Too Many Username Changes

[Isoverity]

Its my opinion there have been WAY too many username changes in the past, and it has hurt forum identity and cohesion. Over the past year I've lost track of a lot of people. Some have left but a lot are still around under different usernames. Its as if I was at a costume ball and everyone kept changing costumes. Familiar people and acquaintances revert back to strangers and anons. In one poll thread I made 75% of people claimed to have changed their username - many for no reason other than they were "bored".

There are a lot of forms that don't allow any username changes and they have good reasons. Obviously at a forum with sensitive personal info username changes can be wise sometimes - but not 75% of active people. its now become a fashion statement or a cure for boredom.

"Feeling down and need a lift? Try goosing your day with a new username!" Sorry but things shouldn't work that way. I come here now and see all new people - then it turns out I know half of them but lost track of them 8 months ago when they got their second or third or fourth username. Its been off the hook like that and makes no sense imo.

Very often people go away for a few months and when they return it seems to them as if they don't know people anymore. If people wanted to water down a forum I can't think of too many ways better than swapping out a lot of usernames and making a place seem unrecognisable.

I saw allow one name change a year if that. Of course dire circumstances can allow for what ever needs to be done (keeping in mind a bookmarked username will still show an old user account even with the new name).

Have You Ever Changed Usernames?
http://www.recoveryourlife.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206297

[griddlebone]

Name changes irritate me!

Plus some people have had about 15 different usernames in the last few years! I find it unnecessary.

[Pi.R^2]

I can see your point, however I think username changes have to be allowed so that if people get worried about being found by friends/families then they can change. It's also kind of legit when you have a really emo username, but decide you want to be more positive. And it would be a load of extra admin for Camilla if she had to go through and decide who has a legit reason and only approve those, so I think in the interests of saving her time, I think it's sensible that username changes are allowed. And unless the member deletes all their posts, it's dead easy to find a member's new username anyway.

[DarkWhispers123]

I agree though i never change my username.

[random.swirls]

Currently it takes about 5-10 minutes to change a username I have in the past not changed people username if they request to many in to short a time but this is rare. Changing this dramatically would potentially make this unmanageable so please can we bear this in mind!!!

As an aside I find username changes confusing at times but I tend to get to grips with them pretty quickly.

[Crysainta]

If you are close to the people and they want to maintain a relationship with you then you will keep up with each other regardless of username changes. Not everybody is comfortable with having people track them on RYL for long periods of time.
However, I don't see a problem with limiting the number of requests. I thought there was already a limit. Doesn't stop people from making whole new accounts if they fear someone is tracking them here.

[griddlebone]

There used to be a limit, not sure what happened there!

[Isoverity]

I can see your point, however I think username changes have to be allowed so that if people get worried about being found by friends/families then they can change. It's also kind of legit when you have a really emo username, but decide you want to be more positive. And it would be a load of extra admin for Camilla if she had to go through and decide who has a legit reason and only approve those, so I think in the interests of saving her time, I think it's sensible that username changes are allowed. And unless the member deletes all their posts, it's dead easy to find a member's new username anyway.


I've been coming here almost 10 years in Dec (time flew lol). There were always some occasions where people needed a name change and it was never a problem. In the last 12-16 months however its become chic - a "thing to do" - and the changes have been massive.

I personally stopped replying to a lot of posts because I lost track of who was who. I got to know a lot of names of people who I may not have known well but I knew their situations. One person was in a hospital last month, another had an issue with parents, another was being bullied etc etc. Some of these people I posted or PMed once or several times. I had a dialogue going to one degree or another. In the past year that has all eroded. No way they all had security issues. When I see people I don't recognise - but who have been here a couple years and have a few hundred or few thousand posts - I assume I probably posted them in the past and don't want to go over the same things again.

If people really need a change for security reasons then what they need is a new account - an option that has always been available. If someone tracks down a person here and finds their account a new name doesn't help much because a bookmarked account will stay the same aside from name. If someone quotes an original post the old name stays in it and shoes up in Google searches. I've found old familiar people with new usernames that way.

Its obvious that the vast majority of name changes here the last months have nothing to do with security even if thats a reason given. Dozens and dozens of people I didn't talk too directly but recognised are now as anonymous as any forum I rarely go to. I have around 180 PMs saved from over the last 12-16 months, and I used to recognise all the usernames and now they are mostly different. I don't know who is who and stopped trying to keep track. I think all the name changes have been very destructive overall. I'm not saying don't allow them at all - just stop letting the situation run off the rails. It all reminds me of the "sig" fads of 2004-5 where people had to have the longest and most over-the-top sigs they could muster up until threads became unreadable never mind unloadable.

