What if we allowed members to change their handles on request?

Hi,

An occasional change should be allowed, but with restrictions:
- Maximum 1x or 2x per year
- Old handle should remain blocked from reassignment to prevent confusion for 6 months or so
- Old handle should be shown for 6 months

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

As someone who changed his FT handle, I fully support this.

Let me tell you what happens. Someone finds MP and signs up using their real name, or their initials, or some combination which - at the time - seems innocuous. However, over time, they will begin to realise that, when read in conjunction with their posts about where they are travelling / living, their identity could be easily recognised by a co-worker etc. At this point, they are likely to want a handle change.

There is also a sub-set who sign up with a pointless name, set of random letters or numbers etc (because they never intend to post) but then find themselves stuck with it when they decide that MP is a place they want to stick around.

I would not put a limit on it... but would indicate that changes will only be approved for extraordinary reason... ie. no longer wanting name as a handle; name change; or something else.

Is it easy to also ensure that posts stay with a person? That way, we would always know who is who by seeing their total posts... under whatever name they posted under on Milepoint.

I think a change should be allowed for a few reasons

• Making their handle less anonymous -- adding something like firstinitial_lastname
• They switch programs but keep substance of name (1KForLife becomes EVPForLife)
• Career switch (collegeflyer becomes workingmanflyer)

The old name should somehow still be attached to the new name so it doesn't just disappear. It should be apparent to the community who the person was.

Amazing, just amazing feedback all around.

I've reviewed this entire thread and have compiled notes. Generally, it looks like the slim majority favor allowing username changes restricted to X time frame (e.g., once a year, once every six months, etc), with case-by-case exceptions allowed AND displaying the "formerly known as" moniker for X time frame.

Someone upthread asked what our current policy is on milepoint. Can't really say that we have a firm policy at this point, but now we can discuss the suggestions and options put forward in this thread, sift them through a filter of feasibility, and hopefully come up with something that will be beneficial to the community as a whole and also be manageable.

Again, just superb feedback, and we really appreciate it. And this post isn't meant to deter further feedback. Just wanted to thank you all and update you as to how we will proceed.

I didn't read all 129 suggestions but re: case by case. I have seen where someone's username was utilized by someone else and there were some really awful posts that occurred elsewhere online. Those posts started showing up in searches, much to their embarrassment. The admins/mods OK'd that change.

(No, it wasn't me)

Generally, I support the name change argument. It is like changing your legal name (for example if Chad Johnson can become Chad Ochocinco and back again, why not let someone change their name?)

Let's say that someone in the heat of the moment chose "IloveLucy", then Lucy passes on. They do not want to be constantly reminded of that person any more. Etc, etc.

In other words, just like a legal name change, there needs to be a process. The process is well defined and the criteria are clearly stated. Once this is in place, I see no problem with people abiding by the "rules".

Someday, 2MM_Guy may want to become 3MM_Guy!

Yep, definitely allow as long as there's a review, like personalized license plates ( i.e. no YRUA___ allowed). And no "I Hate (insert least favorite travelprogram here)"

I would say only 1 name change, or 1x year. It's your name that people know on the board, changing it can cause confusion

Why's "I hate ..." any worse than "ILuv..."?

Bad name selections limit use. I saw at least one person use initial last name such a jsmith. If the last name is unique what with location info it gives too much away. Let's say jUniquename is going to the moon and wants to gather fellow travelers. He dare not post dates here.

You need to warn people not to use real names - sooner or later thy will regret doing so. You also should allow changes either periodically or on a case by case basis.

I think the reason that Flyertalk (and now Milepoint) is held in such high regard over the other travel websites is that we know each other. Some of us know each other in real life, but mostly we know each other by posts. Changing handles would eliminate that vital feature. When someone I know and trust from previous posts states that they like or dislike a hotel or airline, I trust that post more than I would an anonymous one. And the corollary is that someone whom I have learned to not trust is easily spotted by their handle. I don't want them to be able to change either.

Based on everyone's input and suggestions, combined with our experience and a desire for manageability, we have decided upon the following milepoint username change policy:

Milepoint members are allowed username changes upon request. When a username is changed, the member's former username will display as his/her title for at least 30 days, unless any of the following conditions are met:

1. The former username contains all or part of the member's real name
2. The former username is the member's email address
3. The change is a minor typographical correction

We will add this policy to our Help/FAQs, but wanted to post it here first, as you all contributed largely to the final decision.

It should be noted too that we're taking what we call a "Pirates of the Caribbean" approach to milepoint policy - They're more what you'd call 'guidelines' really

Because of the 30-day former username disclosure requirement, there is a natural 30-day limit on username changes. But in reality, if someone wants his/her username changed every month that isn't going to happen. When it comes to frequent username requests from a single member, common sense will be the rule of the day.

We'll leave this thread open for awhile for questions and/or comments, but now that we have a policy in place will likely close it in a few days or so.

Thanks again for all the feedback - it was instrumental in helping to develop this policy, which we hope fairly balances the needs of members and the community.

I'm sorry, but that is a clear violation of the TOS of the interwebs.

Do you guys plan to make any changes to existing posts which quote a poster by their former username?

We don't have a defined plan for this. If the username change was the result of a privacy concern and specific quote edits were requested, I imagine we would do that for the member. Beyond that though, my guess is we probably wouldn't generally edit quotes that contain former usernames. Could be up for debate though.

Nicely done

Agree wholeheartedly