Real Names

[Ruy Horta]

Hans,

You can't edit your login id* as a member.

I think we should split this discussion in two parts:

1. signature
2. login id

I'm still open minded about the actual login id, but would welcome (and invite) everyone to include his (or her) real name in his (or her) signature.

*as admin I can make any change, so it is no problem, just ask me to change it for you.

[Franek Grabowski]

Frankly, I am against forcing anybody to anything, but I am encouraging just anyone to use his/her real name. On the other hand I can understand if someone cannot do that, see the casus of Rabe Anton, who living in a wild country could not use his name under a risk of repressions. By the way, is there everything OK with him? Have not seen him here lately.
That said, I am not sure how should I vote.

[robert_schulte]

Hello Franek,
where have you been?
For all those, who don't know the case of Rabe Anton, could you please explain in short, why he can't post with his real name?
Best wishes
Robert

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

A friend of mine some time ago was refused permission to use his real name.

His first name is Allen, his last name is Cock.

so he was refused, not alowd to use the name as A.Cock.

We had a laugh about it and he now uses a false ID which was accepted with out question.

Not this site I hasten to add.

Alex

[Adam]

I don't thnk posting under your real name would change anything per se, however I think it would help new people to the forum better understand and identify people/authors/researchers to whom they could direct specific enquiries. Likewise IDs such as "Seaplanes", to use one example, are also okay as they help identify the particular area of interest/speciality of the member.

I do agree though that a forum such as this with its knowledge base and respected member list should impose some sort of ID standard (unless specific circumstances make such things impossible).

I only post under my christian name for no other reason than laziness, but would be quite happy to have my login ID changed to my full name: Adam Thompson

[Pawel Burchard]

And how do we verify one's is really a realname?

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by robert_schulte

Hello Franek,
where have you been?
For all those, who don't know the case of Rabe Anton, could you please explain in short, why he can't post with his real name?
Best wishes
Robert

I wouldn't like to comment on whether the USA is "a wild country" to live in (but compared to southwest England it probably is!) but as I understood it, Rabe had reasons related to his profession for not using his real name online.

[veltro]

I agree with Ruy that once the posts are signed with one's own name, the "login id" is of secondary relevance.

As in my case, my nickname has often became a part of my real name.

I do respect liberty, even more individual rights, but when one has to deal with others about "serious" matters (and I do believe history and research are both damn serious topics), a clear identity should be a must.

IMHO, of course...

[Matzos]

My question, whats in a name?
I see TOCH as a place where we can ask questions and hopefully obtain answers to them.
If the site was to change it's rules, what's to say that the name you submitted was your true name.
I for one would not leave the site if the rules were changed.
My nickname is used on a number of boards, but I will can change it if required to do so.

Matzos
aka
Mick Gladwin

[CJE]

"CJE" are my initials, part usuername, part real name (most of my friends call me CJE), reflecting my hesitating position on this subject.
Will leave it to the communauty to decide.