I thought that was a no-no. For the record, I like the idea, especially when the poster is making an ass of themselves, or unjustly pounding someone. Still, I was of the impression that mods weren't supposed to do that.
I've been on this board for a while and have never used or posted under an alias. I frequently see posts where members are calling out others for posting under an alias. How do they know? How do you know for sure when someone is posting under one?
I understand that they won't have an envelope icon next to thier handle. But that may also simply indicate that they're not a VIP member. Is there a definative way to know or search on alias handles?
As far as I know and understand; it is as simple as the envelope icon. Once you've registered you get an envelope. When you create an alias; no envelope since you have a name already.
My name is Holly's Hobby. If I decided to create an alias of Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry wouldn't get an envelope. Strawberry and Holly both have the same IP hence TER knows it's an alias.
The Moderator on the respective board also knows who is the registered username behind the alias.
So what? The Mod will never reveal the name or if it is or is not an alias. Holly is absolutely correct. If you see an envelope it is NOT an alias.
polecat is certainly correct that a Mod will never publicly reveal the true handle of an alias. That would be against the TER Moderator Code of Conduct.
But Fly'n is correct that the Mod can see the true handle - as Polecat admits. The Mod can legitimately use this information in making decisions, when decisions need to be made to which such information would be relevant.
And Holly is not "absolutely" correct. IP address has nothing to do with it - really, it is much, much simpler than that. (Although Holly is absolutely correct that the presence/absence of the envelope indicates whether the name shown is a true handle or an alias - no more and no less. The absence of an envelope does NOT mean the poster is not VIP - just as the presence of it does NOT mean that he/she is.)
In order to post, you must log into TER. You can only log in under your true handle, not under an alias. If, in posting a message, you use the "name:" dropdown to change your handle to an alias, then only the alias will appear in the post (with no envelope), but the system (and Mod ... and Staff) will know the true handle behind the post because you logged in under it. Simple!
IP address analysis only comes into play when more sinister stuff is afoot.
And to answer the part of Boris' original question that no one has addressed ("Is there a definative way to know or search on alias handles?") ... you can search for posts by an alias, just as you can search for posts by a true handle. But the search will only return posts made using that same alias, not the true handle (or another alias of that handle). As for reviews, these can only be made under a true handle, so there are no alias reviews.
-- Modified on 6/30/2007 4:48:57 PM
You raise such a STINK about a simple truism I afforded the newb it is easy to see why polecats (Mustelids) have often been wrongly categorized with Mephitidae.
Just because someone is a VIP doesn't give them a free pass to spread rumors and make trouble for others. I have seen several instances where the mod has flipped to alias to the userid in the interest of fairness.
I thought that was a no-no. For the record, I like the idea, especially when the poster is making an ass of themselves, or unjustly pounding someone. Still, I was of the impression that mods weren't supposed to do that.
It is an extreme measure, and doesn't happen often, but it can happen.
See, even us old-bies learn new stuff.
It is the evnvelope that indicates that the name is the real user name. I am not VIP yet there is an envelope next to my name.
You cannot post under an alias if you are not VIP.
Holly I just love Strawberry Shortcake, you know licking the whip cream from the moist crevices and nibbling on the tips of the beautiful berries........
Thank you