Real names, please [Archive]

Andy Baker

24-04-2003, 12:29

As a long time addict of the ChiefDelphi forums, I sometimes jump up on my soapbox and preach a bit. Not all agree with me when I do this, which is understandable.

During the excellent FIRST Competition season, I got to meet many people who frequent these boards. There are many relationships that mutually benefit our teams and FIRST in general. These relationships are between students and adults alike.

Often, I would meet someone at a competition, and the other person would say "hi, my name is ____"..."you might know me as sdfsd^*$WL (or something like that) on the ChiefDelphi Forums"

Although I understand nicknames... communication would sure be easier if you all just put your name as your screen name. First names are good. First names with last initials are good... but some goofy screen name that does not identify you is barely useful.

All I am doing is trying to improve communications and relations between people in this community. I may sound like a nag, but I see this bettering our already great FIRST community on this fine website.

So... I challenge you all to change your screen name to your real name.

Andy B.

Adam Y.

24-04-2003, 12:33

Although I understand nicknames... communication would sure be easier if you all just put your name as your screen name. First names are good. First names with last initials are good... but some goofy screen name that does not identify you is barely useful.
I do not think there is enough room to spell my last name. Anyway I agree with you I have seen this done in other forums also and it works fairly well.

Joe Matt

24-04-2003, 12:35

Hi. My name is Joseph.

DanLevin247

24-04-2003, 12:36

Horray for conformity! I've had my username like this (My real first and last name, and my team number) for a long time. I think that people who go by nicknames are just fine the way they are, but maybe the addition of their real name in their signature.

Gadget470

24-04-2003, 12:43

Originally posted by Andy Baker
So... I challenge you all to change your screen name to your real name.Well, to do that we'd either have to:
a) Ask Brandon Martus to change our username
b) Sign up for a new account

I don't think BM wants 100 requests for a name change, nor 100 new users signing up whom already have an account.
a) If you made a mistake when entering your username, or just want to change it, you have to contact the forum administrator. [faq]
b)Creating multiple accounts for a single user is not allowed. [rules]
I'll stick my name in my custom title though, just for you :)

Solace

24-04-2003, 12:49

my name's in my sig.........

Kristina

24-04-2003, 12:50

I agree that I've spent time piecing together people's first names from their CD names when I go to competitions or tigerbolt, etc and it gets a little confusing sometimes. I may eventually change my user name but I think writing your name in your signature also works for the time being. This would definitely help so Brandon doesn't get inundated with hundreds of user name requests all at once.

edit: jake got to it right before me

Brandon Martus

24-04-2003, 13:00

Originally posted by Gadget470
Well, to do that we'd either have to:
a) Ask Brandon Martus to change our username
b) Sign up for a new account

A = Good. :)
B = Bad. :(

I don't mind changing usernames. It takes about 1/47th of a second to do. Although I don't mind realcoolFIRSTer3847 or something, I would like to see more real names. I am always happy, for some reason, when someone eventually changes from realcool.. to Pat Smith.

FotoPlasma

24-04-2003, 13:04

"FotoPlasma" is the pseudonym I use as consistently as possible. My real name is in my sig. I hope I'm not offending anyone...

AlbertW

24-04-2003, 13:06

maybe you could let people change their display names?

Amanda Morrison

24-04-2003, 13:08

Andy's got a good point... it really takes me forever to learn names, and it's even harder to associate characters and avatars to the person (whose name, at that point, I can't remember in the first place).

Even though I've been 'amandabean' for years, I figured I might as well change. Being called amandabean at competitions is starting to get old. :)

Gadget470

24-04-2003, 13:10

realcool.. to Pat Smith.
I know a Pat Smith... he's not cool :P
</digress>

AlbertW

24-04-2003, 13:15

hm...

i'll stick it in my custom title :D

Kristina

24-04-2003, 13:18

Well I decided to change my username before any other Kristina's with a K decided to steal it. Yup, I jumped in on the bandwagon.

Josh Hambright

24-04-2003, 13:26

What if we dont like our real name?

Jim McGeehin

24-04-2003, 13:27

What about us fools that signed with our real name? Do we change ours to a custom name?

Rob Colatutto

24-04-2003, 13:28

thats what i did. i needed to change my cd name, and Rob was still avalable. so now i just go by rob instead of rob colatutto. full name is too long

Brandon Martus

24-04-2003, 13:30

Originally posted by Gadget470
I know a Pat Smith... he's not cool :P
</digress>

Pat could also be a girl :p

Oh, and Andy .. look what this thread did to my Private Message inbox, below.

j/k :p

Wetzel

24-04-2003, 13:31

/me tosses in with Andy

Wetzel=last name
Wetzel=what people call me in real life
Wetzel=board name

{edit}
I just realized something. Lots of people are going to have diffrent names now. Time to reassoicate names with posting behavior/picture.
{/edit}

