How do you deal with inappropriate usernames?

[Heatman]

Usernames is something that forums are known for. It's why that's the first thing any member who is registering gets to fill. Now, there are some people who are weird when it comes to the kind of username they choose. I've seen where someone used F**k you as his username. It's not appropriate at all.

Do you have it in your forum rules that inappropriate usernames are not allowed? How do you go about handling those who use such?

 

[Busybee]

If an inappropriate username slips through, forum moderators should promptly address the issue. This typically involves reaching out to the user privately to inform them that their username is not acceptable and requesting them to change it. If the user refuses to comply or repeatedly violates the guidelines, appropriate actions can be taken, such as issuing warnings, temporary suspensions, or ultimately banning the user from the forum.

 

[Grant]

I usually auto change them to something else, and give the user a one off name change. If they choose to use the same name or use something else inappropriate, I then ban the user. It's not hard to come up with a safe name, so if you're intending to join a forum with an offensive name, then you won't get very far.

 

[Heatman]

I usually auto change them to something else, and give the user a one off name change. If they choose to use the same name or use something else inappropriate, I then ban the user. It's not hard to come up with a safe name, so if you're intending to join a forum with an offensive name, then you won't get very far.

I would most likely do the same thing as well because there are some people that can be very stubborn when it comes to asking them to do some certain things especially when they did what they did with their username knowingly. Trying to talk them into changing it into something that is more appropriate will not even be an easy task.

 

[Bloody Orc]

I have written an extension for myself that I use in forums to avoid legal consequences in my country where I live.

As soon as someone logs in with F**k this name is displayed as not possible and if someone finds a loophole to circumvent this I change this name and write a private message that he has to change it.

 

[Heatman]

I have written an extension for myself that I use in forums to avoid legal consequences in my country where I live.

As soon as someone logs in with F**k this name is displayed as not possible and if someone finds a loophole to circumvent this I change this name and write a private message that he has to change it.

I had a very good friend who actually owns a community that he's managing where he encountered such member that deliberately used that same kind of words in creating his account. After sending him a private message to change the username he refused and they don't even respond to the guy's private message. He ended up just changing the username by himself.

 

[Bloody Orc]

Alternative they get banned by us and not allowed to join our Community again until they write an E-Mail with a good sorry answer

But yeah sometimes people dont want to listen sadly...

 

[Heatman]

Alternative they get banned by us and not allowed to join our Community again until they write an E-Mail with a good sorry answer

But yeah sometimes people dont want to listen sadly...

Whenever you have made an effort to try and get such a user to do the right thing and they don't really want to listen to any kind of instruction, I believe that it is the right call to ban them from the website because there is no need having such individual on your platform because all they are going to end up doing is being a nuisance on the platform.

 

[Ja sa bong]

Alternative they get banned by us and not allowed to join our Community again until they write an E-Mail with a good sorry answer

But yeah sometimes people dont want to listen sadly...

I will have their account banned with the reason for being banned displayed. They will know why they were banned in case they try to register on another forum. A new member who's joining a forum and start out with using inappropriate or offensive name is a red flag.

 

[Heatman]

A new member who's joining a forum and start out with using inappropriate or offensive name is a red flag.

Exactly! This is how's best to put. Any forum member who joined and immediately from onset it began with a problem from him or her, I don't think the said user will stay long in my forum. He or she will definitely get the boots 👢 sooner than later.

 

[akinlolu99]

On the off chance that an unseemly username falls through, gathering arbitrators ought to instantly resolve the issue. This normally includes contacting the client secretly to notify them that their username isn't adequate and reminding them to transform it.

 

[Ja sa bong]

On the off chance that an unseemly username falls through, gathering arbitrators ought to instantly resolve the issue. This normally includes contacting the client secretly to notify them that their username isn't adequate and reminding them to transform it.

Doing this is all nothing but a waste of time. It would like as if you're trying to beg them to have their inappropriate username changed.

You should handle this swiftly without any delay by having the inappropriate username change immediately and prevent them from changing it back without your permission.