[ajrocks]

I can see your point, however I think username changes have to be allowed so that if people get worried about being found by friends/families then they can change. It's also kind of legit when you have a really emo username, but decide you want to be more positive. And it would be a load of extra admin for Camilla if she had to go through and decide who has a legit reason and only approve those, so I think in the interests of saving her time, I think it's sensible that username changes are allowed. And unless the member deletes all their posts, it's dead easy to find a member's new username anyway.

^ I agree.I've changed my username once-not long after i first joined but just because I felt i'd picked one that could easily be recognised from people outside of here if they were to chance across this site.
But yeah I can see its a bit excessive if peeps are doing it all the time,don't think that's v neccessary.

[Pi.R^2]

Its obvious that the vast majority of name changes here the last months have nothing to do with security even if thats a reason given.
People will just give the reason of security, meaning that Camilla would have to personally interrogate each one to find out if they were genuinely concerned about their username being identifiable. And making a new account would not change the fact that there was an old account floating around with potentially thousands of personal posts attached to an identifiable username.

No, most of them are not necessary, but there are lots of things we do in life that are not necessary, and if people fancy a username change, then that's their prerogative and they do so in the knowledge that there will be some people who won't want to spend the time finding out their new username and that if they want to keep in touch with those people they'll have to drop them a quick message saying "hey, it's me".

I do certainly agree that there should be a limit, if only in the interest of time-saving. I think you're only supposed to change it once every three months or something?

[Bellatrix]

I've been on this site a long time, and I didn't want my username to be the same as it used to be, because it was a username I had used on other sites, and I didn't want to link the two. It was easier to change it here, than on multiple sites.

Also, I'm really not that interesting and I doubt anyone cares enough about what I post to be bothered by my having a different username.

Plus, wasn't there a push a while back to get more supportive replies to less well-known members? Surely it's good that these 'popular' usernames are changing a bit to give newer members more of a sense of belonging.

[whirlpools]

I don't mind them, but then I don't feel I have a problem recognising people fairly easily despite changes. Hope that doesn't sound 'stalkerish', I don't 'stalk', just use the forums a few times a day. Also the number of users is smaller these days.

I have been a member here for five years-ish. Have had five usernames in that time, for various reasons including changes in stages of recovery, and anonymity reasons. I will probably keep the same name for quite some time now as it's a comfortable one for me. I don't mind too much if people can follow me as I can't be here for close friendships (although care a great deal for many RYLers).

My biggest concern is that the related workload is not too large for Cam so will play my part in ensuring that.

[Isoverity]

I don't mind them, but then I don't feel I have a problem recognising people fairly easily despite changes. Hope that doesn't sound 'stalkerish', I don't 'stalk', just use the forums a few times a day. Also the number of users is smaller these days.



I think one reason the number of users is smaller is because of too many changes. People often like to go to a place were they know people and are known. That's how even pubs get successful. RYL used to have a strong core identity and people saw it as a kind of community of sorts. People often left and then came back and still senses a connection. Very often someone goes to uni or gets a boyfriend etc and they fade out for awhile. when they come back (as they often do). They know people and people know them. If that doesn't matter then people could just post in dozens of forums that have same issues

[The Herbalist.]

Has honestly never bothered me. Just have to ask and they will usually tell you who they are. I don't change mine frequently, but to me it's whatever identifies you best. Perhaps you go through life changes and feel your username just doesn't fit anymore.

[Snow White.]

I think one reason the number of users is smaller is because of too many changes. People often like to go to a place were they know people and are known. That's how even pubs get successful. RYL used to have a strong core identity and people saw it as a kind of community of sorts.


But what about the CLIQUES?!?

Jodie I care about you :3

I don't see why the big deal though. I agree with Jenna. It's their prerogative to change names and risk losing contacts or support from people who knew the background.

If you're interested in certain people, another helpful tip is to "buddy" them so you can see they're online even with a new name.

[Isoverity]

But what about the CLIQUES?!?

Jodie I care about you :3

I don't see why the big deal though. I agree with Jenna. It's their prerogative to change names and risk losing contacts or support from people who knew the background.



The legitimacy of peoples wants, desires, whims etc. ends where they begin to harm the forum (and usernames are a forum function - not a civil right). Its no accident this place is dying while people just sort of press on cluelessly doing the things helping it to the web 1.0 grave.

[Snow White.]

.. you're over thinking this, Jack.

The forum isn't dying. But if it were, some members having multiple username changes isn't going to be the driving force behind that.

[FabulousMike]

I personally stopped replying to a lot of posts because I lost track of who was who.