Wetzel
~~~~~~~~
I am Wetzel

D.J. Fluck

24-04-2003, 13:42

Ok. Done. :p

At least put your real name in the signature or custom title if anything...

Mike Schroeder

24-04-2003, 13:47

My name is Mike, and like most of MOE i too build robots,

Most people on my team either call me Big Mike ( for the obvious reasons) or Schroeder (my last name)

I dont mind either although i think most people who try to say my last name mess it up

Redhead Jokes

24-04-2003, 13:54

My nickname is a lot more memorable, and describes me better than

Cheryl Miller

which is in my sig

but I have to admit I too get lost on the nicknames. Our team members have been letting me know "hey, I'm on Chief Delphi, watch for my nickname". Good thing cuz I wasn't always noticing.

BTW, our team watching nationals was rooting for Chief Delphi robot,

and increasingly more members are talking about being addicted to Chief Delphi,

talk about branding your name!

Andy Baker

24-04-2003, 13:58

Some of you are almost more famous with your screen names, Gadget470 (Brandon) and Fotoplasma (Jim) for example. It may be better just to keep your names in tact.

Of course, that is up to you to decide (see below).

Other people, like oneangrydwarf (Josh), are just impossible to ignore and the world will know who you are soon enough. By they way, Josh, congrats on the mohawk award last night... that is so cool.

Other have seen the light and are changing your screen names... I feel like a proud father.

Of course, I don't want to squish individuality. Personally, I would much rather see "Big Mike" as opposed to just Mike. There is really only one Big Mike, while there are many Mikes. Heck, there are a handful of Mikes on team 47 alone!

Also... it's not like all of you guys and gals gotta agree to this. However, if you decide not to comply, I'm sure that we can find ways to make you "understand". /me has happy thoughts of tossing toilet paper rolls over the tops of trees and roofs... oh, the memories. :D

Brandon, sorry about the dramatic increase of your workload. I owe you one, payable at the IRI.

Andy B.

Katie Reynolds

24-04-2003, 14:01

Hehe, I started out as FIRSTae2004 then I changed to Katie93 ... now Katie Reynolds will do just fine. :)

I hate it when, at competitions, I recognize someone by their CD picture/username, but have no idea what their real name is. I don't like going up to people and saying, "Hey aren't you |abcdefg| on Chief Delphi? What's your real name?" So usually, I won't talk to people whose real names I don't know.

Chelly and I had that problem at Midwest regional this year ...

Me: "Hey Chell - isn't that oneangrydwarf from CD?"

Chell: "Yeah, I think it is."

Me: "We should go say hi! What's his real name?"

Chell: "Uh ... ... ..."

Me: "Oh, well ... hmmm - I can't remember. Maybe Ricky will know."

Ricky: "I have no idea."

Me: "Oh. Well, maybe we can figure it out before nationals ..."

:yikes:

Now I know who Josh is, I can say hi at competitions next year! ;)

- Katie

Mike Schroeder

24-04-2003, 14:04

Originally posted by Andy Baker
Personally, I would much rather see "Big Mike" as opposed to just Mike. There is really only one Big Mike, while there are many Mikes. i will take that as a compliment.. for right now :p but watch out i could bear hugg at any time

Aaron Lussier

24-04-2003, 14:10

Well for now I'll put my name in the custom Title box, For Brandons Sake I'll wait a day or to before I send him a PM on the permanent name change.

Brandon Martus

24-04-2003, 14:21

Originally posted by Andy Baker
Brandon, sorry about the dramatic increase of your workload.

It's not a problem... click/copy/paste/click/done :)

Al Skierkiewicz

24-04-2003, 14:27

Originally posted by wysiswyg
I do not think there is enough room to spell my last name. Anyway I agree with you I have seen this done in other forums also and it works fairly well.
wysiswyg,
If mine fits, anybody's will. I like the suggestion but would like to add to it, if I may? There are so many of us attending competitions now, it would be a big help to have name tags. I know some of you by sight now but I am old and keep forgetting your names. And, I am already calling everyone on CD, Mike! (except for Joe, of course. He cured me of that already, but it took a really long time.)

Eric Bareiss

24-04-2003, 14:34

That's what I like about you Andy, you're always thinking. Now you don't have to call me by my silly CD name anymore.

Madison

24-04-2003, 14:35

Sheesh.

If Andy asked y'all to stand on your head, would you do that, too? ;)

...it's nice to finally figure out who some of you are, though. Though, most of the people who've changed were people I knew anyway. Oh well.

Me? I'm special.

Ian W.

24-04-2003, 14:41

/me stands on his head

oh wait, go-err, andy, didn't tell us to yet...

as for changing names, i've had "Ian W." since i signed up, and i'm pretty sure my last name is fully spelt out in my signature (i have the coolest email address, no? :p).

Jnadke

24-04-2003, 15:15

Originally posted by Andy Baker
So... I challenge you all to change your screen name to your real name.

Andy B.

Tell David Fluck that....

I'm too lazy to change mine... my last name's in it anyways....

Carolyn Duncan

24-04-2003, 15:30

Though I have been quiet lately I think a few people still know who I am. I don't remember the name I originally signed up with but I do remember asking Brandon to change it at some point- it's been too long ago to commit to memory. At any rate, I was wearing a name tag at SVR, LA, and the Championships so anyone who wasn't sure if it was really me because my hair is long now, wasn't looking hard enough. For those of you complaining about my pic to me all I can say is that at least my hair was brown this year! :p

D.J. Fluck

24-04-2003, 15:35

Originally posted by Jnadke
Tell David Fluck that....

ouch. Thanks Jeremy... :p

Yeah just because D.J. isn't whats written on my birth certificate doesnt mean that it isnt my name ;)

Kris Verdeyen

24-04-2003, 16:07

I promise I was going to do this a year ago, but I was really busy. It's kind of liberating not having to hide behind a name assigned to me by the Rose-Hulman computing center. I am who I am, and so is Popeye.

Kyle

24-04-2003, 16:22

I just made my name,my name, so I wouldn't forget it when I log in at school. I think is is alot easier to talk to someone from these forums when you know there real name.

Some of at us MOE had solved this name problem at comp's with our pins

" Hi My Name Is Kyle(or any other name)
And I Build Robots

Hug ME"(patent pending).

Willenium®

24-04-2003, 16:34

I think anyone can guess what my name is...

Yan Wang

24-04-2003, 16:40

..:: Yan Wang ::..

Willenium®

24-04-2003, 16:46

and its not m.c. hammer

Matt Attallah

24-04-2003, 16:55

Well, ever since I have been on CD.com, i have used my nick name (Matt). It seems to work just fine... :D

My real name is Maher (Said with a strong 'A'. Not like Bill Maher)

dlavery

24-04-2003, 16:56

Originally posted by M. Krass
If Andy asked y'all to stand on your head, would you do that, too? ;)

If Andy asked, then yes I would. :D (and thus ends today's quota of sucking up)

-dave (soon to be "Dr. Autonomous")

Andy Baker

24-04-2003, 17:03

Originally posted by dlavery
If Andy asked, then yes I would. :D (and thus ends today's quota of sucking up)

-dave (soon to be "Dr. Autonomous")

OK... now you did it.

All of you - stand on your head, now!

Let's see red faces!

Count to 100, then stand back up.

Andy says

P1NKfreak13

24-04-2003, 17:15

WoW! I didn't know what a big deal putting your FIRST name was...I have always liked sort of being under a different name, but if you want to know my real name, then my name is >>>.stephan1e.<<< I think that anyone who has ever met me knows that I love the color pink, and if they know what team I am on---they can find me very easily. I like reading everyone's reply, and I can agree with everyone on this subject. I relate to the girl who wanted to talk to the guy @ nationals but didn't know his name, I see why using the first name is important. But at the same time, I like using a different name because it gives a sense of individuality and adds personality to the person you are reading about (and on this site, since there isn't much personality TO put in so I think that the more you can add, the better...but thats just me and I like being different...:D ) So I think that you should be you and do what you gotta do! (wait, isn't that a commercial of some kind? :) ) Thank you and I don't want to sound as if I'm preaching....so please no one get offended to what I said...:D !

