DiscussMormonism.com

Yes, I know I'm a moderator and this is "off topic", I'll move it myself when it's gotten some replies.

On another thread a poster has mentioned the previous screen name of another poster. My question to the board is "Is this okay to do?" Should a poster's right to change their screen name be maintained by the rest of the board? That is to say, no identification of the previous name unless the poster does this themselves?

I'm wondering if the board views connecting posters to their previous screen name as ethical or unethical to do?

What say you? Is it fair game or not?

Jersey Girl

(Please do not reference posters previous screen names to their new screen names on this thread. This is only a general question and I'd rather you not do it here)

It's hard to erase the memory. I don't think I'd go so far as to call it unethical to use a poster's former screen name. It may be a myopic view, but I don't know that it's a fair expectation for everyone to reset their method of identifying a poster simply because a poster choses a new name. But I really don't have a strong opinion one way or another.

I don't think it is proper netiquette to reveal a poster's previous username unless the poster reveals it him/herself.

Who the hell is Polygamy Porter?

God that guy is funny!

:p

I'm not sure that a person should have the right to expect people not to mention a previous persona. It's part of what ought to keep people on their toes, ie: the idea that whatever reputation they weave for themselves, might actually come back to haunt them.

Jersey Girl wrote:Yes, I know I'm a moderator and this is "off topic", I'll move it myself when it's gotten some replies.

I'm wondering if the board views connecting posters to their previous screen name as ethical or unethical to do?

What say you? Is it fair game or not?

Jersey Girl

(Please do not reference posters previous screen names to their new screen names on this thread. This is only a general question and I'd rather you not do it here)

I think it is waste of time. Unlike MADd board there is no persecution here that I can sense.
Why bother?

Has a poster here specifically asked not to be named by their former moniker? I don't see that there is anything wrong with it. I think it helps keep straight who is who.

As long as the transition to a new moniker is common knowledge for everyone involved, I don't see a problem with it.

If the individual poster has an issue with it, then he/she needs to speak up about it. If that poster specifically does not want to be referred to under his/her old name, then I think it's simply common manners to respect that.

Hmmm... good question.

I don't know that I'd consider it an ethical question or not, at least from a pragmatic standpoint. I mean, how is someone going to know that poster B was formally known as poster A unless poster B divulged their previous moniker? If they disclosed it in private to someone and asked that person to keep it confidential, then I guess it does have ethical implications, but otherwise, if it's common knowledge that A and B are the same person, I can't see it making a difference either way.

Of course, I don't really have a stake in this question since I've always been Some Schmo here.

Boaz & Lidia wrote:Who the hell is Polygamy Porter?

God that guy is funny!

:p

Not to mention VegasRefugee. Hes Awesome!

liz3564 wrote:If the individual poster has an issue with it, then he/she needs to speak up about it. If that poster specifically does not want to be referred to under his/her old name, then I think it's simply common manners to respect that.

Common manners? Maybe. But I can't see any obligation implied. It goes back to the "you takes your chances" theory of actions. If you're going to change your name, you should expect that some people aren't going to forget the old one in favor of the new.