Forum Thread
Finally a practical use for Trainer IDs
Forum-Index → Suggestions → Finally a practical use for Trainer IDsOur past usernames cease to be accessible public information once we change them. In general, the reason why people change usernames is because they'd rather be identified by their new username and don't want to be associated with their old username anymore. If this gets implemented and there's no possibility to restrict who sees your old usernames, people are forced to deal with their old unwanted usernames becoming public information again.
To use myself as an example: I had a different username in the early days of PH. I do not want to be identified by that name anymore for reasons of my own so it'd really irk me if it became available for any and all to see. I changed my username for a reason and I don't want the old one dug up.
A possible compromise could be related to what KrazyKarp brought up:
-> Your profile remains accessible through your previous username for a period of time after you change it.
-> So that old username could then be displayed publicly for that period of time in the username history page. After that time is up, any privacy settings you might've set for your username history take hold. I think that'd be enough time for people to get a grasp of who you are.
Although, to reply to Finhawk...Perhaps we could select which ones we want to be remembered as? Because yeah. I used to be such a jerk to people. And I know some people see me and go "Oh. It's her. She was such an arrogant, selfish, heartless person. Why would anyone be friends with her?" I don't want to be remembered as that person.
I only changed my username once because the original one was a nickname I got because of my deadname. I worked really hard to remove the username from my posts in forums so knowing that anyone could go and see it would cause me great distress.
I understand the worry about being defined by an old name.
But this suggestion isn´t for 'Let´s watch, who was it before and if I don´t like wich name I see, I´ll ignore you.' Even there will be Users they will do that, but that are Users they are just unforgiving and that´s a personal problem, not one of a complete community. Don´t judge people for what they do or think maybe years ago. Be respectful to others, so other are respectful to you.
Sometimes you write so much with a user, then he/she do a break and after 6 month or a year you get a message, but from an unknown Username. So it would be great, if I can look, who is it.
Or did you all check every month your Friendlist to know, if every name can be compared to the right person?
Anyway.. I support it.
I have a friend who changed their name four times
And on the third time, I got lost
I just figured out yesterday who they originally were
"'Cause you're a sky, you're a sky full of stars"
Coldplay & Avicii - Sky Full of Stars
I know it makes a difference for me, so I'm in support. Also, if I wanna show off what usernames I've gone by in the past it could be a fun thing to add!