.stephan1e.

Jeff Waegelin

24-04-2003, 17:34

And, I always thought I was just being boring for using my real name... I remember I couldn't think of anything good to put in my name when I first signed up, so I just used my real name. Guess I was on the right track all along.

It really does help to have your real name up, especially if you have a "Who Am I" pic. It's so much nicer to be able to say hi to someone by name.

Amanda Morrison

24-04-2003, 17:40

I can just see hundreds of people running up to Andy at IRI yelling, 'Look what I can do!' and standing on their heads... Jeez.

I agree... if your name is your trademark, keep it.
After all, who can ask FIRST's most famous mohawk to change?

Joshua David Hambright will always be Dwarf or 'the kid with the mohawk' to everyone else. :D

kristen

24-04-2003, 17:47

Hmmm.. I wonder what MY name could be? ;)

dez250

24-04-2003, 17:52

Originally posted by dlavery
If Andy asked, then yes I would. :D (and thus ends today's quota of sucking up)

-dave (soon to be "Dr. Autonomous")

oh my what great nasa engineers we have in first, they just love to stand on their heads and have people watch them all day while they are at work...

Haha!

~Mike

Katie Reynolds

24-04-2003, 17:56

Originally posted by Andy Baker
OK... now you did it.

All of you - stand on your head, now!

Let's see red faces!

Count to 100, then stand back up.

Andy says Hahaha - for our team's driver tryouts this year, they played "Simon Says" to see who could best follow directions. Maybe next year we should change the name of the game. :p

- Katie

*stands on head* :yikes:

dez250

24-04-2003, 17:59

Originally posted by Katie Reynolds
Hahaha - for our team's driver tryouts this year, they played "Simon Says" to see who could best follow directions. Maybe next year we should change the name of the game. :p

- Katie

*stands on head* :yikes:

Sounds fun katie, now one question could they stand on their head while driving, that would be a fun game.

/me stands on head
/me falls over

~Mike

srawls

24-04-2003, 18:01

Originally posted by dez250
oh my what great nasa engineers we have in first, they just love to stand on their heads and have people watch them all day while they are at work...
We have a NASA Technician on our team who is really good at handstands and such ... and coincidentally his name is Dave too! When we get to our next meeting, I'll see if he'll do a headstand for you Mr. Baker :D

Stephen

dez250

24-04-2003, 18:05

Originally posted by srawls
We have a NASA Technician on our team who is really good at handstands and such ... and coincidentally his name is Dave too! When we get to our next meeting, I'll see if he'll do a headstand for you Mr. Baker :D

Stephen

and once again, nasa to the recuse...

Nasa Space Center: Uh guys i think we got a problem!
Nasa Dave(s): Whats That?
NSC: your all upside-down on the screens here!
N.D.: oh we know Andy asked us to do headstands!
NSC: OK, Just Checking.

Imagine that, nasa guys doing weightless areobics.
HAHA!

~Dez

MissInformation

24-04-2003, 18:29

I don't think there's a way to say why I don't use my real name without sounding like a paranoid freak. It's a privacy issue. But I have to point out that these threads do end up on Google and I don't think everyone realizes how much personal information you reveal in these threads. I can honestly say I trust the people who are registered on Chief Delphi, I even have my real e-mail address in my profile (something I have never done for any other site, that's what yahoo accounts are for).

I only use my real name on the Internet for things connected with my writing and photography and that means it's only used on my own personal web site and 100 Words web site and DP Review.

MissInformation/Heidi

<==================>
one of my favorite writers once said that if you assign a fake name to your writing you must be ashamed of it

FotoPlasma

24-04-2003, 18:32

Wow. Such recognition from Andy Baker. I'm humbled. No sarcasm.

Dave Lavery already demonstrated the starting and ending positions for a handstand at LA, this season. It was quite amazing.

I think I'll just leave my nick alone...

Slight oops on my behalf. I thought it was SVR.

ZACH P.

24-04-2003, 19:03

Um, see if you can guess my name!

At least i have a cool name- Zach Powers.

Ricky Q.

24-04-2003, 19:08

Even though Ricky isn't my "official" name, it works...Ricky Q. I stay :p .....

I would also stand on my head for Andy Baker, he is the head ref at IRI :cool:

Solace

24-04-2003, 19:11

I am incapable of standing on my head. It would be a horrifying spectacle to behold

ZACH P.

24-04-2003, 19:17

Originally posted by Solace
I am incapable of standing on my head. It would be a horrifying spectacle to behold

thats just too bad.

Erin Rapacki

24-04-2003, 19:27

Well, it was very nice walking around nationals and have random people go "hey! you're Erin Rapacki from CD!!"

Needless to say, yes... that is my real name

However, I found it amusing that for the people I talk to on AIM, I was introducing myself as 'anetta', and asking other teams if they know people by their screen names because I forgot their real names

"hey, do you know where floozy is?"
'hi, i'm floozy... real name is ben"
"oh hey! I'm anetta, but you can call me erin"

anyone overhearing those conversations just start cracking up at how rediculus that sounds, haha

ByE

erin

Amanda Morrison

24-04-2003, 19:29

Originally posted by Solace
I am incapable of standing on my head. It would be a horrifying spectacle to behold

I agree... I'd flop over. I don't know how Dave Verbrugge can do it!

Ken Leung

24-04-2003, 20:44

Originally posted by Amanda Morrison
I agree... I'd flop over. I don't know how Dave Verbrugge can do it!

I suspect that's how Mark Leon learn to roll around so well. After the 2000th try at standing upside down, he finally settle with other cool moves.

On a side now, this is why we need thread style forum so bad! We are way off topic!

bah!

Andy A.

24-04-2003, 21:11

Andy A. or Andy Alvarenga if you like Portuguese.

Now we just need Andy C. through X. and this forum will be complete.

-Andy A.

J2Kraatz

24-04-2003, 21:12

I won't change my screen name but I will tell you my real name. My sn is J2Kraatz and my real name is Jason Kraatz

Jeff_Rice

24-04-2003, 21:16

Hey, I'm somewhat paranoid. But out of courtesy to everyone on the board, I decided(after pulling on my hair and holding my breath for two minutes) that I would use my real name when I signed up.

To give you an idea of how paranoid I am:

I look for escape routes to any place I go.
I minimize my ability to be targeted and run over by rogue bus drivers using barriers.
I mentally drill myself daily on what I would do if someone attacked me.

I have no reason whatsoever to be paranoid, I live in a town of 8000.

Madison

24-04-2003, 21:35

Originally posted by ZACH P.
Um, see if you can guess my name!

At least i have a cool name- Zach Powers.

Any relation to Screech?

ZACH P.

24-04-2003, 21:50

Originally posted by M. Krass
Any relation to Screech?

lol my friends at school said that i was a combination of Screech Powers and Zach Morris. (just namewise):D

but to answer you question no, but i think i do have a cousin somewhere nomed austin.

The Lucas

24-04-2003, 22:06

My CD name consists of my last name (Lucas) preceded by "The". I got the nickname "The Lucas" in my rookie year and I don't care if anyone calls me by it (most of my team does anyway). I sign with my real name, Brian Lucas, so I don't see any reason to change my CD handle.

