How should I setup (re., username vs real name) a classmates dot com type of forum?

[rnmcd]

What do you folks think I should do as far as registration goes for a site/forum similiar to classmates and reunion dot com?

Those sites display the real names of individuals but I have the feeling that people don't like to display their real names on forums.

The problem is that if people sign up with a username that is NOT their real name then their classmates won't know who they are.

I just can't figure out how to setup the registration for this type of forum.

Any suggestions?

[Talisman]

Your community is based on real-life acquaintances between people who've gone to school together. I would suppose it's the real identities and the real connection those people have with each other (good and bad) that makes the online interaction worth cultivating in the first place. Take away that sense of identification between them by allowing anonymous members to stay hidden behind fake names/screen names, and I think you will make the openly identified people uncomfortable, wary, and suspicious of other members in the group. But those are folks you want to make feel welcome and comfortable, so that would hurt the open/relaxed atmosphere you're trying to create for them ... and they're the ones who'll participate actively in this kind of group so they (should) matter most of all.

If you allow people to register as full members who don't wish to reveal who they really are by allowing anonymous usernames, then you're indulging the wrong crowd who are much less likely to contribute to your community in a positive way.

[Tralala]

Couldn't have said it better than Talisman.

Usernames and anonymity lead to a totally different online community experience.

[rnmcd]

Talisman, thank you very much for the thought provoking repsonse. It is greatly appreaciated.

On other forums, I typically get responses like, "dumb question and dumb idea".

[Talisman]

Originally Posted by rnmcd

Talisman, thank you very much for the thought provoking repsonse. It is greatly appreaciated.

On other forums, I typically get responses like, "dumb question and dumb idea".

Well... when I read your post, it sounded like a serious question. Not something you just tossed out to be goofy.

Sometimes it isn't easy sorting out all the options we have because we generally want to make everyone happy. So trying to figure out how to approach things when we're creating a new community can get real complicated. It's that old "can't-see-the-forest-for-the-trees" factor kicking in. We're often too close to our own subject area to be able to see how simple it really is and we get bogged down with it all.

Besides, it's real easy to give someone else great advice (heh, or lousy advice!) on how to run their site. It's never that easy when we're looking at our own projects.. lol. :ermm:

[rnmcd]

What is your opinion on how I should set up the registration process?

Let's say that I have decided that users of this particular forum will need to show their real name.

1) Do you think I should have users register a login username (eg., Talisman) but have a required "real name" field in their profile that displays in their postbit?

OR

2) Should I have them use their real name as their login username?

Here are the problems I see with option 1:

• it feels like a privacy or security issue if you display both a username along with a real name.

Here are the problems I see with option 2:

• some users have the same real name and therefore, all of the John Smith's will have to alter their real name to make it unique.
• there might be a greater likelihood that users will forget that they need to login with their real name. I think people have a tendancy to use the same username on lots of sites that they are a member.

[rnmcd]

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[hambil]

Sounds like this might solve your problem: vbAlias