Some forums hate 'em, some don't mind. What's your take on the not uncommon username change request? Personally, I don't mind changing usernames. I can understand why that forums with tons of active members simply disallow them due to the vast number of requests they receive per day.
I do not mind also. I'll either make them request it through a PM, or I will make a thread and they can post what they would like their new username to be. I don't make them have a certain post count, but if they are not active at all, I will decline their request.
I don't mind, though I don't I've ever had any request to change a username. A quick PM or a thread will get their request implemented, for sure.
The one forum that had a lot of requests had a thread for it and a little set of rules. Basically, it was one per 3 months (I think), unless you were not changing the entire name and only the format. We would keep track of all changes in the thread so other members would know who's who. It was quite a popular service at the time that myself and my super mod/co-admin kept track of.
Now that I've read this, I've become evil. When April Fool's Day comes around next year, I'm going to change all the user names.
I have no problem with a single username change. I have it in our rules that users may request to have their username changed once. As far as I know, no one has asked a second time, but I don't keep any sort of list. It really doesn't happen that often - I'd say no more than once a week.
As long as a member doesn't continuously ask me to change his/her username on a daily basis (literally), I don't mind at all.
We have a thread for it where we say "within reason". It seems to work just fine for us so far. Our only trouble has been mr. Hallways to Always, AKA TidalKraken AKA thenewdealwithit AKA etc. The guy has about 20 posts, half of them are in the username change thread. >.<
Damn right. I believe it was supposed to have been in 3.7 or 3.8 but it was redone into a different setup. I think they might bring it in for 4.0 The way it works for Invision is the user still maintains their original account, just the display name changes. Of course I've always added something into the postbit that would display "Formerly _______" and I got that from another admin after I haggled for a week.
I usually allow 'premium' members to be able to request a username change as they have supported the forum, however if the forum is new with very few members I dont see a problem with it, but otherwise you get alot of people asking and never have time to post.
I don't have any issue with name changes since I find people rarely changing them. I can see on the larger forums why admins crack down on this and limit or prohibit name changes simply due to volume. But I would hope that some sites would take into account the age of an account (such as if an account is 5+ years old) and allow a change. I know on the FileFront forums, they held a name change time period. If you wanted a name change, you submitted your request within a limited time period and the admins would go through and make changes. I was quite happy that to get a name change there.
I have an official new name request thread, where they must do some sucking up before I change their name.
Well, anyone has the right to request a name change on my site but I am the only one that can decide. Yes, I have other administrators thar could just change it for me but I am the owner so I should have rights to say who can and who can't change their username.. Based on warnings, reports and anything else. If anyone had been reported more than 2 times I would decline or ignore their request but if they have quite good posts and have been active and used the site for what it's meant for then I might allow them too. Another annoying thing is that Fireboard doesn't understand the username changes so it has a bit of a funny temper that makes the posts display the old username. But, that will fix.
I've had people type their email address into the user name field, or even type their password they use all over the internet into the user name field. Pretty funny sometimes. :lol:
Ugh, I'm OCD about people using their e-mail address, but I guess they're just not the forum-type. But password... that's just a lack of common sense.