I have always had nicknames that most of my friends used. I could always use "BLucas"(pronounced like "Blue-cuss") which all my UD floor mates call me.

If I had used "Biff" which all my HS friends call me I would consider changing my CD name. "Biff" is included in my AIM name: Biffus Meridus (with a Gladiator movie reference, Russel Crowe played General Maximus Decimus Meridus).

As Erin Rapacki mentioned, it would be really weird if everyone started calling me by my AIM name ("Hey Biffus Meridus!" :)) . CD names are a little different than AIM names. Usually you meet someone in person before adding them to your AIM Buddy List. On CD, you can read many people's posts before meeting them at competition. Also, if you will not back up your opinion with your name, you should not post that opinion.

I hope SME name badges make a come back. Maybe they could add a Chief Delphi Name line to them. It would make it easier to connect people from the CD boards to people at competition. I would also like to see more Who am I? photos in the gallery to recognize people. Maybe that needs to be a new thread.

Edit: The New Pictures Thread is Real Names, Real Faces (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20454)

Jack

24-04-2003, 22:29

well...

My real name (the one on the birth certificate) is Andrew Schenk.

BUT... everyone at robotics calls me "Jack". I'm not jokeing either, some people don't know for 1/2 yr that i'm not really named jack, but andrew.

Also.. (would need to talk to brandon about this) but what about a profile field that was for your real name? Would that be a good soultion? It would be optional and then could appear under location in your posts. I guess the Sig thing works too, but this would be a special place for it.

Jack (see.. i even sign my posts jack, not andrew :))

MBiddy

24-04-2003, 22:48

My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Jupee

24-04-2003, 23:49

My nickname is a combo of my first and last name: Julie P...I acquired it my freshman year during soccer since we had two Julie's and coach always called me Julie P., so as to not get us mixed up. When they said it really fast it kinda mushed together into "Jupee". I use it as my username for EVERYTHING so it's pretty much synonymous with me:) I liiike it.

OneAngryDaisy

25-04-2003, 00:14

Originally posted by MBiddy
My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

You just watched the Princess's Bride, eh?

Andy- a noble idea.. My two cents-

Another thing that people associate with names is teams.. a name such like mine lets people know what team I am on right away.. I know there is a tab below with team numbers, info, etc.. However, I bet many people can recoginze Chief Delphi from their name, but not many know their team number..

It's also a matter of identity- I can tell you I like seeing 'oneangrydaisy' above my posts much more than my plain old name. Plus, it may or may not already be taken by someone else ;)

Daniel Brim

25-04-2003, 00:28

My real name is Daniel Brim :-) I use DanielBCR because its team pride, and plus it shows my team without looking at the side. I see no reason why to change my name to Daniel Brim, and I'm annonymous in picture (but if you stopped by the 294 pits at LA on Friday or Saturday, and saw a guy with orange hair, that was me :-)

Greg Ross

25-04-2003, 00:34

Originally posted by P1NKfreak13
...(and on this site, since there isn't much personality TO put in so I think that the more you can add, the better...
Hey guys, I think we've been insulted:mad: ;)

I don't think I need to change my screen name, do I? What do y'all think? I've got my real (nick)name in my signature. I'm so used to typing gwross for all my user ids... And I'm easily confused when I get out of my rut.:( Pleeeese, can I keep it???

MBiddy

25-04-2003, 00:45

As long as we're posting full names to get better aquainted, I think we should also post credit card numbers and expiration dates, and social security numbers. Scans of signatures would let us bond more, too.

FotoPlasma

25-04-2003, 00:46

Originally posted by gwross
I don't think I need to change my screen name, do I? What do y'all think? I've got my real (nick)name in my signature. I'm so used to typing gwross for all my user ids... And I'm easily confused when I get out of my rut.:( Pleeeese, can I keep it???

If I can keep mine, I'm sure you can keep yours.

;)

ZACH P.

25-04-2003, 06:00

Originally posted by MBiddy
As long as we're posting full names to get better aquainted, I think we should also post credit card numbers and expiration dates, and social security numbers. Scans of signatures would let us bond more, too.

dont forget your mother's madien name.:)

Ryan Dognaux

25-04-2003, 07:31

I made my screename in my freshman year... but now it just didn't make much sense to some people, so I've changed it to my real name. :)

Koko Ed

25-04-2003, 07:36

I use this username on other messageboards I frequent and I like it.
I think I'll stay as is, if you don't mind.
Total rebel, that's me.

Jeff Rodriguez

25-04-2003, 09:27

If you were to go up to just about an member of 173/571 and ask for Jeff, you would get pointed in the wrong direction. There were always two Jeffs on the team when i was there, so i got called Ogre.
In fact, I IMed Joel once from a different SN and told him it was Jeff and he thought it was the other Jeff, not me.
I have always been know as Ogre, I have always been called Ogre, I shall stay Ogre.
There are too many Jeffs in FIRST (Wetzel, Waeglin, the one form team 73, and thats off the top of my head)
I will put my name in my sig. In my Title
I don't mean to be cocky or defiant, but people don't know me as Jeff. It won't work.

Ashley Weed

25-04-2003, 09:38

well.. my last name is Weed....
umm, I have been known as weedie since I was 8 in school...
and most of my team knows me as weedie..
so, I only found it 'custom' to go by weedie on Delphi.

... if someone would really like me too, let me know... I would be happy to change it to my real name.. just ask!

hey - great meeting many of you at CE!

Greg Perkins

25-04-2003, 09:56

allright! the jig is up, they are coming for me!!...actually my name is Greg Perkins...its dull but it works. hey brandon u could change my name to that. thanks, '

Greg!

Joe Ross

25-04-2003, 10:13

Firewolf

25-04-2003, 11:07

CONFORMITY!!

i'm not about to change my username,
no one would care for my real name anyway,
but i like it better when people say
'hey, where's Firewolf?'
it brings a smile to my face
:D

Josh Hambright

25-04-2003, 12:40

Originally posted by Andy Baker

Other people, like oneangrydwarf (Josh), are just impossible to ignore and the world will know who you are soon enough. By they way, Josh, congrats on the mohawk award last night... that is so cool.

Thanks andy. We really appreciate all of you coming...and yes i am impossible to ignore...and annoying...and tall...really tall..

Originally posted by Katie Reynolds

Now I know who Josh is, I can say hi at competitions next year! ;)

- Katie

If you only knew how many people came upto me in houston and were all 'hey your one angry dwarf aren't you....' it was kinda strange...i only got a few at regionals though. You shoulda said hi...it freaks me out more when i hear people whispering about me and pointing and i hear my screen name.... or when someone told one of my team members that they wanted to kick muh butt cuz i was annoying on here:)

Adam Y.

25-04-2003, 12:55

If you only knew how many people came upto me in houston and were all 'hey your one angry dwarf aren't you....' it was kinda strange...i only got a few at regionals though. You shoulda said hi...it freaks me out more when i hear people whispering about me and pointing and i hear my screen name.... or when someone told one of my team members that they wanted to kick muh butt cuz i was annoying on here
You know whats even freakier when people would go up to you and go,"Hi Adam." and you would think,"What the #### how did he know my name." and then I realized my safety glasses were decorated with my name.:rolleyes:

AlbertW

