permies real sounding name policy

I suspect most people just don't like being told what to do.

Matu Collins wrote:I suspect most people just don't like being told what to do.

Agreed. I also suspect that permaculture people are more prone to buck the system than your typical person.


One thing that does seem like a conflict is that if you chose a real sounding name that is not your real name, you may have to wear that name if you meet other permies in real life. Otherwise you go around events telling people your real name and they have no idea who you are.

If I showed up at a permie event and was like "hi, I'm Jim-Bob Taylor" That would be fine right? But you'd have no idea who I was because all I've contributed in the permaculture discussion is by the name Craig Dobbelyu. (that might be a good thing for some of us)
If I don't go by Craig D in real life then I'm not likely to respond to that name at a permie event if I'm called out loud to help do something. That could be seen by others as me ignoring them, but it's simply because I'm not used to being called by that name.
Then you have the issue of whether or not to say " Hi, I'm Jim Bob, I go by Craig Dobbelyu on permies. How confusing would it be to try to link up people's real names in person with online personas?
There are a number of permies that I highly respect and I weight their posts as more valuable because I've come to know them as trustworthy and I associate their name with expertise in a certain area. Names don't really change that but If I met some of them in person and suddenly they all had new names, it would be hard to keep track of who contributed what to my past understanding.

For what it's worth, Identity is important and should be protected.

@ Matu
@Craig

Agreed. Craig, I have the same concern about the real sounding names policy. Also, I find it inherently dishonest. When I spend months conversing with "Annie Smith", I identify him / her as such. When I suddenly find out via in person / direct email / seed exchange that Annie is actually Steve White, it is a bit bothersome and confusing. Had I know Steve on line as Greenthumbsteve; I know Steve's name is a handle and expect a real name separate of his ID. Since all other blogs and forums out there use a handle / ID it would be nice to maintain ones already well established online ID seamlessly. However this site is not a democracy; it is a dictatorship...so I guess we can file my opinion under "meaningless drivel" lol As long as I wish to play in this sandbox, I am obligated to agree with the sandbox owner.

Pssssssh, if I got to go to a Permies event with all y'all I'd be so excited I wouldn't care if your names were all Suzy Creamcheese.

I'd show you pictures of my garden like it was my grandchildren

We had a guy on here with excellent knowledge that he was willing to share. But he insisted on using his "brand" instead of his name. After several conversations, we locked his account. We've had about fifteen other people that didn't seem to have such good information, but they also wished to use their brand instead of their name. All were locked.

We have had about a dozen people that insisted that they wanted to use the name of their farm instead of their name. Those accounts are all locked.

We had a few people that wanted to use one account for two people ("Tom and Mary Johnson") instead of two accounts. Locked.

We have had dozens of people who insist on using obviously fictitious names. Locked.

A lot of these people were providing excellent content.

I think I've done a good job of making it clear why I am choosing this path. And as much as people say "why don't you let me do what I want?" I wish to respond with "why don't you let me do what I want?"

I choose to publish content within my comfort zone: topics that I like discussed the way that I like. I think we will, collectively, get more done this way. I fully expect that 99% of the population will disagree - and those people will be far more comfortable posting elsewhere. This forum is for those people that seriously enjoy the way we do things. And I am freaky strict about this. And I am glad that the staff are really supportive of me on this point.

The bottom line: people that insist on functioning outside of my comfort zone fall into two categories:

1) they don't understand what I am trying to do and they don't care.

2) they do understand what I am trying to do and they don't respect my wishes.

Either way, I think we will both be happier if they choose a different community to be part of.

When I first signed up here, I used Montana for my family name. Paul sent me an email requesting a "more real sounding name" and so I put my name in. I'm a paranoid fella when it comes to the InfernalNet, so this was a big step outside my comfort zone. The thing is, what the folks here (Paul being the driving force, of course) are building is real, and so instead of hiding behind my normal nom de InfernalNet, I stepped out and present me as me. Even with an made up name, I still present as myself on other places on the InfernalNet, but this place deserves the respect of you being real. I'm in someone else's house, it ain't polite to stomp around in it with my hog boots on, my great grandma had a big old wooden spoon for folks that did that.

