[Wikipedia-l] PROPOSED: Prohibition of alternate displayable usernames

[Ray Saintonge]

There are all sorts of reasons that people may have for using pseudonyms 
in different circumstance, and I don't usually feel bothered by it.  The 
best way to avoid the problem in connection with voting is to minimize 
the use of votes, most of which are a source of friction anyway.  Even 
fewer votes should be binding.  

Ec

Optim wrote:

>I suggest to prohibit users from changing their
>displayed username when they vote, discuss or
>participate in talk pages.
>
>It creates confusion and I find this action
>highly suspicious.
>
>For example a user may have the username
>"Blablabla" but he/she signs with "Mr12356".
>
>Somebody could have a user account "Blablabla"
>and sign as "Optim". The link, of course, will
>lead to User:Blablabla... We can still
>investigate who wrote what by examining the
>username link.
>
>But those who don't examine the links, will 
>
>Why people do this thing?
>
>If somebody wants to hide his/her username, how
>can I trust him/her or pay attention to his/her
>vote or message?
>
>May I call you (those who hide their name) to
>stop this behaviour, please?
>
>If you just want to individualise your sign, you
>can do that with HTML, colours or whatever... but
>please let your username intact... So that we can
>know who votes or talks without having to examine
>the links.
>
>Don't put "masks" on your usernames. I find this
>action as antisocial.
>
>Because I notice several users, both new and old
>ones, who do that, I suggest to make a new policy
>in order to prohibit this phenomenon.
>