25-04-2003, 13:07

Originally posted by Greg Perkins
allright! the jig is up, they are coming for me!!...actually my name is Greg Perkins...its dull but it works. hey brandon u could change my name to that. thanks, '

Greg!

:ahh:

aaaaH! we already HAVE a greg perkins!

we should take one of them back... :D

AlbertW

25-04-2003, 13:12

Kyle

25-04-2003, 13:16

Originally posted by AlbertWu
sure thing, my discover card is 6011...

hey! wait a minute :p

Yea i almost did the same thing, thats what happens during spring break and my mind just walks out to find smething to do.

any one wanna guss what my name is, I bet you get it wrong :)

Ben Mitchell

25-04-2003, 14:32

Originally posted by Andy Baker
Although I understand nicknames... communication would sure be easier if you all just put your name as your screen name. First names are good. First names with last initials are good... but some goofy screen name that does not identify you is barely useful.

All I am doing is trying to improve communications and relations between people in this community. I may sound like a nag, but I see this bettering our already great FIRST community on this fine website.

So... I challenge you all to change your screen name to your real name.

Andy B.

I could not agree more. While we are at it, could we take out the silly Team#000 thing. I hate it when people say they are on team 000, when they really are on a team, and are such cowards that they feel they must hide behind a screename and a fake team number.

BTW, I'm Ben Mitchell, (first name Ben, last name Mitchell) and I'm on Team 303.

Jack

25-04-2003, 14:39

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell
Team #000 thing.

But.. If that was taken out, what would people do who really aren't on a team?

srawls

25-04-2003, 14:41

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell
While we are at it, could we take out the silly Team#000 thing. I hate it when people say they are on team 000, when they really are on a team, and are such cowards that they feel they must hide behind a screename and a fake team number.

Team #000 is what people put when they aren't directly associated with a particular team. There are many avid FIRST enthusiasts and volunteers on this board who aren't on a team, and Team #000 is for them. Besides, anyone who posts under Team #000 to hide their identity probably won't stay around too long, and if he causes any trouble, I'm sure Brandon can handle it.

Stephen

Brandon Martus

25-04-2003, 15:06

The team number is mainly used for the team list. There has to be a catch-all for those that aren't on a team, and 0000 is good because there probably will never be a #0 FIRST team.

dez250

25-04-2003, 15:46

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell
I could not agree more. While we are at it, could we take out the silly Team#000 thing. I hate it when people say they are on team 000, when they really are on a team, and are such cowards that they feel they must hide behind a screename and a fake team number.

BTW, I'm Ben Mitchell, (first name Ben, last name Mitchell) and I'm on Team 303.

i dont know who you are taliking aboput but everyone i know and talk to here have their real team numbers shown and if they arent on a team they use 000 to signify that. many refs and vlounteers that use this board that do have a team number other then 000 present is because thats just what they are, a volunteer for FIRST.

~Mike

EIROBOTICS86

25-04-2003, 15:48

i agree with every one else

Madison

25-04-2003, 15:53

Originally posted by EIROBOTICS86
i agree with every one else

By any chance, do you use America Online?

dez250

25-04-2003, 15:55

HAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHA!

Maddie if that was intended the way i read it as a joke, then it was just wrong, if it was a true question and he answers yes i feel bad for him...

~Mike

Bill Gold

25-04-2003, 16:10

Originally posted by M. Krass
By any chance, do you use America Online?
OMG!@!!!1 dat wuzsoooooo phunnie!!!!!!@!@!@!!1 i lovez you maddie!!!!@!!!!1

Ok. Enough of the retardedness from me...
Getting back to using your real name on CD. I'm all for it. I've been iritated for the past 3 years by all the pseudonyms here. I mean, it's weird replying to threads by saying
"cooldude257:
(insert text of message here)"
I'm glad that a lot of you have taken Andy's and others' words to heart and changed your usernames to at least your first name. Thanks.

-Bill Gold

PS - I was serious above. I thought Maddie's post was funny. And no, I usually don't write with all the mis-typings and extra exclamation points. I just felt like typing like some of the people I chat with on AIM.

Ben Mitchell

25-04-2003, 18:14

Originally posted by dez250
i dont know who you are taliking aboput but everyone i know and talk to here have their real team numbers shown and if they arent on a team they use 000 to signify that. many refs and vlounteers that use this board that do have a team number other then 000 present is because thats just what they are, a volunteer for FIRST.

~Mike

Look at the team listings.

There are over 320 people in the team #000

That averages out to 14 delphi-poster-volunteers per regional, assuming that no delphi-poster-volunteer volunteers at two or more regionals.

It's intended purpose was good, but it is now being used to create an aura of secrecy around people. It's not like these people are causing trouble, it's just irratating that there are people who post under a pseudonym, with a team #000, asking for info in say, a scouting thread.

It's might be just me, but I like knowing who I am "talking" to, particularly here. We should be a step above a video game forum or a chatroom, here. For the number of people actually on a team #000 that post here: why not either:

A) be an alumni of your old team
B) Be given an option to be put down as a regional volunteer, and there could be separate "teams" for each regional.

IE, instead of Team #303, I could be team number #chesapeake regional volunteer.

Follow me?

To be honest, the team 000 is irritating. There are NOT 326 volunteers that are registered for this forum. Do a simple search of 000 members, and their posts. You'll see 000 members asking about drivers, asking for info, adding their piece in discussions: members that are CLEARLY on a team, but pretend they are not, abusing a feature designed to help people not on a team.

Hell, if I wanted to be mean, I could start posting names right now.

If we are a FIRST community, why do these people want to hide themselves from the rest of us?

I can only speculate about the thought processes on that one.

gsensel

25-04-2003, 18:51

Ok I think the real thing that everyone post is agreeing with put you name somewhere if not it the SN put it in your signature. Also for the team#000 there are probably the few out there that are on a team now and post under it but there are the ones who are trying to start a team, or actually volunteer.

Arrowsmith

26-04-2003, 03:08

I'm Mark Arrowsmith and I drink dangerous amounts of Mountain Dew.

(HI MARK!)

Ben Mitchell

26-04-2003, 11:30

Originally posted by gsensel
Also for the team#000 there are probably the few out there that are on a team now and post under it but there are the ones who are trying to start a team, or actually volunteer.

Most of them are on teams.

Marc P.

27-04-2003, 00:11

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell
Most of them are on teams.

I myself am "from" team 38, but graduated before this past season. I'm no longer a student on the team, and as a result of working full time, I no longer have the same type of time to donate to the team. I consider myself a "member" of the team, in that I do try to help out how/whenever I can, but officially, I consider myself a volunteer for FIRST (field reset at UTC and ref at Nationals).

My situation aside, I'm sure there are countless numbers of CD posters out there that are involved with more than one team, and wouldn't feel it fair to post one specific team for them to be associated with, and therefore use 000 to symbolize their involvement with FIRST, without showing alliegance to any one specific team.