 

[Riberet19]

Doing this is all nothing but a waste of time. It would like as if you're trying to beg them to have their inappropriate username changed.

You should handle this swiftly without any delay by having the inappropriate username change immediately and prevent them from changing it back without your permission.

In fact, it is better to take action on your own, if there is a user with a username that is against the terms and conditions, that user broke the rules and action must be taken, I think a private message should be send to the user saying what the problem was and why the username was changed in their account, but always after taking action.

 

[Ja sa bong]

In fact, it is better to take action on your own, if there is a user with a username that is against the terms and conditions, that user broke the rules and action must be taken, I think a private message should be send to the user saying what the problem was and why the username was changed in their account, but always after taking action.

True, its why I had to point it out for the other guy to know the best line of action isn't to start sending the offender a personal message but to take action against the breach being caused. The PM is nothing but a follow up formality.

 

[Billy]

Having clear rules against inappropriate usernames is crucial for a respectful forum environment. If a user registers with a violating username, we kindly ask them to change it. If they don't comply, we may temporarily suspend their account until the issue is resolved. In extreme cases, a permanent ban may be necessary to maintain the forum's positive atmosphere.

 

[akinlolu99]

@Billy @Ja sa bong @riberet19
The thing here is it's not that taking laws into your hand is a bad thing or idea before the fact that you have that power doesn't mean you should exercise it instantly let's be realistic there are some people that don't to read terms and condition that is why you have lots of people out there that signed agreement without having to know the details of it, you to send a message to the person directly and pin it for the person to know that this is not a friendly message but a warning giving the person the room to take action his or her-self or the action will be taken for the person without the person's permission.

 

[Grant]

I would most likely do the same thing as well because there are some people that can be very stubborn when it comes to asking them to do some certain things especially when they did what they did with their username knowingly. Trying to talk them into changing it into something that is more appropriate will not even be an easy task.

At some point you just have to do the work yourself and change their name. I've seen many users sign up with an offensive name, and each time I'd ask why they made it that and would give them said name change. Sometimes if they didn't want it, I'd change it to something random, kind of like what Xbox Live does with their gamertag when you choose to pick a random name. SO I'd do that, and if the user wants the name changed, I will give them a one time only change.

Some people will also claim they don't find offense in the word or name they chose. Which is fine and all, but if that name/word is offensive to others, it will be changed. Anything racial, homophobic, hateful is automatically changed when I catch it. And if they throw a fit, I remind them of the rules.

 

[Heatman]

At some point you just have to do the work yourself and change their name. I've seen many users sign up with an offensive name, and each time I'd ask why they made it that and would give them said name change. Sometimes if they didn't want it, I'd change it to something random, kind of like what Xbox Live does with their gamertag when you choose to pick a random name. SO I'd do that, and if the user wants the name changed, I will give them a one time only change.

Some people will also claim they don't find offense in the word or name they chose. Which is fine and all, but if that name/word is offensive to others, it will be changed. Anything racial, homophobic, hateful is automatically changed when I catch it. And if they throw a fit, I remind them of the rules.

The problem is that most of them don't even take time to read the forum rules and guidelines when it comes to what they are doing in the platform which I believe is the reason why they usually do a lot of things they shouldn't do. It's when you remind them of the rules, most of them will even tell you that they are not aware of such rules.

 

[Kane]

In the guidelines, I clearly mention what kind of username and avatar a user can use. I prohibit sexually and racially offensive username and avatars. If anyone messes with this rule. I will ban him outright. But this has not happened to my forums until now.

 

[Heatman]

In the guidelines, I clearly mention what kind of username and avatar a user can use. I prohibit sexually and racially offensive username and avatars. If anyone messes with this rule. I will ban him outright. But this has not happened to my forums until now.

It always feels good when you have forum members who don't make it too difficult for you to manage your community every day without adding a lot of stress in your job already by enforcing one rule or another. It gets tiring at one point and I get it's why some owners won't waste time to ban. They are called ban trigger happy owners.