rb4player - Posted - 02/08/2012:  17:25:29

Suddenly people's posts are showing up identified with their real names rather than their "handles."

Jim

dunaif - Posted - 02/08/2012:  17:31:22

I noticed the same thing. What's up?

bubbalouie - Posted - 02/08/2012:  17:56:08

I noticed too. I'm not sure if I like that.

J-Walk - Posted - 02/08/2012:  18:09:01

Let's see if I show up as John or J-Walk...

banjotom2 - Posted - 02/08/2012:  18:20:58

Curious...

Yep!

I'm always BanjoTom2... but today... I'm ME!

Not ashamed... nothing to hide...

Tom

banjotom2.com

Edited by - banjotom2 on 02/08/2012 18:21:57

danielburdett - Posted - 02/08/2012:  18:24:02

I'm always my handle...

Sheldon - Posted - 02/08/2012:  18:27:05

I don't especially care if you like it or not . . . It's my name!

Sheldon

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 02/08/2012:  18:36:20

Also gone are the designations...Senior Member, Forum Fixture, Rollin Forward, etc.  Now we see when we joined and our home city (if given)

KE - Posted - 02/08/2012:  18:39:14

Who are you people?!  And what did you do with all the others.  

Dingoman25 - Posted - 02/08/2012:  18:55:14

Real names were only evident once I logged in, and some (a minority) still have just their handle visible.

Eric, I hope this helps?

regards,

Chris.

skydiver_99654 - Posted - 02/08/2012:  19:05:00

Testing Testing.... :D

schlange - Posted - 02/08/2012:  20:51:50

It's that way on purpose. :-)

We're trying some changes, to show the information people care about and hide the stuff that doesn't matter.

Names are only visible if you're logged in. Same with city/state.

Let me know what you think.

vrteach - Posted - 02/08/2012:  21:01:20

I don't mind, but I'm curious. Why isn't it across the board?

vrteach - Posted - 02/08/2012:  21:10:03

Ah, I figured it out. I'm back to my (fairly dumb) handle.

Edited by - vrteach on 02/08/2012 21:12:14

dmiller - Posted - 02/08/2012:  21:28:39

Wow - -  What happened??!  If you want your regular handle while you're logged on;

It looks like you have to edit your profile.  Take out your name and location.  I did.

If you do that, your regular screen name shows up when you're logged on here.

Everyone knows who I am (no secret there), but by the same token -

I don't like seeing David Miller (instead of dmiller) above my posts.

That's my (as usual)  - - imo.

vrteach - Posted - 02/08/2012:  21:40:47

Cool, now I'm a different person. I wish I had named myself Rollo Rexroat in 2006.

Well, not really. I'm actually happier with my old (although dumb) handle.

vrteach - Posted - 02/08/2012:  21:52:50

So, I don't like the display of names instead of the username/handle. What is good about the username is (1) it is unique as opposed to names, and (2) it cannot be easily changed. This helps make sure that identities remain stable. I would also find it to be a bit more confusing in the maintenance of the TOTW index.

I do rather like the display of city & state, and I wouldn't mind the additional display of name--assuming that I wanted to give that info out at all.

Roll Player - Posted - 02/08/2012:  22:08:42

I don't think I like suddenly being identified by name on my posts rather than handle without having a choice in the matter, like a checkbox in my user profile. I don't really want to do that by taking my real name off my profile, though, at least not yet.

I also find the change confusing. If I don't recognize a user by his/her avatar, there's no way to associate the real name with the old handle, and my memory isn't all that good at recalling the avatars that went with the old handles (or anything else for that matter.)

If I want to see the old handles that I know members by, I have to log out? How about an option for that, instead. I'd rather see the handles by default. If I want to see a member's real name, I can always go to their home page for that.

Eric, I appreciate your wanting to make the Hangout better, and all you do to that end, but this is one I don't really like much.

Edited by - Roll Player on 02/08/2012 22:25:29

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/08/2012:  22:13:02

I miss being a "Forum Fixture". I was aspiring to become a "Forum Chandelier".

I've always used my name, and never have understood what the point of "handles" was ... except of course for those embarrassed at being caught talking about the shameful practice of playing the banjo.

Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 02/08/2012 22:14:19

Jim Yates - Posted - 02/08/2012:  22:19:31

I like being able to say,"Good point, Brenda, thanks." instead of, "Good point, BR27, thanks."

Since most of us post our real name on our home page, there's little anonymity on here, unlike some other sites where the anonymity provided by the handle allows people to express opinions and ideas which they wouldn't do if they had to take credit for them under their own name.

Roll Player - Posted - 02/08/2012:  22:46:31

So I found this fix: I deleted my last name from my profile and entered it after my first name, and now my handle shows in my posts, but you can still see my real name if you're a member if you go to my homepage.

That's the way I prefer it, but I'd also rather not see others' names by default, because I don't recognize a lot of them.

Edited by - Roll Player on 02/08/2012 22:55:22

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 02/08/2012:  22:57:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange



It's that way on purpose. :-)



We're trying some changes, to show the information people care about and hide the stuff that doesn't matter.



Names are only visible if you're logged in. Same with city/state.



Let me know what you think.

---

Um, I quite frankly preferred it the way it was.   

If I'd wanted it this way 'round I'd have used my real name instead of a handle to begin with, and it's safe to assume that everyone else who was using a handle was doing so because they liked it that way too.   So if you really wanna know how many people think what about this change, simply count the number of people who were intentionally using a handle instead of their names.  That's going to be very close to the total number of contributors who would like to have it back the way it was.

To my mind, you've just taken away part of the fun of Banjo Hangout: inventing an alternate persona and occasionally keeping track of how close you are to becoming one of the "forum fixtures".   While BHO is your toy to play with, it seems counterproductive to annoy a healthy percentage of the posters here for no particular reason.

~Pete

Edited by - Deaf Lester Crawdad on 02/08/2012 23:01:26

pstroud1 - Posted - 02/08/2012:  23:13:10

I like it, I think it's a good change. I respect those that don't want to use their real names.

Didn't take long for many to figure how not to use it.

It saves me from running to their home page to see whom I'm referring to.





Now I don't have to sign Paul so every one know my first name.

Thanks Eric





xxxx ;)

Edited by - pstroud1 on 02/08/2012 23:15:57

dmiller - Posted - 02/09/2012:  00:10:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by Deaf Lester Crawdad

Um, I quite frankly preferred it the way it was.   

If I'd wanted it this way 'round I'd have used my real name instead of a handle to begin with, and it's safe to assume that everyone else who was using a handle was doing so because they liked it that way too.   So if you really wanna know how many people think what about this change, simply count the number of people who were intentionally using a handle instead of their names.  That's going to be very close to the total number of contributors who would like to have it back the way it was.

To my mind, you've just taken away part of the fun of Banjo Hangout: inventing an alternate persona and occasionally keeping track of how close you are to becoming one of the "forum fixtures".   While BHO is your toy to play with, it seems counterproductive to annoy a healthy percentage of the posters here for no particular reason.

~Pete

---

I agree.  100%.  If it ain't broke - - - - - You know the ending of the sentence.

Andy McC - Posted - 02/09/2012:  00:10:46

I much prefer it this new way. Good job.

The artist formerly know as Andy McC

Edited by - Andy McC on 02/09/2012 00:11:43

banjotom2 - Posted - 02/09/2012:  00:58:41

It works either way for me...

All good.

Transparency...

Tom

Dingoman25 - Posted - 02/09/2012:  01:50:18

Eric - I'm the same as Tom (Arri 2) and some others - I'm not overly concerned either way. A bit of warning might have been useful, but it really is only a minor thing in the grand scheme of things. I suspect most of us will get used to the new way in a matter of days (or even hours)! ---  warm regards, Chris.

Hoss - Posted - 02/09/2012:  01:58:27

Honestly I don't see the need for the change. I got to know and recognize so many people by their handles and now that's suddenly gone. I didn't realize there was anything wrong with the way things were and I thought many of the handles were kind of fun. I agree with the poster here who said "if it ain't broke...." Sorry Eric. Thumbs down on this one.

Edited by - Hoss on 02/09/2012 02:05:18

banjoy - Posted - 02/09/2012:  02:38:12

Well, Eric's a mad evil social scientist and we're all his lab rats. You guys haven't figured that out yet?

