Do you require your staff to use their first name as their username?

**Adam** · 04-01-2007, 08:22 PM

Do you make your staff do that or at least advise them too? I do because it gives the staff a more personal feel and I think the users feel like the staff is not robotic.

**Cori** · 04-01-2007, 08:26 PM

No, I don't require it, but it seems that once they do become staff they are asking for a username change. If for some reason they don't change their name then they put it in their siggy somewhere

**Joy** · 04-01-2007, 09:09 PM

I don't require it either but I do think it adds a more personal touch

**Moelman** · 04-01-2007, 09:25 PM

I don't require it. As an admin I like to use my first name as my username to give it a personal touch but I let my staff keep whatever moniker they choose.

**Sir TVDinner** · 04-02-2007, 12:55 AM

I would be worried about identity theft. Most people post with the same user name across many boards and smart scumbags could use this information to put a name with a person, and potentially other personal information. I think Forums and bulletin boards are for faceless people to communicate. I would be worried about potentially bringing that into personal information. I am not going overboard with this thinking, but I think it pays to be careful in this day and age.

**bcmtouring** · 04-02-2007, 04:41 PM

No, I became Admin of a board when I was using a alias rather then my own name. In fact most of the members of that board (which I have since left) still call me by that ID. I guess if one sticks long enough with a user id it becomes an online identity in itself, however if you are just starting the board then it makes sense for at least the Admin to use his/her own name.

**demojames** · 04-02-2007, 05:58 PM

It does give the sense of community. I used to use an nickname on my forums, but changed it after a month, thinking this just doesn't look right.

On my forums, although it is not required, I would prefer they use there name and yes it could be an alias if they wanted.

The ones that bother me, are the admins who use admin or their sites name as there username

**Christophaa** · 04-02-2007, 08:36 PM

Nope, I don't require my staff members to use their first name, but I do suggest that they do.

IMO, it adds a bit of a personal touch, which is always nice.

Chris

**Canadian** · 04-04-2007, 06:08 AM

No but some people do. It really does not matter either way. I know one fellow who has a site and all members must use real names and have a picture of themselves as an avatar. His reasoning is he does not want people to be "hidden" and if you comment you can not hide behind anonymity.

Personally I think he is nuts.

**DrkSnpr14** · 04-04-2007, 07:13 AM

My forum emerged out of a gamers forum, so screen names are only natural to us.

04-01-2007, 08:22 PM	#1
Adam Chadwick ≥ Cadence Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,639	Do you require your staff to use their first name as their username? Do you make your staff do that or at least advise them too? I do because it gives the staff a more personal feel and I think the users feel like the staff is not robotic. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-01-2007, 08:26 PM	#2
Cori Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,551	No, I don't require it, but it seems that once they do become staff they are asking for a username change. If for some reason they don't change their name then they put it in their siggy somewhere __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-01-2007, 09:25 PM	#4
Moelman The Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,328	I don't require it. As an admin I like to use my first name as my username to give it a personal touch but I let my staff keep whatever moniker they choose. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - The Largest LucasArts Gaming Community on the Internet To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - tell me your comments! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Your #1 place to discuss all things World of Warcraft.

04-02-2007, 12:55 AM	#5
Sir TVDinner Veteran Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 960	I would be worried about identity theft. Most people post with the same user name across many boards and smart scumbags could use this information to put a name with a person, and potentially other personal information. I think Forums and bulletin boards are for faceless people to communicate. I would be worried about potentially bringing that into personal information. I am not going overboard with this thinking, but I think it pays to be careful in this day and age. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Promote your forum for FREE. Directory for Forums. OVER 2000 forums currently on the Forum Directory. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-02-2007, 04:41 PM	#6
bcmtouring Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 585	No, I became Admin of a board when I was using a alias rather then my own name. In fact most of the members of that board (which I have since left) still call me by that ID. I guess if one sticks long enough with a user id it becomes an online identity in itself, however if you are just starting the board then it makes sense for at least the Admin to use his/her own name. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-01-2007, 09:09 PM	#3
Joy Veteran Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: England Posts: 752	I don't require it either but I do think it adds a more personal touch

04-02-2007, 05:58 PM	#7
demojames Just keeping it real Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 2,857	It does give the sense of community. I used to use an nickname on my forums, but changed it after a month, thinking this just doesn't look right. On my forums, although it is not required, I would prefer they use there name and yes it could be an alias if they wanted. The ones that bother me, are the admins who use admin or their sites name as there username __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-02-2007, 08:36 PM	#8
Christophaa Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,518	Nope, I don't require my staff members to use their first name, but I do suggest that they do. IMO, it adds a bit of a personal touch, which is always nice. Chris

04-04-2007, 06:08 AM	#9
Canadian Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver Posts: 83	No but some people do. It really does not matter either way. I know one fellow who has a site and all members must use real names and have a picture of themselves as an avatar. His reasoning is he does not want people to be "hidden" and if you comment you can not hide behind anonymity. Personally I think he is nuts.

04-04-2007, 07:13 AM	#10
DrkSnpr14 Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 920	My forum emerged out of a gamers forum, so screen names are only natural to us. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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