JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum New Policy Idea Open For Discussion: Please Read and Respond!

Hi Folks,

Our new message board allows people to change their display name anytime they want with moderator approval. Previously, I had thought about how useful it would be to "grow up" a bit as a community and start using real names (or at least real stage names for folks who are artists with stage names.. i.e. Elton John). The nicknames were part of the birth of the net and anonymity for the folks behind them. If you want to make personal attacks, tell lies, be a jerk or act like an idiot, then anonymity is pretty important. But if you want to conduct productive communication and forward yourself as a professional, using your real name when you post would be a good step in that direction.

The downsides often given by folks (outside of the above stuff I mentioned) is that they don't want to be "stalked." The reality is that most regular users here at some point divulge their name (especially if they post songs or lyrics) so that point is moot. Others say they are afraid to look stupid in their own name, but I've found people are likely to be more supportive when they know it's a real person versus just some anonymous random person who could be male, female, young, old, or have any background real or imagined. We do have a handful of famous people who post here (some of you have no idea who comes through here and occassionally even I don't know). I can see it would be tough for an industry person or famous music figure to post in their name for fear of being hounded. But you can always keep your email address hidden and so it would be just as hard to contact you as it is without you posting. In some cases, a pen name could be used if really needed, but I'd want to handle that on a case by case basis. (I wouldn't want a couple of valuable contributors to stop coming around due to a policy).

But, for most of us, using our real names would bring far more positives than negatives. It would also promote more civil discourse if we removed the anonymity factor. And for those who still chose to use fake names or pretend to be what you aren't, then everyone would know upfront that your comments should be considered with that in mind and frankly not taken as seriously.

I was on a Video/Film Making message board with about the same number of users as we have and they went to this policy and they tell me their entire site dramatically improved. More info was exchanged, more bonds were made, more successful networking opportunities evolved.

So, I usually open stuff like this up for discussion. Obviously the easiest thing would be for people to voluntarily change to their real names. It wouldn't cost you posts, (all previous posts would be changed and still show up in searches) and if we discovered a real problem, we'd have the option of changing it all back in one fell swoop. But I use my real name and several others do as well and it's never negatively affected me. I don't hide from my words, but rather want them attributed to me. I believe what I say and stand behind it. I don't hide from my biggest critics and I work hard to form relationships with folks in my own name. I realized something that there are folks who have been here for many years and I actually don't know their real name. That is unfortunate.

So what do you think? Who is with me? I'd love to convert most of the Top 100 posters to set an example. That is what the other site did. They let the leaders step up and show the way.

Brian

Hi Brian am with you 100%. There is nothing wrong with a bit of "banter" and some light hearted nonsense. However there is a serious point to JPF and most contributors, I hope, would use this site mainly to exchange ideas and receive help advice and information. Anonimity is there for those who need it but for the rest of us we have little or nothing to fear. I have no objections to anyone regardless of age, fame or experience posting with a nom de plum but IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE REAL PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING. As you say it could all be changed if it does not work out. Big Jim Merrilees (nearly famous)

I am with you on this subject also Brian.
The only reasonmy full name isn't my user name is because when i joined, I couldn't figure how to put it up there.
I use it on every other site I use.
The fact, a lot of people don't bother to sign at the end of a message, means we have to scroll up to find their handle if they are not one of the folks we know from old.
And boy. Some of the mind bender names we see, are achore to type in anyway.
Graham

Well, that's the great thing now Graham. You can change to your full name now with no harm to anything. Just request it in your profile.

Brian

I'm all for it. I made up my mind early on that I would always use my real name when posting. If nothing else, it makes me pause for a moment and ask if I really want to say what I just typed

You could argue that Scott59 is not my real name but its close enough. And, as you indicated, even that became a moot issue the first time I put up a copyright notice. I only used Scott59 because I assumed Scott Campbell was already taken - as it has been in every other web location I've tried to use it on.....

Feel free to convert mine if you wish....

Edit: I just requested it on my profile page....

Scott Campbell

yep. I know that thanks Brian.
As it has been Graham for so many years now, and I doubt there are many here who don't know it, and I am slowing down fast, I will leave it, and save anybody in admin having to do anything they don't really need to.
Graham

Done,

Kevin Emmrich

It occured to me that you could always include your nickname with your real name. Big Jim Merrilee did that. Tampa Stan could just add his last name.