Really can't get to what people want form permies.com or anything else where they voluntarily decide to write or contribute. I have a lot of friends in the permaculture group we have in Italy on Facebook that have strange names and I really get pissed off by this. I speak for months with people then when I saw them at the festival, in september, it took me some time to understand who they where. can I ask everyone I meet in real life hey are you bhbhgff because I'm looking for him he should be at the festival
Nobody asked anyone to write on permies.com and you're not having Paul Wheaton point a gun at your head saying write!!!
very few people here on permies.com use one little thing you've thought of on the profile page of evey registered person: the box where you can say what the hell you do in your life.
I used it and I wrote some things and then i edited it if things changed and really don't see anything of so horrendous in this. we should invite people to use that space to say: hey I'm Frank of merry farm, or I'm known as jungle on facebook etc.
I guess some pepole like to live their lives in different way's but we like to live on permies.com in a clear way. We should all be here to discuss permaculture issues, or even personal stuff or just what the hell we feel. I mean nobody said if you start a new thread the staff will take three to decide if it is ok or relevant and then it will be permies. Everyone can start a thread on what ever aspect they want, you just have to use your real name, is that a problem go some where else, sorry but we can't say we want to change the world and then don't change the way we comunicate and sit around a virtual table to speak. of course one can use a false name and you're free, but why? anywayyou can we'll never know
one thing that could be linked to this thread: why do some names in threads have a grey line instead of a name?

oh and of course one has the signature space at the bottom of his posts where you can write I am Frank from merry farm's etc.
I was thinking about this point before getting up today, and I saw it as if we all where in the auditorium, or shop, at Wheaton labs and there is a lot of round tables let say all for 8 to 10 people and every table is a thread, you move from to another looking at your interests and knowledges and stop to chat a long even in a very simple and light way, we don't always have to be so serious. Well seeing this vision, which depicts our virtual presence in the auditorium at Wheaton labs I like the idea that people here get to know who I am, what I do, and maybe you just comunicate in a different way. I pop up sometimes in threads wher ei see no one has answered if I know or i am curious about the subject I say something. it's because it's as if I saw someone alone at one of the tables in the auditorium and I would pop up I mean if you came to sit here it's not to be alone or meditate you want exchange idea's.
if you want to stay alone do it but you can't on Forum.
nothing it was just an update on my thoughts.

Here's the link to the Official Policy on Registered Names

I'm happy to use a real sounding name as that's the terms of using the site and its my choice to use a real sounding name rather than not use the site.
I understand that having real sounding names achieves two things: 1) makes others more likely to use their actual real name, 2) looks more professional to casual observers ie those who aren't contributors or members but still browse the site. Personally I think there are more downsides that outweigh these advantages, but that's not my call and I only bring it up as we have been invited to a discussion on it.

The other rule - the one about not being allowed to admit you haven't used your real name - I don't understand that one but that's fine I don't need to. So I won't say I haven't used my real name but I will say that many people won't want to use their real name for privacy reasons. There are all sorts of weirdos, stalkers, building inspectors and the like who know how to type someone's name into google. Would you want those type of people for example knowing you live in a structure of a certain construction, what your toilet is like & who else lives with you or nearby and by the way here are some pictures to help said stalker/weirdo/building inspector find you?

The only thing that would bother me, in the hypothetical scenario that I wasn't using my real name, is that people here who I respect would be being deceived by thinking my name was something it was not. That seems dishonest to me. If I were using a name that were not my real name, I would like to be upfront about that without being kicked off for telling the truth.

Steve Farmer wrote:

The only thing that would bother me, in the hypothetical scenario that I wasn't using my real name, is that people here who I respect would be being deceived by thinking my name was something it was not. That seems dishonest to me. If I were using a name that were not my real name, I would like to be upfront about that without being kicked off for telling the truth.

My life is full of this. I'd say a large number of people that I know call me Juan on a regular basis. Lucky for me, I have a stock of go-to names that I use

Just a quick add to say that I listened to Star Talk Radio's podcast episode The Digital Revolution with Arianna Huffington. Regardless of how one feels about the Huffington Post, I think they are quite successful, i.e. HUGE, in their reach across the web.

One of the most salient points to me, from this episode, was about trolls and their relation to anonymous posting. Huffington relates that the Post had some of the most advanced algorithms available at the time for reducing/preventing/dealing with trolls. And they found it wasn't enough. So they hired 30 people, full time, to help. (30 people, people!!) It still wasn't enough. So then, they disallowed anonymous posts. Boom. Problem largely solved.

I think a name that is not real sounding, is akin to being anonymous - it's a shield in a way.

