Namehogs

Codek · #1 04-03-2004, 03:09 PM

Although a similar topic has already been brought up, I would like to point out that this is completely different. (you'll get it in a minute)

When a user signs up, says hello to everyone, and just dissapears, he or she leaves a user account. This account just sits there, doing nothing. Not particularly taking up much space, but it is preventing other users from using that name, other users who might intend on staying longer.

Now this poses a bit of a problem. I've seen some great names that I actually tried to use when I signed up. I ended up compromising with a name I have grown to hate. (although I thought it was novel at the time)

For instance, Meech, I tried to sign up for that but it was already taken...

Yeah so... yeah.

Just a thought.

Joshy · #2 04-03-2004, 03:18 PM

Well... nothing much we can do... Its only a username, so i dont think it matters much...

Codek · #3 04-03-2004, 04:15 PM

:

Well... nothing much we can do... Its only a username, so i dont think it matters much...

Well I thought I'd bring it up anyway.

Alcar might want to do something with it. But then again he might not so... yeah.

Joshy · #4 04-03-2004, 05:41 PM

Well what can he do about it? Delete the usernames?

Codek · #5 04-03-2004, 05:44 PM

:

Well what can he do about it? Delete the usernames?

Well no but... he could put some kind of user inactive delety accounty thingy...

GAWD I don't know!

Al the Vykker · #6 04-03-2004, 06:28 PM

You do bring up a valid point, I guess its just we never have really dealt with dormant users around here. I myself always found it annoying to find that we have like 2000 members, yet there are only probably really a 100 active members. But what can you do, I agree though that sucks when someone takes the username you wanted to choose.

Codek · #7 04-03-2004, 06:31 PM

Yeah. I guess what I'm really getting at here, is users who are quite clearly dormant and never coming back, who just basically take up user names. I think we should free them up.

Mac the Janitor · #8 04-03-2004, 06:36 PM

I think that if a user wants to register and his/her preferred name is already taken and dormant, then they can contact Alcar and get him to delete it. Otherwise there isn't much point, I guess.

***Alcar*** · #9 04-03-2004, 08:57 PM

Hmmmmm. Usually I'd dismiss this thread like I did in the past with the thirty or so other threads with the same intentions. However, as I have realised, some "special" Oddworld related names have been taken by dormant members. Normally I wouldn't care, but these names are actually names that impersonate personalities from Oddworld Inhabitants. Which can cause confusion. It's lucky Alf signed up so soon, because I know he wouldn't have been able to at present.

I'll think this over a bit more, and listen to some more opinions. But I'm generally heading in the direction of what Mac just suggested

Alcar...

T-nex · #10 04-06-2004, 03:38 AM

Why not send a waning to all dormant users?? I'f they don't respond, then delet them??? or if they start posting again, then that's good!! I already signed two acounts (sorry) becous an e-mail never arrived... or it did arrive a week or so after i registered with this one.... So there are already two unactive account... plus many other!!

ClaireBear · #11 04-06-2004, 04:13 AM

Thats what they do on Maf... Master Admin (aka Pat!) posts a warning listing all the names who are going to be deleted saying "28 days til deletion" then a similar post again at 21, then 14 etc...

He calls it tidying up... and its not a problem... if the people do log back on they just reregister... it also releases a lot of good names that were taken early on in the forums life as salsa also has terminology etc similar to OW character names, inhabitants terms etc that fans would like to use.

Fuzzles! · #12 04-06-2004, 06:38 AM

Well as a new user, I know I found it VERY frustrating to pick a Username I liked. It seemed that every name I wanted, was already taken. After looking at the members list, I found that the accounts with the names I wanted generally had a 0 post count.

I finally settled and put an "!" at the end of my name. But I will admit, I was miffed a little. LOL

***Alcar*** · #13 04-06-2004, 10:01 PM

Unfortunately that is the way things go. Those that register before others have preference of names. Some members who originally registered, but left the forums, do come back, and reclaim their user names.

Alcar...

Codek · #14 04-07-2004, 01:53 AM

:

Unfortunately that is the way things go. Those that register before others have preference of names. Some members who originally registered, but left the forums, do come back, and reclaim their user names.

Alcar...

Yes but Alcar eventually it will get to a point when there are *no* OW terminology usernames available at all. And that would mean there would be less "oddworld" about the forums. Now I seem to remember you being strongly in favour of keeping the "oddworld" going around here.

It's just a suggestion. I personally think it would be a good idea to clear up some old usernames of people that are obviously never coming back.

ClaireBear · #15 04-07-2004, 02:00 AM

:

Yes but Alcar eventually it will get to a point when there are *no* OW terminology usernames available at all. And that would mean there would be less "oddworld" about the forums. Now I seem to remember you being strongly in favour of keeping the "oddworld" going around here.

It's just a suggestion. I personally think it would be a good idea to clear up some old usernames of people that are obviously never coming back.

I'm with you on this Death...

"Tidying" happens on other forums... why not here?

Codek · #16 04-07-2004, 02:22 AM

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I'm with you on this Death...

"Tidying" happens on other forums... why not here?

Probably because Alcar gets off on being hard to reason with.

ClaireBear · #17 04-07-2004, 02:27 AM

:

Probably because Alcar gets off on being hard to reason with.

Where as you.....

paramiteabe · #18 04-07-2004, 06:08 AM

This problem has been going on since I join way back in November 2001.

When I was chooseing names I couldn't because it was already in use but they were names like Abe or Munch. So mainly I became creative and came up with an original name (Paramiteabe)

I think if people come up with their own original name then that problem I think won't effect them. And it will allow you to be titled under that name.
I guess you have to play around with the name to make it work. Thats what I did at least. I mean I started with Abe but I wasn't alowd to use it so I played with it for a little bit and added Paramite to Abe and it alowed me to use it And there were all kinds other people with the word paramite in there names. So I think its how you play with it. If it doesn't allow you to use the name then play around with it and it just might alow you to use it. It worked with me.

Paramiteabe...

ParamiteRich · #19 04-07-2004, 07:12 AM

I've noticed on the member list and theres a lot of good neames wasted.
I havent sent many replies, but I'm going to try my best use this username as much as I can.

***Alcar*** · #20 04-07-2004, 02:06 PM

:

Yes but Alcar eventually it will get to a point when there are *no* OW terminology usernames available at all. And that would mean there would be less "oddworld" about the forums. Now I seem to remember you being strongly in favour of keeping the "oddworld" going around here.

Ooooo, I applaud thee, Death. You cunning bastich

As I said earlier, I'm heading in the direction of what Mac the Janitor suggested. If a member wants a particular username, they can email moi, and tell me. I'll then proceed to modify the username of the existing member.

But I wouldn't want to do that very often, as it's exactly the same as changing a name, meaning several entire database tables need to be updated just for one username modification.

However, one point springs to mind. What exactly will I change the name to, of the existing member?

Alcar...

Majic · #21 04-07-2004, 02:08 PM

Just add a couple numbers or something to the end, and send an email to the user explaining his new name, and that he can request a nwe name for themself if they please.