Jason Boggs
Yea, I have to admit, Jason Boggs isn't my real name. I'm actually Wade Boggs. Yea, you got it, the famous baseball player.
Jacob Ferden
EF4
Bob Hartig
EF5
Well, since it looks like the option is open to me, I might just switch my name to something cooler. I kinda like Duke Choswell. Has a nice ring to it, I'm thinkin'. Only problem is, I look like an idiot in a cowboy hat.
Jason Boggs
I see Josh 4184 is still around. Is he not going to obey the simple rules of the forum? 
Larry J. Kosch
EF2
Unique Name
My name is Larry J. Kosch. It's unique enough not to be confused with a famous celebrity
or a infamous criminal 
Which is nice!!
In keeping in line with the topic of this thread, I did not mind putting in my real name when I applied for Stormtrack membership. I want to be known to other storm chasers and weather watchers alike.
I put in my middle initial to avoid confusion as to which Larry I am. If you checked Facebook or Twitter, you will find quite a few names like mine!
I had a second cousin that was named "Larry Kosch" like me. Which created a lot of confusion when this second cousin was killed in a motorcycle accident back in the late 1970's. I caused a lot of shock
and second looks when I showed up late for my journalism class. My instructor was just informing the class of my death when I showed up!! 
My name is Larry J. Kosch. It's unique enough not to be confused with a famous celebrity
or a infamous criminal Which is nice!!In keeping in line with the topic of this thread, I did not mind putting in my real name when I applied for Stormtrack membership. I want to be known to other storm chasers and weather watchers alike.
I put in my middle initial to avoid confusion as to which Larry I am.
If you checked Facebook or Twitter, you will find quite a few names like mine!I had a second cousin that was named "Larry Kosch" like me. Which created a lot of confusion when this second cousin was killed in a motorcycle accident back in the late 1970's. I caused a lot of shock
and second looks when I showed up late for my journalism class. My instructor was just informing the class of my death when I showed up!! 
Danny Neal
EF5
I see Josh 4184 is still around. Is he not going to obey the simple rules of the forum?
12-09-2009, 06:43 PM #5 Skip Talbot
Stormtrack Moderator
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 980
Those you've seen posting without their real names are cooperating and we're getting those changed for them. Moderators do not have the power to change user names, only administrators can, but hopefully we'll get those changed soon. We have also discussed measures to keep violators in check in the future.
On a related note, I've had requests from users who'd like their names formatted differently. If you're one of them, speak up and we'll see if we can put that in for you when we change these other user's names.
__________________
Skip Talbot
WX9KIP
Skip's webzone
Just waiting on Tim apparently..
http://www.skip.cc/
Jason Boggs
Ahh, never saw that post from Skip.
Jason Foster
For reference of the previous discussions:
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22018
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20679
And Tim's Poll a little while back.
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14056
My personal preference would be 100% real names, with only exceptions being for a designator for folks with the same name. Some of the initials are annoying to me too (just a personal thing). In place of the shortened screen names, putting your full name in the signature line would be a good idea in my book. This goes double for folks who may have 'messed up' in the sign-up process and are awaiting corrected screen names.
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22018
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20679
And Tim's Poll a little while back.
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14056
My personal preference would be 100% real names, with only exceptions being for a designator for folks with the same name. Some of the initials are annoying to me too (just a personal thing). In place of the shortened screen names, putting your full name in the signature line would be a good idea in my book. This goes double for folks who may have 'messed up' in the sign-up process and are awaiting corrected screen names.
Jason Bolt
Not about real names but...
Seriously can we do something? I remember when I signed up, I had to submit an essay and APPLY just to be a member of the board. Now anybody with a keyboard, a cool screen name, and an attitude problem can be a member. Seeing a newbie smart off to someone for politely suggesting using the search feature is just rediculous. I am serious about requiring a test, having an essay and a membership committee, something besides open cattle call.
Seriously can we do something? I remember when I signed up, I had to submit an essay and APPLY just to be a member of the board. Now anybody with a keyboard, a cool screen name, and an attitude problem can be a member. Seeing a newbie smart off to someone for politely suggesting using the search feature is just rediculous. I am serious about requiring a test, having an essay and a membership committee, something besides open cattle call.
Tim Vasquez
EF5
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2003
- Messages
- 3,411
Don't worry about josh4184... we're aware of it, but there's the matter of me showing up and then the matter of communicating with him about what username he intends to use. These things take a few days sometimes. The important thing is that it's against the rules and will be dealt with.
We will likely start moderating applications over the next week or two to help cut down on some of this, but specifics haven't been worked out. We're also about to install vBulletin 4.0 so some of this will depend on what add-ons are available and how flexible the new upgrade is.
Tim
We will likely start moderating applications over the next week or two to help cut down on some of this, but specifics haven't been worked out. We're also about to install vBulletin 4.0 so some of this will depend on what add-ons are available and how flexible the new upgrade is.
Tim
Tim Vasquez
EF5
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2003
- Messages
- 3,411
I agree in principle. During my Air Force weather years I was on CFDG and WX-CHASE, so I definitely come from the mold of high standards of professionalism and real names in a discussion forum. My attitude has changed somewhat over the years. The Internet is now full of data miners, crazy exes, stalkers, conflict of interest issues (NOAA, etc), and the prevalence of nitpicky employers who dislike different opinions. I bet in 10 or 20 years that at least one or two people here end up with career troubles 10 or 20 years down the road based on opinions that were posted here and regurgitated elsewhere (archive.org or wherever).. and that's kind of lame. But it's how things are.
If anything I find myself gravitating away from full names and it is possible in the next couple of years that Stormtrack may start looking seriously at how to make nicknames work here professionally. There are a few "professional par excellence" forums elsewhere that I subscribe to (a different trade altogether) which do use nicknames, and it's convinced me that it can work.
Tim
Danny Neal
EF5
Perhaps the name of their websites as a handle could work? I would be NorthernILStormChaser, Jason would be WeatherWarrior, H would be ExtremeInstability, Adam would be Aerostorms. etc. I would just hate to have to try to decipher posts from Rich Thompson or Tim Marshall with names like CrazyWildTornadoGuy1970 [In other words I like the professional aspect of it all and IMO it would be hard to take someone with a ridiculous alias seriously]. If that makes sense..... Most everybody nowadays has a web page with their own unique title.
Ben Holcomb
EF5
With Dannys signature making me famous, would I be "InMyDefense"?
Danny Neal
EF5
I think "HammeredAfterTwo" suits you better.
Scott LaFlesh
Jason:
I remember that as well. I remember writing my essay, then checking every day for about a month to see if I was approved for posting yet. Now, I spend a large part of my time here lurking around and trying to learn. Many know much more and I don't want to come off as a doofus when posting. I don't have any problems with making people here have to jump through some hurdles before giving them full priviledges. I also think real names add a little to accountability and credibility and prevent people from just saying anything they want under a veil of anonymity.
