"My real name is"

The Brug forum has a voluntary thread where they can match usernames to real names for those who wish to let theirs be known. Seeing it made me think...what if we made it possible (and strictly optional) to provide our real name as part of our profile, and it could appear beneath our DG names, along with our location info?

Mine's easy - my name IS my username, unless I'm in trouble with my mom, in which case I'd be summoned by my given, middle and surname ;o) But sometimes I stutter and stumble over the DGer's I know on a first-name basis: do I address them by their username or their real name in a thread?

Unless I know for a fact someone is okay with having their real name mentioned, I try to err on the side of caution and address them only by their DG name. Having this optional field would let us all be addressed the way we would prefer.

But I may have overlooked some important aspect of this idea, so I ran it past Dave and he agreed we should run it up the flagpole for everyone to have an opportunity to speak their minds.

Yes?

No?

Got an even better idea?

Let's hear it!

I think its a great idea Terry. If its optional no one should mind.

I think it would be confusing.

I find it difficult in chat these days since a lot of people address each other by their 'real' name, I can remember one name but would find it hard to remember and match the two. :)

I agree, even though I have several friends here whom I address by their real name... but not in posts as a rule. Don't want to confuse others. I use real names a lot in Chat and that's a bad habit as newbies have no idea whom I am addressing.

Yes, going by two different names is confusing. But, people are doing it all of the time so being able to check would be helpful.

I would like it very much, so I know who folks are referring to. It would also cut down on my constant fears that someone will abbreviate my name as 'butt' :)~

Rachel

An 'M' or 'F' would help a lot.

LOL I think it should be optional. I get called Woof alot and it isn't always flattering. (woofens was a high school nickname and no one else on the web used it at the time:)

Janis

Like George said, people call each other by name, anyway, so maybe this would help keep names straight.

~ Gardenwife/GW/Gee-dub/Kimberley

I think it's a great idea. I don't think it would be any more confusing than it is already, because people already adress those they know by their real name. Might be a little less confusing in the threads because you can go back and look to see who they are talking about or to.

I can see how it would be more confusing in chat though. I don't go into chat very often, so I'll leave that one alone.

Sounds like a good one to me..

Larkie
my real name & user name

I agree with darius and Baa above. It's already confusing enough because there is inconsistency in the use of real and user names. I have difficulty reading through what may be an old thread and someone referring back to something above using a real name rather than a user name.

Rather than using both names as an option, I'd rather see more consistency in what I think darius suggests, namely, (pun intended) using the user name on posts and saving the real name for D-mail and chatting with those we know.

Rachel you could never be the butt!

I admit I find it difficult to keep up with one name per person, and I really have a lot of trouble with two names for one person. However, I feel the ability to keep a "user" name separate is necessary. I usually address people by their ID, unless they sign their post with their "other" name. Do we really need a separate list/forum/catagory for names? If a member wants to go by their user name fine, if they want their "other" name, then sign the post that way.

just my $2 worth (ain't inflation the pits?!!!)

tgif - ginni

Anything that a member can add optionally to identify themselves to the community is okay by me! Those comfortable with the feature may choose to use it, but no one would be pressured to do so. I like it!

An explanation on how the information would be displayed throughout the site should be included in the user preferences entry for that. Would it only be for the profile and Forums? Would it include PlantFiles comments/pics? What about the Trade Tracker? You get the idea.

When I include my name in a post on any thread, I'm opening the door to give folks an option to respond to me by either my name or my username from that point on in the thread. If they use it elsewhere, that's also okay, as I've even included it on my profile.

Chatrooms are a different story. They can be daunting when full of folks discussing several different topics at once, especially when someone is neither a touch-typist nor skilled at multi-tasking in a chatroom. The use of anything besides usernames should be avoided (as much as possible) so new/unfamiliar folks are not discouraged from trying to participate in what might seem pure chaos in the beginning. :)

Was that my 2-cents or a buck? I see I'm already behind the ante from tgif's post. lol
Donna

P.S. Even the use of abbreviations for usernames can be confusing. When I see "TF" in the veggie-related forums, I always do a double-take to see if they're talking to me or TamaraFaye. lol

Yeah, I double-take at some posts about "that other site". ;)

I've long since always signed my posts. I have trouble identifying with some of these user names. Lot easier to remember whose who with real names.
Only shoe can not be allowed to use his real name.
Country Gardens, Bernie, Country, etc.

haha thanks Ginni

Someone above suggested a M/F designation, I like that idea also.

Have it as an option. If people want to put it in, let them. I am terrible at names, but I prefer that peo call me by Suzi. Heck, first time someone called me BR, I had no clue they were talking to me. And lots of peo with Rose as part of name too, makes it even more confusing. Now, if I think they might be talking to me, I'll answer, if they are or not.

