Consider making forename mandatory in signatures

[MarkW 1,493]

Ray, I've had my 'forename' in my signature for years, yet nearly everyone insists on using my 'forum name' (which is actually my FCC assigned amateur license!) instead... :He He:

 

It's a bit ironic that you mentioned complicated usernames, since there was a fellow yesterday who registered and had so many diacritical marks along with totally random letters it would have really been a chore to try typing it out in a reply...

I can definitely see Ray's point, I too have felt a but odd calling someone by a cryptic username and lots of times I try to look at their signature to find the real name.

 

One thing I really like though is having members tell us how they arrived at their username.  For a long time I have thought Fr. Bill's had something to do with the PMDG NGX but I could never quite figure it out.  Now I know the rest of the story....

[pinlifter 502]

Make it a rule and then someone has to enforce it, forum wide. In the last 30 days, as of this writing, we have had just over 19,000 posts made

 

 

 

If they don't want to be talked to by name, so be it.

 

Oilver Martins Martuns Maertens for forum "sheriff" :p0805:

 

You have my full backing and vote of confidence Ollie

[Glynn 405]

Initially when I read Ray's post I felt that it wasn't something that I would like to see made mandatory, but on relection first names would not be too bad.

 

I also realised that I have had the same username for the last ten years and I may well change that as well, I haven't actually flown an MD80 in the sim for a very long time being mainly interested in Buisness jets these last few years, so mad dog may well give way to something else to take me through the next ten years.

[BimmerCop 332]

One thing I really like though is having members tell us how they arrived at their username.

Mine is easy to decipher lol

[JRBarrett 3,080]

Just call me "Mr. Tibbs."

 

Fifty bonus points if you can correctly identify the cultural reference. :Big Grin:

Sidney Poitier, title character as police detective Virgil Tibbs. The line actually came from the previous movie, "In the Heat of the Night".

 

I saw the movie in the theater when I was about 15, and I'm now pushing 60, so you were reaching back a bit Bill!

[flightwatch 68]

I have no problem sharing my First name...and the 1st initial of my last namr...and even a picture of myself.  But that's where this road ends for me.  I will never reveal my full last name/email address/phone number/address/etc on an open public forum.  There are just too many bad people that want to do bad things out there.

One thing I really like though is having members tell us how they arrived at their username...

I'm a pilot and studied atmospheric science in college.  122.8 suits me quite well

[JRBarrett 3,080]

Then there is this classic, which pretty much sums it up:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYsfbq3vMc&sns=em

[n4gix 4,947]

Sidney Poitier, title character as police detective Virgil Tibbs. The line actually came from the previous movie, "In the Heat of the Night".

 

I saw the movie in the theater when I was about 15, and I'm now pushing 60, so you were reaching back a bit Bill!

The actual line was "They call me 'Mister Tibbs'." Kudos on correctly identifying the cultural reference. I was around 21 when that movie was released.

[Guest]

I've stopped offering help to anyone that doesn't provide their real name (when I'm communicating with someone I do want to use their real name just like I would when I communicate with someone face to face).  But if things were a little more "personal" (not much more) maybe people would act a little more like they do face to face with other real people they don't know out in the real world.  

 

It would also be great if there was some way to validate the user is a legit purchaser of the product they have questions about.  Like NewEgg, Amazon, and other sites have a "verified owner" tag ... in order to make this work at AVSIM they would need to provide a process to show verified orders and get feeds from 3rd party (especially those registered here) from which AVSIM users can request validation.  Seems appropriate given that users are being used as a resource for free support.

 

I have NO desire to help thieves and I'm sure I have in the past and it's not something I want to continue spending my time doing ... time is precious and I have no time for thieves.

 

Cheers, Rob.

[WotanUK 289]

 

 

in order to make this work at AVSIM they would need to provide a process to show verified orders and get feeds from 3rd party (especially those registered here) from which AVSIM users can request validation.  Seems appropriate given that users are being used as a resource for free support.

 

What, are you serious, so how exactly would that work Mr. Ainscough?  Are you planning asking MS if my copy of FSX is valid, or does this respect for the law only go so far as AVSim affiliated organisations?  What about the "free support" on the Captain Sim forums, or the Active Sky forums, do they matter, surely you would have to close them down, or ask users not to post support (or requests for help) related questions, that's about, what, conservatively 50% or so of the FSX forum gone.

 

 

 

I have NO desire to help thieves and I'm sure I have in the past and it's not something I want to continue spending my time doing ... time is precious and I have no time for thieves.