mtaman02

27-04-2003, 11:28

Hi my name is mike

too many mikes on this site so just make up a name and call me by it. :) just make sure i know what it is so that i can respond to it ;) or just call me the following names

MOUSE
MIKEY
MICKEY
JOHN JACOB JINGLE HYMER SCHMIDT - someones gotta use this name why not me !! ;)

Erin Rapacki

27-04-2003, 14:30

Originally posted by Marc P.

My situation aside, I'm sure there are countless numbers of CD posters out there that are involved with more than one team, and wouldn't feel it fair to post one specific team for them to be associated with, and therefore use 000 to symbolize their involvement with FIRST, without showing alliegance to any one specific team.

I think that for CD users who have an affiliation with more than one team should still put up the number of the team who knows them best or that they are most closely associated with. This way, random FIRSTers who are looking for them at competitions could have a place to start.

ByE

erin

Ken Leung

27-04-2003, 15:18

I see two main issues in this thread that people are discussing, I will address them one at a time.

Putting Real Name as your screen name:

I've always used my original name for my screen name, even though I changed it from Ken Leung to Ken L. You know why? Because when people ask who I am, I tell them, "Hi, my name is Ken." Never bothered with "LKen5411" or the hidden screen name I use.

When I go to competition, and ask people who they are, all of them tell me their real name. They might say "oh by the way, I post as '******' on Chief Delphi", but I can never memorize all those names in addition to the real names. To me, knowing people's real name makes the competition feels a little more professional. Just like meeting new sponsors, engineers, and teachers, they always tell me their real name which appears on their business card. So much easier arranging people's business card with their real name.

Plus, all the people I really care about in the competition, I call them with their first name, such as Ken, Jess, Robby, Bill, Mark, Jim, Jeff, Carolyn, etc. Just makes the meeting with people a little easier, and friendlier. I never needed screen name with I am talking with close friends.

If you use a screen name that's hard to remember, or hard to pronounce, chances are a lot of people who only know you through the forum through one or two discussions probably can't remember your name. And then you start talking to people through e-mails, or PM's, or AIM, and different names started appearing and it get 10 times more confusing.

With so many names to remember in this forum... it's just so much easier to remember names like "Andy Baker", or "Joe Johnson", instead of "abubbabaker" or "drmotors".

Well, it is up to you to decide, but when it come to real conversations, I am going to ask you for your real name ;).

Ken Leung

27-04-2003, 15:33

The second topic in this thread is about team 000, and here are my thoughts on that.

Traditionally team 000 is use for users who are done with their high school team, and no longer associate themselves with their own team. Another use is for official people like FIRST staff to post in the forum (although they rarely do now).

The current situation is, a lot of people on team 000 choose that number because they no longer wish to keep their talents in just one team, or they are sick and tired of their own team and no longer want to be associated with them anymore. They are still working with a FIRST team, but they are more of a free floater instead of a team person. They will volunteer at regionals, or participate with a team or two, but they want to be known as a person of their own, and not part of a group.

I encourage that kind of mind set. I myself used to work with Team 192 Gunn Robotics Team in high school, and us GRT people are "once a GRT, always a GRT". It's part of my past, and a big reason I am the person I am today, but I don't associate to that team anymore. I worked with multiple teams around the Bay Area because I want to help out more kids than the 50 on GRT, and now I work with WRRF running post season competition and teaching workshops. That's why I choose Team 000. To me, it is important to show that I don't just stick to one team anymore.

You can look at my signature and see what teams I've been with, but I prefer people knowing me for the person I am, not with whatever team I choose to help out in the season.

Frankly, there are too many stories behind each person for one number to show what status that person is in the competition. I know plenty of people who should be associated with a team, but at the same time, volunteer at the competition, and volunteer at off season events. The number 000 just shows they do more than working with a team.

And sure, I want to know the person when I am talking to them. That's why I encourage people putting up their real name as the screen name. But the team number shown on the left here was never quite as important. When I see a team number, I would say "hey, I heard about your team, what do you do in there?". When I see 000 I will say "I see you put 000 as your team number. So, do you work with a team, or do you do more?" And that usually work out just fine.

Being on team 000 Doesn't mean people are hiding themselves from the rest of FIRST, it just means they don't want to be known as part of a team anymore.

Austin

27-04-2003, 16:15

To All:
The AKA field is up on your profile...so you have no excuse for not using this feature, that brandon most graciously added for us, for putting your real name...or at least real first name...so that we can all know you a little better and know who to ask for at competition...and you even get to keep your 'custom user name!' :D

Ashley Weed

27-04-2003, 18:37

Originally posted by Austin
To All:
The AKA field is up on your profile...so you have no excuse for not using this feature, that brandon most graciously added for us, for putting your real name...or at least real first name...so that we can all know you a little better and know who to ask for at competition...and you even get to keep your 'custom user name!' :D

DONE! :D

Ryan Dognaux

27-04-2003, 19:16

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell
To be honest, the team 000 is irritating. There are NOT 326 volunteers that are registered for this forum. Do a simple search of 000 members, and their posts. You'll see 000 members asking about drivers, asking for info, adding their piece in discussions: members that are CLEARLY on a team, but pretend they are not, abusing a feature designed to help people not on a team.

Hell, if I wanted to be mean, I could start posting names right now.

You're right, there aren't 326 people registered under 0000, there are 265. Did you even do a search??.. cause I did. Your posts kind of came off as an attack towards people with the numbers 0000 for their team number. It wouldn't surprise me if there were that many volunteers... don't you know how many people are actually invovled in FIRST? Unless you have precise evidence supporting your claims, this is one FIRST-er you aren't convincing. :rolleyes:

dez250

27-04-2003, 21:29

Originally posted by Ryan Dognaux
Your posts kind of came off as an attack towards people with the numbers 0000 for their team number. It wouldn't surprise me if there were that many volunteers... don't you know how many people are actually invovled in FIRST? Unless you have precise evidence supporting your claims, this is one FIRST-er you aren't convincing. :rolleyes:

I am not trying to get this thread as a flame war like other posts have turned into, but what i want to say is ryan is correct that it takes a ton of people to do even a regional, i think there were over 100 volunteers at the utc regional, it doesnt look like many there but a lot of people do behind the scenes work. And there were over 20 regionals this year plus the nationals. There are a lot more then you would think volunteers that work for FIRST at events and other things. Again im nottrying to sound sarcastic or mean, but its the truth, you should actually sometimes take a step back, look at the true numbers and then talk.

