A Plea To All People With Multiple Screen Names archived

Yes, there are times when having multiple screen names makes sense, like people whose primary MOL identity is known, which would otherwise prevent them from discussing things that would be best or necessary for them to discuss anonymously. And heck, there are even users that are most obviously fake and while the humor is often juvenile, it is harmless and sometimes funny. An obviously fake screen name can sometimes even help diffuse an otherwise tense scenario. Yes, there is a place for people who use more than one name but certain people--you know who you are are--have stepped way across the line.

These people are taking advantage of the fact that the moderators allow multiple usernames. Usually taking the form of immature shenanigans or vindictive griping, some MOL threads are being taken hostage by multiple screen name users, A SINGLE PERSON WHO POSTS IN THE SAME THREAD MASKED AS MULTIPLE USERS.

This is not harmless and it is not funny. It is deceitful at best, making people think that your opinion is shared by more than just yourself and at its worse, it is not only ruining otherwise serious topics but it is tarnishing the name of MOL and all the people who post here... Go ahead and ask a nonuser what their impression of MOL is. Many will say it's not worth getting involved in the discussions, the risk of getting randomly flamed or sucked in by a "group of users" that is often just one or two people.

The truth is, we're only talking about ten people or so, folks who in many cases aren't as anonymous as they think they are. I ask you, please, PLEASE reconsider doing this. MOL is an incredibly valuable tool to our community and while you may not realize it, you are endangering it with this behavior.

Shall we start a petition of people who agree?

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

I'll sign!!

X.... Slyfoxy1....... And ONLY screen name on MOL.

:clap::cheer::clap::cheer:

:thumbup:

- Kathleen Scully (the one and only!!!)

I will sign your petition! And if you give me a sec while I create a few more screen names, they will sign it too... (kidding. This is my only screen name)

You know I'm in.
Melanie Conklin

Well, since we are all posting our real names...

David Ross.
:peace:

:thumbup:

Posted By: annemarieAnd if you give me a sec while I create a few more screen names, they will sign it too...

:rolling::rolling::rolling:

Posted By: annemarieI will sign your petition! And if you give me a sec while I create a few more screen names, they will sign it too... (kidding. This is my only screen name)

Ha, I thought briefly of doing the same joke, making a bunch of obviously fake screen names (There IS Something Fishy & Something Piggy came to mind) to agree here but decided that might be just a tad counterproductive... :bigsmile:

I both agree and disagree (depending on which login I'm using).

-Buzzsaw

Dave: Is there a way that posting as multiple users in a single thread can be a bannable offense?

It's difficult to do that. During the campaign there were several posts coming from the same IP address and the disclaimer (which I believe) was it was campaign HQ and there were volunteers working from there sharing the IP address.

I had no idea

I am Spartacus.

Posted By: Somethingz FishyDave: Is there a way that posting as multiple users in a single thread can be a bannable offense?

To be fair to dave, I think that would require a level of overhead that would be tough to handle. Not only would he and Jamie have to keep track of everything posted by individual users, but now they'd have to track each person's multiple personalities and what each of them does in every thread.

Don't get me wrong. I'm totally with you if it were practical. And in the interest of full disclosure, I've had three names here, but have only posted under one name at a time (woodstock, rastro and another when I had a sensitive question to ask). And I don't think I've ever (intentionally) posted in the same thread with different names.

I'd be okay with just instituting it when it's super duper obvious and really obnoxious.

Posted By: Somethingz Fishy

Posted By: annemarieI will sign your petition! And if you give me a sec while I create a few more screen names, they will sign it too... (kidding. This is my only screen name)

Ha, I thought briefly of doing the same joke, making a bunch of obviously fake screen names (There IS Something Fishy & Something Piggy came to mind) to agree here but decided that might be just a tad counterproductive...

I know. I took the softball joke, and for that, I am deeply ashamed.

Ok, someone has to be clueless, so I elect myself.

I gladly sign this petition, and dozens if not hundreds will do so as well. Then what?

Isn't it just easier to "out" people who are abusing the process? I know we're not supposed to say, "Hey, Apple is John, and he lives at 43 Main Street." But what's the harm in saying "Hey, I think Apple44 is Pineapple47?" If there's reasonable evidence that's the case, what's the harm in making the case?

That's a lot of finger pointing and if we never know for sure, some untrue accusations may stick in people's minds and forever cloud their judgment of an innocent single-user poster.

Maybe I'm naive, but I was hoping we might be able to stop some of this just by asking nicely.

(And if that doesn't work, THEN we let the accusations fly. :wink

People are really on one thread arguing with themselves? Thats messed up. I get making up a screen name if your discussion topic is something llike " should I boff the hot guy at the kitchen store?", so everyone on MOL doesnt know, but otherwise why respond to your own thread. Isnt it a sign of illness if all the voices in your head dont get aling?

Posted By: Somethingz FishyThis is not harmless and it is not funny.

It may not always be funny (although that’s not limited to multiple identities), but it is harmless. This is a public bulletin board for cryin’ out loud. It isn’t the United Nations Security Council or the International Court of Justice. And as far as obnoxious posters go, take them with a grain of salt – but don’t take the bait.

Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Posted By: Soul 29Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Soul Murder!

I feel like a total underachieving loser. In 10+ years (really?), I have never made up another screen name. Maybe I should start.

I would suggest an MOL award to the first person who gets banned for posting nasty or overly suggestive comments about one of his or her other screen names.

Jasmo has the best idea so far.

Posted By: tomcarlsonIt isn’t the United Nations Security Council or the International Court of Justice.

This is correct. We on MOL have more power.

Question: how do our moderators know/keep track of different users in the same household using the same computer? I believe we even signed up with the same e-mail address. OK, I post overly-frequently and he hardly posts at all, however he DOES have a valid user-name and has been known to post without me even being around/in categories I don't understand. So the proposal of stopping multiple names from one IP address won't help us out at all...