Changing Usernames

I have gone back to a few forums which I previously hadn't been in weeks and I get confused every time when people I don't know adress me directly. It then turns out they changed their username. There are some people that seem to change it every 100 posts.

Others also change it if they have a bad reputation (In the true sense, has nothing to do with Rep Points) which can be even more confusing.

Does everyone let a user change their name at any time no matter what or do you have guidelines in place?

Nah - I've got that disallowed on all my forums for exactly the reason you state. :)

I've never had a recognized member ask for an entirely new name. I doubt I'd do it.

For newer members, we often change names though. People new to the net sometimes use names that they shouldn't and we let um know and suggest a change.

Some members have asked for a variation of a name that changed it so little, you didn't notice it was actually a new name and we oblige.

I see a lot of newbies use their email as their user name...Thats a defenite exception as its not only ugly but a common mistake

I see a lot of newbies use their email as their user name...Thats a defenite exception as its not only ugly but a common mistake


On this kind of occasion I change the name.

I also have people who have a logical reason for changing their name, and I try to accomidate them as well. With car guys, they sometimes change cars or something, and their car was in the username. (LincolnLSLover - for example)

Me? Ive had the same name forever.

Could you not ban @ or .com from being a legal characters in usernames - I think I saw a setting for something like that somewhere?

Yeah - you can do that in the admin cp> vBulletin options

There's been a few times when I've not only permitted a username change, but have actually made a couple of new users change their username. You wouldn't believe what they started out with.

But then again, maybe you would ;)

Could you not ban @ or .com from being a legal characters in usernames - I think I saw a setting for something like that somewhere?

uh huh...... and I have a whole long list...

I do it on a case by case basis but it requires admin approval and a good reason.

where is this feature setting? i looked in ACP>Usergroup Manager>Usergroup but couldn't see the option in there.

I have some users who belong to some Brass Groups and use the name of that group in their username. Times change of course and often people leave these groups and request a name change. I allow it for such instances. I have rules and guidelines in place and one that covers Username changes:

10. Your tMP Account and General Rules:
(a) Multiple tMP Accounts are not generally permitted. If you need to have multiple tMP accounts, please email one of the tMP team explaining why. tMP reserves the right to delete multiple accounts without explanation - all posts relating to the multiple account will be lost and the original account may be suspended.
(b) tMP does not permit username changes except under certain circumstances. These are: if your tMP username contains a reference to your current band name and you have changed band, if your username contains your real name (or elements thereof) and you decide you no longer wish this, or any other exceptional reason the tMP team deems appropriate.

and where can this setting be found/altered?

As I don't allow users to amend their usernames I do it manually Elsie.

i mean where can you edit the settings to allow/disallow members/usergroups to change their own name?

It's in one of the permissions in vBulletin Options Elsie. I'm not sure which one tho.

thanks. i'll have a look about. :)

hmmm well i can't see it....


anyone??

does anyone know where this permission setting is?


i.e. where do i go to allow/disallow members to change their own username?

I didn't know that a usre could change their own username Elsie. I thought that it has to be done by administration, in the acp -> users

people were talking about it here a few posts back, and so i was just wondering where the option was.......

unless people meant that they allow/refuse following a request, and would therefore be doing it manually.....

this implies it can be done by the user tho:

As I don't allow users to amend their usernames I do it manually Elsie.