Brian

I use my real name, my stage name, or my handle as needed. Doesn't matter to me.
You can call me Doug Heard
You can call me Chipmonk Doug (spelled wrong)
You can call me D28andm1911a1

I'll answer to any of them.

Man,
it took me umpteen attempts to get registered back when thinking I had to have a "user name". If I get scrwed up trying to change that I'll be cussing like Ben's been lately.

Good idear Brian,
John

Brian,
I don't want to come off wrong. I think it's dandy. It'll just take this techno-whiz a while to work up the fortitude to monkey with something that already works on the 'puter.

John

Hi,

I think it is totally cool to use your real name and agree and understand the point and feelings here 100%.

The only thing and this may be whack and way off base but I'm horrible with names. Faces are like glue too me so the pics are cool.. But these nicknames are so much catchier and more memorable. Kinda like songs lol.. But Everytime I see the name Greg even if I see a whole name I get confused as to which Greg it was. I'm often confusing names that sound alike or have something in common. Joice Marie Sweetjoyce.. Linda A - Linda P. I know them all of course but when trying to think and type thoughts down quickly I can mix em up or later think someone wrote some thing and find out it was someone else.

You read the main thread listings fast sometimes.

I never mistake or confuse TrumanCoyote very memorable, distinctive.
Brians name is easy and strong sounding besides I think the use of 3 names is good.

I think your right we could get used to regular names just as easy I guess. most of the names here are real.

Lets see?
okay here goes

Peace
Mike

Personally I prefer if folks use their real names and I have always used my own here, but I understand why people are reluctant at times. An awful lot of folks who post here already do use their own name so its somewhat a moot point. Generally this board already has more productive communication and less BS than any other board I've participated on.

I guess I'm not in favor of making it "mandatory" - never like rules much anyway - but it could be stated as a recommended procedure at sign-up.

Since I have always used bill robinson on JPF it doesn't matter to me personally. It's a good stage name. But if I use my real name, Elvis Presly, it might be a problem. I'm supposed to be dead.

Kidding aside I think that is a good idea. I often have a problem using my real name because it is so common. I was surprised when I was able to use it here.
It would be nice to know who people really are.

I decided to do the channge as it is in line with what I believe should be, and admin has indicated they don't mind the bit of extra work to get it looking like a workshop rather than a play pen.
It said the change to the full monica had been done, so I guess it has, and i will see it when the boss wakes up.
If he ever sleeps that is.
And yes!!!
I see I am down to three stars.
Thanks whoever did that.
Keep up the good work folks.
Graham

I doubt I would make it mandatory. I don't like that sort of thing either. But I do think we'd be better off going to real names. If someone has been here 5-6-7-8 years and I still have no idea what their name is, that to me isn't a great thing. Perhaps it will never matter... but there have been occassions when I had an opportunity for someone but didn't actually know who they were and just said screw it and moved on to something else. We've already had 8 people change to their real names in a few hours... and if someone is really stressed about it, they can always change back. Folks like substudio has sort of built a brand name around his user name here getting business for his studio stuff... in his case it may make sense to keep it.. though to be honest this is the first time in nearly two years I knew even his first name.

Brian

John aka Gas Man: Nothing changes on your computer. If you go to the My Profile section above and simply change your display name to your actual name, you don't have to do anything else. I will click Approve on it and it will work with no further effort on your part. Or if you prefer you can keep Gas Man. I don't want to make folks uncomfortable.. I just want to get folks thinking a bit differently about the benefit of just being yourself and entering the real world versus the cyber world.

Brian

I've changed mine. (Waiting for Admin's approval) It's going to take some getting used to, I've had this nickname for several years. Graham was actually the one to dub me Tink. I hope folks know me by the name "Cindy Miller". I guess I'll just have to stick around to find out.

Cindy Miller (aka Tink)

Never mind, if I had half an ounce of patience, I would have seen the answer.

Thanks,
Cindy

Nope.. nothing changes except the display name. This new board has a special file of Display names that can be changed and time without any affect on anything other than what you see on the site. Doesn't permanently do anything.

