Changing Usernames

Category: Zone BBS Suggestions and Feedback

Post 1 by Jage (Zone BBS, a decade of madness) on Sunday, 04-Dec-2005 20:33:57

In the coming weeks, we will be introducing a formal system for changing username, to create consistency and make this an automatic process. Among the features of the system, you will be able to view the history of any user's names. There will be a limit on how often you can change your name. We are looking for suggestions as to how exactly you think this system should be implemented. Please post them here or send us an Email.
Thanks.

Post 2 by yankee g wolverine (Account disabled) on Sunday, 04-Dec-2005 23:56:13

oy, sorry j, but really? it's a good idea til everyone is changed around, and you need to remember new names, adn then you've to to remember as another name is changed

Post 3 by yankee g wolverine (Account disabled) on Sunday, 04-Dec-2005 23:56:46

it's an interesting idea though

Post 4 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 0:52:47

People are going to change their names whether this is done or not. Some people have changed their names two or three times already.

Post 5 by OrangeDolphinSpirit (Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 1:58:58

I agree with CL.

Post 6 by sugar (Entertain me. I dare you.) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 3:42:10

agreed... o d s and cl

Post 7 by laced-unlaced (Account disabled) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 5:11:58

agried with cat lover but i also think that maybe if this system did get introduced at least we could change the names by ourselves

Post 8 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 5:39:50

I personaly don't like the idea of being able to change usernames because of the whole confusion I think it will cause, but obviously people are either asking themselves or getting a new account. maybe only a premium feature?

Post 9 by yankee g wolverine (Account disabled) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 6:55:45

ah, that's a good idea, make it premium only

Post 10 by rat (star trek rules!) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 11:26:21

if you give everything new to premium members, what de we little normal members get? don't forget about us.

Post 11 by jessmonsilva (Taking over the boards, one topic at a time.) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 11:44:01

That's just it, the more features you get for premium the more people will want the premium membership! And how do you change your user name anyway?

Post 12 by Jage (Zone BBS, a decade of madness) on Monday, 05-Dec-2005 19:45:22

I don't think this makes sense for premiums.
Couple of thoughts. There would be definite limits on how often you can do this. Other sites allow one change and that's it.
Also, this would make the system the same for everyone. Some people have had named changed more than once, others never. And for space reasons we'd rather have a name change than someone creating a new account.

Post 13 by Jess227 on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 0:46:28

Yup there will be people who want to change their names. But I wanna suggest that it changes the name only and not their account. So that the people who change their usernames change that and not start fresh with a new account. Kinda like what livejournal does. For a small fee if you don't like your username you can have it switched but your account will still stay active because of the email address you provided to activate the account. Lets use someone who's posted on here for a example shall we?



Lets say that rdfreak said something and regrets it. She wants to change her username to start fresh. But what she doesn't know is that only her name is changed and nothing more. And say she changed it to Aussie all it'll say is Aussie and keep her current standings as she's premium, number of board posts, points and her profile will remain the same. So really people will know who she is by identifying her by her profile or style of writing on the boards.



Did I confuse anyone? So if we're gonna do the username change do it this way. And only allow name changes on a limited basis like say no more then 3 changes per person per month or something.

Post 14 by psycho rabbit (Sizzling Sausages) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 2:48:21

Well, another interesting idea for the name change thing would be that you might be able to only change your existing name like 2 times a year. And then you can put as many extentions on the end of that name as you like. Similar to what most people do in msn.

Examples being:

TNMajic: I think ZoneBBS is awsome
Admin: What's with bouncy balls?

Those sorts of things.

Post 15 by cuddle_kitten84 (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 9:21:22

i think changing user hnames is a good idea, and it should be a feature for all, what about those that can't afford premium memberships at the moment? it would be inconsiderate to do that. I'd like to change my user name somehow, i'm getting bored of mine now.

Post 16 by wildebrew (We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 10:10:40

I'm against allowing user name changes personally but I see the argument of that being better than signing up with a new user account. I'd suggest no more than one user name change and any additional user name change should be done for a fee of, say, $5 .. through cl's or admins. I've been on chat channels such as irc where people were free to change their user names as often as they liked and it just simply becmae annoying after a while. To me allowing user name changes will make this a worse site (personally) and changing your user ame simply because you're bored or you started dating someone and want to implicate them in the name and then the people break up and you don't want them implicated in your user name etc will just make the site a bit annoying. I'd say allow users one month after they sign up to implement a user name change (one only) and then beginning of each year may be or for a certain period make user name changes possible (and still under a quota of say 1 or 2 max). That way user names stay constant for basically at least a year and you'll at least have aclue as to when a user name can change.
cheers
-B

Post 17 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 10:24:07

Makes a lot of sense WB.

Post 18 by jessmonsilva (Taking over the boards, one topic at a time.) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 10:45:42

I can see the point there wb.

Post 19 by Ukulele<3 (Try me... You know you want to.) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 10:58:08

Agreed totally, WB!!!! Just because people weren't creative when they signed up, we creative ones must suffer the consequences!


