Carrick is determined to ride the bus to work this summer

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Username vs. first and last name  — 3 years ago

I’ve noticed that if a user has entered his/her first and/or last name in the optional profile information, then 43 Things uses it everywhere on the site where that user is mentioned or has contributed something. If there’s no first and/or last name, it defaults to displaying the username.

This is different from most systems in which I’ve participated. Since the username is required, and is what makes each user unique (I suppose), I think it should be used everywhere. If the intention is to give users the ability to change their “screen name” at will, then perhaps a separate field for that purpose should be added.

Dec 29, 2004, 09:12AM PST

Comments:

Josh Petersen Italian class tomorrow . . .

What's the problem

Agreed it is different, but what is not working about the current approach? We use the username to make urls and to handle log in – and we use the First &/or Last Name if you chose to give it as the display. If you don’t want to display your name, you just leave that blank.

Is it just that this is different or is there a problem with it?

P.S. How about a MtBaker 43 Things trip to the pub sometime?

Dec 29, 2004, 10:20AM PST | Thread | Respond to this

Carrick is determined to ride the bus to work this summer

Identity management

It works, no doubt about it, but it seems like people are picking usernames that they’re likely using in other online venues (for instance, furilo) which means if they want to be known by that name on 43 Things they have to leave their real name blank. Maybe some (including me) would like to use a “nick” on 43 Things and put my real name in my profile in case you guys decide to allow us to share that with other users.

I first noticed this when Alexandra Samuel, a.k.a. Consultini, did a little identity switch, replacing her real name with “Consultini” so she wouldn’t be known as either “Alexandra Samuel” or “awsamuel.”

I guess my point is, some people may not be entirely happy with the username they picked as they entered the system for the first time, but they don’t necessarily want to hack their real name in order to establish and maintain a screen name. That is why I suggested another field for screen name.

And, yeah, count me in for a Mt Baker 43T pub thing.

Dec 29, 2004, 11:24AM PST | Respond to this


 

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