD)[/size][/color]

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff]If that's possible, James, thank you. I really appreciate that. If it can't be done, don't worry, but thank you for taking my suggestion into consideration. ^_^ *pounce*

Mouse - I know. I can sometimes indentify people by old banners but most totally change everything. Gah. Many people have pointed out that they make an effort to keep their old user names in their sig, at least for a while, and I really do appreciate that. It's really helpful for me, so thank you! =)[/color]

[Shinmaru]

[quote name='James][color=#B0251E']Maybe we can add something into people's profiles that lists their previous username.[/color][/quote]

I hope that this doesn't apply to those who don't want their old (and embarrassing) user names to become public knowledge. Ahem. <_<;

EDIT: Excellent. My horrible former username will still remain a mystery...at least if certain people keep their mouths shut!

[James]

[quote name='Shinmaru']I hope that this doesn't apply to those who don't want their old (and embarrassing) user names to become public knowledge. Ahem. <_<;[/quote]

[color=#B0251E]I suspect that it will apply to everyone (ie: it won't be user-editable). However, it also won't be retroactive (I so rarely get to use that word, but I love it). In other words, it will only apply to people who have their names changed from the time we implement it.

Apart from the convenience for users, it will be a good administrative tool as well, I think. It'll allow staff to check up on the previous name if something happens, which may help to clarify things (ie: if a member gets into trouble and gets their username changed right after or something like that).[/color]

[DeadSeraphim]

[COLOR=Indigo][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial][quote name='Shinmaru']EDIT: Excellent. My horrible former username will still remain a mystery...at least if certain people keep their mouths shut![/quote]
Hey, whatever happened to that mirai_torankusu guy?[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[MissWem]

[QUOTE=Aiyisha][COLOR=Indigo][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial]
Hey, whatever happened to that mirai_torankusu guy?[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]*laughs* indeed, to think I have a picture of that guy on my wall :p

After reading this I've learnt a whole lot about where certain members have gone, or didn't go for that matter. Just, disguised...

Rather strange to try connect the old person with a new one. Not that I'm acquainted with anyone on OB, I just like seeing the familiar ones..[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[PWNED]

[QUOTE]Originally Posted by Shinmaru
I hope that this doesn't apply to those who don't want their old (and embarrassing) user names to become public knowledge. Ahem. <_<;
[/QUOTE]
What? You will deny others the chance of learning your old Username? That is Cruel..... Anyway, Now is my two cents.

I find that Name Changes can get a bit hectic for a while when a lot of Members join the Boards at one time because the individuality will kind of fade. I myself have decided to get a name change after a bit under a year and a half of being Daermon_Nashabe but there are some that change their name every two months or so. I agree with James about the idea of the option in the Control Panel because It will help quite a bit.

[Citrus]

I personally have gone through a lot of name changes. Obviously I am against stopping name changing. It is a pretty cool concept. I mean what f you go through a whole personality change? and you went from girly-girl to gothic? Would you want your screen name to stay Cutsie? I wouldn't.


So I am on the side to stay with name changing. But, that is my opinion and anyone is able to argue it. Thank-you for reading my opinion.

China