A suggestion

[Andrew]

When browsing the Message Boards, a thought suddenly came to me - dunno if its been suggested before?

Would it be an idea to stop the use of nicknames on the message boards and have everyone registered by their full name?

I thought it might be an idea to stop people putting on daft postings (me too!) and stop this animosity on the boards!

Andrew

[fred]

When browsing the Message Boards, a thought suddenly came to me - dunno if its been suggested before?

Would it be an idea to stop the use of nicknames on the message boards and have everyone registered by their full name?

I thought it might be an idea to stop people putting on daft postings (me too!) and stop this animosity on the boards!

Andrew

If you prefer meatspace stay there, the internet was founded on principles and the principle of anonymity is one of the main ones.


Give a man a mask and he will tell you the truth.

Oscar Wilde

[moncur]

hmmm dont think it is a good idea. Reason being that if someone were to post a thread and someone disagreed with it strongly, it is too easy to look up someone in a phonebook, find their email address etc in order to confront them. I choose to put my name as my username, but would hate to be forced to not have a choice.

Plus, what if folk pretended to be someone else?

[Angela]

I use my first name, but that's my choice & I don't live locally...not that easy to track me down...
Nobody needs to know more about me personally than I choose to reveal either in the forum or PMs, and I must say that's the way I like it :)

[Piglet]

IMHO Its good to have the choice whether you use your name or make up a user name.

As you can see i chose not to use my name, if i wish people to know my name i will be the one to tell them.:Razz

[Angela]

I won't ask you - I can only think of you as Piglet!:lol:

[rfr10]

Isn't that usually one of the most important rules for forums.. usually it tells you before you register on forums and chat rooms, not to use your real name?

[henry20]

I like the anonimity of the org. It allows you to be viewed with an open mind. Remember, we live in a relatively small community where there's still the 'oh, that Henry, he is the grandson of Betty - you know Betty, her aunt used to be married to Bob that ran the corner shop.' conversations. I remember my mum telling me that when she got married she thought she would gain her own identity instead of being 'so and so's daughter' Her new identity?? 'so and so's wife!' :lol: not to say, she was gutted! But because she was 'so and so's wife' I have always been 'so and so's daughter.' :lol:

[Saveman]

What makes you think I'm not using my real name? :p

[rfr10]

I used to use my real name and then I asked for it to be changed.

[emszxr]

everyone seems to know who i am anyway :lol:

[danc1ngwitch]

i would use my real name no probs dispite what others thought.
Like moncur said above, people could look u up. I do not have that worry, if they look me up they would be so stupid because " cast a spell on u "[lol] Na tho its for real people might make u pay for a silly thing mentioned on the org that u had forgotton about.

[Liz]

Afraid I just used my real name as I am hopeless at thinking up usernames!

Anyway I think everyone knows who I am anyway!:lol:

My username should have been Catwoman!!!!

[Ricco]

What makes you think I'm not using my real name? :p

I was thinking the same thing, Saveman. Shucks - ya beat me! ;)

[Victoria]

trouble makers will be trouble makers whatever their name is!

[_Ju_]

That, Andrew dear, would make it all the more easier to look someone up in the phone book and pester them in real life. The anonimity is there for a reason. The anonimity also allows you to express your opinions without the auto-censorship that writing with your own name would bring. Also, this is a site of and for all ages. I would never allow a child to be identifiable on the web for any reason at all.
I don't remember the form filled to register with this site (gosh, it's been a while since I looked at it), but usually you are asked to identify yuorself to the webmaster, if not with a name, then definately with the non-web based e-mail adress. If there is a problem that requires identification, the owners of this site can do that. Outside of them, no needs to know who I am or ideed is entitled to that knowledge...there are very strange people out there, and I don't want one knocking at me door.

[johno]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_39.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk696LDGB)
well i dont think you need to be a rocket scientist to work out who i am








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb098&pp=ZNxmk696LDGB (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb098_ZNxmk696LDGB&utm_id=7926)

[Andrew]

Hi all

I thought I would ask but looking, I agree with the anonimity and it woul dbe unfortunate if people were to look up your name in the phone book and that would be bad!!!

Andrew

[Fran]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_52.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN) I have suddenly lost my anonymity on the org because of a news story on the front page and someone guessing who i was on the message board. I have been too worried to come on!!! I will have to change my name and avatar now, which is a shame as I like my avatar and dont know what new name I should have. so it looks like fran will be going and replaced by a new name. I will also loose my little green squares which i worked so hard for.





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_ZN&utm_id=7922)

[Metalattakk]

I saw that story (and the resultant thread) the other day, and thought immediately that you'd not be too happy at being 'outed' on the boards. Some people just don't think.

If you change your username, you surely get to keep your 'little green squares', No? Only problem would be that all your old posts would have your new name on them too....people would easily be able to cross-check them.

[crayola]

Got to agree there. Is it not against the rules to post personal details on the forum however well intended the motives were?

[canuck]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_52.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN) I have suddenly lost my anonymity on the org because of a news story on the front page and someone guessing who i was on the message board. I have been too worried to come on!!! I will have to change my name and avatar now, which is a shame as I like my avatar and dont know what new name I should have. so it looks like fran will be going and replaced by a new name. I will also loose my little green squares which i worked so hard for.





