Hey there,



Good idea, but I would prefer to have real names as additional info rather than replacing nick names. The reason is that we are such an international community, and some names are not easy for everybody to remember / pronounce (e.g. I have a friend called Kshitij). I think nicknames can make life easier for everybody and make it easier to remember. Anyway if you want to always use your first name, you can always use it instead of making up a nick name.



PS: Yes, I like Rasputin a lot, although the Russians find it either funny or ridiculous

PS2: Yes, I don't have a lot of work these days:) Sign of busy times approaching...
Rasputin, Mar 27, 2008 @ 16:33

Hm... That's quite an interesting reflexion initiated here.



I suppose that showing real names will make shy or privacy-suspicious people think twice before joining the community, and some members may disable their profile for privacy reasons. Of course, Glocals.com is very friendly and respectul (as far as I'm concerned), but it's a thing that requires to be experienced to be believed in.



Nevertheless, whenever you take part to an event, you're being called and you can participants by their real names ("John" is sometimes simpler than "TX56J_%oF-MurKhz"). Nicknames no-longer exist from this moment on. Besides, real names often appear on picture comments.



I'm sure that you guys, by the bias of changing the nicknames to firstnames, may trigger a bleeding in the memberships. It is possible that the fraction of members that don't take part to events, people that just wanna try, people that use the site for non-social related activities just don't agree such a breach in their privacy. But then, what's the purpose of having 17'000 members if only an small part use the site the way it was made for? I would privilegiate the quality rather than the quality, especially when it comes to socialization. It may have an influence on the announcers and sponsors, but this is your business, not mine! ;)



Do whatever you think it's best, I'll play by the rules anyway...



Thanks for always looking for improvements - and realizing them! A good idea is useless if it remains at the bottom of a drawer like a forgotten pair of socks.



Greg a.k.a. Syd_brown
Syd_Brown, Mar 27, 2008 @ 17:20

Monikers are used in literally all forums I've visited so far. They're a way (well, sort of...) to protect our privacy as well as a fun way to introduce ourselves to the community. I like their originality, and I would not be in favor of using real names.



I find pseudonyms easier to remember than real names as they convey more meaning. I do not really see what it would change to know that my real name is Francois and not Free (my initials F.R.E. + E because "free" is way nicer than "fre"). It would not even help tracking me down if need be as my last name would still be missing.



I had to provide my real name when I registered as well as a phone number. Period. My guess is that there were no further checks whatsoever and that's fine given the context of this forum : meeting new faces and organizing events. If I were here to harass people and obliged to provide my real ID, I would pick any name in the phone book, register and bingo, there I'd be, totally anonymous (except for my IP address, but even that can be faked). So why bother any further?



As for the level of trust, there are the pictures, and I must say that I am more open to member with a real face than those without (one of the points that attracted me to Glocals: the fact that most members show who they are). And they all gave me their real name after a few exchanges of e-mails, as a choice, not as constraint. And if some members do not behave well, ban them. It's as easy as that.



By the way, the first letter of my last name is an E, which would turn my name into FrancoisE, the feminine form of Francois... :)
Free, Mar 27, 2008 @ 18:12

I like nicknames!

1)first of all, they give more privacy to people who don't like to appear on forums with their real names



2)then, are easier to remember, especially if your real name is difficult to pronounce



3)They are unique (wherever I went, there were at least two or three Marco C)



4)and they give us the possibility to introduce ourselves as we want! (real names are choosen by our parents, nicknames are chosen by us!):D

marcomarco, Mar 27, 2008 @ 19:12

This proposal, however well intentioned, could lead to serious harassment situations.  With just a first name, there is not a problem.  With a first name and last initial you might be able to find someone in the phone book.  As paranoid as that may seem, Geneva is not that large and it would not be that difficult. . . Of course the vast majority of Glocalers are not freaks but there is always that "special" person who believes someone might not be able to live without him or her . . .

