Username change refused by some board owners?

[WurkAnimal]

Hi guys.

I'm just wondering why some board owners refuse username changes, I got this message back on a board what I won't name.

Can't change your username due to DB issues, security issues, BST transparency etc...

Although I can get a username here on vB.com, vB.org no problems, SitePoint no problems at all and they are large websites..

Can someone educate me?

[MrNase]

I don't know. Changing a username is really simple and doesn't take much time. Maybe they are too lazy?

As far as I know, vBulletin uses the User ID for all the important stuff so the name of the user doesn't really matter.

[Lynne]

It's really hard to guess why. I know I have a 'backend' to my site that has a separate user table. If I change the username for vbulletin, I have to change it for the other application also. I wrote a plugin to do this, but have to make a few code modifications also whenever I upgrade. I can understand someone in this same situation not wanting to be bothered with the plugin and code modifications and thus won't allow name changes.

[Dream]

Maybe they don't wanna update counters.

ps: I liked NashTax better

[carntheroos4eva]

Maybe you could ask them if they can close your current username and you re-register.

[hitmancode47]

This is what i would do in your current situation

1. Go to an online password generator, and set it all to max (Generate the biggest random password possible)

2. Get the code, and change your current account password to that (The generated password) so it makes it practically impossible to hack

3. Make a new account, and have fun! knowing your old account is locked

Note: Make sure u write down the password (Generated) just in case u need it!

Edit~ Forgot to mention

I cant see why they cannot change your password, If you can, PM me the link to this forum, id be interested in taking a look.

I know that if a user needed a username change on my board, id do it in a matter of seconds, all they have to do is administrate the user account, type a new username, and click "Save". Hardly rocket science right? lol

[David Grove]

I know that if a user needed a username change on my board, id do it in a matter of seconds, all they have to do is administrate the user account, type a new username, and click "Save". Hardly rocket science right? lol

Actually, it's a lot more involved than that for many boards. First, if the board is big, it's actually quite a server-intensive process to change the username and change it on all posts and everywhere else. Second, as Lynne mentions, if they are using external scripts, addons, bridges to other pieces of software etc, it may be extremely inconvenient to rename a user, and may have to be done manually.

[Floris]

At the end of the day it's up to the owner of the web site / board .. it's their forum.

[jeffinj]

ps: I liked NashTax better

Me too.

[Deriel]

3. Make a new account, and have fun! knowing your old account is locked

In my forum that would give you an eternal ban. I use some mods to detect multiple registers - they are not infallible, but help.

Check the board rules before creating a new account.

(btw, I permit username changes once every three months )

[hitmancode47]

In my forum that would give you an eternal ban.

I take it you have heard of a proxy? if not look it up, u may be surprised.

[Dilly]

I take it you have heard of a proxy? if not look it up, u may be surprised.

Proxies really aren't the be all and end all.

They aren't ultimately effective.

[Deriel]

I take it you have heard of a proxy? if not look it up, u may be surprised.

Yes, I know it. But 90% of my users don't so the eternal ban is 90% effective by now, what is ok to me. The another 10% we deal in another way. We are not that naive

There is no magical solution to ban nor to a user really trying to cause trouble. In some cases you just have to be more stubborn then the user - it's easier to ban than to create a new account.

But from the my 45.000 users I have less than 300 banned, mostly of spam (and just 2 Tachy Goes to Coventry )

[hitmancode47]

Proxies really aren't the be all and end all.

They aren't ultimately effective.

Well it did its job for me, so as far as im concerned, its as effective as i need it

[Kinneas]

Well it did its job for me, so as far as im concerned, its as effective as i need it

You make a habit of bypassing IP bans using proxies?