Users Changed Name 2023

[LTU_btc]

Maybe dumb question, but can someone explain my how username change helps in terms of privacy?
Because once you're on internet, you stuck here forever. You can change username, delete posts and so on, but all your data will stay. Like for example quotes of old your posts where your previous username is quoted. Or various scrappers and archives

[joker_josue]

I see some names that were changed way earlier than September 2022

I cannot give 100% certainty.
But I made that statement because I used a file I had from September 2022, which contained this data, which in turn I compared with a file from January 2023.

[Hispo]

Way more than I expected, to be honest.
Since I became aware of the name changing process, I have had the impression that it is extremely unlikely it gets granted (since the admin himself has to take care of it), however, 11 names changes is almost an average of one petition granted per month, only last year.

Thanks for taking the time to give us this summary, Op.  

[Timelord2067]

Thanks for the list - it's very much appreciated. 

Changing profile names is one way a scammer can get away with scam after scam, so it's good to be able to eliminate unlikely from likely when potentially dealing with a new user only to discover it's an old profile gifted a new name.


If someone genuinely fears for their safety, then may I suggest they walk away from their high profile UID and start again as a newbie and don't draw so much attention to themselves in future?

[Solosanz]

Maybe dumb question, but can someone explain my how username change helps in terms of privacy?
Because once you're on internet, you stuck here forever. You can change username, delete posts and so on, but all your data will stay. Like for example quotes of old your posts where your previous username is quoted. Or various scrappers and archives

It's supposed to make new members doesn't know their real username, of course the old members already know which is real username especially if they're active in a same section. Maybe their real username has a code or link with their real life, so they're want to break it.

If someone genuinely fears for their safety, then may I suggest they walk away from their high profile UID and start again as a newbie and don't draw so much attention to themselves in future?

I think any user already know that, they wouldn't ask theymos or Cyrus to change their name then. It's because their main account is already get a lot merit, reputable and can be trusted enough to deal with high amount money. I don't think there's a person who want to abandon his main account if he's trying to be active in this forum.

[joker_josue]

Maybe dumb question, but can someone explain my how username change helps in terms of privacy?
Because once you're on internet, you stuck here forever. You can change username, delete posts and so on, but all your data will stay. Like for example quotes of old your posts where your previous username is quoted. Or various scrappers and archives

It's supposed to make new members doesn't know their real username, of course the old members already know which is real username especially if they're active in a same section. Maybe their real username has a code or link with their real life, so they're want to break it.

I usually tell friends: "It's on the Internet, it's in the World."
Once something is put online, it will never leave. It can fall into oblivion, stop being associated with something, or any other situation. But it will continue to exist forever.

That said, each one should take the measures they feel are necessary for their situation.

[mk4]

Maybe dumb question, but can someone explain my how username change helps in terms of privacy?
Because once you're on internet, you stuck here forever. You can change username, delete posts and so on, but all your data will stay. Like for example quotes of old your posts where your previous username is quoted. Or various scrappers and archives

Obviously it wouldn't delete your past history, but it would at least make it significantly harder to know your identity in the surface level. e.g. JohnSmith123 vs JS69

[LTU_btc]

It's supposed to make new members doesn't know their real username, of course the old members already know which is real username especially if they're active in a same section. Maybe their real username has a code or link with their real life, so they're want to break it.

I usually tell friends: "It's on the Internet, it's in the World."
Once something is put online, it will never leave. It can fall into oblivion, stop being associated with something, or any other situation. But it will continue to exist forever.

That said, each one should take the measures they feel are necessary for their situation.

It's probably better solution than do nothing. Even if it won't improve your privacy significantly. But for someone who have serious intentions to find information about you, it will take just few minutes to find it.
Anyway, I don't question decisions of users to change their usernames. Everyone has their own reasons and it's ok, as long as it doesn't makes any harm for community.

[virasog]

In recent weeks we have detected that some users have changed their name.

Thats interesting as previously it was impossible to change the username and as per the forum rules it may require 50 btcBTC as mentioned by mprep here. I know the 50 BTC could not be realistic value in current times.

Q: I want to change my forum username. What should I do?
A: You can either donate 50 BTC to become a VIP or PM theymos asking to change your username (although he rarely accepts such requests nowadays).

By the way, can anyone whom usernames have changed, tell us how did they apply for the change in username and how long did it took to get the application successful?

[Igebotz]

By the way, can anyone whom usernames have changed, tell us how did they apply for the change in username and how long did it took to get the application successful?

It can take days, weeks, months, years, or even NEVER. You just need to PM the admin with a good reason and hope for the best. The speed is determined by your reasons, and being an established member is advantageous. (Change of username is one of the most difficult requests)

It took a few days for mine to be approved. I was fortunate.

[Welsh]

I usually tell friends: "It's on the Internet, it's in the World."
Once something is put online, it will never leave. It can fall into oblivion, stop being associated with something, or any other situation. But it will continue to exist forever.