In the event someone thinks we're not using our real name, but we in fact are, who do we send a purple moosage to in order to sort that out? The PM just says "Staff" and has no reply option.

Little bit confused here since this is a) actually my real name, not even a "real-sounding" one and b) conforms to the names policy, as far as I can tell.

Phoenix Blackdove wrote:In the event someone thinks we're not using our real name, but we in fact are, who do we send a purple moosage to in order to sort that out? The PM just says "Staff" and has no reply option.

PM me - I should be able to sort it all out.

I am brand new here. This is my 1st post. I registered with the user name, "Ruck." Do you request I change that? It's a forum name I use all the time. I just like it. But I am willing to change if you so decree from on high

George Atwood wrote:I am brand new here. This is my 1st post. I registered with the user name, "Ruck." Do you request I change that? It's a forum name I use all the time. I just like it. But I am willing to change if you so decree from on high

Your display name looks fine to me.

i am on other sites where i have a "user name"
but anyone can click on it and see my real name
just like here where clicking on it provides info about me
registration requires the real name
just a thought

I don't know if this has been brought up before, but one thing to maintain security while still having a recognizable, real-sounding name is to simply tweak your own name a little. That way someone searching the web for your exact name wouldn't find you, but you could still be referred to by your own name.

By tweaking, I mean misspelling your name or altering it to one very similar.

For instance:

If your name is Eric Williams, you could go by Erik Williamson.

Or, if your name is Melisande Rosales, you could go by Melissa Ramirez.

That way, if you meet people at a conference, they'll still be able to attach your real name to your permies name, and you won't feel nearly as deceptive, and they'll be able to remember you better. Or, if you want to keep up the deception, you'll have an easier time remembering to respond to your permies name. This is also pretty useful if your first and last name are one-of-a-kind, and you don't want to be easily found by google searches.

So, if you've got a really rare last name, like Balcorn (I did a google search for rarest last names, lol!), you could go by a common one that sounds similar, such as Baker, instead. If your first name is really common, like Mary, you could even just keep your first name and be Mary Baker instead of Mary Balcorn.

I hope that helps someone!

Hi,
I have an account on this website which is not personal. This permaculture project is based out of a small campground and several people want to use our campground account to organize or look into individual projects though we all share the same location (and my name is on everyones posts! ). is it possible to have an account for the campground? its a bit tricky to figure out whose email might be whos or to have five different accounts that are looked at only a few times a year or used once by tourists\wwoofers. I am the owner of the business and can send verification that it is a real company name here in Germany if it helps at all. Anyway, great site and thanks for your time.
Taryn

Taryn Hesse wrote: is it possible to have an account for the campground?

Not on this site.  On this site, each account is tied to one person.

Taryn,
You can put your campground name in your "signature" and if you want other people to post on Permies, they can sign up for a new account using their own name or areal-sounding name of their choice, and then they can start posting immediately, so it's not a big burden. Then they can copy and paste your signature into their own Permies signature, so that if a discussion in a single thread involves different people from your place, other readers can see the connection.

You can also set your location in your profile, so that other readers can see what kind of climate or country you are in. It makes your questions more likely to get answered.

Hello! Hopefully a staff member will see this and if not, perhaps someone could point me in the right direction for posting such a query.

I've just received a message telling me to change my display name because it doesn't comply with the Naming Policy. The thing is, this is my real name (hippy parents, go figure). How can I clear this up?

Jazz Meyer wrote:Hello! Hopefully a staff member will see this and if not, perhaps someone could point me in the right direction for posting such a query.

I've just received a message telling me to change my display name because it doesn't comply with the Naming Policy. The thing is, this is my real name (hippy parents, go figure). How can I clear this up?

I've met one person named 'Jazz' before and I think Meyer looks like a real name.  

I've stopped the name change request and see what I can do so you aren't asked again.  

Thanks for letting us know.

Thanks for the speedy reply and for your help

A spammer the other day tried to use a name like sdjklsj klhgbn. They could have at least put a vowel in there.

Joseph Lofthouse wrote:A spammer the other day tried to use a name like sdjklsj klhgbn. They could have at least put a vowel in there.

Perhaps it's a Klingon name...

I much prefer to address folks with real sounding names, if I can't pronounce it, you probably will never see me offer up any answers to questions, nor will I make remarks or offer suggestions.
I don't mind the box of chocolates, but I know how to look at the inside of the lid to find the pieces I like.