*sexy*

Post 20 by rat (star trek rules!) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 11:06:44

what about us users who have been here for a couplle of years? this isn't like irc at akl, is is more complicated. you don't just tyme in a command to chnnge the name. make it so people have to change it through email. that will help

Post 21 by Caitlin (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 20:48:26

I like Haidan (tardis.tardis)'s idea about the display name thingies. Although I don't think they shoudl show up on th userlist. Maybe under your name on the profile, and then let the users only change their actualy name once every two months or something, so we all don't get totlly confused. Also Blindvi's point about us still knowing who everyone is by rank makes sense too, but whatever. All in all, i think naem changes is a cool idea, in moderation.
Caitlin

Post 22 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 20:55:55

I agree with those who said to just allow name changes every once or twice a month/year.

Post 23 by TheIceMaster (http://www.myjuggalospace.com/Iced_Hatchetman) on Tuesday, 06-Dec-2005 21:15:42

I agree on the actual name change only once or twice a year. However, that comment someone made about msn. I do thaink that's a good idea. Perhaps set that up as a setting all it's own that can be changed. Perhaps a short phrase after your name.

Post 24 by The Lil Dark Piggy (This site is so "educational") on Wednesday, 18-Jan-2006 11:05:00

I agree with CL.

Post 25 by Emerald-Hourglass (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 18-Jan-2006 12:21:30

no don't make it prenium!

Post 26 by wonderwoman (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 19-Jan-2006 19:19:45

well, I think it would be a good idea if their old nickname was still somewhere, for instance, in their profile, for example, if rd freak changed her user name to ausie number one, in her profile, it could say, ausie number one, formerly rdfreak.
wonderwoman

Post 27 by silly_singer (The girl who's always lost in a melody) on Friday, 20-Jan-2006 3:41:57

Oh! I like wonderwoman's idea! and CatLover right on as well! A friend of mine changed her user name and sent me a QN and at the time had not compleated her profile so I actually ignored her not knowing about the change.

Post 28 by laced-unlaced (Account disabled) on Friday, 20-Jan-2006 5:21:39

i like your idea wonderwoman

Post 29 by rat (star trek rules!) on Friday, 20-Jan-2006 10:06:14

i would have tay i do to, even wonder woman won't see this.

Post 30 by yankee g wolverine (Account disabled) on Friday, 20-Jan-2006 15:24:28

I still think a name is a name, not to be changed

Post 31 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 20-Jan-2006 16:19:08

I like the idea as the "Formarlly known as." Also, I agree about being abel to change your name twice a year. However, this brings up the question should there be a limit as to how long an old name needs to be in place before one is aloud to change it? IE... perhaps a user can change there name like every six months or so. Perhaps if one wants to change there name more often then at each six months intervults, they need to pay a very high price tag for doing so. This would descurage people from changing there names more then twice a year, and those that did decide to change it a third time would be able to offset the costs of this site that premium doesn't cover. Does this make sense to anyone here? Thoughts?

Post 32 by Inesle1987 (Account disabled) on Monday, 23-Jan-2006 12:45:54

I think it is a good idea because I am thinking about changing mine as there are so many versions of my username that I don'T know if my idea of that name was a good one. Lol.

Post 33 by yankee g wolverine (Account disabled) on Monday, 23-Jan-2006 15:28:08

your name is good ines

Post 34 by Inesle1987 (Account disabled) on Monday, 23-Jan-2006 16:02:48

I disagree but thanks anyway. Maybe I should change mine to Eenus, cause that is how my name is pronounced, and not how Jaws really pronounces it.

Post 35 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 23-Jan-2006 17:44:22

I say make the change if you want. Personally as I said before, this should be aloud to be done under the outlines I set, or something simular. Just my opinion...

Post 36 by Nick6489 (11 years a Zoner) on Monday, 23-Jan-2006 18:11:35

Wonderwoman and Tardis, AKA Hayden's ideas are both good ones that work best if implimented together.

Post 37 by Jess227 on Wednesday, 25-Jan-2006 1:40:28

Like something MSN Plus had? You had your name up there but you were able to customize it with a phrase or something?



It should be a premium feature simply because if we allow new accounts then everyone is gonna wanna do it and its gonna be a bit confusing. And premium peeps pay for these kinds of features.



The idea of WonderWoman's was a good one. Even though someone changes it, it'll say in their profile "Formally known as......"

Post 38 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Wednesday, 25-Jan-2006 3:51:32

Good idea, blindvi and WW. That way, people can't run and hide from their former selves, though the ID number would still give it away. But who looks at that anyway?

Post 39 by silly_singer (The girl who's always lost in a melody) on Thursday, 26-Jan-2006 8:55:34

I look at the ID number. Remembering all of them is another story though! LOL :-)

Post 40 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 26-Jan-2006 16:41:16

All you need remember is "Naked J" and you'll be one verry happy woman. LOL