As someone else said, monikers are not unusual on other sites.  Furthermore, many people have made complaints about Facebook's privacy policies in the past several years.  Thanks, O2 for the proposal, though.  I think it is important to discuss these issues in a straightforward manner. 
Translator, Mar 27, 2008 @ 19:15

I can’t help but thinking that you are overestimating this trust issue. Is that really a problem? You’d rather clarify this point before proposing a solution. The discussion group we had and the forum discussion that followed didn’t point in that direction. Has anyone another experience?

 

It’s so nice to see funny usernames like Rasputin, Pilatesfan, Hobbes, parisdepaul, Haegar, Ichi, Garbanzo or Malawrite…
Bustan_A, Mar 27, 2008 @ 19:20

What's the point?

People who like to show their real names - like me - can already put it as a nickname anyway... Why forcing the one who prefere to stay anonymous? What's the advantage? I know the real names of the one who became my friends in any case ...
Katja, Mar 27, 2008 @ 19:27

aaargh!

It's not fair ))



I wanted to be "D.A." on genevaonline, but "." was not allowed, so I had to go for smth. more obvious ))



Regarding the subject of the discussion - I don't mind showing my real name to outside world. However, many people would rather stay anonymous.



So I'd say "leave it as it is" - and please don't add "sms activation", that's in my opinion even more weird ))
extremal, Mar 27, 2008 @ 19:56

Thanks alot folks, great stuff.



Our thinking on the name issue is still a work in process, and your feedback and questions here are really helpful.



Tinkie - you mentioned privacy options.



What levels would you suggest?

All members

Friends and friends of friends only

Friends only



Anything else?



Thanks, and please keep the feedback coming.



Oded

SiteAdmin Oded, Mar 27, 2008 @ 23:42

[quote]I agree with Bustan A, there seems to be a real issue with trust on Glocals  :crying: and think that probably needs to be looked into deeper first…. [/quote

d - i think you misread bustan_a's comment, because what what he was saying it that he thinks that there is no real trust issue, and that therefore steps to fix such a issue are a solution looking for a problem. bustan_a, maybe you could clarify what you meant.

i like the idea of using real names, althogh it may mean the end of pink bunny and the birth of the less spectacular peter. but i can live with that.

i see my friends on facebook, where we can only use real names, and it adds something that is missing when we all use made up names. and if we want to show our creative side, we can do it when we fill the profile, and not just when we choose a name.

however...

if you use real name, please allow us to select who can see our real name. i would have no problem with some people seeing my full name, and other people seeing my first name, but i would not want some people to see my name. if you give me the choice to select who can see my real name, i am fine.

pink peter
pink_bunny, Mar 28, 2008 @ 00:33

what is the issue?
pink_bunny, Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:11

[quote]Howdy folks...................

Based on member feedback, we think that user names can be hard to remember, and that real names may promote more comfort/trust in the community

............Oded[/quote]



I think it is a funny system as we have it at the moment. Real names can be very hard to remember and not fun at all. Don't forget we are 100 nationalities. We would be in front of a list of phonebook names, without the poetry and fantasy as we know it today.

Admin can require that chosen usernames are easily pronounceable. Some of these chosen names are indeed not. Allow people to modify their unpronounceable names. Don't forget that when you register, you don't know yet how your user name will be used, and that you can't ever modify.
jasper, Mar 28, 2008 @ 01:56

Hi



I don't understand why you want to change this.

Don't get me wrong. I really like it that, when attending a glocal event, most people

use their proper names.

But joining an online community with your proper name only is something many

people would not do.

Geneva is a small place. Especially if you are from a small country

your first name is almost sufficient to be identified.

Some people are comfortable with this, but many would not be.



There are also practical reasons why the proposal won't work, like

- how to handle the many David H

- Pascal E... becoming Pascale

- you will not be able to check if the names given are correct, so why bother

- Not everyone from every culture is comfortable with first names

- Real names can be difficult to pronounce and

people may want to choose an easy name



I like nicknames, and some are really well chosen.

