Multiple Accounts

Do you allow members to create and/or maintain multiple accounts on your forum? How do you handle one that does?

If you don't allow them, does it depend on their reasoning for creating the second account? Or are they disallowed, no matter what, no exceptions?

 

A lot of forums I see have a very strict policy about this, but I've never seen the problem. Usually it will never happen (if someone wants a different name they can just ask for one on their first account), but if they do want to use more than two accounts for whatever reason, so be it. Most of the time I wouldn't even know until I checked the IP anyway.

 

We allow it as long as it is just for fun - ie. not to hide and then bash some other user. If the alias is created just to cause problems, then it gets banned.

 

I'm conflicted on the subject. On one hand I don't see a problem unless it's used for bashing like stated above. Then on the other hand I worry about mutliple counts when doing promotions. I plan on doing promotions through out the span of my forum, not just to get it started. So I want to keep it fair for everyone who only has one account.

 

I have people who register in 4-5 accounts, I just delete the ones that have no posts or lower that his/her post., of course I tell them first I would be doing it. When they ask me why, I ask them why are they creating so many accounts, and then they have no valid reason or they wanted a name change, I usually tell them to ask me to change their names and I will gladly do it.

 

Other than the previously stated caveats makes no difference to me.

Occasionally peoples 'true' identity is revealed and they are well known people. They want 2 separate accounts for that reason, one official one unofficial.


Would I like people to have 2 accounts so they could argue with themselves? No.

 

I'll allow multiple (meaning two) accounts under a few conditions:

• If the secondary account is being used solely for the purpose of messing around with another member for fun, that's perfectly acceptable. I myself have been known to do this and, in all honesty, it's quite hilarious. It's absolutely crucial (in my opinion) to have a laugh every now and then, and doing so by way of a second "phony" identity is always a blast. It makes for some interesting discussion, too.
• The secondary account is not being used as a "hidden identity" - or in other words, a secret account that an already existing member utilizes to bash, flame, or personally attack another member (or members). I've seen this done before and it is not acceptable - in fact, it's disgusting. Bashing another individual (for no real reason) publicly is unacceptable in itself, but doing so by way of a "secret" account is cowardly. This is not tolerated... no exceptions.
• If the secondary account is not being used for "fun" purposes, a reasonable explanation is preferred. While I won't take any sort of drastic action(s) against members that do so without reason, I will become a bit suspicious, and I will indeed question them. If an unreasonable explanation is given, I'll consider removing the newly created account - I just don't see the need for a secondary account that won't be used effectively. I generally prefer to not delete anything (at all), but in such a scenario, I may consider it to be viable.

In short - if the account is going to be used for "entertainment" purposes (i.e. playing around with another member, pulling a prank, etc), then that is fine. If the account is going to be used to bash or attack another member(s), that's a problem... and it will not be tolerated.

 

I have the multiple account login detector installed, but we use it primarily to identify trolls. Regular members with a "sockpuppet" account are tolerated as long as their intent isn't to deceive. I've got one member who uses his three accounts basically as forum-based performance art.