Usernames

[Alvin63]

Should I ask all members to use anonymous usernames? I noticed a couple of members have used variations on, or part of, their actual names or email addresses.

 

[beerForo]

That is up to them. I block the use of the "@" symbol simply because people would put FULL email addresses as usernames.

 

[Paul B]

because people would put FULL email addresses as usernames.

They can't.

 

[Mendalla]

That's kind of your call. I have never done so. We spun off from a site that was run by a major religious denomination so the ministers of that denomination who came over often mostly use variations of "Rev(real name)" or something like firstname plus last initial (though one does not). Given that religion and faith are supposed to be our focus, having them "in the open" is kind of nice since they are technically subject matter experts. So I am cool with that. That's their call. Now, if you think that the subject matter might turn using real names into a risk for someone, then it might not hurt to make it a "guideline" or recommendation. In the end, I am not sure how you would enforce it as a rule.

 

[beerForo]

They can't.

They could because I came from other software but that's good to know. What if you leave out the tld like bob1212@yahoo does it still block it?

 

[Mendalla]

They could because I came from other software but that's good to know. What if you leave out the tld like bob1212@yahoo does it still block it?

Actually, it doesn't in that case. Just tried it on my site and it only blocked me when I used FQDN.

 

[Paul B]

Yes, only full email addresses are blocked.

 

[beerForo]

Thanks for testing. And I appreciate Brogan pointing that out in case I want users to be able to use @ in names like k@t .

 

[FTL]

I don't block real names, but I discourage them due to the potential for abuse being directed at them. Note that the abuse need not be from other forum members either, but could from an unregistered person seeing their posts, recognizing them and then acting maliciously on it in some way. Basically, my forum isn't Facebook and that's how I intend to keep it.

Thankfully very few have insisted on using their real names.

 

[Alvin63]

Thanks all. Yes same here, most people have used anonymous usernames. I wasn't sure whether to ask for that as forum policy to protect peoples' identities on the internet, but really it's up to them I guess.

 

[Alvin63]

I don't block real names, but I discourage them due to the potential for abuse being directed at them. Note that the abuse need not be from other forum members either, but could from an unregistered person seeing their posts, recognizing them and then acting maliciously on it in some way. Basically, my forum isn't Facebook and that's how I intend to keep it.

Thankfully very few have insisted on using their real names.

Exactly. There is also a lot of identity fraud about.

 

[FTL]

Exactly. There is also a lot of identity fraud about.

That's a good point. Very nasty if they get you.

 

[RaptureForums]

Yes, I do not allow full or real names. Things have gotten weird on the Internet with retaliation and with cancel culture being what it is, I thought it was best for people not to use their real names. I let them use their first names and the first letter of their last names if they want though. But if it looks like a real name, I talk to them about it and make them change it. I've even had people put their real physical addresses in the "location" box. Usually that was an older aged member, so sometimes you have to watch out for your members. JMHO.

 

[80sDude]

Old thread I know but I’ve been contemplating on if I should or not lately. I use my first name on mine.

 

[FTL]

@Peterpapas76 Please see my responses and that of @Alvin63 as to why it's a really bad idea to use your real identity online.

 

[80sDude]

@Peterpapas76 Please see my responses and that of @Alvin63 as to why it's a really bad idea to use your real identity online.

I don’t think by using your first name is going to be that much of a big deal. I definitely understand if you were to use your first and last name like FB does. Or at least use an actual proper name as opposed to some made up one like fartman etc.

 

[FTL]

I don’t think by using your first name is going to be that much of a big deal. I definitely understand if you were to use your first and last name like FB does. Or at least use an actual proper name as opposed to some made up one like fartman etc.

Yeah, just firstname isn't too bad, agreed. I was thinking of the case where the whole name is used.

Again though, if that first name is very unusual, then it might still not be a good idea, as there won't be many people with it, allowing an attacker to zero right in on you.

 

[Mendalla]

if that first name is very unusual

What kind of unusual, though? I mean, someone named Jukka signing for my site would definitely register as unusual but it actually seems fairly common in Finnish (I know of at least 3 people by that name just offhand, all in the Finnish music scene). So would still be hard to actually tie just the first name to an individual.

 

[FTL]

What kind of unusual, though?

I'm talking about a name that very few people in the world would have. Something like one of those crazy names that celebrities like to call their kids there might be very few people with that name, hence making it much easier to identify them, especially when combined with other info such as general location, say, that could be revealed in conversation.

 

[James]

I often find my username causes issues with targeted attacks
Whole names can be the start of an issue but there's much more required to build the required doxxing profile to do any serious harm.