re: name changes
Name changes for staff have some perks, presumably...especially if you joined up with a name you regret years later, orseems really plurry and silly.
BUT, when names are changed, it does get a bit confusing figuring out who the hell you are. Most staff have been around a while, and might be a drawcard for old lurkers and posters to come back and participate.
But there will be less recognition of familiar screen names and less interest in the site from those people if they don't know who these "new people" are.
So :
Hoptis said:
What sort of cost do people think would be appropriate for a name change?
I'm all for ideas like this, though it's more a funding issue but it's a relatively easy thing to do for an admin and it's a good, quick way to bring funds in.
If the person in question changes names and has brought a lot of interest into the site, its probably a good idea to have a
previously known as: blahblahblah subtitle, as screen names are how you are identified by the wider public. More public, more interest, more money.
If you come back to BL after spending 6 months or a year away, and don't know who the hell you all are, don't recognise who the new mods are and are wondering what the hell is going on, are you likely to stay?
Also: there has always been a blanket "NO" to screen name changes, reason universally being that you can't, too bad, everyone else will want one too, don't be a sook etc etc. To turn around and say its easy for an admin to do is stating whats obvious already, but it is a bit two faced.
Just my 2c. Maybe individual titles or a sig that is paid for would amount to the same thing but not change the known identity of the staffer- so people can actually find their posts.