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.

But then again, how the heck does it tell anyone anything besides that a name is taken.

I think it's more a question of feelings than anything concrete. I just think that people who like being invisible might suddenly feel like they're being dragged into the light, which is kind of alarming.

I mentioned it over on BBaBB, but I don't know if the discussion came over here.

Thanks. I'll go reread.

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.

Hunh. I had the opposite thought -- it seemed to me like I recognized about 80% of the usernames.

Also, if you look at the bottom of the screen, Gus built it from people who had posted in recently-closed threads. Total lurkers aren't on there.

I don't like the idea of a users list being available to non-members. IIRC, optimizing and re-activating the search function is already on the tech To Do list, so it's not really policy issue, is it?

I prefer pronounceable usernames, but it's not something I think needs to be codified.

And (to add to the confusion), I'd like to change my username (back) to Jessica, if there's a Stompy around to do it.

Done, Jess.

eta:

IIRC, optimizing and re-activating the search function is already on the tech To Do list, so it's not really policy issue, is it?

True, but I was specifically thinking of a user search rather than a content search -- in other words, "take me to the profile of poster x", rather than "show me all that poster y posted".

It seems like a distinct function to me, although I'd be interested to know if others don't see it that way. And I don't know if the load would be significantly less than the old search function, or even where we are on that right now, so the suggestion is subject to all kinds of caveats.

I think it's more a question of feelings than anything concrete. I just think that people who like being invisible might suddenly feel like they're being dragged into the light, which is kind of alarming.

Betcha even money more of them will look at the list, find their name and go, "Look! My name!"and move on with nary a thought.

Not trying to be facetious, but we can't cater to the most neurotic, and we can't cater to hypothetical feelings.