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_ZN&utm_id=7922)


Given the uniqueness of this situation perhaps the forum admins can find a way to work around the problem by giving you a new user name, adding your green squares manually and leaving your old posts under your old user name.

[Moira]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_52.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN) I have suddenly lost my anonymity on the org because of a news story on the front page and someone guessing who i was on the message board. I have been too worried to come on!!! I will have to change my name and avatar now, which is a shame as I like my avatar and dont know what new name I should have. so it looks like fran will be going and replaced by a new name. I will also loose my little green squares which i worked so hard for.





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_ZN&utm_id=7922)

Fran - I thought that too - but I'm sure the original poster here meant you no ill - and there are a lot of folk logging in here who have no idea who you are from "Adam". If it becomes a problem you can contact the Admin - until then enjoy what you've achieved - well done!

[golach]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_52.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN) I have suddenly lost my anonymity on the org because of a news story on the front page and someone guessing who i was on the message board. I have been too worried to come on!!! I will have to change my name and avatar now, which is a shame as I like my avatar and dont know what new name I should have. so it looks like fran will be going and replaced by a new name. I will also loose my little green squares which i worked so hard for.
http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_ZN&utm_id=7922)
Fran, dont bother changing, you will only be recognised by your friends in Wick and the County, if you passed me in Princes St I would not recognise you and hopefully vica versa [lol]

[Angela]

Fran, dont bother changing, you will only be recognised by your friends in Wick and the County, if you passed me in Princes St I would not recognise you and hopefully vica versa [lol]

I agree with Golach, Fran, unless you feel really strongly that you want to change.
Some .orgers will know each other by sight & others only through the forum -if you have friends who post they might well have known who you were anyway.

[Alice in Blunderland]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_2_52.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN) I have suddenly lost my anonymity on the org because of a news story on the front page and someone guessing who i was on the message board. I have been too worried to come on!!! I will have to change my name and avatar now, which is a shame as I like my avatar and dont know what new name I should have. so it looks like fran will be going and replaced by a new name. I will also loose my little green squares which i worked so hard for.





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb114_ZN&utm_id=7922)
Fran I am sorry that you feel this way ,the intentions of the post were to congratulate you and wish you well . A lot of local people knew who you were but didnt reveal it on the messageboard ,remember the guessing game before Christmas over your avatar and medical occupation. If you were to change your name ,avatar and occupation you still cant change the style of your posts and this will lead to people realising who you are again. Leave it for a while and see if you feel comfortable with posting under Fran or not IMHO,be proud of yourself you have achieved a great goal and its right everyone should know how good you have been to this community.

Why were you afraid to come on and post?

Identities do often come out especially at Org nights out. As Golach said its only a few local people who will know you and quite a few people knew your identity before this post was made and never let on if this is any comfort. :)

[Fran]

helping handshttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cus/e_1_42.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN) As you say, it would be a bit silly to change my name, I would probably forget the new one anyway. I dont think many people on here know me it was just that my full names were given but no harm was done and i really enjoyed the messages of congratulations. Unfortunately it will be in the paper and a magazine. i was just a bit embarrased, but i feel it is a huge honour to have been nominated and chosen.
Golach said i wouldnt recognise him , well im sure next time i walk up Princes Street in edinburgh, a city i love so much, i will recognise him straight away....half ginger cat half lion!!! ha ha

I could always call myself fairy and have the above logo ha ha







http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb096&pp=ZN (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb096_ZN&utm_id=7924)

[Kristafur]

judging by the situation you should call your self Fran......tic..

cheer up

[canuck]

helping handshttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cus/e_1_42.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN) As you say, it would be a bit silly to change my name, I would probably forget the new one anyway. I dont think many people on here know me it was just that my full names were given but no harm was done and i really enjoyed the messages of congratulations. Unfortunately it will be in the paper and a magazine. i was just a bit embarrased, but i feel it is a huge honour to have been nominated and chosen.
Golach said i wouldnt recognise him , well im sure next time i walk up Princes Street in edinburgh, a city i love so much, i will recognise him straight away....half ginger cat half lion!!! ha ha

I could always call myself fairy and have the above logo ha ha







http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb096&pp=ZN (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb096_ZN&utm_id=7924)

Fran, I support your decision to keep your user name. Lots of orgers are known to the general Caithness population. Some are in the papers quite regularly or on the caithness.org news like you were. Others are open in their posting, using their names for all to read. I've never had a problem not being entirely anonymous and I have not heard of any others having had problems with their real identity being known. I hope that you are as fortunate.

As for recognizing golach, it was a piece of cake! Spotted him immediately on that crowded Edinburgh Street. My life hasn't been the same since.

[henry20]

One of the advantages of a user name is the anonimity, but I found it quite funny when on bebo to find a lot of orgers because they've got the same log on for both. At least I managed to put some faces to some fellow orgers though :)

[rfr10]

So how do people know that the "real" name you are using is your real name? I'm sure, if you wanted to, you could just make it up..