I have prepared this photo essay to explain this better. Look carefully now:

Eric's Evil Plot exposed

My thoroughly exhausting investigation

My Conclusions

My Recommendations

Edited by - banjoy on 02/09/2012 02:38:49

jduke - Posted - 02/09/2012:  04:53:43

I'm not offended by the changes.

I would, however, like to see both the real and user names used.  A good many regulars on the  BHO are know by their real  names, even though they choose to use a user name.  Years from now, I suppose we'll get to know who is who by their actual name, but in the mean time, it would be nice to recognize the contributors by the name we have become used to.

Also, when we choose user names, we usually do so with much care.  We choose a name that has meaning or humor.  A handle that perhaps shows our love of banjo, a type of music or other interests/hobbies. Perhaps it's a life long nick name.  It's kind of like having a personalized auto license plate, only it doesn't cost an extra $50 / year.

Jeff "JD Uke" Davis

bkdraft - Posted - 02/09/2012:  05:28:56

quote:

---

Originally posted by jduke

I'm not offended by the changes.

I would, however, like to see both the real and user names used.  A good many regulars on the  BHO are know by their real  names, even though they choose to use a user name.  Years from now, I suppose we'll get to know who is who by their actual name, but in the mean time, it would be nice to recognize the contributors by the name we have become used to.

Also, when we choose user names, we usually do so with much care.  We choose a name that has meaning or humor.  A handle that perhaps shows our love of banjo, a type of music or other interests/hobbies. Perhaps it's a life long nick name.  It's kind of like having a personalized auto license plate, only it doesn't cost an extra $50 / year.

Jeff "JD Uke" Davis

---

 I agree with Jeff, no big deal either way for me.

feldspar1333 - Posted - 02/09/2012:  05:32:27

Hmmm...  I did not seem to be affected?

cb56 - Posted - 02/09/2012:  05:33:10

Fascinating!

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 02/09/2012:  06:20:55

My vote's for old style (for what that's worth).  I, too, have gotten to know people by their "stage names"

Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:10:05

I much prefer the old way -- having your Handle, not your real name and town.  

I vote against the new change, if my vote is worth anything.

Edited by - Texasbanjo on 02/09/2012 10:57:05

Hoss - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:14:00

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjoy

Well, Eric's a mad evil social scientist and we're all his lab rats. You guys haven't figured that out yet?

 

Well, I believe Banjoy (sorry I mean Frank) is in on Eric's evil plot and wants to force the rest of us to go out and buy vanity license plates with our handles on them to post as our profile pics! Hmmm...come to think of it maybe not such a bad idea....if I had "Hoss" on my plates my daughter wouldn't want to borrow my car anymore.

Edited by - Hoss on 02/09/2012 07:14:50

banjoy - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:15:25

My feeling is, since it involves personal information, and a different use of that personal information, it would have been nice to be informed ahead of time. But, it's information that was available anyway, but previously it was on one page, now it's on hundreds of pages.

Not sure if this is intended as a fraud-reducing move, or a get-to-know-your-neighbor community move, or what.

And, finally, it's up to users to figure out on their own how to change things back the way they were, on an individual basis.

Just my 2 cents, but this could have been rolled out a little better ... ?

KE - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:36:23

The "rollout" feels very Facebook-ish.  Ie. let the user beware, and be forced to adapt. Using personal information is a very sensitive and tricky subject, and it's probably best to check in with folks first.  This was really not cool to be surprised this way.

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:39:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by KE

The "rollout" feels very Facebook-ish.  Ie. let the user beware, and be forced to adapt. Using personal information is a very sensitive and tricky subject, and it's probably best to check in with folks first.  This was really not cool to be surprised this way.

---

Yea, Artist formerly known as KE, but it does give you a great opportunity to make a clever Prince joke, (ha! good one)

Emiel - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:43:30

I think it's confusing. We know many people by their user names, and now, when they are logged in, their real names appear. We might not recognize them...

un5trung - Posted - 02/09/2012:  07:50:27

I've edited my profile in two ways:

1. My first name is now my "handle," so you'll still see my as un5trung

2. I added my full name to my bio, so if anyone wants to know it's right there.

I don't dislike my name, but I'm not overly fond of it either.  "Robert Harris" is one very short ​step from John Smith, and I've always tried to personalize it.  In grad school I was Robert Alan Harris.  My poetry name is R. Allyn Harris.  My internet name has traditionally followed the British model of initials and last name: RA Harris.  And in high school I spelled my name with the number 3.  Yeah, don't ask.

