Offensive user names

[DrLeftover]

Once upon a time, in a forum far far away, back when I was a (well, I wasn't a kid so we'll come to the point), anyway....



I was staff on an old dialup, multi line, galacticom / worldgroup BBS, and we constantly had users trying to be 'cute' and sign up with offensive usernames ranging from 'beardedclam' and 'FUmama' to the infamous 'Ben Dover'.



For some reason I was one of the ones that got to check names to see if it meant something inappropriate to a 'family' BBS. And during the days of text based internet using Altavista to search, it wasn't easy.



How do you define 'offensive' and where do you draw the line for user names?



For instance, somebody wants to be 'the great CornHolio'. Does it fly?

 

[Evil Eye]

I'd say an offensive username is one that flames whoever reads it, promotes hate or is nothing more than a curse.

For all the others it's just overly sensitive (and overly alert) people who complaining about things they shouldn't know anything about.

 

[DrLeftover]

Would the same go for an offensive Avatar image or signature?

 

[Jazzy]

I'd say an offensive username is one that flames whoever reads it, promotes hate or is nothing more than a curse. For all the others it's just overly sensitive (and overly alert) people who complaining about things they shouldn't know anything about.

Very well said and I agree with you.

Would the same go for an offensive Avatar image or signature?

Yes

 

[Raven]

Ben Dover....HAHAHAHAHAHA Sorry that actually made me laugh out loud in the office!



I've not had to deal with offensive usernames before but anything with swearing or attacking another member would get changed/warned/banned



I have an inappropriate and ....well...a gif image of someone blowing they're head off. so a PM was sent, he was very appologetic actually and changed it straight away.

 

[Raven]

^ What on here?

 

[Evil Eye]

Would the same go for an offensive Avatar image or signature?

Pretty much. No graphic violence, gore or nudity though.