Proposal/request for comment: codifying policy for handle changes
 

I and a few other TalkBoard members have hammered out a policy/procedure document that codifies what is basically the current, unpublished practice for member handle change requests as well as provides some additional tips and guidance to new members selecting a handle.

I am putting it here for public comment before formally proposing it as a motion for the TalkBoard to vote on. Please feel free to contribute your feedback on the idea.

The main reason I do not like this proposal is due to this portion of the proposal:

"updating a handle that is out-of-date or unrepresentative of the member."

I think that whatever username has been selected by a member at signup is how they have been known on FlyerTalk and that a member shouldn't be allowed to change handles just because they've changed positions in life.

For example, if I signed on as "CollegeProfessor" and then switched professions and became a bartender, that I should be allowed to change to "Bartender". Even though the CollegeProfessor handle that I originally signed on with may not have anything to do my current life, that's how I've been become to be known as on FlyerTalk.

If someone really wants it badly enough to change their handles, IMHO, they can petition the Community Director on their own - I don't think that part of the rule needs to be (or should be) formalized.

If that part of the proposal were removed, I'd be happy to vote for it - but that's enough of a point, IMHO, to not vote for it.

Think of the reverse.

What if you had joined FlyerTalk while working your way through college as a bartender and registered with the handle of "Bartender," then (years later) eventually accepting a post as a professor? On FlyerTalk, you may be known as Bartender, but you might be less-than-thrilled about your current employer finding out that you maintain an identity as "Bartender" (especially if you haven't yet achieved tenure ;)).

Allowing one to rid himself or herself of a title connoting youth, inexperience, or participation in what might be viewed by others as a "lower" level of employment can only serve to increase participation in the FlyerTalk community, thus benefiting the community.

At this point, too, most people would realize and think twice before choosing another handle that ties them to a specific profession, knowing that a similar change may happen in the future. This proposal does not advocate that someone be able to change their handle every time they change jobs; the single change restriction takes care of that concern.

Rather, it encourages someone who may initially choose a handle that may encourage others to take them less seriously (such as a handle indicating they're still in school when they've long since graduated, leading to people to assume things such as a limited budget or lack of flexibility with travel dates when such things may no longer be true) to choose a handle with a more permanent attachment to the person.

For example, someone who signs up with "PoorCheapoHighSchoolTraveler" may choose a name next time such as "PhotographyLover" after they've graduated and achieved success in life, someone who signs up with "SLC DL Traveler" may change to "TechnoGeek" after they've moved away from SLC and quit flying DL, and someone who signs up with "IAmALawyer" may change to "LiverAndOnions" if they want to quit being bombarded by PMs from people wanting legal advice.

If we do not allow them to overcome the problems caused by their initial handle choices, we end up simply driving them away, which is a detriment to the FlyerTalk community.

If someone feels that their handle has become a part of their identity on FlyerTalk and the tie they have to the community through that handle is stronger than any negative connotations or out-of-date assumptions brought by their no-longer-representative handle, then they are, of course, welcome to keep it. For example, a certain Hot Saucy Dude (who also serves on TalkBoard) no longer has any affiliation to said Company Of Hot Sauciness, and although I'm sure many people see his handle and assume otherwise (and probably blast him with PMs asking for free samples :p), his handle is enough a part of his identity and the FlyerTalk community that he would never desire to change it.

If the Community Director is going to have to review and approve these changes anyway, we might as well codify that, since the purpose of this proposal is to codify existing practice.

Sorry, jackal - but that doesn't change my viewpoint. The person themselves may no longer personally identify with their handle - but everyone else on FlyerTalk probably does.

Personally, I don't like the idea of changing one's handle for that reason.

Spelling and/or punctuation errors, or to remove your full name if that's what you signed up with, fine - but to adjust a handle just because it's not representative of you anymore, not IMHO...

So you would permanently lock someone into a one-off mistake they made, not realizing just how long they'd be hanging around FlyerTalk? Seems unfairly harsh.

It's a handle. If they feel strongly enough about it, they can contact the Community Director and make the case - don't think it needs to be made into a formalized rule.

This is my opinion. There are 7 other TB members who have yet to state theirs.

I am not sure I understand #3. Why can't a member have a personal name in their handle? They certainly can when they sign up... why not at this time? I see no reason to restrict a handle in any way from what they could choose originally.

In the first post, you indicate that this will provide tips and guidance to new members... how will this happen?

Currently, there is no detail on handle creation on the register screen... what will be added to provide the guidance?