I prefer to call peo by their name, if they want me to. If it were listed, could use that preference. After all, not everyone had the idea, inclination or choice of putting their name as the username. I wonder how many would change it if the option were available...

Don't know how could do it in the chat room though... not enough room for name and addl data there. But, that is one place it would def help, frequently answering or asking where peo are located.

Speaking of the chat room... why can't it say who is logging onto line also.. like it tells you that logged out? Would make it a lot more user friendly if could see name, then instead of having to click who's on before can say hi. Could say hi immediately! And, make the print you type bigger too - I make typos and can't see the print as I am typing it!! Sorry, off on a tangent... ~ Suzi ♥
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i think the option is a good idea

Dick Strever

The trouble with optional anything, in a group of people who use it a lot, it tends to eventually become socially compulsary with threads calling for people to add the information. Location is optional but theres been a lot of social pressure to add it even where people have stated zones just not location. Nothing is truely optional in a group ;)

Ulrich and those who agree, why does it matter if someone is male or female? Just curious to know.


This message was edited Aug 19, 2005 8:26 AM

I like the idea.

Vi

I like the option. I prefer people call me by name but I sign my posts. I've had the same username everywhere for years and it makes all logins easier. I just kind of assumed that if the post was signed or if it was in common usage on the list , it's ok to use the name. I can see how that would get murky if you've met people at a roundup.

Maggie

"Only shoe can not be allowed to use his real name.
Country Gardens, Bernie, Country, etc."

Ha! Don't worry, Bernie, even my own Mother calls me Shoe! (Now, my wife calls me by my given name but that's okay...it lets me know which one of them is talking to me!)

I love it! I sign my posts too. When I signed up I had no idea how important your screen name was on this site. If I had none I wouldn't have made it so long. I don't get confused by two names but I have trouble remembering some folks real ones.

Nicole

Yeah, when my wife calls me "Bernard", I'm in big trouble. LOL!
Bernie

I like the option for real names too. I usually sign my real name and I use real names fairly often in posts. I have the same user name pretty much everywhere so I don't have to remember who I am where :-) Normally I just use SadieMae but it was taken when I signed up.
Vicki

My user name is the same as my legal name. However, I have another personal name, the one I was given at birth... many years before I changed my name legally for business reasons. Only my long-time close friends and family use that name. I don't use it with my close friends here on DG because then it really gets confusing.

I like the option of real names also.

Ruth

I think there already is the option to use real names, if you sign your post as "FRED" then I assume thats what you want to be called in a reply, if you don't then I assume its the screen name.
I use my personal name to sign posts in forums where i am 'at home' and not in others. If I've told the group what the name is then its a signal they can use it. I'm not sure I would be happy that Fred Bloggs who signed up yesterday, and may have all sorts of odd ball notions, could just use my real name without me having decided to let him.
Hope that is not as confusing as I think it sounds!!! ;>)

I agree it could be confusing, but the choice to use a person's real name is also optional.

I know that when I am about to address someone whom I've talked to a couple times before and I type their name...I like to look back at other posts just to make sure I'm not calling them by the wrong name. How much easier this would be to just click on their name!

One other thought I had, is that personally I have a gender neutral dg name and often get referred to as a he, I assume because art is a male name. I personally hate my dg name (had no idea I would be this involved) and would much much much prefer people to call me Susanne.
Anyhow, I like this idea a lot.

Susanne

I DO like the general concept... BUT there are so many Donna's, Sue's etc. that it would have to be the DG name+ real name for me to use.

Then I'd be DonnaT, as in "Been there, done that"? Glad my name isn't Sue... imagine SueT. hehehe

Darius I wouldn't be calling you Donna anyway! LOL!!

I am easy, go with the flow, whatever works! LOL

The only thing that ever throws me, is when someone signs their web name and it is the same name on the left that says who is posting. LOL

badseed
bwah ha ha ha

You mean like me?

Molly
:^))))

I really haven't much to say in the matter, I yam who I yam

THAT is different! LOL Your signing name is a name. LOL

You're just jealous because you get called BS.

LOL, GW!!

I like the idea. Anytime we can choose what we prefer in our profile, should make it acceptable to everyone. Making it mandatory probably wouldn't work. It would be no different from putting the city you live in under your user name. Some people choose not to do that and I think that is okay, too. JMO.

I like the idea of knowing someone's "real" name, if they dont mind being referred to as that. It's more personal. I think it should be optional, as some people prefer to remain anon. Just by reading other people's posts, I know that Badseed's name is Michelle, sometimes 'Chele, but since she doesnt use it as a signature, am I too forward to call her that? Same thing with Gardenwife/Kimberley. Personally, I would like if we were to note what we want be called. I like to be called Rachael, as that is my name.