An agency on the Carolinas board makes a good argument as to why this can be a good idea for both providers and hobbyists.

What do you think?

thirsty

Pros - left handed initial screening - provider sees your likes and dislikes - provider can determine a little bit about your personality by looking at past reviews / posts.  TER PM as a safe, private method of communication.

Cons - there is an argument that it could lead to "grade inflation" as we are all human and we don't want to rub salt in a providers wounds by letting her know about poor performance or poor looks.

I know many who are impassioned in their beliefs on both sides....  I for one let them know by the second visit (if sufficiently impressed by the first)

What's to stop me from saying, "My handle is dingus15"? You can pick a username out of a hat.

Still, this was a unique way for the gent to communicate his needs to the agency without violating phone/email etiquette.

thirsty

the person/people you gave it to would only be able to PM the WRONG person. Thus, if that person wanted to actually verify you were really who you said, they would find out real quick you were full of shit.

While i'm not a fan of revealing my name to most. This does raise some good issues.

-- Modified on 6/9/2004 6:23:19 PM

Welcome back!!! You've been missed around this joint.

I don't think that guys should have to reveal their username unless they want to.  I myself couldn't care less if a guy writes reviews or not.  I can tell who some people are by reading reviews others I cannot.  Its kind of funny I remember a poster who I thought was an a**hole by his posts and after receiving a pm from him many months later I realized it was someone I know and he is actually a sweetheart.  Though I have to say I am not happy when I get 6's for performance it is that persons honest opinion and I can't fault him for that. I think everyone should get the same service so I myself would rather not know.

Good point! However, if I picked out a username of someone who reviews now and then but tends to let his VIP status lapse... You're right, you may get caught but that also depends on the provider's verification tenacity. Unfortunately, many providers may say, "I recognize his handle" and let it go at that.

thirsty

I do not like to reveal my TER name to providers (though many have figured it out on their own).

It can hurt much more than it can help, IMHO.

V.

That if you faked a username, the measge would not go out and be received on the TER system.