Night Elf Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Am I the only one who gets confused by name changes? I'll be honest and say I rarely pay attention to avatars and certainly don't link names with avatars. So if someone changes their name but keeps their avatar, it's still not helpful to me. Sorry! I'll lose out on knowing who you are. But that's probably okay because I'm only a wee beastie around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Totally! Like there's now a Mom1234 (or Mom with some numbers) and she has her old avatar, which is actually more confusing because I know I should know this person, because the avatar is so painfully familiar, but now it is all just a vague memory. And if she didn't mention some facts about her family in a new post that I remember from another post, I would be even more in the dark. But on the other hand, we can all change names now and it will be like a totally new hangout. No preconceptions, no biases. I can probably unblock a handful of people I blocked years ago, and it will take me years to realize who they are. Or maybe they are all changed now, and I'm changed, and we'll be best buddies. :coolgleamA: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 But on the other hand, we can all change names now and it will be like a totally new hangout. No preconceptions, no biases. I can probably unblock a handful of people I blocked years ago, and it will take me years to realize who they are. Or maybe they are all changed now, and I'm changed, and we'll be best buddies. :coolgleamA: Woah, it would be sort of like that Star Trek Next Generation episode where they all lost their memories, and Data ended up as the barkeeper, and Ro Laren and Riker were a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I'm the opposite. If they change their avatar, I get all discombobulated. I may never notice a name change though. Obviously this applies to people who actually have an avatar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I do get more confused if a name changes vs avatar change. But I really need both to connect who that person is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I'm more visual, so I notice avatars more than names... When most of the board changed avatars due to copyright issues or whatever it was, it was like being in a whole new world for me- I had no idea who anybody was anymore. That's why I put a description of my former avatar above my current one- in case there is anone here who thinks like I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I'm one of the guilty ones. My name change has less to do with a sudden realization that it is public (as I have always known and warned my kiddos) and more to do with a shift in my overall desire to be a little less quotable. This has been something on my mind a lot more in recent months, and the article was just the catalyst to get it done. Yes, I'm still very find-able online. I'm just going to make lazy reporters that want to quote out of context have to work a little to figure me out. More of my online presence will be shifting to something more compatible with a professional, and I would like a place or two to let my hair down a bit. I will continue to be careful with what I say online, as always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 And autocorrect gets me again. I will clean that post up when I am not on my phone ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Especially since a lot of people recently changed their avatars too. Give a woman a break. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I must have missed something. Isn't it common knowledge, something that has been repeated here a million times, that this place isn't private?? Why on earth are members getting in a tizzy to change their names? If you weren't aware of that by now, you may be in for a surprise. Didn't we all give the same type speech to our kids when they were allowed online? If you truly don't want to be found, using real names, or initials( even backward ones), etc are just plain dumb. Answering every poll on this forum-- anyone could access these and know such intimate details, from shoe size to favorite teas. Not to mention threads about what your screen name indicates, etc. I suggest that the easiest way to throw people offtrack if you want true anonymity is to use a different first name (maybe your dog's name or a name of a street you used to live on or your favorite aunt's first name etc) - like Mary, Jane or Sarah - when your name is none of those - and then give out the state you live in and never the general location. So, if someone quotes you on their blog or Facebook or whatever, you would be known as a "Sarah from Oregon" when you are not a Sarah (but, your cat is really the Sarah from Oregon). And posting avatar pictures of yourself makes you quickly traceable by your friends and family (and your own kids too). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I'm more visual, so I notice avatars more than names... When most of the board changed avatars due to copyright issues or whatever it was, it was like being in a whole new world for me- I had no idea who anybody was anymore. That's why I put a description of my former avatar above my current one- in case there is anone here who thinks like I do. I would never know who you were without that description! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I am a visual person and get really confused when people change avatars. But the name changes throw me too. But, hey. I'm doing really well if I can remember who has said what!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Since I have never been able to load an avatar picture, I do pay more attention to names than I otherwise might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'm completely lost when people change names or avatars. Then again, I call my children by their siblings's names, so I'm not surprised that this confuses me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 We used to be able to go back and look at name history. That was helpful. I suppose I can see why some wanted it removed but I'm still sad it's gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Huh. You're right. Didn't know it was gone. Both new names and new avatars confuse me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.