~Mike

BandChick

27-04-2003, 21:31

Alright, here's the deal, Andy Baker makes a good point, but what about all us with the common names. For example, I'm Sara...and there are a million Sara's out there. For me, if you went over to my pit and said "who's bandchick" (even if there were another girl) they would know exactly who you were talking about. It's how I've been defined for years now, so I will stick with the bandchick because it's easier, and it's who I am. Call me Sara, call me bandchick, call me girl, hell, you could call me Megan (right keith?). I don't see the need to change my username to be easier for everyone else. If you want to know who I am, if you want to meet me, I think you could take the time to find out.

--Sara Reffler--
(the bandchick of the bunch)

Carlo

28-04-2003, 15:52

as usual a good point made by Andy Baker.

My name is Carlo, it just shows how original I am with screen names. If anyone else finds a Carlo on Chief Delphi, I will gladly put my last name in my signature, but through my whole life I have met very few Carlo's beings it is an Italian name which got changed to Charles when people came to America.

There's a history lesson for the day on my name, so no it is not Carlos mispelled.

Ben Mitchell

28-04-2003, 15:55

Originally posted by Ryan Dognaux
You're right, there aren't 326 people registered under 0000, there are 265. Did you even do a search??.. cause I did. Your posts kind of came off as an attack towards people with the numbers 0000 for their team number. It wouldn't surprise me if there were that many volunteers... don't you know how many people are actually invovled in FIRST? Unless you have precise evidence supporting your claims, this is one FIRST-er you aren't convincing. :rolleyes:

!!!!****>>>>>0000 - FIRST / Other 327<<<<<****!!!!
0001 - Juggernauts 7
0002 - 4
0003 - 5
0005 - RoboCards 15
0006 - ATK (Alliant Techsystems) & Hopkins High School 10
0007 - Parkville Knights 10
0008 - Palo Alto High School 2
0009 - Arial Foundation & Roosevelt High School 2
0011 - MORT 14
0016 - Baxter Bomb Squad 24
0019 - Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich/Beta Shim Co & Greenwich High School 9
0021 - ComBBAT 19
0022 - Boeing Rocketdyne/Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers/FADAL Engineering & Chatsworth HS 2
etc, etc...

Look under teams at the top of this page, right above the forum/thread link.

It's actually up to 327 right now. I have no idea where you came up with your number. Go figure. :rolleyes:

And i did do research. I searched for posts by team members of 000. Quite a few of them give themselves away as being on a team.

Here are some nice quotes: (leaving names out to protect the user, of course.

Someone's profile:
"Team# 0000
Location: Anytown, USA
Team Role: Team Captain "
^^^Oh yes, "he is not on a FIRST team, he is a volunteer"...NOT.

Quote from a post: "We are a second-year team and are considering this approach due to time constraints. Any suggestions on how get this assembly aligned with our drive shaft?"

Also, on a team: stating it him/her self. Another abuser of team #000.

Quote from a post about how teams pick drivers: "Our team this year is trying simon sez, the thought behind this is that anybody can drive a robot good with enough practice, and if the driver can listen to mentor and other team it is all for the better."

Also, on a team.

Another quote from a post: "We are wondering if we can add weight to counterbalance another component of our robot. We know that we cannot add "dead weight" to make our robot stronger but are not sure if we can add weight to counterbalance another component. "

Also, clearly on a team - who else would ask such a question, and who else would have a robot?

Another quote from a post: "We are having trouble with where we are supposed to hook up the power for the light. This is the only thing that is keeping us from having a fully operational light. Thank you very much"

Oh yes, FIRST staffers *really* need to know how to wire a light.

Once more, clearly on a team.

Quote: "Just how are you supposed to hook up the controller to a computer, for programming? I couldn't find anything that said exactly what port it was. I believe its 'Dashboard', but i just want to be sure... don't want to fry a 3000$ piece of equipment. :P"

Once again, clearly on a team. No one else would be asking such a question.

Quote: "I wonder? Is all there text computer made and text book tests. Are what we learning in school generated garbage from some people sitting there writing bs textbooks. How do we know if teachers arent part of this big brainwashing scandal to turn kids into stupid zombies. What can you really prove. Are the text books made by aliens?!? We could be getting stupid by alien textbooks. And really aliens eat stupid peoples brains!"

This guy actually has his team location and references to another team IN HIS SIG. Another clear case of someone being on a team. (He also got himself banned, so he clearly isn't too sharp on the uptake.)

Quote: "Actually our team is using a cannon to launch the boxes across the arena. It's still a little inacurate but were in the process of rifling the barrell."

Another reference to a team. Hardly a team #000 FIRST volunteer. :rolleyes:

Quote from a profile:

"Team Name rookie team in 2003
Team# 0000
Location Los Angeles
Team Role Student "

A student on rookie team #000 - right. Of course.:rolleyes:

************
And THAT was just the blatant ones in the first three pages of the Team #000 list. There are nine pages total.

Before flaming me, get your facts straight. There are many users that claim to be on team #000, that instead use team #000 to mask their identity.

Oh, and just a little point: I am not being disrespectful to those who are using the team #000 as it was inteneded. That is who it was designed for.

What gets me angry is those who are abusing it.

My question: Are these people so ashamed of themselves and/or their teams, that they feel the need to hide behind usernames and lies. Putting yourself on a team #000, designed for those not on a team, while atually being on a team, is a blatant LIE. I cannot and will not trust or respect those who seek to hide themselves from thier team, and lie to the rest of the people on these message boards. There is NO reason for people to hide behind false teams: I consider it no different than people using another team's team number, while they really are on a different team. It's wrong, and it should be discouraged.

I took me 10 minutes of detective work to figure this stuff out, btw. A little bit of research...

Brandon Martus

28-04-2003, 16:01

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell
It's actually up to 327 right now. I have no idea where you came up with your number. Go figure. :rolleyes:

His number is found when you click the 'members' button to view members of team 0000. I think the 327 is correct, I have to fix the list.

I suppose I could make '0000' reserved and the only way to have '0000' would be to message me. This way they are filtered and those that are trying to hide will be forced to either a) enter a real team number... b) enter a fake team number ... c) enter some designated 'not on a team, hiding' number (9999?, -1, etc)

Ben Mitchell

28-04-2003, 16:24

That would be a good idea Brandon - though it would make more work for you. :(

I don't mean to be a militant nutcase in this thread - it's just something that bugs me: people abusing a system designed to do good. :mad:

Ryan Dognaux

28-04-2003, 18:15

First I'd like to apologize, I went to users and did an advanced search under team numbers.. it gave me that number, but I found what you were talking about. So, I admit I was wrong on that number thing...

Anyways, my point is, people have the right to choose what they want their number to be, whether to remain annonomous or side with a team. I mean , even if it was changed so Brandon had to set it to 0000, people could still just PM him and ask him to do it anyways.... I dunno, I don't really care.. it's just a number.