Even if you use "qwert0987" it says something about you.



cheers



Franz
muon, Mar 28, 2008 @ 02:47

Hi Tinkie.

I don't think that using real names will 'Solve the trust issue'

I think that the names are just one factor out of many, that may help to promote trust.

We currently do not allow profile pics of cartoons, babies, pets... cause we think that the profile photo should show the actual person.  The names idea is along those same lines - an effort to make the profiles as 'real' as possible.

Again, no real way for us to ensure that the names or photos are legit, but its more of a concept - real names and real photos, than an actual 'security barrier'

Thanks

Oded
SiteAdmin Oded, Mar 28, 2008 @ 09:51

I still don't see why it is necessary to promote trust. I'm a happy and rather active member of the community. I never had any trust problem and can't remember anybody telling me that he had one.
Bustan_A, Mar 28, 2008 @ 20:43

[quote][b]Bustan_A (28/03/2008)[/b][hr]



I still don't see why it is necessary to promote trust. I'm a happy and rather active member of the community. I never had any trust problem and can't remember anybody telling me that he had one.[/quote]



Thanks bustan, it makes me happy to hear that.



So let's put the trust issue aside for now.



I'd like to get some more feedback\opinions on whether or not using real names on glocals profiles is a good idea.



Thanks



Oded
SiteAdmin Oded, Mar 29, 2008 @ 10:36

[quote][b]jasper (28/03/2008)......Real names can be very hard to remember ......without the poetry and fantasy as we know it today.

..... Allow people to modify their unpronounceable names....when you register, you don't know yet how your user name will be used, and that you can't ever modify it.[/quote]



so I quote myself, because I feel Admin "who is asking for more", should react to these suggestions
jasper, Mar 29, 2008 @ 11:14

Hi jasper.



I agree - some peoples real names are hard to pronounce. I would add that some peoples usernames are also hard to pronounce.



We do explain, on the registration, that usernames cannot be changed and that other members will see your username. Maybe we need to do a better job there.



The reason I dont respond to every post here is that I want to see what you guys think. I'm not trying to convince you that real names are better than made up usernames. I'm sharing an idea we had, and asking for your thinking on it.



There are pros and cons for real names and for usernames, and I just want to understand if you guys think there more pros than cons.



As more people post their thoughts here, we may discover some things we have not thought about, or we may just get a better feel for what the members think.



Either way, Thanks for taking the time to post, and please keep it coming.



Have a great weekend



Oded

SiteAdmin Oded, Mar 29, 2008 @ 11:56

Oded,



isn't there a "vote" applet that comes with the forum? That would be the perfect way to know don't you think?
Free, Mar 29, 2008 @ 12:36

Further to Oded's initial comment, I am curious as to what percentage of the 16,974 memebers identified this as a concern and for that matter where has this issue of a lack of trust come from?

I myself have been using this site for sometime and have never had any trust issues from any person that i have met online, despite the fact that i have not posted a picture on my profile and my user name may prove difficult for some to pronounce or remember.

Trust after all is something that is earned....

Lebowski
Lebowski, Mar 29, 2008 @ 16:53

Now I know my Glocals nickname is my first name... but I'm still very much against imposing this as a requirement to all members. You already CAN use your own name if you want to, but the option as is now gives more flexibility and room for creativity.



The privacy issues would scare many new AND old members away. Not everyone wants to use their own name on a website like this, especially since it's clearly linked to a specific location (which also happens to be a rather small town...)



Also it was already mentioned that there'd have to be a way to deal with all the duplicates when it comes to common first names. If you propose using the initial of the last name or even the whole last name I think I'll be leaving the site as well, no matter how great it's been.



