FlyerTalk allows user names that are identical except for spaces. For example, my handle is SanDiego1K. A new poster came along with the handle SanDiego 1K. I welcomed the new poster, but also posted a note of concern in Randy's forum. Please see www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000279.html I think it's difficult for us to maintain our own identities when identical but for a space user names are allowed.

Apparently, no steps have been taken to change this. I was struck by this on reading 4Miles inaugural post, then seeing a post from 4 Miles. One is from Oklahoma City, the other is from the East Coast. Both folks sound very interesting, and it will be a shame if we mistake one for the other.

Is it possible to change the programming so that it requires a unique series of letters and numbers, ignoring the spaces? If so, I respectfully request that this change occur.

Now we have SNA1K and SNA 1K posting. You'll find posts from both at www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum124/HTML/000522.html

imo, the potential for confusing two such close FT names is great.

I agree that the programming should be changed so spaces do not count as a "different" handle. I sure would NOT like it if someone appeared as "Gold Lust" or something

It should not be too difficult to change the programming, I remember doing something pretty much exactly like this (removing spaces and comparing words) in my C level computer science class.

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Goldlust

Is it possible that the last character be a space? For example, "nlp" and "nlp " should look pretty much the same.

I think the only way to resolve it is for one of the two posters to change their handle and continue on with new handle. Presumably the newer one would offer as a polite gesture to do that most cases?

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~ Glen ~

The State of California does not allow license plates to have the same sequence of letters and names, irrespective of spaces. I believe the same should be true of FT handles.

Glen, your suggestion is a reasonable one - but it requires that ozstamps be aware as soon as an oz stamps comes on the board (for example). And if that person posts in forums you don't read, they could be onboard long enough that they aren't eager to change.

In my example of 4 miles and 4miles, each has just a few posts. I believe that 4miles came later than 4 miles; yet his inaugural post was so charming and clever that he instantly created an identity he should be loathe to give up.

Rather than us having to check the boards individually, I believe it should be an easy software change for FT to implement.

As far as how "easy" it would be, that's up to Michael, as he's been hacking FT from the beginning. Something to bear in mind is that everytime he hacks in new functionality, he has to go back and rehack all his prior hacks. This also goes for any standard FT upgrade.

With programming, anything is possible, but it takes time and resources, and Michael's been concentrating on the new board as well as other duties.

We'll take your suggestion into consideration, though, and see if it's something that can either be done right away, or on the new board.

Dan, if a new FT'er duplicates someone else's handle and does so with the addition of space, they should receive an e-mail from FT asking them to change their user name. Of course matters could be speeded along if the original board member e-mailed FT and complained first.

I agree that this matter needs to be moved up on the priority list.

A note from FT (however they found out) to the user requesting that they choose another UserName [and telling them that their # of posts will not be lost (important to some people)] would be a short patch-up solution but would do the trick.

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Got points ? Got smiles !

OOOh, so this explains the reason why some people are addressing me as Chexfan and not chexfan...

And today, I see a post from San Diego1K at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/017514.html . I've already received a comment from an FT friend, thinking it was my post. Dan, has any progress been made on this issue?

[This message has been edited by SanDiego1K (edited 02-03-2003).]

i see the problems with this. i don't beleive that normal bulletin board software has a remedy, so it may be a manual item for us to look in to. we should have diagnosed this a long time ago. Thanks for the repeated heads up and let's see what we might do.

Thnaks

Yes, that user name sure is similar SanDiego1K.

I wonder just how many Elites using names like this find they are now out of date?

I know for instance Premex2000 changed his as he is no longer a UA Premex and it is no longer 2000. A heck of a lot of folks with 1K in their user name might find it quite untrue come Feb 28 ....................

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~ Glen ~

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