That said, each one should take the measures they feel are necessary for their situation.

It's probably safest to assume that this is correct, but in reality a lot of things on the internet are lost within time. Hence, why we have data hoarders who try to secure the more critical information. I imagine there's multiple users that have mirrors of bitcointalk though, since it does contain a whole lot of important information, and history.

So yeah, not too be too critical of you, but generally it's best to assume whatever you put on the internet is here forever, but in reality given a long enough time it probably won't be. Depending on it's importance that is.

[joker_josue]

So yeah, not too be too critical of you, but generally it's best to assume whatever you put on the internet is here forever, but in reality given a long enough time it probably won't be. Depending on it's importance that is.

Look, sometimes it doesn't need to be very important, just a backup that someone kept until today.

For example, 15 years ago I had a banner exchange site, with hundreds of users, which I ended up selling. But, I still have several backups of this site and if you want today I can put it back online in a few days, as it was 15 years ago.
Why do I still have the backups? For nothing in particular, just for a historical record of the work I've done. And I have no intention of using them.
Did the website have relevant information? No, just some emails. But, the information exists and it is possible to go back. Nothing guarantees me that the site's buyers have not kept the information until today, despite the fact that the site is no longer on the air.

It is very easy to store thousands of pieces of information that have been made available on the internet one day. It may not be accessible in general, but it exists and is there.

[Mpamaegbu]

Just a heads up: There's a chance that some people might've requested a username change for privacy purposes, and such threads kind of defeats the purpose of the name change.

If not for this thread I wouldn't have known that Murat was iwantapony. I know I came across that user's posts a great deal when I started newly here but all of a sudden I couldn't find them again. I concluded the user had stopped posting; not knowing they only changed identity. However, if I may ask what security or privacy reason would make anyone change username when this is just an online forum. We don't even have a physical presence. I don't see any cogent reason for that. If it were for a reason to brand or rebrand their businesses, then we could say yes they've a reason for that. Otherwise, I wouldn't take the privacy or security angle to mean anything. Do people truly get scared online when they haven't done any wrong?

[Lucius]

(Change of username is one of the most difficult requests)

I would not agree with that statement, because you received your change in a few days, and most others didn't wait more than a week after the request. The whole point is how each individual member will support his request, or rather if he is asking for a name change for a good/meaningful reason or if he just wants a cosmetic change because he just doesn't like the current name.

I know of at least one case where a forum member got at least two name changes in a very short period of time, which only confirms that it is by no means the most difficult request.

[philipma1957]

Maybe dumb question, but can someone explain my how username change helps in terms of privacy?
Because once you're on internet, you stuck here forever. You can change username, delete posts and so on, but all your data will stay. Like for example quotes of old your posts where your previous username is quoted. Or various scrappers and archives

Obviously it wouldn't delete your past history, but it would at least make it significantly harder to know your identity in the surface level. e.g. JohnSmith123 vs JS69

If you google philipma1957

you get a lot of pages.

If I change that name on twenty accounts and blogs I suppose a simple google search would find less pages.

[AverageGlabella]

If not for this thread I wouldn't have known that Murat was iwantapony. I know I came across that user's posts a great deal when I started newly here but all of a sudden I couldn't find them again. I concluded the user had stopped posting; not knowing they only changed identity. However, if I may ask what security or privacy reason would make anyone change username when this is just an online forum. We don't even have a physical presence. I don't see any cogent reason for that. If it were for a reason to brand or rebrand their businesses, then we could say yes they've a reason for that. Otherwise, I wouldn't take the privacy or security angle to mean anything. Do people truly get scared online when they haven't done any wrong?

AFAIK theymos changes the display name if the request is not privacy related but if the request is because the member has concerns for their privacy then he changes the username as well as the display name. Since he does two different things there must be valid reasons for changing your username for privacy.

People do not get "scared" but they do get concerned. Some people will take comments you make on a forum very personally and you do not know what they might do to get back at you. We have seen feuds in the forum for years and sometimes they have gotten very personal. I can see why people get concerned and that is not a terrible thing. It is like when you use tor browser or vpn even though you have nothing to hide the same thing applies to be concerned about usernames

[Mpamaegbu]

~

Some people will take comments you make on a forum very personally and you do not know what they might do to get back at you. We have seen feuds in the forum for years and sometimes they have gotten very personal.

Well, I got your drift on that. I've even followed some posts here where threats on life had been made. It's really sad that people go to that length. I think this is where the ignore button should serve its purpose. I don't hesitate to activate it whenever I discover someone is trolling me. I hate what I don't like, as they say jovially.

[JoyMarsha]

Thanks for bringing this up here for others to be aware of those that have changed their forum names.

Whatever reason they are changing their forum name is best known to me. To my understanding, it is just a change of name, it doesn't change who they are in the forum. Their data and the way they contributed to the forum will still be the same(it doesn't change with the name). That's the good part of it all