Username v Real name etiquette

leinsterman

Hi ... a lot of us know each other on a first name basis in this forum which is one of the nice things about boards over other sites ... though I'm often finding myself on meeting a person in real life still calling them by their user ID ...

I have a question ...

Given this is a public site I always refer to people by their user name ... even if I know their real one ... I do this because I feel it is up to them to use their real name and not me to reveal it to everyone else ... in my case it is a bit of a mute point since my tag line has my site ... which is my real name ... however I still think it should be up to me to use my real name or not ...

Is there an online "forum etiquette" for this kind of thing ?

ThOnda

I have bad memory, so I use only nicks here. I tend to forget nick-name-face relationships.

elven

I got the idea that it's preferable to refer to people by their nick in forum, even if we've met. Although I think I've slipped a few times in the past...

It probably puts across that cliquey thing that we've been accused of if we all start referring to each other by real names, new people wouldn't know who we're talking about.

Any maybe some of us want to remain enigmatic

RCNPhotos

Maybe some want to remain anonymous, very mysterious. Doesn't bother me one way or the other. I think my name is on my site somewhere or other but it's Ryan for those wondering (I'm sure there's a lot of you )

Also i think I saw thebaz in the ******* last night, I think cause there was another guy there with a cam who a security man called baz. Would have been odd walking up "Hey, I'm RCNPhotos" lol.

Mellor

This came up on the poker forum alot,
alot of people would meet alot accross the poker table, the first time boards names are often used, but first names normally after that, as its strange to use the name in public.
As for on boards, it depends on both the tone of the post and how well you know them. Most refer to me as Mellor as its a nickname long before boards

sheesh

User names i pick are usually designed not to be gender specific or relate in any way to my real name it is just a way of keeping anonymity. who knows I might go crazy some day and make a show of myself in some crazy Rant about canon being better than Nikon so i'll need a way to join the board again.

I suppose you shouldn't but sometimes it happens.

But I suppose if someone has a link to their personal or professional website they couldn't really complain.

Leinsterman, RCNPhoto would be examples

sineadw

I was wondering about this myself - I'm never sure. I know some would rather keep anonymity but then I feel silly calling someone by their username if I know them well. In my case its definitely a mute point anyway

I suppose keep to usernames?

deRanged

I definitely think it gives a clique-y impression to use first/real names, even if it's not the case.
Usernames are grand, everyone knows who's being referred to then.

Fajitas!

As an old friend once said, You can call me Al...

I really don't mind whether people speak to me as Al or Fajitas...

John

I'd prefer it if you didn't call me by my username...

robinph

John wrote: »

I'd prefer it if you didn't call me by my username...

Me too, I like being anonymous on boards.

Canonfan

I'm always a fun of Canon gears. My english name is Steven and I perfer people call me Canonfan unless they are willing to pronounce my real name.

If I win the Boards 10th anniversary price, I'd like my real name appear on the check.:D

kensutz

I keep it simple, although when I'm in Norwich I get called "Irish" by the lads over there as my nickname on the fans sites is "Irish Canary". All so simple like myself

Fenster

Oh christ, first names by far. Can you see me trying to use board names? "How yeh Fah-JIT-ass." Wink wink.

:mad:

trishw78

I went on a boards beers in Waterford a while ago and had to ask who everone was. I still haven't a clue of peoples real names. So boards name by far

Fionn

emm i dunno and yeah some of the nicks are difficult to spell pronounce

Calina

IRL - real names unless I just don't know/can't remember them, on boards.ie mostly I go with the usernicks on the grounds that even regardless of the footer, people might just prefer it for whatever obtuse reason.

City-Exile

Well my name is in my signature, so I'm not going to have a go at anyone for addressing me as such, but I make sure to play it safe & address people on boards, by their handle.

Roen

I always try to stick to boards.ie names, but in fairness half of us have links in our sigs to our websites/flickrs/blogs/myspace/bebo or whatever so we cant really complain if our real names are used.

Valentia

It doesn't bother me either way. I agree with Fionn.

Interesting thread Simon

melekalikimaka

Fionn wrote: »

emm i dunno and yeah some of the nicks are difficult to spell pronounce

yeah that really p1sses me off too:)

elven

melekalikimaka wrote: »

yeah that really p1sses me off too:)

Aye, it's taken me two frickin years to get my head around yours i think...

mikeanywhere

When people first start using a forum they tend to use the ID in the first instance. I usually use the first names if I know them and that doesnt mean after a gtg either but from the usual online or PM banter. Sometimes I forget the persons name and use the ID.