Upcoming change to default usernames

I think this is a good step. Thank you for the work! What I have REALLY have trouble with, though, is multiple uses of the same name. I don’t know if you have a way around that, but I can hope, right? :) I hate having to look to see where nigel lives before I can tease him…..

Hi TexasTravelMom, we'd like for people to use first names here (if they want that) as that can allow for things to feel a bit more personal. If we lock down usernames so that only one person can have each name, the eventuality is that everyone's name looks like xXxCalvin69257xXx or various other not-so-enjoyable formats. The Location is meant to be a way to differentiate. I'm open to alternatives, and perhaps there will be a need for unique naming at some point, but I don't see it in the near future.

I didn’t know there were default forum names. My user name on the forum is one I chose when I created my account, and I’ve never changed it since then - so this change will not affect me? Just want to make sure. Thanks.

I find duplicate user names confusing. There are several Pam, Pat, Kim, Carol, Dave, Frank, Nigel... If they are frequent posters, I may know them by location. But sometimes I have to open their profile to figure out who I'm responding to.

When I set up my account earlier this year, I knew there were already several Jean, so that is why I'm jeanm and that's okay.

Webmaster, what do current default forum names look like? I assume I carefully selected my own oh so creative (ha ha!) forum name, but have no recall of it!

we'd like for people to use first names here

I'm afraid that one backfired for me. The fact that there would likely be multiple forum users sharing a name, made me far, far less likely to use my own first name.

I don’t quite understand. My user name is Susie. Will it remain that, or will it be changed?

Well, mine is a bit unique, so not really any way I would give it out to a lot of random online people I may never know are reading my comments - now and ten years from now. (So if you have it, you know I trust you - and that the occasion has arisen to use it.)

I realize the intent (and the difficulties) in the situation, but don’t have the computer savvy to know what can and can’t be done. It’s a crazy world out there, though. On rare occasions it’s been a crazy world here also. So caution is always advisable.

But yes, the location option for those with the same name helps! I think you are headed in a good direction!

I had zero idea there are default user names. I guess it has been a while since I set up my account.

Glad you are addressing this. I originally went by just “Carol”, but there were a lot of us and sometimes another Carol would give a response that I would prefer not to be associated with or people couldn’t tell that different Carols were responding. Hence “Carol now retired” came into being. Sort of a ridiculous name but I had to do something…….

Can my name stay a Myster-y?

There are hundreds of Nigels but only one Nigel.

Carol, if you think your name is ridiculous, have you considered obtaining gainful employment? Then you can call yourself 'Carol goes back to work', a catchier and less showy moniker if you ask me.

Moderator, on the whole I'm not so sure about this name change business, it can have serious consequences. James E used to be very funny and interesting. Just look at him now.

I remember James E, he was great. I suspect if we all made a fuss he might return to the forum.

We can only dream. I'll start a petition.

A man with big shoulders is a man to admire.

I use my first name and first two letters of my last name. Hence, Lynda- sh. I think people may assume someone named Lyn is in a hurry, but no.

Gundersen, thank you. I need a laugh today.

As long as I don't lose my identity!

(please don't use travellerNNNNN)

Perhaps using the joining date and hoping that a genuine participant will want to change "NEW20250719a" to something which separate them from the less genuine. And maybe change the reddit defaults to something meaningful?

Thanks, Webmaster!

Perhaps using the joining date and hoping that a genuine participant will want to change "NEW20250719a" to something which separate them from the less genuine. . .

I'd vote for subbing the joining date for post counts.

surely the post count is a variable, the date is a constant

If this change will affect you, and you do not wish to have your forum name changed, I will not be able to single out your name and prevent the change for you. However, you will be able to set it back to whatever you'd like in your Forum Settings after the change.

Sounds like a pause in the action only. You can just go and change your name back.

Thanks for your comments, everyone. The tone among many of the replies - other than solving mysteries, discovering that Lyn is not in a hurry, and confirming that there is only one true Nigel - seems to be concern that you might lose your chosen forum name. To repeat what I had in bold in the OP, but with an edit that hopefully makes it clearer: If you've ever selected your own forum name at any time, this will not affect you.

Susie, you intentionally set your name to Susie. You're all good. samatudd, you'll also be fine. It appears that everyone in this thread is not using the default provided at the time of signing up to use the forum.

"we'd like for people to use first names here." "I'm afraid that one backfired for me." I think I should rephrase that we'd like for people to be able to use their first names here if they so choose. Your choice to select a more unique forum name is also good!

I think we've decided against TravelerNNNNN as Nigel put it.

Perhaps more important for everyone participating in this thread, you'll probably start noticing that other forum names have a particular format if they haven't chosen their own forum name. It might not be TravelerNNNNN, but it could be adjective-animal-date. Or color-adjective-animal. It may look funny at first - and that's why I want to get the word out so that folks aren't like "what the heck?" There is someone with several thousand posts that is still using their default forum name. :)

Ooooooh I am curious who that is !

I am with you, Kim! Ha! This may be like a new forum game!