Nickname changes

In most forums changing your usernames is forbidden. Not so on the NES Files.
And in my opinion that's not so good.
People change their names and then I (and surely other people, too) am confused. It usually takes some time to figure out, who is who after people change their nicknames here.
So I think we should remove that feature from the NES Files, for the sheer sake of clarity and to avoid confusion.

People who want to change their nicknames should come up with a why they want to do so and then an admin would change it. Name changes also should be written down somewhere (maybe in this thread then?)

As we're a democracy, I opened this thread to start a discussion with the pros and cons of this problem.

If you are in favor of free name changes, state your reasons (and better let that be good reasons, not like "I want to change names when I'm in the mood to do so"). If you are annoyed by frequent name changes (like me) then feel free to rant about that, too.

I agree that it causes confusion. But I understand that someone might become bored with their selection after awhile (ToddVania? What was I smoking when I came up with )? I suggest, if I were an administrator or a moderator, giving 1 chance to do so, and that's it.*
I do note that Sir Airfiggy's change is rather cool, but I had that initial confusion ("Who the hell is Venom," I thought, while coming onto the site).

*

it's a little confusing, but it seems like people usually keep the same avatars. Some changes are confusing, people shouldn't be allowed to do it 10 times in a month or something rediculous like that.

my username is so boring....but it is pretty mcuh what i have on every forum i go to. someday I might change it, but it would have to be a cool name.

I'm OK with my username, even thogh it might seem weird to someone.

yeah i didn't even know airfiggy was Venom.

I'm in favor of changing peoples names back to their original *Cough* AIRFIGGY. It is really confusing annoying and pointless. The little Phil Collins thing was just spontaneous when I was stoned on Hergest Ridge. Yes, names need to be locked, once Figg changes his back.

That makes two of us...

I'm all for getting rid of the name changing feature. It's confusing, and it's a hassle to read back through a user's post to figure out who the hell they are. The only acceptable exception to the rule should be anyone wanting to change back to their original name. Oh, and ZEN would have to be completely exempt.

I don't really mind if people change thier names; but like I said before it would be nice if for a month or so they would put thier original name in their sig to avoid confusion.

I'm guilty of changing my name; but at least I kept it mainly the same.

Alright everyone this is me airfiggy. I just changed my name to my first name.

Ok.
This thread was around for some time now and there was no single good argument FOR the free name changes, so I guess we should let Luke disable that feature. I'll contact him via PM.

From then on any name change must be ASKED FOR and BE DONE by an admin (that would be Luke).

Wha? I thought they had been some time ago, as there's been no option to change my name in my profile for a while now (not that I wanted to)

Yes, my bad.
The name-changes were disabled for a while already.
I never look at my profile so I didn't notice.

I got a bit confused when figgy/venom changed his name, as I thought it had been disallowed. I guess he may have PM'd Luke, I dunno.
Anyway, it's far better now it's been disallowed, it makes things easier

Yeah, as long as I'm still allowed to change my avatar once and awhile (I'd like to have it rotate based on the game I'm obsessed with at the moment, and even then I won't change it much), and the sig every so often, I'm all for the names staying the same.

Avatar changes are still allowed and welcome. As long as the name is the same, that's cool.
I think it's a nice touch to have an avatar based on the game you're into at the time.

I'd do that, too, but i'm quite fond of my avatar I have...

Yeah. Fei Long is one of the most underrated and underappreciated characters in the SFII series.

I only change my avatar to new, better, and more exciting characters. I upgrade every time. And seeing as to how the Prince of Space is the most spectacularly obscure Sci Fi character you can find, as well as being relentlessly mocked by MST 3000, I doubt I'll be changing my avatar for a while.

Crap. I "guessed to myself" wrong again; I thought that was a picture of Samus..

.......

Samus?! Samus is a woman! Women aren't manly enough to wield invincible butane lighters!

Wait, wait, wait, whoa.

I can't change my name to OMG any more? Sucky nuggets.

**Uses hoity-toity voice**Sorry to differ with you, sir, but..
Roll can! Er, but, she's a robot...ah, crap, never mind.

:>) :lol:, etc.!

Wait, wait, wait, whoa.

I can't change my name to OMG any more? Sucky nuggets.

You can, if you convince Luke of the need to do so.

I had refried beans for dinner tonight. I'd think again about that.

Ah!
Ha ha!

Ha Ha!

Wait, wait, wait, whoa.

I can't change my name to OMG any more? Sucky nuggets.

You can, if you convince Luke of the need to do so.

Yeah. I rule. Also, here's graphical evidence:

Ah!
Ha ha!

Ha Ha!
Noooooooooo! **Falls down to the ground, dead**

Hmm...I always new OSG was one heck of a complicated guy...er, system..

I think we should totally be allowed to change our nicknames... perhaps even once a year would be ok for me. A person might have nothing to do with their original intension of naming by the time they are a koopa paratroopa. For instance, I origianally designated this name to match my email. (As for why my email is muffinman... never mind.) But even though I have the same email, I have completely forgotton what the hell I had to do with muffins a year ago. Here's another thing: I'll bet I'm not alone in judging topics or even just replys for read-ablilty purely by the name I see first. If I see a dumb or confusing name, I tend to bypass straining my think-organ to read it, because it is just my nature to be prejudiced a bit. In fact... it's human nature! So if someone is not getting read just because of a dumb muffin-oriented name, I think an update is in order. For example... I would much rather be X. Malaria, my typical screen name for almost everything else I do. So that's my case. Swill that around in your mouth. Taste like freedom?

I do indeed taste something in my mouth.

(ponders)

I don't think it's freedom, maybe just a piece of chicken stuck in my teeth from this morning...

I don't even know why this whole changing nicknames is still being debated. If people weren't going overboard changing their names every five mintues the right wouldn't have been taken away to begin with.
Besides, if you are sick of your name I'm sure Luke will change it for you if you send him candy. But not that cheap Palmers candy, that will only get you a partial change. Like MuffinMalaria.

(I think I've had way too much Laffy Taffy today).

Jenni's right.
You still can change your name. But only if you can make Luke do so. So better come up with a good reason.
Frequent name changes are no good. People grow accustomed to names and then they change immediately and you don't know who the guy is for a moment, especially when he's not so active in the forums. Of course you quickly figure out name changes of our top posters though.

this is the old Cpt.rad Spencer....

thats right im back.....
probably bound to get banned again.

Oh... We're all cheering in delight for this return. Hooray...

Yes, you will most definetly get banned again with that attitude.

Just try to be *nice*.

i dont remember ever being mean, its just the whole preview button...i mean come on, i added an extra letter on accident.

then did it again on purpose.....i guess that ban.

plus i was making some pointless posts.

You should really imageshack or photobucket that avatar, the site you're leeching from right now is painfully slow...

alright....i will when i have time... right now my brother wants the computer.