I'm not overly concerned with how BHO depicts my name, but I do prefer "un5trung."  However t's just a name, and just BHO; as the joke goes:

Call me whatever you want, just don't call me late for dinner!

schlange - Posted - 02/09/2012:  08:06:43

A couple thoughts...

First: I'm not dead-set on this change. If people really don't like it, we can change it back.

Second: no personal/private information is being revealed that wasn't already immediately available. You only see people's names and more detailed locations if you're signed in--just like you could do it if you clicked their name and hit their profile page. If you're not signed in, you just see people's usernames and country, like before.

Third: like someone else mentioned, I really like seeing people's real names. Makes it seem like a more realistic, personal interaction. I don't know how many times I've clicked on a poster's name, so I could see their profile and get their first name, so I could use it in a post.

That said, we're going to switch it back to showing just screen names, because too many folks are complaining about it. 

vrteach - Posted - 02/09/2012:  08:17:46

How about having the "real name" show up under the picture, but have the username be the link above? I'm not bothered by having my name show (if I put it in), actually I would like that.

Edited by - vrteach on 02/09/2012 08:19:53

rudy - Posted - 02/09/2012:  08:27:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange



A couple thoughts...

First: I'm not dead-set on this change. If people really don't like it, we can change it back.

Second: no personal/private information is being revealed that wasn't already immediately available. You only see people's names and more detailed locations if you're signed in--just like you could do it if you clicked their name and hit their profile page. If you're not signed in, you just see people's usernames and country, like before.

Third: like someone else mentioned, I really like seeing people's real names. Makes it seem like a more realistic, personal interaction. I don't know how many times I've clicked on a poster's name, so I could see their profile and get their first name, so I could use it in a post.

That said, we're going to switch it back to showing just screen names, because too many folks are complaining about it. 

---

 Good call, Eric.  I have nothing against my real name, but the confusion factor is high when we have a community that is used to seeing posts related to the user name.  I avoid some topics like the plague simply because of who has started the topic.  Now I have to re-learn all over again who to avoid if it would have stayed this way.

There are forums that require real names because it can keep folks a little more civilized, but the Hangout does'nt seem to be much of a problem in that respect.

I'm glad you're a reasonable guy!

danielburdett - Posted - 02/09/2012:  08:34:11

I really like being able to see where folks are from under their avatar. I like the suggestion of having the real names under the avatar as well, best of both worlds!

WildJimbo - Posted - 02/09/2012:  08:56:25

I actually prefer having my name on the post instead of the handle.  20 years of being "Wild Jimbo" online has no benefit of security since I've never hidden who I was anyway.  Maybe there should be an option for the user to select which they prefer to display.

Banjo Bud - Posted - 02/09/2012:  09:06:34

I too like the personalized  handle, if you want to know the name its available. But I DO like the city and state shown.  Kinda miss the status too.

But most of all, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STARS???    I LIKED THE STARS!!!!!

Jason Wilkerson - Posted - 02/09/2012:  09:08:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banjo Bud

I too like the personalized  handle, if you want to know the name its available. But I DO like the city and state shown.  Kinda miss the status too.

But most of all, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STARS???    I LIKED THE STARS!!!!!

---

Banjohangout was the only place where I was four out of five possible stars....

minstrelmike - Posted - 02/09/2012:  09:31:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by KE

The "rollout" feels very Facebook-ish.  Ie. let the user beware, and be forced to adapt. Using personal information is a very sensitive and tricky subject, and it's probably best to check in with folks first.  This was really not cool to be surprised this way.

---

That's a big fat YES in my book, too. Privacy surprises, real name surprises, even just a change in our on-line appearance is a surprise when the poster isn't the one making the change. There's a reason I'm not on FaceBook and it's not because I don't have a face or I don't like books.