Topic: Vote on changing display name here

[cerveauxfrits]

Avatars, user titles, signatures, whatever. . . these are all more like the electronic equivalent of what color T-shirt you're wearing.  Whereas the screen name is the actual indication of a person's identity.

You had me until you said that.  In my experience, many veteran forum users in forums with permanent/semi-permanent avatars associate posts with avatars first, and then associate the avatars with the name.

As a mnemonic, sure.  But like I said - do you really have a hard time dealing with quoteboxes because they use the person's name instead of their avatar? 

There's a canonical handle used to identify people. It's defined by the structure of the software, not by short-circuit heuristics in some people's brains.  That handle is not a picture.  It's a string of characters.

[Bunsen]

do you really have a hard time dealing with quoteboxes because they use the person's name instead of their avatar? 

Wait, we're supposed to actually read what's in those stupid little boxes?  The only thing I care about are the words coming out of my own mouth!

[Lead Farmer]

I really didn't expect to see this much debate over such a stupid topic on this forum. It seems like the main issue with the name changes is with Mafia players who aren't able to keep up with changes in games. Here's a tip. TAKE NOTES.
Is your life that empty, that you're concerned with what my display name is from one moment to the next?
meh, whatever. I'm sure the nays will get enough votes to make it happen. Wrong choices are more typical than right ones in democratic systems of governance.

[I am Nintendo]

Wrong choices are more typical than right ones in democratic systems of governance.

Yes, when money or rights are involved.

What are the negative ramifications of making it harder to change your identity unneccessarily?

[Lead Farmer]

Wrong choices are more typical than right ones in democratic systems of governance.

Yes, when money or rights are involved.

What are the negative ramifications of making it harder to change your identity unneccessarily?

What's your definition of a "necessary" change? No change is necessary, ever. It's all about free will vs. control.
Just like the smoking ban topic and several others I've seen here, it's comes down to people wanting to have control over people who do things they don't like.

[Dionysus]

It seems the ones taking this seriously are the ones complaining about it the most. Who cares if you can't change your name anymore? Furthermore, why is Beleth putting this up for a vote? You're the admin, block name-changing if you want.

I voted "No" anyway, mainly because Bunsen's tears nourish me.

[MountainManPan]

I say no. 

Maybe add a 'user title' that one can change on his own whim whenver he so pleases.

[cerveauxfrits]

Furthermore, why is Beleth putting this up for a vote? You're the admin, block name-changing if you want.

Considering that the results aren't publicly visible, I suspect it's more of an opinion poll than a referendum, and the most that non-Beleth contributors to the thread could possibly produce is something about on the level of a U.N. non-binding resolution.

[Beleth]

Furthermore, why is Beleth putting this up for a vote? You're the admin, block name-changing if you want.

Considering that the results aren't publicly visible, I suspect it's more of an opinion poll than a referendum

The results will be visible when the poll ends on the 17th.  I've found that hiding ongoing poll tallies results in a more accurate outcome.

I'm putting it up for a vote because, frankly, I'm torn on the issue, and I want to make the decision that's going to disgruntle the fewest number of people.

[Morvis13]

First you take our whoring now you take our liberty to change names.
Commie!

{/rant}
if I were mod i'd have kept the whoring and locked the name change.

[Lead Farmer]

I'm guessing that it's at around 80% nays at this point.

[Karyn]

As long as we are allowed to change our avatars, signatures, titles, I don't see why locking one thing is a stifling of anything.  Maybe once every six months we unlock it for a day and let people change their name if they want to.

[Black_Magic]

I voted a hard No.


And while we're at it... we should ban the gays and the black people.   Or at least enact a strong don't ask don't tell policy.

[Dr.PastaMaker]

I demand a 'I want burritos' option

[KarenX]

I thought burritos were mandatory.