Duplicate screen names

[rawwannabe]

I have few posts, but as I am going to make a concerted effort to stick to raw, I hope to change that.

When going through the member list I noticed a relatively new member with a similar screen name Raw Wannabee. Since they have zero posts, would it be possible to request that they change their screen name?

I woud just like to avoid confusion assuming this new member will post at some time or another.

Thanks!

[Jo-anne]

umm tough question.....me, personally I would think it much more appropriate to pm or email the other member and ask that question. If i was you, I would change my name if it bothered me that much, seeing that the other member already had the name first, and yes even if that member hadn't posted at all, I mean, a lot of people view the forum but don't actually post anything, i did that for quite a while before i felt comfortable posting. Just my thoughts anyway.

Jo-anne

[Shona]

Jo-anne ...

I understand the original post to be that someone took the name later, not that rawwannabe took the name and then discovered someone else was using it. In this case, there is no reason rawwannabe should change her username, because she had it first.

On many forums now, duplicate names can't be used. If you pick a name that someone else already has, the registration won't go through until you pick a free name.

Shona :)

[Revvell]

They aren't duplicate names because there is a difference in spelling which is how they were both allowed to be registered.

R.

[Ariannah]

If it's confusion you want to avoid, then asking someone else to change their (similar) name will only make someone else uncomfortable - it's a name you obviously both like, so each of you should be able to keep it, without apology.

Here is an idea. Put up a picture in your avatar. (Click on "user CP" above) It doesn't necessarily have to be a picture of yourself, but just something else to uniquely identify you as you.

Who knows? someone else could want the name "rawandnatural" and have to settle for the name "rawNnatural" or something similar. But my own picture is here so as to avoid confusion.

[Jo-anne]

Shona, I realise that she had her name registered first after I posted my reply, but like Revvell pointed out, they arn't duplicate names anyway.

Jo-anne

[Rawkinlocs]

Yes, there are many similiar names here. We had Greengirl and Green_girl...veggieGirl, veggiegirl2010, veggiegrrrl, and veggiegurl, for example.

It's too bad that there isn't a little more originality, but hey...great minds think alike, therefore, some people will have the same idea for a name that another had and when they can't get the exact one, they'll make subtile changes to get as close as possible...same thing happens with email accounts! Sometimes it's hard thinking up a new name when you had one set in your mind and then find out it's already in use. I see this happen a lot when I help friends set up new email accounts!

I, personally, cannot do anything about this but Alissa is the only one who can change names.

As was suggested, you might want to PM the newer member or even just as was also suggested, put up a unique avatar and that way you will be distinguised from the other member.

[rawwannabe]

Thanks. Yes, I did have the screen name first (nyah nyah-LOL). I will PM him/her as I don't have a photobucket account from which to upload an avatar. The problem is if the registered member only registered, but never logs on then he/she will never get the PM....in which case the duplicate name wouldn't matter anyway. LOL

[Rawkinlocs]

You don't need a photobucket account to upload an avatar photo...you can upload it directly from your computer hard drive. It just has to be the correct size, etc. and if you need assistance with that, let me or Sweetgoddess know and one of us can help you out with that.

But you're right, if the newer member doesn't ever sign on or post, then they either may not see the PM or it won't matter much and you two won't be mistaken for the other.

Again, it's not uncommon for forum boards to have members with similar names.

[angelandarose]

When we go around asking people to change to make us happy we do a disservice to ourselves. It is a controlling attitude to ask others to change so that when we view them we will be happier.

Love,
Angie

[rawpriestess]

If you both had no avatar, and were posting all the time, and people were getting you confused, then maybe there might be some realistic reason for concern,

However, this is not the case, and even if it was, simply put up your avatar.

I don't even look at names, unless I am answering a specific question, I look at the picture, (of course, I am a very visual person), but even if there were several of the same names, so what? it's like having three friends all named Julie, but they have different voices, and faces, so the beautiful names can be shared, and like others have said, it's not the same, it has different spelling, capitalization, and a space.

Plus this person doesn't post, so I would let it go, if you want to change, then you probably should change the name you are using, if it truly bothers you, I highly doubt if this person even comes on the forum much, because if they did, they would have answered this thread by now.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I wanted Sharon but it was already taken by an infrequent user.

The answer was to add the Colorado part to it - now I get e-mails asking in which part of Colorado I live.

This could be a positive thing for you - consider adding a small bit of info afterward to identify yourself and you will be unique instead of wannabe's wannabe.

[rawwannabe]

To those of you who were helpful-thanks for the advice.

[rawwannabe]

It was just to avoid confusion. I think Alissa is really great for hosting this board. I asked an honest question. I'm here to learn about the raw lifestyle however, not to be lectured thankyouverymuch.