Brian

I'll also say that if you're someone who really doesn't want to change your name, at the least you could correctly capitalize the starting letters of whatever name you have. I think at least doing that much would improve the impression someone else might have when they read your name for the first time. We have a LOT of people that just come through here reading posts (16K a day) and why not leave a positive impression on them?

Brian

Yeah, but who the heck is Chuck Crowe? And won't ya'll miss 'Athabaxtra'? I know I won't!!!

It's funny Chuck.. I knew you by real name.. and I knew your online name but for a very long time didn't even realize you were the same person. = )

Brian

.Hi Brian

From what I can ascertain, most of the folks using real names have Anglo-Saxon sounding names, and I'm sure they haven't incurred any unwanted, or better yet unwarranted prejudice, do to their ethnicity. That being said, I'll be changing my name to rittman, no capital R as that is the name I copyright under.

Well, here's a problem. I've been trying to escape my real name, LoveMaster10, for years. Those of us in the 10 family have struggled with it, but Great Grandpa, IQ10, left it in his will that we keep our real names. So, I guess I'll have to go in and change my profile.

All the Best,
LoveMaster10

your graphic has a capital R?

You're a good example of someone who I still don't know their real name. Half the time I am not sure whether you're male or female. (In fact, I still wouldn't bet money on it either way). I am not sure what concern you have about racism/ethnic attacks (which seems to be your implication here) since I am not aware of any problems anyone has had in the 9 years we've been around. We have the most diverse music awards in the entire world by a LARGE margin.. we had mixed religions perform together, we had mixed nationalities mixing it up and we certainly have a very balanced racial and gender mix in everything we do. I don't expect the message boards here to be any different than the rest of the org. In fact, a few more authentic ethnic or racial names might actually encourage MORE diversity to dip their toes in the water.

Brian

My wife made the graphic, never argue with a favor!

Okay Mr. Whitney... My Profile name is now my real name. Or is it?... (dun dun duuuuun....) I keed! I keed!

I'm in. For transitional purposes it might be nice to allow the previous user name below the real name in parenthesis.
Keep Strummin' Al
www.aandrproductions.com
www.bspass.com

Unfortunately there's no way to do that that I know of. Unless it would be under the max character number Al. If anyone has regrets on their change, they can always change back! = )

Brian

No worries with this...just waiting on Admin...is on my link anyway...

tom

Okay, I did it, too. I think it's a good idea (3-16 *days* for Admin. to approve the change?). Ayn Rand once said if you're proud of what you do, you shouldn't be ashamed to have your own name on it. ('Sides, my own name is on all them links below.)

It'll take a while to get used to (and Elvis, we probably can keep your secret), but the overall effects will be good, I think. I played in one band, the Malheur Miners, that was more of a Wild West stage show, and we all had stage names--and got so used to calling each other by our stage names we lost track of what the real ones were. It felt weird to be calling the big motel where our lead singer worked (she was the manager) and ask to speak to Cowpoke Patty...

Joe

Hey Joe,

I always wondered what exactly in the hell that name meant anyway? Roxhythe?

Brian

I have no problem posting under my real name - in fact, even though my moniker is Hummingbird on several songwriting boards, I always, always, include my real name in my signature. I think that's important for integrity and for relationship building. However, I now am known as "Hummingbird" or "'Bird" or "Hummer" to quite a few folks (altho they know I'm Vikki) and so I'm reluctant to give up that nickname...

Vikki,

If you're not comfortable, don't do it. You're one of the few folks with nicknames that I actually know their real name as well just because you always put it in your posts. But folks browsing posts without reading them may not know that Hummingbird is you and may not check them out. I think Tampa Stan has the most known nickname here if for no other reason than he has the most posts. I don't think he has to lose it, but perhaps incorporate it with his name. For you, since your website IS your real name, I'd think you'd want your real name to show up on search engines as much as possible.

Brian

Brian, I believe Roxhythe was an estate mentioned in one of the Jane Austen novels (which I have not read, and have no plans to). Back when Al Gore was first inventing the Internet<g>, my wife and I shared one computer, and for online work--eBay and such--she came up with the username and I did the password. (Figured that combination would be impossible for anybody to figure out.) When I got her her own computer, I inherited the username.

