• Please use real names.

    Greetings to all who have registered to OPF and those guests taking a look around. Please use real names. Registrations with fictitious names will not be processed. REAL NAMES ONLY will be processed

    Firstname Lastname

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    We are a courteous and supportive community. No need to hide behind an alia. If you have a genuine need for privacy/secrecy then let me know!
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about using real names...

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Alan T. Price

New member
I'm not keen on the idea of having to use to use real names for two reasons:

1. I'm building a presence on more than one forum with the same alias, and I don't want to spoil that.

2. more importantly, I don't want my name appearing on google searches along with info about my gear and my preferences. That's my business. I can share it usefully here without identifying myself to all and sundry. While we may all be mature adults here the internet is full of low lifes too. This view in no way impedes other people from sharing whatever the moderator allows them to in their posts, and nor does it prevent them from accepting my posts as representing what I think.

I ask the owner/administrators/moderators to relax this 'use full real name' rule.


cheers,

- Alan
 

Nill Toulme

New member
It's been my observation over the years that darn close to 100% of idiotic and offensive posts on internet forums are made by people using aliases. Conversely, I think using real names tends to make us at least a little bit more thoughtful generally about what we say and how we say it.

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net
 

Alan T. Price

New member
you could well be right, but not being an offensive idiot I never paid attention to such detail (and no, I took no offence). That's why we prefer forums that are moderated, and why we appreciate the work moderators do.

Let me add this point... the perceived difference in tone between FM and DPReview forums is not a consequence of using real names but of moderators working only on one of them.
 
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Nill Toulme

New member
Perhaps, but it's almost my observation that as FM has grown (and perhaps only coincidentally as the use of aliases there has also grown), the tone has been markedly deteriorating.

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net
 

Sid Jervis

pro member
I am happy that the names we use here are full names; However, it doesn't mean that someone won't use a fake "full" name.
$0.02
 

Kyle Nagel

New member
I've somewhat avoided posting my own opnion to this as Michael and Asher are the ones ultimately making the decision regarding the official policy, however I have found that using real names forces the poster to take responsibility (and credit) for what they post, good or bad. There is also the perception of those reading the post that they are dealing on a more professional level with the poster, and as time passes a reputation becomes associated with your name (your real name) that down the road adds value to everything you do, whether it is on the internet or in person. It would seem to me to be a bit uncomfortable to me to meet someone that you have interacted with on the internet at say a gallery or trade show and introduce yourself, only to hear "I don't think I've heard your name before?", but I guess one could always respond "You probably know me better as PhotoHound52"

Kyle
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Alan,

Thanks for raising this important issee of "handles", "self-branding" and true identity. Here's my response, not just to you, but to clarify our strict policy. I'm just exploiting your post!

If there is a real reason, such as being chased by a stalker, gang, crazy ex-spouse, then sure, contact me directly and then I will solve the issue for you. This is a professional forum and we need the same assurance, as we would, when using any professional service: a doctor, lawyer or to tutor your child.

Else, only if we are doing something degrading or illegal, might we have to hide our identities.

This open forum, OPF, is something, like a ship at sea that cannot be left with out attention. The rudder, ballast, trim of the sails and the route we course must be maintained. There is but one Captain. I have the had the vision and others have valiantly manned positions to get us on our way. People who I never knew before took on duties without asking or pay. We have worked literally "around the clock". This ship, OPF, has to be, now, protected. My best judgement, therefore, is to demand true identities.

We are an open forum. I don't wish to have to delete professional posts or allow this to be a place for spamming, trolling or nefarious activity.

The long term consequences of aliases or "handles" is not good. We are not in a "masked ball" in 16th Century Venice where the masks permit permissiveness.

Consider "Real Names" as a kind of "payment" for entry. It says, "I'm straightforward when I give advice or ask a question".

Then, when one speaks, we give a that real photographer credit and also hold him or her responsible.

One might answer, I am "Polaroid2430" and everyone knows my studio in Paris. Fine, but what about all the other "handles" that are not such a "brand name". There's a place for such "handles" and that's in your signature!

Andrew Rodney IS the "Digital Dog". He registered with his full name.

That's how we do this unless there is a real threat of harm, in which case, let me know by PM.

We all have expensive gear. (BTW, I need specific insurance. I worry too!)

However, somewhere along the line, trust, the glue of all human relationships, must be invested.

Asher

P.S. To Get your name to Real Name, First and Last, PM Michael Tapes. He's waiting to help you.

PPS Use your "handle" too in your signature with any website or gallery URL you have, (except pornography which of course cannot be linked under any circumastances).

Alan321 said:
I'm not keen on the idea of having to use to use real names for two reasons:

1. I'm building a presence on more than one forum with the same alias, and I don't want to spoil that.

2. more importantly, I don't want my name appearing on google searches along with info about my gear and my preferences. That's my business. I can share it usefully here without identifying myself to all and sundry. While we may all be mature adults here the internet is full of low lifes too. This view in no way impedes other people from sharing whatever the moderator allows them to in their posts, and nor does it prevent them from accepting my posts as representing what I think.

I ask the owner/administrators/moderators to relax this 'use full real name' rule.


cheers,

- Alan
 
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Dierk Haasis

pro member
There's a number of solutions.

Like Alan, I tried to streamline my on-line presence a bit. After years of posting in Usenet, forums, boards etc. I didn't want to remember different names by which I go. for the usual reasons I went for a pseudonym that isn't too far removed from reality [just wait a moment and you'll know it].

Afterwards the real name discussion came up, and I decided I could go with it here - and on a few other photo-related sites (even one very old membership on a DVD-site bears my correct name). Why? First of all, the Internet is not anymore a geek show, clients know they can trust someone even if he is on the Net.

I also find many customers want to get to know you better through the Net. Eventually my decision was simple: Do I stand by what I do and write and say? If so, I can easily give away my name. Any client taking exceptions to something I wrote and published on-line (or anywhere else) is a client I lose gladly. So, forums an be a way to publicise and self-promote.

Leaves spammers, stalkers and all kind of shady folks. Well, I don't care anymore, there is no more of them here than in the other world, and I can take measures against them. May it be the case that the world, it's politicians and policing forces goes the Mad Max way I can easily switch to my John Wayne mode.*

As for streamlining, either you know me and my style from other fora, then you know my preferred pseudonym. Or you simply look to the signature.


*The opening sentences from The Shootist.

--
Sometimes known as Evo2Me.
 

Michael Tapes

OPF Administrator/Moderator
I think all of the points have been well covered. And I think Asher's comment about "price of entry" is a good paradigm (cannot find the right word!).

And of course your "handle" or "alias" in the sign is the way people will "know" you from your former or current web presence. Regarding security, that is the risk we take in a free society, and of course you have the right to not join here. But as Asher also said, I am confident that we can accommodate anyones specific needs. Just privately ask.

Thanks to all for your participation!
 
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