Real names on the forum?

[Drake]

Originally Posted by foxtail

Sounds like a shit load of more fucking red tape. What do you want next our DNA. How about I shit in a bucket and send it to you. Then you can make a clone.

Yes I am sounding bad right now because this is sounding more and more like the fucking politics of today and airsoft has enough politics as it is.

No, I don't want your DNA, Bozo. But I'm not the one pushing for real names, either.

And feel free to keep your scat fetishes to yourself. :tup:

[polizei_mat]

the system we have has worked for this long. status quo i say. :cheers:

[Digital_Assasin]

My Real Name for everyone HELL NO, for the reasons FF stated at the top and a few others.

Real name hidden with access only for age verifiers, mods and admins, yes that is fine.

[OmniStatic]

no thanks.

and why is it always "a community" thing. besides online banter and comments, none of you know me outside of nova scotia and new brunswick. if you don't know me, why should you have my name?

i don't walk around school or work with my name and age printed on a t-shirt.

[JohnnyDo]

+1
callsign &
first name and last initial

[Freedom Fighter]

Originally Posted by Brian McIlmoyle

Age, City, First name and last initial. What could possibly be the harm in providing this information?
Also being found with bogus information in your profile should be an instant Ban.

Brian I'm all for banning people but so many ASC'ers don't even attend games. It'd be damn near impossible to find out who has bogus info and the amount of work it would be to keep track ... well, I don't want to touch that one.

It solves nothing in the end. The people who attend games, whom people know, are not usually the same ones who rip off others (okay, there are a couple exceptions that come to mind). More often then not, it's some mysterious new user to ASC that becomes a problem ... Remember gamer123? He could have listed my name as his, used my age and claimed to work my job and who would be able to verify it? No one.

This whole thing would just give people a false sense of security. The only real protection against fraud is to only deal with those who are established within the community.

[MMMiles!]

Originally Posted by Yuxi

Great points FF! you put to fine words ideas that were only vague thoughts in my head.

Which is ironic because I don't think Alex gets passed the "vague thoughts in my head" stage that often. Eyyyooooooo.


I think we've gotten all the responses we need.

I think we'll add names under the callsign, just for convenience... people can put what they like for first name and last, or nothing at all (in fact, I'd probably remove any stupid names and keep it as a legitimate tool, not just another usertag). This site is too large and public to initiate any kind of required real name useage. One more feature to add to my to-do list...

[Freedom Fighter]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

Which is ironic because I don't think Alex gets passed the "vague thoughts in my head" stage that often. Eyyyooooooo.

Miles, next time I'm at your home your getting such an ass kicking.

[Russianboy]

I'm worried about a child molester geting some name's of under age people. Or a rapeist. It's not a good idea.

If you won't to use your name do it. You don't? Well good for you.

[Brian McIlmoyle]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

Which is ironic because I don't think Alex gets passed the "vague thoughts in my head" stage that often. Eyyyooooooo.


I think we've gotten all the responses we need.

I think we'll add names under the callsign, just for convenience... people can put what they like for first name and last, or nothing at all (in fact, I'd probably remove any stupid names and keep it as a legitimate tool, not just another usertag). This site is too large and public to initiate any kind of required real name useage. One more feature to add to my to-do list...

A good place to start, optional.. but easy to do.

I get some of the reluctance.. and it may be well placed.

I clearly don't have any issues with hanging my name out there... I figure if I am going to say something.. express an opinion the least I can do is back it up with an identity. Otherwise... opinions stated from behind a facade are easily disregarded.

[Black_Orchid]

I can understand completely why people don't want to give out their full names and I agree with that. But how is it possible for someone to track you down and/or steal your identity etc. with just a simple first name? Or even a first name and last initial? Especially if you have a very common name. Feel free to enlighten me if I'm wrong.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Brian McIlmoyle

I clearly don't have any issues with hanging my name out there... I figure if I am going to say something.. express an opinion the least I can do is back it up with an identity. Otherwise... opinions stated from behind a facade are easily disregarded.

In ideal circumstances, I wouldn't either. Unfortunately we live in a society where guns, their use, and anything resembling or associated with them, carries with it a huge social stigma. A lot of people I work for are very left wing, including a local college; I could easily see THEM making a big issue out of it ("OMFG POLYTECHNIQUE!"). I pay plenty for my airsoft and my gear and everything else, I don't need dealing with that kinda shit.

Unfortunately, "expressing your opinion" in this country seems to often mean "you better be expressing the mainstream opinion, or brace for some major backlash."

And if that's gonna be putting my livelyhood on the line? Then yeah, I'm against it.

Originally Posted by Black_Orchid

I can understand completely why people don't want to give out their full names and I agree with that. But how is it possible for someone to track you down and/or steal your identity etc. with just a simple first name? Or even a first name and last initial? Especially if you have a very common name. Feel free to enlighten me if I'm wrong.

First name is fine. I have it listed in the Quebec players list. But first name and initial and city... that starts narrowing it down a bit too much for my liking.

And I'll reiterate that the bulk of my gripe isn't shielding my identity from fellow airsofters; it stems from "guests" having access to it, complete unknowns, reporters (we've had a couple), and all my posts + name being catalogued on Google and probably other search engines, and who knows what other spiders/bots/etc (Cyveillance comes to mind). That's more troubling, to me. (and I'll add that I do know, with a good degree of accuracy, who's browsing ASC -- in terms of hits from domains)

Point in case, if the info was limited to say Age Verified members (staff aside) and completely inaccessible to guests, bots, etc., my feelings on the matter would be different -- but I'm still not sure I'd want forced full name disclosure.

[Black_Orchid]

Originally Posted by Drake

First name is fine. I have it listed in the Quebec players list. But first name and initial and city... that starts narrowing it down a bit too much for my liking.

I suppose it all depends on where you live and what kind of name you have. I wonder just how many people there are living in Toronto with the name Scott B (For example). But I see your point, It is kinda pushing it.

[Dullege]

Well....I post my real name. I'm not too afriad of anything weird happening because someone knows my name. NOT posting your name however gives you some advantages....

Like if you're a 14 year-old little punk loser that likes to start online 'fights', then no one can find you and beat the crap out of you.

Also, if you're wife/girlfriend/significant other would cut of your balls because of the amount of time you spend on ASC, OR if (God forbid) you get recognized by your name outside in the real world, it might hurt.

It certainly should not be manditory, but it's a good option.

Like computer gaming though I think that having a screen/game name gives you a certain sense of character within the world of airsofting. For example, where I get my surplus are pictures of Team Wolfpack, and there are names on the bottom, Morbius, Claymore, etc. It's not pictures of 'John Smith' (Not a real name), it's kind of cooler you know?

As far as using real names as a path against flaming/insulting, what's to stop me from using some other guys name when I sign up? It should be the admins and the rest of the forums users who stop people from being total dicks.

HOWEVER, and I stress this (As I am a often a dick), sometimes people NEED to be flamed or insulted to reduce stress on others. I.E. Someone says or does something rediculous (Titz_Willikers), and they need a beating. You 'can't' beat them due to 'the law', and now your only recourse is to shut them up online.

That's just my opinion.

[Greylocks]

Keep in mind the Privacy Laws of this country, too. What everyone does with their private information and ID is their legal choice unless required by some form of law enforcement.

This is a forum, like it or not you cant enforce any part of asking for real ID or even first names. You can only ask.
If folks want to post their real name, fine, it's their right. But if they dont want to, it's also their right. Making this a requirement would be a huge can of worms.