Just a few questions and observations. I trust we are allowed to discuss the issue. whistle2

Dimitri Kambas wrote: Real names will be used from now on. I don't see why you would want your surname removed Cxxxx? Have you removed it from Facebook?

Real names? name only? name and surname? real to what extent? verified by whom?

Forums in general are anonymous environments and this will take some adjustment time. When they join, people have a choice to supply real name or nick. You took away that "choice" for current members. I believe this policy will eventually be reversed!

You cannot compare this forum to Facebook. On Facebook I can control who has access to ME. . I know that this is currently a relatively small (but growing) community where all the major players are friends of friends of friends and known to one another. Real names may result in new members using false ID's or feeling unwelcome.

Taki wrote: Stalked..... seriously? Do you get stalked on Facebook? The whole point of this exercise is to make people accountable for their forum behaviour, it's much easier to talk rubbish and flame when you’re anonymous!

make people accountable for their forum behaviour - how??? :starwars:

Anonymous = forum -- unless you want to limit membership to properly identified (possibly - paid up) members only.
In my mind open identity = (to some extent) exclusivity.

Current members don't have a choice regarding their names being displayed - depending on what info they supplied when joining. New members will have a clear choice - do I supply my real name or call myself John Doe.

Taki wrote: Cxxxxxn the non-real names will be sorted out asap, in the meantime please guys, don't use silly names!

Meaning? uzi :deal

Agree 100% with Cameron!

I totally agree. I doubt it will make a difference in the long run using our real names, but you never know

Of course we are allowed to discuss this.

Let me start by saying this is not up for debate and you wrongly believe this policy will be reversed! Whoever doesn't like it has the choice not to be on the forum, we are not FORCING anyone.....

Let's start by explaining why this has come about..... we have lost countless valuable/knowledgable members from the forum because of pathetic and silly online behaviour. My belief is that if you are anonymous on a forum, it frees you up to say stuff and act like you would not otherwise do if you were using your real name.

I feel that this hobby needs to come out of the 'darkside' and will do everything possible to make it a legitimate, legal, clean and above board hobby, which tarantulas richly deserve!

As for how we plan to 'enforce' it, we don't plan to ENFORCE it per say, it will be a natural byproduct that social ettiquette will come through!
Obviously we are still playing with a good veryfication process but we'll find a good solution I'm sure.

And lastly, what don't you undersatnd about the 'silly' names I reffered to? So in answer to your question 'meaning?', BS poster is to be corrected for example

Not opposed to the real names at all however I do prefer my nickname. Even out in the world very few people call me Dirk. I prefer Kudu which is a nickname my father gave me.

Why not keep the nicknames but make a full name compulsory on the profile?

Taki wrote: Of course we are allowed to discuss this.

Let me start by saying this is not up for debate and you wrongly believe this policy will be reversed! Whoever doesn't like it has the choice not to be on the forum, we are not FORCING anyone.....

Let's start by explaining why this has come about..... we have lost countless valuable/knowledgable members from the forum because of pathetic and silly online behaviour. My belief is that if you are anonymous on a forum, it frees you up to say stuff and act like you would not otherwise do if you were using your real name.

I feel that this hobby needs to come out of the 'darkside' and will do everything possible to make it a legitimate, legal, clean and above board hobby, which tarantulas richly deserve!

As for how we plan to 'enforce' it, we don't plan to ENFORCE it per say, it will be a natural byproduct that social ettiquette will come through!
Obviously we are still playing with a good veryfication process but we'll find a good solution I'm sure.

And lastly, what don't you undersatnd about the 'silly' names I reffered to? So in answer to your question 'meaning?', BS poster is to be correct for example

Funny thing is I WAS using my real name until you changed it. No warning, or 'Heads up guys, from now on only real names.' This is very North Korea man. Or China where they force you to use real names and later google, facebook, and youtube to better mine and sell your info.

In my little over a year here I have seen some of the "lost countless valuable/knowledgable members" go. All of them because of personal differences with other members.

"Let me start by saying this is not up for debate and you wrongly believe this policy will be reversed! Whoever doesn't like it has the choice not to be on the forum, we are not FORCING anyone....."
I come here to learn, share the little I know, chill and interact with people who share a common interest. I don't need this 'Submit or be-gone' business.

Cheers!