I believe the bottom line is, with this many members an online community simply cannot have the close-knit feel of the early days and the trust that comes with that... Using "real" names (people could still use whatever name they fancy as long as it sounds like it could be a real name) won't fix that.

Katri, Mar 29, 2008 @ 18:53

Moreover, the choice of a username tells much more about people than their first name. We would loose information with real names !
Bustan_A, Mar 29, 2008 @ 20:32

siteadmin - there is proof that real names do not scare people away. on facebook you use real names, and it did not scare away 50 million people. i think that as long as you give people good privacy settings of who can see their real names, its ok.

i also love about real names that i can find old friends on fb, just by searching their name. and for me, it is easier to remember 1 name only, instead of having to remember a real name and a user name.

i also think there is no yes or no answer to the question you posted. some peple will prefer real names, so people will prefer user names.

pink bunny peter
pink_bunny, Mar 30, 2008 @ 00:35

d - good question. i don't get the concern either, and am curious to understand it.
pink_bunny, Mar 30, 2008 @ 20:40

Sorry but i don't think it's a good idea to keep real name.

The reason is that i had to delete my old profile and make a new one cause i have had problem in my previous job with some collegues that were interested to spy my private life. It has been a bad time for me as i was not much helped in that situation  :(

Apart this, Glocals concerns leisure activity and friendship ; taking a nickname is a way to show a part of our personnality that we have out of work ; keeping our real name will make it too formal, whereas we are not to suppose much serious networking here...
TSATSA, Mar 31, 2008 @ 15:12

My 2 cents, very short and to the point. No Real Names, unless they are optional.

The reason: while i don't have any problem signing posts with my real name, giving my name and phone number to peopole i've met or even email address to stay in touch .. I don't want all my glocals post to show up whenver someone does a google search of my name, or name and initial surname and the word Geneva.

Nowdays everyone googles or tries to find info about other people, potential employeers, school officers .. whoever. There is enough media alert already on how being careless on sites like FB could harm your career prospects, AND in FB you can change your privacy setting so that only your friends can see your profile AND you won't show up in the google search.

All in all, bad idea, unless it's optional OR you guys can make it so that if I google Hoiling Geneva (or NAME CITY) all my post won't show up :)

Keep up the good work!!
Hoiling, Mar 31, 2008 @ 15:33

So my nickname would now be RemyS ... hmm.. I guess that could work for me ;)

More seriously, I don't find it necessary, and I can understand manye people prefer to use a nickname.

Rémy
RemyS, Mar 31, 2008 @ 15:57

It is unlikely that requiring real names will promote more comfort/trust in the community. It is more likely to prevent a few folks from signing up. I, for example, would not sign up.

The main reason to avoid requiring real names is privacy. Glocals, despite being a good site and doing social good, currently lacks privacy options such as who can view what, and whether the names and forum contents can be searched by internet search engines. This point has been well explained in this thread by other glocalers.

Back to the premise... I am not convinced that real names may promote comfort/trust. It does not seem to be the case even in real life. Consider this: Each of us meets so many people in our daily lives, or when we travel, or attend a conference, or when we go to a bar/pub, or whatever. Very few amongst us become comfortable or trusting immediately after they learn the real name. 

Different people have different shields or standards before they start becoming comfortable or trusting. The shield is higher if we have just come out of a painful relationship, or have been hurt in past, or have been recently mistreated by someone new. The shield is also higher if someone is very attractive... they tend to get hit on too much, rather than being appreciated as being just another human being and for who they really are deep within. Comfort and trust is a process, a journey in some ways... with me, at least. Knowing real names does little to create comfort and trust in real life. I am not convinced that knowing real names is likely to increase comfort and trust in virtual social networks.

Hidden underneath SiteAdmin's question is an important and nice question... how can glocals promote more comfort/trust in the community?

I do not know the answer. Perhaps, other members have answers. It would be interesting to read and reflect on them.
colorado, Apr 2, 2008 @ 17:17