permies real sounding name policy

This has been my policy at JavaRanch for ten years. And it has been wonderful. Here is the official position: http://www.javaranch.com/name.jsp

Click on "my profile" at the top and you will be able to request a name change.

This thread is a great place to ask questions about this policy. but I warn you, if you say "I won't do it" I will lock your account. I fully expect a lot of people to refuse to use permies.com any more because of this path, and I am okay with that. I think the upsides outweigh the downsides.

If you use a name that is not your real name, but sounds like a real name, that is great. I have only one requirement in that space: never publicly announce that your name is fake.

As for "why": because I wanna. Why does an painter use blue instead of teal? Why does a sculptor use clay instead of granite? It has been my experience for over 25 years of running on-line forums that this is the path I want to follow.

Due to family-issues I hadn't been on permies for a few months, and when I just logged back on, I wondered when I got married to a certain mcCoy :')

I'll submit the changerequest in a minute... or I'll get in trouble with my SO.

Sometimes I like addressing people by their names in posts, but if you're called "mrstinkybutt McCoy" (or whatever), I feel funny talking to you...

Please change folks

if you're called "mrstinkybutt McCoy"...

Oh Leila, that's Rich! Pardon my pun.
I guess you could address mister McCoy -- unless that's Mrs. Tinky Butt.

*Snort*. My mother's fond of irony and she's always said if some nutter insisted on getting her a personalised plate for whatever old dunger she's got, it would have her name on it ME Rich
Mrs Tinky Butt sounds much...nicer...somehow.
Are you familiar with Beatrix Potter? That name sounds like one of her small English animals, dressed up fetchingly in people-clothes.

Yes Leila, I of course know Beatrix Potter. I can see Mrs. Tinky Butt. I also thought that if there is a Mrs. Tinky, then maybe teletubby Tinky Winky isn't gay after all
Okay we're WAY off topic. I've kind of been waiting to see if I get questioned about my odd name. Asked to show my driver's license if I ever make it to one of the gatherings.

Your name's so unusual that there's no way that I would feel qualified to question it!
By the way though, how do you like to be addressed? If names don't fit the standard 'first-name-plast-name' template, I get a bit shy about taking a guess.

"use a real sounding name" I am humored by such a request. Not only is it totally politically incorrect but what if my name was Running Bear or Sitting Bull would that be any different then Billy Goat? Humor me and explain what your hang up is about using a name that is as unoffensive as Billy Goat or was it just too Islamic sounding?

Leila,
Sorry, I usually sign with my name the first time I post to a thread -- takes out the ambiguity. I forgot this time.
Gani
Also, a pronunciation guide: the g is hard, the a is ah -- say it like Bonnie with a hard g.
p.s. unless you will always think of me now as Mrs. Tinky Butt?

Hi Bill,
I take your point, but can't for the life of me imagine how Billy Goat could sound Islamic
We're all doing our best, I promise.

Love your site.

Ima Pseudonym smith?

Followed the rules when I joined, and was disappointed to find that most folks were breaking the rules.

I'll continue to use my real name here.

Thanks for following 'the rules' Matt!
People have their individual reasons for things on both ends of this name change thing. Not every request results in instant...compliance...and it's not much fun harassing people
Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to harass I go

I've been working 75-90 hours a week since January, so I haven't been here or elsewhere much at all.

I just checked my email and Leila sent me a PM.

Since we are invited to ask on this thread I'll ask what I asked her:

I've been using the same name all across the internet since before Y2K everywhere I've gone.
(If you will excuse the 'sounds like ego')... People know me.
How am I going to do this and not loose contact with people as we have drifted in and out of various forums and places?
How will people know 'its me'?

Thank you

Easy: set your "location" to be "aka _____". Or, you can also set your signature to "aka _____". And then set your display name to a real sounding name.

Ya'll just go ahead and delete my account. I see no use for having 'real sounding names that don't haveta be your real name'.

Your place your rules.


I'll play elsewhere when I have time to do so again. I have other things to worry about at the moment.

account locked

We're trying hard to get everyone's names changed. It's getting there, but it's happening pretty slow!
It would be really, really great if all those who have been asked change now.
If you haven't been asked, but think you should, please change now.

One thing I don't understand is why people wouldn't use their real names. Can someone please explain to me why it is so important to fight this simple request by the management? My real name is Michael Brant and I have no problem having it out there. Are people afraid of identity theft?

