Registering - Forum User Names

[Nicolette]

Of late, there have been a number of people join us as members and have mistakenly used their real name in the field for their forum user name and have been quite upset about it.

As Amethist pointed out to another member:

If you had posted a user name in the first box on registration, and not your real name, that is the one which would show on the forum. Below is what is written directly beneath the box in which you post your user name. This is the one which shows up on every message you post, as it clearly states.

This is the name that will be shown with your messages. You may use any name you wish. Once set, this cannot be changed

Please make sure you read what you are filling out properly.

If you need help and have made a mistake please use the Help Desk so staff are alerted to the problem. Please do not attack staff or go on a rampage if you have made a mistake. Take ownership for your mistake and we will help you fix it if politely asked.

Please also note that only Administrators have the permissions to change user names so if you have made a mistake, have requested that it be corrected and left the user name you wish to use going forward you then will have to have a little patience as not everyone is available at all times.

While a little off topic but relevant as it comes back to reading what you are signing up for: Please also carefully read the forum's rules and legal policy as it is somewhat tiresome with the number of new members being corrected for basic grammar who then get upset about it yet it is all clearly outlined for you (and you agreed as becoming a member).

Thank you.

 

[KP the nut]

Hurray for Mods and Administrators, you folk keep us safe and do a great job in sometimes difficult circumstances - umm especially if it is a full moon :D

 

[Sandra]

I use my real first name. But my surname will always be a mystery. ;)

 

[amethist]

Thanks for the reminder KP, yes Wednesday will be a full moon. :rolleyes:

 

[anthony]

We are happy to change mistakes with usernames providing you don't post numerous posts first, because this then leads to people quoting your posts and changing your real name from a mistake will not change quoted use of your real name.

As Nicolette stated, only admins can change a username, being her and I... and we have a life and we don't spend a great deal of time on the forum on our weekends, Australian time.

 

[Deaf Global Nomad]

Seeing more and more people registering with their real first and last name, I have been wondering about this issue for a while. I am really glad that you are addressing it for everyone to read.

Thank you to the admins and mods for all of your hard work! Yes, I definitely hope that you have a life outside of the forum...

 

[anthony]

People use the 'Facebook Connect' usually, which inserts their name from Facebook, however; it doesn't stop them at any point from changing the inserted name to whatever username they wish to use. People instead just hit continue and don't think further about it... until they see their name being used as their login.

A forum is not Facebook, being whilst you can change your profile privacy here to what you want, you cannot change the public accessibility of forum pages once you post on them.

People need to stop directing anger at staff for their own stupidity, and instead just approach staff with the same respect and courtesy they would want, and we will get to changing such things IF the user does it immediately, and doesn't go post 50 posts first, then waits for us to change it... which requires just a little patience for an admin to come on here, read it, then respond... as we do have lives and all outside of this forum.

 

[KP the nut]

People need to stop directing anger at staff for their own stupidity, and instead just approach staff with the same respect and courtesy they would want, and we will get to changing such things IF the user does it immediately, and doesn't go post 50 posts first, then waits for us to change it... which requires just a little patience for an admin to come on here, read it, then respond... as we do have lives and all outside of this forum.

Speaking from personal experience, the better we are able to manage our symptoms, the better our lives are away from the forum. I'm still here a lot. However as my control over my symptoms increases, despite setbacks, I am regaining my life. Yes, it is slightly different but it is my life.

Admin and Mods do an amazing job but cannot be at beck and call 24/7. If at all possible they will help but it may take time. Patience is so they say a virtue :rolleyes:.

 

[Nicolette]

Patience is so they say a virtue :rolleyes:.

Yes, would you all hurry up and be patient with us...... please

 

[ISupportHer]

Just want to say that I really appreciate the staff here. To me, they are usually unseen. I am not aware of the issues behind the scenes of course. I feel like there is a silent vigilance that is a safety net. There are eyes watching for spammers, bad language and just plain jerks.

This is a safe place to participate BECAUSE of the staff!

ISH

 

[CraftyCath]

I agree with ISH...this is a safe place because you keep it safe. Well done to all of you for that. I'm glad you all have lives outside the forum or I would be telling you to get one!

I have noticed some people using their full names...eeek!:eek: I would not feel safe doing that and signing up to the forum was such an easy and straight forward thing that I wonder how anyone can get it wrong - obviously they do.

One thing I am concerned about is the spelling and grammar. I use the spell checker all the time but I have a dyslexic husband and two dyslexic sons who cannot make head nor tail of the spell checker. What happens with someone with a learning difficulty? Do you give them some leeway if they make their disability known in a polite way? I only say this because I'm aware of how frighting and confusing it would be for my 'men,' and wonder if others with learning dificulties have the same issues.

As for the spell checker, it tries to correct my English spelling and I just won't let it!!! :roflmao: LOL! Such fun! :D

 

[anthony]

There are tolerances, however; even being dyslexic you can start a sentence with a capital, end it with a full stop and break your post into small readable paragraphs. Some browsers do have a setting to allow the spell checker to automatically correct errors. Its about making a post as readable as possible to a traumatic brain, NOT be an English literature master in order to write here.

The new member info page outlines these exact things... its not a perfection approach, its a basic level approach, keeping people away from SMS language, all lowercase with zero punctuation, etc...

Some new members often try to make it bigger than what is being asked, the new member info page pulls no punches in highlighting the BASIC requirement only to help people read posts, thus they will respond to them, not ignore them, which gives the poster a counter effect to posting here in the first place.