Y'know, one concern I did have, as I looked over stuff and noticed the new moniker slowly percolating itself through all the old posts. I posted a song last night--and I don't know about others, but I often read lyrics based on who wrote them. If it says "Joe Wrabek" instead of "roxhythe," are people not going to read it?

Joe

Thanks Joe

Elvis...OOPS!!!

I have nothing to hide and everything to gain just being myself. If you don't use the name you market under you are losing the brand building aspect of networking. Anyone wanting to keep their former moniker going can add it to their signature line. Everybody knows who they are dealing with, and are able to do some of their own research, and then be less apprehensive about forging ahead with relationships that help both parties out in the long run...Moker

Joe,

That's all the more reason to always use your real name so folks know who really wrote the songs and not a user name. I just had a PM discussion with someone here who's name I didn't know who had made a donation to the board upgrade. But because the real name wasn't similar to the user name here, we assumed that person hadn't contributed. That led to a contentious moment in our discussion that wouldn't have been there if I had actually known who the person was. Real names are just better. If you really can't use your name for a reason.. choose a workable Pen-Name that you use for business (i.e. that's on your checkbook.. your business cards.. your web domain.. your albums/songs etc.) and stick to it. That way people always know who you are. It worked for Elton. Even though his real name is out there and commonly known by fans, he's still Elton.

Brian

great point/idea Moker. And glad to know that actually IS your real name! hahaha. I really wasn't sure!

Brian

After some thought, I made the change, in support of having a stronger, healthier community.

"If you want to make personal attacks, tell lies, be a jerk or act like an idiot, then anonymity is pretty important. But if you want to conduct productive communication and forward yourself as a professional, using your real name when you post would be a good step in that direction."

'nuff said.

Well I was kind of going for the one name thing.. you know, like, uhhhhhh, Madonna or something......you know... like... Christine.... like, totally!!! or something!!....lol

(sorry... that was my bad text-only Valley girl impression)

Brian, if you want people to use their full names, is it possible to add more than 16 characters maximum?... my full name wouldn't fit with a space between first and last and I imagine some names are longer than mine.

That is a good idea, Brian. I had thought about changing to my real name anyway, but hated started out "fresh" again, so this works out really well!

I did go to my profile and put in my name, but when I hit submit, it went back to my old one.

But I'll check back to see if it changes!

Mary Lou Sudkamp
(carrgirl1115)

Brian, extending the character field is a good idea. I couldn't fit both my Real Name and my parentheseed Secret Identity in y'all's li'l box, and mine don't challenge the alphabet much.

Joe

Ughh . . . ok . . . I'll do it . . . but I have the most BORING name on the planet. In fact, just yesterday I had to make a reservation for a car rental and the agent (I kid you not) thought I was giving him an alias . Also, having a silly nickname for me was kinda like a warning to the other folks . . . I'm only a beginner and my critiques should not be taken seriously. I'm here to learn . . . but since you gotta give to get . . . and . . . a lot of these folks have songwriting riding in their passenger seat. They are light years ahead of me . . . for me, songwriting isn't even in the backseat, it's more like tied to the roof and hanging on for dear life .

I'll have to think about the avatar thing though . . . it's fun to see what everyone looks like, but I find it very nauseating to see my own face over and over everytime I post a comment. I had to take it down . . . it was making me sick.

Jody K Smith (had to atleast throw the middle initial in there for a lil spice . . . didn't work though )
(doodle)

try using a cartoon

I use my stage name for my display name since more people know me by that name than by my real one. I do sign with my real first name but only the first name for pretty much the same reason my name in the phone book has only my first initial and the last name. Being a single gay woman does have some risk I would rather avoid.

Okay, I extended the names to 20 characters from 16. I notice it widened the right side column a lot though. That might annoy some folks but we'll see what happens. Christine you can re-submit the change with the space if you like.

Brian

Keep in mind everyone that I have to manually approve name changes. So if I am not on the computer it may take a bit to get it changed. I haven't slept for about 34 hours and will have to at some point! = )

Brian

OK, I'm now going to be using my own name, Lee Arten, here.
I've been using inkslinger since registering.