This idea came up in another OT thread, so I thought it might be a good idea to move it to here.  One thing we are seeing more and more of on these Forums are posts that have a negative tone, and posts that tend to be unprofessional on a variety of levels.  As we all have seen in the internet age, the "cloak of anonymity" tends to add bravado and "edge" to what otherwise should be a professional, rational conversation.  Of course disagreements will happen, and a healthy discourse should be encouraged.  But more and more we are seeing posts that are leaning the other way.

I feel that if we required full names and company names for each user of these forums (of course you can lurk all you like, but to be an active member, names would be required), at the very least in the user profile, it might just weed out the folks who post some of the more ridiculous things and lend an air of professionalism to the forums (as Kenton and Larry noted in the earlier thread).  It will also give the reader a better idea of who they are dealing with and what kind of work the "poster" does when answering a question or joining a conversation.  Like I stated above, if you would rather not use your name, you can lurk and read but not be a contributing member (there are other forums out there that do not require that, I would imagine).

Just a thought....

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, what prevents a poster providing a false name?  If the criteria then is real names that can be verified, this forum moves more into a "registered users only" type affair and possibly risks becoming less vibrant (good and bad).  Bad posts get weeded out pretty quick anyway by our fantastic moderators.  Regulars know who we all are and you'll never eliminate trolls - over censorship isnt good either.  Just thoughts - no strong conviction either way.

Good points.  However you are already "registered" to these forums.  This is a moderated community with certain rules and regs we all must abide by.  And as a "community" it sure would feel better addressing people by their names versus some whacky screen name.  I find that folks act a bit differently when they have to put their names behind their statements.

Excuse me Moderators may the right dishonourable member from the south address Mr Witthaus (Edit) or with his kind permission call him Scott? (How sterile? How boring? how ridiculously overly PC?)

Anyone coming here to solve a problem, the primary function of the forums, could not care less what the solution giver calls themselves.

Well either way switthaus the way this member talks to anyone else on the forum does not change one iota wether they know me (and plenty here do) or not.  My posts come from the genuine me, regardless of my forum moniker. Anything less would be a complete waste of my time and those I may be communicating with. From what I have seen this applies to, probably, more than 99% of the posters here over the many years I have participated.

Becoming a member gives Avid all the details they need to identify the people. The sign up forms then allow the new member the right to say which parts are made public. 

Advice here is given freely and those receiving advice a perfectly free to take it or leave it.  There is no NEED to know a persons name.  The forum allows anyone dubious about another members advice to click a button and see multiple posts from that member. I like to think that the members are smart enough to research a member that concerns them and form their own opinion about the best way to handle the free advice they have been given.

From my perspective the idea of these forums regulating against the use of any creative forum name someone chooses is downright stupid. Would doing so improve the forums? Only if boring and sterile are an improvement.

And finally did you start your business with a creative name or your own name? Feel free to call me Action if it makes you feel better Mr Witthaus. (edit)    (private joke for those who know me)

Ah, the mysterious Mr. Action rises to the surface.  Now why did I figure you to come out against this idea?  Just a hunch I guess. 

And that's all it was, an idea that was formed on another thread based on some comments about keeping things civil and professional (hmmmm).  A couple of the longer-term members of these forums also thought it would be a good idea to float to Avid, and I moved the idea to the proper forum.  Nothing more than an idea, so no need for a 2 page argument over this.  But the main idea is not to KNOW the persons name, but for a person to put their name behind the statements they make.  I have found this makes folks pause a bit before posting some anonymous rant or the "all caps, five exclamation point" rant about a product, the company, etc., more times than not over some mistake they have made or a simple Read Me oversight.  So, no big deal.

AndrewAction:

Would doing so improve the forums? Only if boring and sterile are an improvement.

So the Avid-L2 is something you would consider boring and sterile?  How would this idea change the function and effectiveness of these forums?  We certainly know your style in this community; educational and entertaining all at the same time.  I would hope that would not change just because you had to ID yourself.

Again, just an idea floated to the correct forum.  Logistically, it would probably be a nightmare to "reverse engineer" into the Avid forums, so it probably won't happen.  So, no big deal.  You are against it.  Duly noted.  Oh, and its Witthaus, not Whitthaus....it's right there at the bottom of this post....care to share? 

switthaus:

Now why did I figure you to come out against this idea?  Just a hunch I guess. 

Apologies for the spelling mistake in the name nothing scinister intended, 4am post whilst rendering. Or more realistically I am the worlds worst proof reader. (but I could edit it)