LQ name change ..
 

Though I understand why a person might want to change their LQ name, I wonder whether
(a) LQ should change it retrospectively in all earlier threads including those started by the change requestor (current practice).
or
(b) LQ should ask the requestor to exercise a one-time option to change all old threads?
or
(c) Keep the old name for old threads.

I for one would prefer option "c" since once it is posted on LQ, it becomes public.

OK

The person might be having some embarrassing posts
associated with the old user name which might be the
reason for his/her name change request, and option C
might defeat the purpose?

The person might be being stalked by some other X
person which might be the reason for his/her name change
request, and option C might defeat the purpose?

The person might be wanting his/her old user name to
simply disappear from the internet for whatever
undisclosed xyz reasons, and option C might defeat the
purpose?

Due to the database layout, (c) really isn't technically feasible. Thanks for the feedback.

--jeremy

If the user answers "No" in option (b), isn't that the same as the (non-feasible) option (c)?

What am I missing here?

Which is the same as LQ not changing the name and that person making a new account...

But what brought this on... not much on TV today?

I agree. It seems quite simple to me. Either change the user name (associated with that account) or start a new account with a new name. Personally, I think someone having posts under two names using the same account is a bad idea. Confusing? Looks schizophrenic?

It would depend entirely upon how the underlying forum-software was designed: does the "posts" table (say ...) contain the actual login-name (string ...) of the user in question, or does it contain a numeric foreign-key to a "users" table from which the login-name is obtained?

How about simply an alias that links back to the main account? I have belonged to forums that have had a login name and an alias feature. Have all old threads stay as they are and anyone whom clicks on them taken to your account. Seems like it would work to me. One account everything linked and the only thing changeable is the name on that account, not the account itself.

I have lost my old account on here due to a type of hack (long story). I would also like to request a mobile feature for changing a password. I lost my email address due to the hack (not really a hack long story) and had no way to retrieve my account, plus I changed it for security reasons. The alias would have fixed the security issue and a mobile ability to change my password would have fixed my email problem.

I would have liked to keep my old account but lost it. I registered my old account in 2003 :(.