My two hockey pucks are very simply based on this

And with that, imho, the only "exception" to changing a handle should be for correcting a spelling error as anything else is based on the previously quoted section. Yes it sounds harsh but to me it's a trivial matter for F/t staff to deal with as I'm sure there are other more important things they have to deal with. We're all big kids and have to live with decisions me make throughout all our lives (and for inquiring minds, I was almost known to you as "Slapshot" as that was the name of one of my cats at the time but i decided to change it at the last minute)

This is as opposed to true impersonation???

bottom line it [can be] allowed once. never a bad idea to formalize and publish policies.

Last I checked, IB was working on a way to display the full FlyerTalk Rules/Terms of Service/Guidelines/Whatever They're Officially Called during the registration process. (Currently, a more standard boilerplate vBulletin legal disclaimer is displayed.)

Would it be possible to include a line under a new name - Along the lines of

CollegeProfessor
previously known as Bartender

On the line where the title(s) goes, perhaps for 12 months after the change.

I don't see any reason for the Talk Board to even be involved with this topic. The Community Director can allow handle changes as she sees fit.

I would not necessarily be opposed to that requirement for that length of time. I also do like your proposal in that that it is something the member cannot change (whereas someone can easily change their signature), and I do believe custom titles are possible within the forum software.

The current practice as formulated (but never publicly published) by Randy is to require that for two weeks; the consensus I sensed among the TalkBoard members when I first brought this up was that extending the requirement to 30 days was sufficient.

12 months may be excessive for those who need to change their handles to protect their privacy (i.e. remove their personally-identifiable name), but I would be willing to consider that change.

Agreed completely. ^

For clarification's sake, the current practice is not unpublished. It was established (and published) by TalkBoard on Feb 10, 06 (after being approved by an 8-1 vote):

When I speak of the current practice, I mean the practice as employed by both Randy and Carol in the cases I have assisted some concerned members with. In these cases, the members were not required to delete their old account, lose their post count, or otherwise suffer the consequences as outlined in the previous resolution passed by the TalkBoard.

I believe it is unfair to require a member to know a sympathetic TalkBoard member or a moderator in-person in order to facilitate a request a handle change for a legitimate reason without punishment. Yet that is what the current practice requires--those who know people in "the inner circle" have special access and privileges, while the vast majority of those who most likely simply avoid participating in our community due to this restriction are left out in the cold. There should be a fair process for legitimate requests to satisfy this very real need.

As for the argument that this is out of the TalkBoard's purview, I believe the quote posted by Dovster should put that belief to rest. For those who still maintain that the TalkBoard should not be involved in this, I will be happy to move that the previous resolution be rescinded and the verbiage in the FlyerTalk FAQ struck. Of course, if it passes, that would have the effect of allowing handle changes without restriction. ;)

Ok, what am I missing? Seems like this has already been handled by the '06 decision. Is this a solution in search of a problem?

And jackal, "If we do not allow them to overcome the problems caused by their initial handle choices, we end up simply driving them away, which is a detriment to the FlyerTalk community.". What major problems? And seriously, people are going to leave a BB that offers them info re: their travel programs, etc, because they might not be able to change a handle??? I'm not buying into that wholesale.

Whether goalie posts under goalie or slapshot (using that as an example), I base my opinion of him on the quality of his posts, not his handle. I do know some people who have graduated college or gotten PhDs or their law degrees or moved since joining FT, yet people still know who they are from their first-registered handle. I've heard some of them say yup, should have thought about it more when joining - but they're laughing when they say it so it's not the be-all & end-all of their FT existance or a problem for them.

Actually about the only thing I could possibly see changing from '06, if someone is approved a handle change that their join date/post count doesn't reset to zero/new date, but I have no idea if that's something that's software-required or not. If so, then it's another thing for the person making a handle change request to think about before requesting such a change.

Cheers.

I will not relay the details, as that would be a breach of privacy, but I have personally facilitated communication between members who were in exactly this situation and the forum administration. It may not be a problem visible to you, but it is a real problem, and when a problem affects the quality of a member's participation in the FlyerTalk community, I am strongly driven to fix it.

That's because those for whom it is not a laughing matter simply do not post. They're less engaged in the FlyerTalk community, so you don't know about them.

I'm slightly confused at your negative stance, because that is pretty much exactly what this proposal does.

No, the forum software does not require the post-count/join-date to be reset.

Thanks, Jackal for addressing this issue. This is a tricky one and I appreciate your willingness to ask for comments.

Excuse me, are you talking about Goalie or what? Are you trying to telling me about him. I wasn't sure if he have too many posting on FTs. He wasn't padding his post count. I wonder if you ever reset his post count back to zeros. I wasn't aware of Goalie doing. As long as I concerned about him. There is a few things about me that I am doing good on the forum. I am still taking a time to read the forum and I sharing some info from airlines, travel info and etc.