 

Yes i think that you have made your opinions on Piracy extremely clear, we get it, you hate pirates.  Hardly seems like a good reason to start implementing a forum wide police state-lite.

 

I have no Pirated software on my PC, honestly it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if all Pirate software vanished overnight, but come on this is utterly overkill.

[Guest]

but come on this is utterly overkill.

 

Ian,

 

Knowing someone's real name and if they are a valid user is overkill?  How is that overkill?

 

MS has stopped caring what happens to FSX, 3rd party however has not.

 

Yes it is a real problem ... why do you think PMDG require real names and Orbx require order numbers?  Why do you think PMDG have put P3D plans on "hold" (http://forum.avsim.net/topic/454122-25oct14-first-glance-at-pmdg-777-200-for-prepar3d/?p=3133705 )?

 

Cheers, Rob.

[Rocky_53 1,581]

I agree wholeheartedly with the consensus of opinions here. I really dislike having to reply to someone's 'handle' or someone callled, the evangelist, or 'screaming pepper boy!' Sure, lets' have some real christian names.

 

Yours sincerely,

The Flying Octopus Degenerate.

[BimmerCop 332]

I agree wholeheartedly with the consensus of opinions here. I really dislike having to reply to someone's 'handle' or someone callled, the evangelist, or 'screaming pepper boy!' Sure, lets' have some real christian names.

 

Yours sincerely,

The Flying Octopus Degenerate.

So someone named Yussef 'Al Hassibi will not be acknowledged or quoted? LOL Sorry, couldn't resist.

[WotanUK 289]

 

 

Knowing someone's real name and if they are a valid user is overkill?  How is that overkill?

I don't want to hijack somebody else's thread Rob, so i'll comment on this from the OP's question.  I personally have no problems with people knowing my name, you'll notice that my full name is attached into my signature, partially because i post on the PMDG forum, partially because i also think it engenders a more civil conversation, i don't really care if people know me personally, they already know about my secret shame  (just to be clear i am referring to Flight simming).

 

My comment was in reply to you asking avsim to become the piracy police, why should i give you (not you personally, but avsim) details of my purchases, what about people viewing the forums?  Most times, when i have had issues, i look at the forums and the solution is already there, you would have to ban people from viewing the forums, that would stop (at least me) from purchasing the products, i always look at forums before i pay £100 for an add-on.

 

 

MS has stopped caring what happens to FSX, 3rd party however has not.

Super, so FSX is abandonware now?  Do you not think it's somewhat hypocritical to enforce Anti-piracy measures on people who have copied the PMDG 777, but provide support for the (one suspects) 10,000's of Pirated FSX users?  

 

Again, what about HiFi and Captain Sim etc, you would have to close all the unofficial forums?

 

What you propose (to be clear from the licensing standpoint) is either completely unworkable, or horrendously unfair to companies that don't sign up to avsim.

 

 

 

Yes it is a real problem ... why do you think PMDG require real names and Orbx require order numbers?  Why do you think PMDG have put P3D plans on "hold" (http://forum.avsim.n...ar3d/?p=3133705 )?

 

In turn:

Of course it's a problem, i just don't think that this is a good solution (see above)

For the reasons you are suggesting, Orbx actually have an unofficial forum here that provides some form of support, without the license numbers or "verified purchase"

Wasn't this something to do with breach of the EULA using PMDG aircraft within P3D, i didn't read Piracy, but people who purchased the aircraft and want to use it in P3D.  How would the "Verified Purchase", help this?  Licensing violations are not the same as Piracy.

[CrownCityMisfits 58]

I guess the thing that bothers me about some of the opinions here is the innate distrust of anyone using a moniker other than their (unverifiable) given birth name. I feel as though I am being judged based on my username, without taking in to account my courteous and mature post history. It doesn't feel good to know that my posts are seen by some as inferior before even being read. What a shame.

 

I've stopped offering help to anyone that doesn't provide their real name (when I'm communicating with someone I do want to use their real name just like I would when I communicate with someone face to face).  But if things were a little more "personal" (not much more) maybe people would act a little more like they do face to face with other real people they don't know out in the real world.  

 

I certainly understand why you would be hesitant to help those who cannot prove legit ownership of software, but I fail to see how changing a username would help scratch that itch. I've had utmost respect for you and your contributions, and more than anyone else in this forum, I look forward to your every post. Now I don't know how I feel, knowing you probably ignore my feedback and questions.  :(

 

Although, I'd be first in line to participate in a "verified user" program. Not a bad idea, but probably difficult to implement with the vast array of addon content.