Why not drop, outlaw the use of an Alias.  It seems to me the use of an alias is cause for concern.  I have never used one, nor will I - I use my TER handle, that is it.  Everytime (well, almost everytime) an alias is used, it seems someone or other takes exception to the use.  Conflict results, feelings get hurt and we end up with a lengthly thread that solves nothing.  Nothing that is, except the venting of ones views behind the use of an alias.  I for one support the idea of doing away with the use of an alias.  End of sermon.

Ihave never hid behind an alias either....If i have something to say I just use my handle...Why hide?

I agree... If ya gots somethin to say, and ya have to use an "alias" then ya shouldn't be posting!

Connery, while I agree with you that sometimes people abuse the alias feature, you also would have never heard my story if I had to identify myself, because my handle is too well-known to the community.  I support Dingus' method of restricting the use without eliminating them altogether.

You have a point.  If I were in your shoes, I would feel the same way.  I donot see the need when the intent is to hide because of something one wants to say where the information is damaging, cutting or hurtful of another.

Connery, I agree with the intent of your suggestion - but not the ensuing scope.

Dingus has already made it clear that hiding behind an alias in order to mask ones identity - for the purpose of attacking somebody or hurting a group of people or anything maliscious is taboo. And that anybody doing so may visit the purgatory of moderation. Or so, at least I thought he had made that clear.

There are lots of people that use aliases - Gallup Pole or dorpdom come to mind .... that do so for fun (not evil). People have come to recognize those aliases and get a general idea of what the posts content will be (well, except for dorpdom - we have no clue what he is going to write .

Other uses are to mask ones knowledge (or lack of) on a subject or maybe to try and make a play on words (as Dean's office was originally).

(BTW, my mentioning of dorpdom and Gallup Pole in the same sentence does not infer they are one-and-the same .

-- Modified on 4/20/2006 12:44:38 PM

try being on the receiving end.  Dingus is but one person, he cannot possibly be here 24/7 and read every posting before it goes up.  How many of the threads below fit the critieria I pointed out?  How many postings have been removed, but only after others have read them?  The use of an alias to attack, harm, slam, whatever is a cowards way of being mean, nasty and downright dastardly.

voices are raised.  I guess there was no tea party in Boston, there were never any protests about Vietnam, etc. etc.

party was real life, dear and made the history books as did the Vietnam War, Watergate, the Boston Strangler, etc.
This is a discussion board it will not make the history books.

Just out of curiosity are you a VIP member?

lots of kisses
Terri

Connery,

Your are correct, it sucks to be attacked. Period. But, what you propose is just too damaging to the board as a whole.

No aliases? OK. We can say good-bye to Gallop Pole, we can say goodbye to poetry by Dorpdom, we can say goodbye to the posts by a hobbiest who has a fetish so "out there" that he (she) doesn't want their hobby friends to know, we can say goodbye to the informed person providing detailed answers - but wanting to mask that they KNOW about the subject, we can say goodbye to the uninformed person so embarrassed that they can't ask a question - for fear of showing their ignorance...

What you are proposing only addresses the means of somebody being a coward - and by taking away that same means shared by many for fun, information sharing and levity, the idea damages the board.

No, I don't want draconian measures taken on the board. I want the community to police itself. To descend on an aliased attack post with fury. It cannot matter who was attacked or whether you (I) even believe the accusations. We should collectively set aside any differences, any personal animosity and attack the attacker.

I have not been attacked. Would it soften the pain if I were and done so out in the open vs. from behind an alias? No, I don't think it would. The words were said, all could see them, and the offense was given. Knowing the TER handle would only put that person in my sights. You know what? When we visit the TER board - "just to get even"; we have lost all perspective of what the hobby is about. I can say, *uc* 'em. They don't know me, they don't know whether I am kind in real life, a good father, or husband.They don't know if I am intelligent or a complete idiot. Connery, they don't know who I am, they only know what I share on TER. I venture to say, they know as little about you and who you are; as they do of me.

If you are attacked from behind an alias, PM Dingus. Let him take care of it.

For your information, none of the posts that were recently taken down were done from behind aliases. They were taken down because there was a rumor that surfaced on the board. Discussion ensued and Dingus felt there was not sufficient evidence to back the claims. All participants, even those trying to bring the issue to the surface, did so from their real handles.



-- Modified on 4/21/2006 6:27:04 PM

Not presently. Why?  Aplles to oranges, your opinion which is off base IMHO, though you are intitled.  I am not one who sits back while others do things I disagree with.  If we all sit back, doing nothing, not bringing an issue to the forefront, permitting people (like politicians) run rough shod over us, etc. etc. what kind of a world would this be!

-- Modified on 4/22/2006 10:32:50 AM

You make an excellent arguement.  For all the good, funny things, etc. that get posted here under an alias, then an alias protects that person.  However, I know of no one who dislikes those postings or take exception to them.  So, what is wrong with using your TER handle and taking credit for your brillance? When it comes to posting negative s--t, it is viewed by others before Dingus takes it down, that is harmful.

and your opinion and your example of the boston tea party was on base?

I agree don't sit back and do nothing when you disagree, that's why we go to the poles and vote, but this issue has been in the forefront way to long and tooooo many times and it won't change.

The reason I asked about VIP membership is anyone can post here and have an alias and some pay a monthly fee to be a VIP and some get free VIP membership from just posting a couple of reviews.
So with that being said how do we know a person that is not a VIP just someone dropping in to make a comment or is a VIP using a alias it all looks the same on the monitor.