Scotty, she was only using Goalie as a theoretical example. Goalie has not changed his user name, his post count, nor anything else.

I'm not trying to be negative, but I guess you haven't convinced me that this is a widespread problem - nor one that isn't already addressed by the '06 decision.

According to that they can change their handle one time, although they have to make a clear case for why they want the change.

Cheers.

Seems to me to be an argument concerning all TB topics.

Including yourself, there are 7 non-Talkboard members that have posted here. Doesn't seem to be an overwhelming interest in the topic.

Who currently has the ability to change a member's handle?

The FlyerTalk Host - a.k.a. Community Director - a.k.a. SanDiego1K

Until a member who wants to change their handle "makes a stink" ;)

Indeed. It would be interesting to know how frequently someone requests a handle change.

Actually, I've seen that in the past where someone had requested a change, but that practice seems to have fallen out of use for some reason. I don't recall how long that title was in effect, though.

Another reason for having that in the title rather than the sig is that there is an option to turn signature visibility off.


Slapshot The Cat :D^

I agree. If a topic like this gets started on the TB forum, it will go 100's of posts, with posters making lots of comments that will make everyones head turn. Why waste any time and energy on something that will affect a small handful of Flyertalkers. Doesn't TalkBoard have better things to do? ;)

I think a little history is in order:

I was on TalkBoard when this issue was first raised (but not when the 2006 vote was finally taken).

One member had written to Randy asking for permission to change her handle. Randy turned to TalkBoard and asked it whether it felt this should be allowed and, if so, under what circumstances and with what restrictions.

That is how it became a TalkBoard issue.

+ 1

If there is one question people always ask me when they meet me in person its about my handle change and how to do it. It's not clear to most members and as a result I think we have a fair number of people who simply don't post or participate as much because they have a handle they don't like to use (ie: in haste established one that matches their name or use the handle on other sites and now realize the importance of a unique handle for FT).

Agree entirely with what XXXXXXX, er I mean, itsaboutthejourney said! ^ ;)

I use the same handle for most forums I frequent, unless it happens to be taken, but then again, I don't see why I'd want to remember a completely different handle for each forum.

I think that this topic deserves reworking for clarity.

I was under the impression that I was allowed a one time only name change, only to find my recent request denied. I don't think measuring replies to this thread is the best indicator to call for action

History.
8 1/2 years ago, I questioned the relevance of my ID and registered a second. FT friends encouraged me to keep the current/original one, so I did. But with the intention of requesting a change, in the future, when a nickname suitable to me finally dawned upon me.

Earlier this year, after giving the name change A WHOLE LOT of thought, I put in the request to change my name. About the same time, a 1 1/2 year - 10,000 post member also asked for a name change. Theirs was approved, mine was denied. It really left me feeling quite sour about my participation on FT, but that's a personal issue.

Now, FT has been good to me. In turn, I have tried to be good to FT. So, I didn't make an issue. But I would encourage the Talk Board to take a look at creating a definition that would bring the process out of the grey zone.

The sig notification requirement suggests that approvals would only be made for members who meet the 90/90 requirement. Plus, some folks turn off display of sigs making that less useful as a notification means.

Beyond those technical limits, I cannot fathom why the community would ever see fit to deny such a change as a one-time courtesy to a member. For ANY reason. What good does it serve to be so limiting? All the fine print and couching of terms seems to be more about exercising control and a display of power rather than actually helping members of the community. We're talking about a one-time change here, not allowing folks to do so with frequency. How is that a bad thing?

Oh, and apparently it isn't only the CD who makes such changes.

I think the scenario that is in the thread you posted was that there were 2 accounts, and the person simply wanted to "merge" them, keeping the one they used regularly. They weren't looking specifically at changing their handle.

{Quote from now deleted post removed by moderator, along with reply}


I could see where handle changes could be used to "game" the system in CC or OMNI, unless everyone is made aware that the poster changed their handle. For example, if handle changes are granted without due consideration, and without something visible to everyone that can't just be hidden/deleted, someone could post a trade in CC, not follow through with their part, and request a handle change to avoid others hearing about their failure to complete the trade. In OMNI, one could contribute the minimum to access OMNI, then act very much like a "troll," to the point that most OMNI posters know to ignore them. They then could request a handle change, and if there isn't due consideration, and without something visible to everyone that can't just be hidden/deleted, they could simply antagonize people again, without regular OMNI posters knowing it was the same person.

A general question about handle changes... If a poster is on someone's ignore list, and that poster requests, and is granted a handle change, does the person who opted to ignore them have to add the new handle to their ignore list?