Usernames & Real Names
 

On my forum, I try to have people use a real first name in their username - I think it makes the place more friendly and keeps flaming/trolling down to a minimum.

What do other people think. Is it a reasonable idea or should I just let people choose whatever name they want to (could always have a real first name in their sig). Some potential members are saying that they are worried about security issues.

Darren.

Nicknames are just part of the internet, and I honestly don't think you can force your members to use their real names.

But I agree, I also like real names instead of nicknames. I always find it funny people call me FireFly and not Chen, but I guess it's also my fault because I use that nickname. I always try to call people in their name, especially people I talk with daily.

Why not set up a custom profile field, where users can enter their real name (if they want to, of course). You can display it in postbit, under their username.

Thanks Chen, that's a really good idea. I'll look into it this weekend.

Thanks.

Darren.

ive called you firefly and ive called you chen in a few of my post, i started calling u chen cause it was your name and everyone else did, but i called you by your username cause i dident wanna make it fell like i was a freaky person or soemthing :eek:

I often feel like a weirdo too, when calling people by their real name. It feels weird because everyone else use nicknames. :)

Indeed it does...

I get confused sometimes when people refer to me by my Real name...

To me, you are either FireFly or FF...If you dont mind, I may call you Chen if I remember, but most likely it will be FF or FireFly out of habit...

At the boards I goto, people abreviate their usernames ; I am HS, Marib Hashib, a Friend, is Marib, and GBotto600 from an old board I used to go to is known as GB...Its just better than typing out the entire name!

And I just realised something...I have sidetracked so much, I dont remember what this was originally about...

Oh well...Better go before I get too confused!

Satan

I think like FireFly/Chen :D
You cannot force your Users to Use their Realnames, but with a profilefield they can name it if they want.

I call people i know better with their firstname in my forums, and they do the same. The other are called by their nicks. And i'm not confused if s.o calls me Xenon, cause i like this name and im known as Xenon in the net. Its nearly a Real Secound First name ^^

Yes I suppose it is...

It can get confusing though...

I am known as :

Chief
HS
EW
Eurowarrior
hellsatan
Chris

Those are my main names I go by...

Satan

great idea! i think i'll add a profile field to my board too for that. most everyone at my board knows eachother's names already, but this will help out newbies that come. :)

Hi ChenFly