I'm here for the content people add to their posts... :D

Mike Schroeder

28-04-2003, 18:25

do you think that maybe people on these boards might be offended by what people say? and maybe some people take what one person says and automaticlly assume its "the teams" Beliefs, this way they protect their teams from one person actions, and another thing, i would like to know when this person : "Team Name rookie team in 2003
Team# 0000
Location Los Angeles
Team Role Student "

A student on rookie team #000 - right. Of course. Joined, cause if you didnt look and that ( i dont know if you did or not) maybe he was working on starting a team, and joined the forums before hand, and he/she forgot to change it back again. some people are just forgettful ;)

*Throws His 2 cents into the pot and walks away *

Alexander McGee

28-04-2003, 20:08

Well, i use magnasmific for just about everything i have; yahoo ID, AIM, MSN, ECT. So i just used this out of habit. Ill change my signature so that it says my real name, which happens to be

Alexander Steven McGee.

YEAH!

Anyways, magnasmific is my company name too. I have DBA for webdesign. Like i said before, it's just habit.

PEACE

Ben Mitchell

29-04-2003, 15:32

Originally posted by "Big Mike"
do you think that maybe people on these boards might be offended by what people say? and maybe some people take what one person says and automaticlly assume its "the teams" Beliefs, this way they protect their teams from one person actions,

If people are offended by what someone says, they have no business posting here.

I believe that people have a responsibility to their team, and the rest of the community here, to take responsibility for their own words/actions, and not blatantly lie by assuming a team number that was intended, if have the authority to say so, to serve as a place marker for those not currently on a team, but still involved with FIRST.

Those who take a team number 000 are lying: pure and simple. If I cannot take responsibility for my own posts, and my posts would bring shame to my team: I have no business posting here. The point of this forum is that we represent our teams, but we do not speak for our teams. I may represent 303 on these boards, but my opinions do not nessasarily coincide with those of my teammates. My teammates and I disagree constantly.

I'm sure I've made people upset on these forums. I'm sure people have become angry over the subject of some of my posts. But I'm not afraid to give my team number, sponser, and my teams web site. I even give people my SN and email.

No one should need to hide their team identity on these forums.

Al Skierkiewicz

30-04-2003, 10:32

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell

Those who take a team number 000 are ...
No one should need to hide their team identity on these forums.
I remember a time long ago, as a newbie to this board, my reluctance to jump in and post. I had been reading the board for a long time but was just intimidated by all the others who posted regularly and seemed to have a working knowledge of the topic. I wouldn't be too hard on those who do not wish to become public, yet. Let them get their feet wet and be comfortable in the group and feel accepted before they proudly sign name and team.
We are not looking to place blame for anything here, I just like meeting people face to face and knowing that I address them as Clark or D.J. or Andy and not ***whatsacoolname***. It's hard to reply Dear ***whatsacoolname*** and sound knowledgeable and sincere.

Jeff Waegelin

30-04-2003, 12:18

It's always nice to be able to go up to someone like Raul, or Andy Baker, or D.J. Fluck, and just say... Hi, I'm Jeff Waegelin... and be recognized (or even be recognized from my Who Am I pic). If I used some of my oddball online names, that would be a lot harder to do. It just seems like a more personal connection when you know someone's real name. They can be more like a friend, even if you've never seen them in person.

Forsaken85

30-04-2003, 19:32

I agree that names help in the long run. Everyone has the right to concel there name from the public for some reasons though. I mean you can have a screen name and then in the signature you could put your name and team #. Using our real names can be ok but i believe in the idea of using fake names. Using our real names leaves us up to the outside world and the sicko's out there, since this website is accessable to anyone. So the debate whether to have names as screen names should not be an issue. The issue is how we can get F.I.R.S.T bigger and better.

Ben Mitchell

30-04-2003, 21:13

Originally posted by Al Skierkiewicz
We are not looking to place blame for anything here, I just like meeting people face to face and knowing that I address them as Clark or D.J. or Andy and not ***whatsacoolname***. It's hard to reply Dear ***whatsacoolname*** and sound knowledgeable and sincere.

Good points, Mr. Skierkiewicz.

It does look a lot more professional if you post with a real name - and plus, people can recognize you at competitions.

I recogize names like Joe Johnson, Andy Baker, Ken Leung, etc. because they are real names, not just screenames, and I can match a real face to a real name, and when they speak, it's a real person speaking - they have credibility that comes with identity.

Who would you trust - someone who tells you their name and who they work for, or someone that does not give any information about themselves or their background?

It is obvious to me who I would choose when asking for information or answers to a question on these message boards.

Ken Leung

01-05-2003, 05:10

Just thought of a quick solution regarding the misuse of Team 000 as someone see it as...

For the people who wishes to not associate themselves with any one team should be given the option to describe their affiliation with other organization they are working with.

A lot of people choose to stay around for FIRST even though they are no longer with their old team, I don't think those people should feel bad for putting team 000 as their team.

I myself worked for an organization call WRRF, and I work at the regionals with the FIRST staffs, and I feel very uneasy if I am to put 192 (my old team) as my team number, simply because I don't work with them anymore, and people might ask me questions about that team that I can't answer.

There are many status out there that could qualify as team 000... Such as people in the up coming Freelance FIRST some of the people are working to set up right now, and in other RRF's like SCRRF, robotics educators, or any of the organization in the FIRST-related-organization shown in that sub forum.

People entitled to those status should have the freedom to choose team 000, and put up another little description under their name saying what organization they work with. As FIRST grow bigger and bigger, there will be a whole lot of people who don't have a team anymore.

So, what I am really saying is, keep the team 000 status for people who deserve them. If you don't think some of the people deserve such status, or think they are faking it and hiding their information... then ignore them if you don't want to read their post.

Otherwise, member profiles have very little to do with the quality of people's post. So, don't be so fast to judge people without taking your time to read what they have to say, and see what kind of contributor to this forum they are.

Don't trust someone's info if you really believes they are trying to mess around to fool people... But not because they don't want to put up a simple number. Otherwise you are limiting yourself to lots of good people out there. The number is only skin deep.

I have team 000 in my member profile right now, and I hope that none of you will force me to change it to something else.

P.S. I hereby claim myself to be an unofficial team captain of team 000 ;P ;P ;P. Challenge me if you want that title, but only in the rumor mill ;). :D :D :D

j/k!