Your Display Names and the Challenge Of 10 Million Members
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For new members it's hard to get a display name that's your actual name. Almost impossible. However, we have tons of members who really don't care if their name is the same as someone else's name. I was thinking that it could be interesting to open up Display Names so that you can choose whatever name you want, even if it's been taken by someone else, with a small cavet: If you haven't contributed a message or article, question or answer, your display name is plain text and it will be displayed in gray. Each time you contribute, or each time you change your name, your name is checked against the list and if you're account is the only account with that name that has made a contribution then your name is yours and is unlocked to accept HTML, and will (by default) be displayed in a dark font. Thoughts?
Chris Maunder wrote:
small cavet
Is that anything like a civet? Civets are adorable, a quite delicious if properly prepared. As to the proposal, will seniority be a factor? :rolleyes: Actually, I think that Dr. Wilbur Daffodil-11 Swain[^] proposed a valid solution in the referenced story. Not only would randomly assigning new members to artificial families eliminate the screen name problem, it would help to reduce world loneliness.
Will Rogers never met me.
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I'd say that it would be a better idea to allow this feature only if the member has identified himself. E.g. CP could send a letter containing a code to enter in order to verify a users identity, and only verified users would be able to have a double display name. Of course the verification would cost the user a bit, let's say 30$ should be sufficient to pay the administration cost and the postal service to deliver the letter pretty much anywhere in the world.
Veni, vidi, caecus
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Maybe some sort of sliding scale: if you have less than 1K rep points, your account is retired after 18 months of inactivity; 10K for five years; 100K for 10 years; etc. Of course, that means Griff's account would still be alive and kicking at the heat-death of the universe. :)
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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For new members it's hard to get a display name that's your actual name. Almost impossible. However, we have tons of members who really don't care if their name is the same as someone else's name. I was thinking that it could be interesting to open up Display Names so that you can choose whatever name you want, even if it's been taken by someone else, with a small cavet: If you haven't contributed a message or article, question or answer, your display name is plain text and it will be displayed in gray. Each time you contribute, or each time you change your name, your name is checked against the list and if you're account is the only account with that name that has made a contribution then your name is yours and is unlocked to accept HTML, and will (by default) be displayed in a dark font. Thoughts?
I don't think anyone will be too happy if someone else is using their screen name, especially where it is their real name in case of abuse or impersonation. Not really sure what is wrong with the current system and if this is the biggest issue you have...
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. Those who seek perfection will only find imperfection nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me me, in pictures
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Dis ain't no joke, brah!
Veni, vidi, caecus
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Christian will be the only one left to wave goodbye to him! :laugh:
Will Rogers never met me.
No, CG's a loooong way behind OG: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Profiles.aspx[^]
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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Marco Bertschi originally wrote:
Yes.
Because there isn't a sarcasm icon, or because you're serious?
I'm not serious, I'm Marco. Well, you can't be really sure if I am really Marco, since my account is not verified. Just call me Marco.
Veni, vidi, caecus
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I'm not serious, I'm Marco. Well, you can't be really sure if I am really Marco, since my account is not verified. Just call me Marco.
Veni, vidi, caecus
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Call out Paolo, Carlo, Pino, whoever you want.
Veni, vidi, caecus
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For new members it's hard to get a display name that's your actual name. Almost impossible. However, we have tons of members who really don't care if their name is the same as someone else's name. I was thinking that it could be interesting to open up Display Names so that you can choose whatever name you want, even if it's been taken by someone else, with a small cavet: If you haven't contributed a message or article, question or answer, your display name is plain text and it will be displayed in gray. Each time you contribute, or each time you change your name, your name is checked against the list and if you're account is the only account with that name that has made a contribution then your name is yours and is unlocked to accept HTML, and will (by default) be displayed in a dark font. Thoughts?
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No, CG's a loooong way behind OG: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Profiles.aspx[^]
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
Wow! That shows how much attention I've been giving rep points! You almost think that Griff was one of the Founding Sheep Shaggers Members! :omg:
Will Rogers never met me.
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AFAIK, I'm the only person pretending to be called Nagy Vilmos who isn't called Nagy Vilmos that everyone calls Nagy Vilmos. Hope this helps.
speramus in juniperus
Nagy Vilmos wrote:
everyone calls Nagy Vilmos
Including your family? Now THAT'S dedication! :omg:
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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Nagy Vilmos wrote:
everyone calls Nagy Vilmos
Including your family? Now THAT'S dedication! :omg:
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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For new members it's hard to get a display name that's your actual name. Almost impossible. However, we have tons of members who really don't care if their name is the same as someone else's name. I was thinking that it could be interesting to open up Display Names so that you can choose whatever name you want, even if it's been taken by someone else, with a small cavet: If you haven't contributed a message or article, question or answer, your display name is plain text and it will be displayed in gray. Each time you contribute, or each time you change your name, your name is checked against the list and if you're account is the only account with that name that has made a contribution then your name is yours and is unlocked to accept HTML, and will (by default) be displayed in a dark font. Thoughts?
While it may be 'difficult' to get a display name that is your actual name, there are a myriad of varieties of said name. I do have a display name that is my name, but I also have relatives with the same first/last name. So, what to seperate us? The same thing I do when I find an e-mail address for Tim.Carmichael@whatever.com is taken - use my middle initial or special characters. So... Tim Carmichael, Tim I Carmichael, Tim_Carmichael, Tim_I_Carmichael, etc. Or, Tim Mac Carmichael, Tim Bar Ivan If a user REALLY wants to be a part of the collective, they can put some effort into finding a name that isn't taken. And, for simplicity sake, plain text only, and squeeze out instances of multiple spaces. Tim
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For new members it's hard to get a display name that's your actual name. Almost impossible. However, we have tons of members who really don't care if their name is the same as someone else's name. I was thinking that it could be interesting to open up Display Names so that you can choose whatever name you want, even if it's been taken by someone else, with a small cavet: If you haven't contributed a message or article, question or answer, your display name is plain text and it will be displayed in gray. Each time you contribute, or each time you change your name, your name is checked against the list and if you're account is the only account with that name that has made a contribution then your name is yours and is unlocked to accept HTML, and will (by default) be displayed in a dark font. Thoughts?
What happens if the message gets voted up? At the moment the message and the username both go green - which is handy. But an upvoted Chris Maunder would look like an upvoted Chris Maunder... Can I suggest that instead, "dormant" usernames are recycled instead? If an account hasn't been used for a year, or two years maybe, the username gets recycled and the original user gets a generic "Member xxxxxxxx" instead. Send 'em an email saying you've got a month to reclaim it maybe?
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I think 10 million plus people thinking it's my name is close...
speramus in juniperus
Yeah, but at least half of us are still looking at your profile picture and trying to work out which one is you. :rolleyes:
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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Sure. I bet there are thousands of people that have the same name as me and are frustrated that can't get a CP account :-D
Well, I got it ok!
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Yeah, but at least half of us are still looking at your profile picture and trying to work out which one is you. :rolleyes:
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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I'm Spartacus!
