Yeah, shrift.
I mean, I know your legal name, but dude--your real name's still shrift.
'Time Bomb'
A thread to discuss naming threads, board policy, new thread suggestions, and anything else that has to do with board administration and maintenance. Guaranteed to include lively debate and polls. Natter discouraged, but not deleted.
Current Stompy Feet: ita, Jon B, DXMachina, P.M. Marcontell, Liese S., amych
Yeah, shrift.
I mean, I know your legal name, but dude--your real name's still shrift.
maybe we could add a sentence saying that we* may ask you to change your username if we deem it confusing?
This alone would probably be enough, IMO. Unless you want to note the specific confusions (with another poster or a celebrity).
But it is your real name.
One of these days, I should change it legally.
That'd really make my family look at me sideways...
We tend to have a more conversational tone and write things like, "What Scrappy said." I was finding it kind of awkward to phrase a post in response to "Mxplx*, The Grand High Minister of What Scrappy Said" without cutting and pasting.
I think this issue will be self-correcting in-thread. Basically, if somebody hangs around long enough to be part of the conversation they'll clue into the culture, or acquire a shorter nickname, or change when they see how people address each other.
"Can I call you Mx?"
"Mix mentioned upthread..." etc.
I have no problem with the database.
I also have no problem with not having one, as I agree it's likelytobe of limited usefulness.
IOW: Party on, dudes, nothing to add here.
I see the issues, and I have to admit that a look at Gus' list was enough to take me aback. It's one thing to know that active posters are only about 20% of the board population, but it's another thing entirely to see the proof.
I hereby rescind my request, but I do want a list of board members available to registered board members, so I can find Cindy or ita or DX when I need to email them, instead of searching through random threads.
It's one thing to know that active posters are only about 20% of the board population, but it's another thing entirely to see the proof.
That actually brings up a point I hadn't thought of, and if someone made it already, I missed it.
If I were a lurker, and I liked being a lurker, and I only registered so the board could keep track of what I read, this list would freak me the hell out.
I do want a list of board members available to registered board members, so I can find Cindy or ita or DX when I need to email them, instead of searching through random threads.
Agreed. Or even better (both easier to use if, say, I need to reach suela, and less likely to trigger here's-the-whole-list-of-us feelings) a profile search, which I think (?) shouldn't have the load issues of a full search.
If I were a lurker, and I liked being a lurker, and I only registered so the board could keep track of what I read, this list would freak me the hell out.
Well, maybe. But then again, how the heck does it tell anyone anything besides that a name is taken. Very few people use their full names here, and those of us who do do so because we don't mind people knowing who we are.
I mentioned it over on BBaBB, but I don't know if the discussion came over here.
I think it's a significant change for lurkers, and I'm not sure that the benefit will be strong enough to counter that.