This is the most worrying thing out of this thread, in my opinion. Does it matter what someone's name is when it comes to getting a reply? I thought we were trying to get rid of Clitches (or whatever that word is).

[Shoshana Rochel]

This is the most worrying thing out of this thread, in my opinion. Does it matter what someone's name is when it comes to getting a reply? I thought we were trying to get rid of Clitches (or whatever that word is).

The right word is cliques, and I agree that it shouldn't matter what someone's name is for them to get a reply.

[FabulousMike]

The right word is cliques, and I agree that it shouldn't matter what someone's name is for them to get a reply.

That's the one! Thank you.

[griddlebone]

I think that what Jack means is that if you're following someones progress and you are aware of the support/advice they have received in that past it can be difficult to tailor your response to someone if they keep changing their username. Continuity gets screwed up, which isnt to do with cliques or replying to someone based on knowing their username, but rather that it can be difficult to continue to support someone if you have lost track of who it is.

I know that there have been people who have left and returned and its much easier to support them appropriately if I remember them/know their previous issues when they were on RYL.

[The One Who]

Generally, I agree with Liv. I think there needs to be a limit. However, I don't think it's a good idea to encourage too many new accounts to be made.

And making a new account would not change the fact that there was an old account floating around with potentially thousands of personal posts attached to an identifiable username.

This is a public forum, and I think it is important that people not only know that, but remember it.

if people fancy a username change, then that's their prerogative

Is it? Really? We do not own or run this site. The option to remove the function of username changes could happen tomorrow.

[random.swirls]

Okay so since The start of September I've done 55 username changes so that's over a 12-13 week period.

Which does seem quite a lot I guess I'm averaging 4 changes a week.

I looked through the changes and there are some names I recognise the vast majority are people who I don't know.

I tend to look through the names and if I recognise them having changed it recently I check I think maybe 3 times I've denied the change but most of the times it's outside of the 3 month limit.

[sherlock holmes]

I've only changed my name once. I used to be control freak and when I stepped down as a mod/left for a while I changed my name because I felt like I wanted a bit of a clean break.

It does confuse me when people keep changing their names, I dont know who anyone is any more, but I try to reply to threads regardless.

[Eccentrics]

I have changed my username once, and I did so because I believe my parents found my internet alias.

[Revival]

I've changed my name once in nearly 10 years because my old name no longer fit

[Isoverity]

I think that what Jack means is that if you're following someones progress and you are aware of the support/advice they have received in that past it can be difficult to tailor your response to someone if they keep changing their username. Continuity gets screwed up, which isnt to do with cliques or replying to someone based on knowing their username, but rather that it can be difficult to continue to support someone if you have lost track of who it is.

I know that there have been people who have left and returned and its much easier to support them appropriately if I remember them/know their previous issues when they were on RYL.


Yes that makes sense.

I've had PMs from returning people who were genuinely ecstatic that A) they recognized someone and B) someone remembered them.

I've also known some people who have had some serious issues and I can tell when things are building. I also notice when some people vanish after they hit a rough patch. There's not a lot I can do but they appreciate that someone actually noticed. Many times I've been told after a check-up PM "I didn't think anyone actually paid attention to me or cared what happened". That sort of forum sonar goes away when the landscape keeps changing.

A few rare times I have had to call someone near a member because of something bad going down. Once a girl who went on meds and suddenly wanted to jump in front of a train. I knew she did something very serious in the past. I called someone to intervene because I had a sense for the situation. That was 2006. That is a rare situation (4x in my time here) but such things happen.


Plus we all have our perspectives and approaches. My way to reply to a problem is not for everyone and I'm ok with that. One thing with me is that I can write a lot in a reply - which can be a thread killer (a reason I was always more of a PMer). If I already made someone a longish reply I don't want to have another go around with them and waste my time or piss them off. Some people even like a reply but don't need to get the same one again and again.

[LizzieRose]

I have an idea if I may.

I've had a few people on my Buddy List who changed their names, but I remembered who they were after a few moments of thought and looking at their profile.

Perhaps add people you wish to keep in touch with or keep track of to your Buddy List, so if they have a name change, you'll just have to check the profile or whatever to see if you remember them.

[Isoverity]

I have an idea if I may.

I've had a few people on my Buddy List who changed their names, but I remembered who they were after a few moments of thought and looking at their profile.

Perhaps add people you wish to keep in touch with or keep track of to your Buddy List, so if they have a name change, you'll just have to check the profile or whatever to see if you remember them.


I used to do that when things were more normal. I could keep track of some people using PMs. Now my PM names have changed so much I can't keep up with the situation anymore