Michael,
We now go by both of our names combined out of respect for Paul..

But the reason we wished to use our Happy House name was because that is the name we use on all forums we participate on, as well as facebook and such.The Happy House is what people who know us are familiar with both online and off. Since both James and I write as well it covered that aspect.....Take now he is talking and cooking while I am typing so I cannot just say hey it is me alone...When we teach in public we go by the Happy House home to Alan Westerman memorial gardens,, so when we refer others to this site now we have to take the time to forewarn them about our name here..Other wise they come in look around and say well your not there ...We very much understand Nomad's concerns because we are dealing with that at this time helping those who we bring here to know who we are..over again...However if we wish to reach out and share,,,, this is a part of handling it ,,,Lol,,means extra on line time that we are having to learn to do double duty while doing work on the computer...We think reaching out sharing and offering suggestions for others to consider is worth it..

As to others people not wanting to do the name changes not sure,, but that is why it took us so long to do the change over,,While it is nice for the persona here on the site we have found it is extra work for us with those we refer but is working out okay...
Mary and James

I totally get your explanation Mary James and it makes perfect sense. You have an actual need to keep a consistant handle. I too have a 'handle' that I use all over the Internet, but since I'm really just a lurker, it doesn't bother me to use my real name on this one site.

Paul,
How does someone delete their account? I'm just not fond of the fact that all of my posts are searchable via google without someone being a member...I'd prefer to be removed and would do it myself if I could figure out how. And will the posts be removed?

Thanks
Isawela

Isawela,

Do you understand the difference between a real name and a real sounding name?

Well, now that I read through this, I am at least glad I was not personally targeted; and, the numerous no attempt to be a name (IE hippy in holland, etc) will be changing. As to it being annoying when you have a very clear and defined name in all your other activities online, simply do not recommend this site to those contacts ever. If this site helps you, stay; if not, then why are you complaining? Life is filled with rules; many of which are completely and totally arbitrary...but, they are the rules none the less. So you can pack up your pail and shovel and find a new sand box or do as the sand box owner says.

A side thought on the real sounding name issue: There are victims of crimes who do not want their real name or location known to the criminal; a real sounding name allows them to participate in safety.

I've personally met a few folks who go to great lengths to hide their identity while on the net. One of them, named Rob, has a distorted view of his importance in the world. He has very little to say online, spending hours with games and social media. Rob thinks the whole world is interested in his inane chatter and that he's being watched by a number of government agencies. This gives him something to hold onto. Although he is ignored or dismissed by many who meet him, his spy games on line which includes false names, encrypting and routing messages to a dozen different countries make him feel very important. He's had email accounts shut down because of this shenanigans and this re-enforces his delusions.

I have one word PRISM.

S Bengi wrote:I have one word PRISM.

When communicating in single words, it's best to include a definition. I'm probably in the majority as someone who will not bother to look this up.

There's quite a few new members with names that don't fit the 'real-sounding-first-second name thing.
It would be really great if you put in a name-change request in 'my profile'.
It's also a good opportunity to add signatures, live links and location/climate info if you'd like to.

Sometimes people who are famous prefer to have a chance to be "just regular"

Perhaps the fellow who spends a lot of time online has an inflated sense of his own importance, but in the current surveillance state, people who are actively and successfully working for change have every reason to be cautious.

Dale, PRISM is the once-secret surveillance program where the government has been watching and storing private phone records and emails without warrants or oversight.

I think it's kinda funny that people have a hard time with this. It just has to sound real, it DOES NOT have to be your real name.

I think it makes folks uncomfortable to have to have a real sounding name that isn't their real name. It's like you're not yourself, even though in most cases you're real name was given to you without your input into the matter. Isn't it odd though that we don't have any trouble at all in coming up with a typical screen name type thing? We get to pick a screen name that would more accurately describe us as a person in most cases and we give it very little thought. But when you need to choose a real sounding name, everything goes haywire.

So there's the real life you: _______ <--- real name there

and the online you: ________<---- (farmkid1, bowling4u, orwhatever screen) A chosen name you control

And on permies :________<---- A real sounding name that is not your own but could have been given to you by reasonable parents.

While I'm sure there are many people using their real name, there are folks that just can't for one reason or another. That's OK, there are plenty of baby name websites where you can go pick one from an enormous list. Some even give the historical or translations of names.
It's fun!
Here's mine

Now you try