I can't believe all the feedback from the yentas here. Why wouldn't you want to be to distinguish posts from different posters? That's the way it's done on EVERY OTHER MESSAGE BOARD.

It would be nice to notice how many people are commenting. Sometimes I swear that only two people are having a comment to each other but the post goes on forever and it seems like 1o people are commenting.

Why do we need "accountability" here, OP?

Crap. It doesn't take rocket science, or a user name, to discriminate between chicken salad and chicken ____. What are you all trying to follow? Better off reading the Bible.

I'm not a PP, but I also agree that using unique aliases would make this forum easier to follow. It would certainly make it easier to respond to specific posts, while also cutting down somewhat on sockpuppeting.

I created my own unique alias when I started coming to this site, but after using it only once I stopped when I became acquainted with the true culture of this forum. Considering how malicious many members of this forum can be, identifying one's self while trolls are free to attack from the shadows of complete anonymity strikes me as foolish unilateral disarmament. I strongly doubt that anonymity adds to the "honesty" of this forum. I rather suspect that the exact opposite is true. Unless, of course, we consider vulgar racism, vicious gossip, and unbridled spite (all of which I see here frequently) to be honesty.

Anonymous wrote:Why is this in the private schools forum?

Guess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If usernames were required, I would not post anything. It's too easy to identify someone with a username by searching through all their comments on all the various forums.

How so? If you are really worried, create another username. This entire "Dear Poster 12:39" is asinine. What kind of message board doesn't have unique usernames? I've never seen one like this one.

I think the advice on DCUM is more honest thanks to anonymity - I know there are certainly topics I wouldn't comment on if I had to use a username, because I agree with the first PP I'm quoting here that it's too easy to identify people if you can tie together all of their posts. There have also been a few threads on requiring usernames and the consensus seems to be that most people like things the way they are. If you feel so strongly about usernames, why aren't you using one?

Why is this in the private schools forum?

Lol you're pretty worked up over this, yet are still posting as anonymous. If it bothers you so much, make your own username and let other people decide if they want one. I really see no difference between addressing someone as 15:14 or their username. Why do you find it so asinine?

Anonymous wrote:If usernames were required, I would not post anything. It's too easy to identify someone with a username by searching through all their comments on all the various forums.

How so? If you are really worried, create another username. This entire "Dear Poster 12:39" is asinine. What kind of message board doesn't have unique usernames? I've never seen one like this one.

I've fallen out of the habit in recent months, but I'll try to get better. OP, why don't you join me? Others welcome too.

If usernames were required, I would not post anything. It's too easy to identify someone with a username by searching through all their comments on all the various forums.

Just do a search on this subject. I don't understand why some people think that having a username matters. What kind of accountability are you hoping for? Jeff deletes inappropriate comments, irrelevant comments, and if I'm not mistaken, has blocked a few users who were out of control.

No.

The supposed benefits of everyone being "anonymous" are outweighed by the benefits. There is accountability with unique aliases for posters here, and if nothing else, it would make reading/responding to posts much easier.