Names

So i've met some people (including me) that don't like their name anymore, because when they started they just chose one because they wanted to try out SL, but stayed with it until realizing that they don't really like it.

So I wonder why we can't change names?


Thats not a reason? I mean keep the av-key, call the original name "Account Name" and put it into the profile and let them change their "Avatar Name" (also displayed in profile + used for Friends List/Chat/Overhead Display). And maybe restrict that to like one change each 6 months?

So... any real reason?

That's LL's policy...whataya gonna do. *shrug*

I was pretty decisive about choosing my name.....I joined SL with the intent of sticking around and exploring. I figure any web based platform, be it SL or a forum, the name we go by, like it or not, is going to leave an impression on the people we associate with. I took the naming bit pretty seriously.....in that I wasn't going to choose something ridiculous like 'boobilishus sunshine' or whatever.

I suppose the other way to go is just create an alt.....if you're not too far into it where you have loads of non-transfer inventory.....then no big deal, really. Otherwise....maybe wear a flip title with a name you're more comfortable with and hope folks tune in more to that name.

Well I wasn't so decisive, wanted to try out SL without thinking about a name for a week (yes, I actually did that in some online games before creating a new char). Didn't really plan to stay either, but well, no I am and I already have a bunch of no-transfer stuff;

Well FlipTitle might be nice though it won't change the chat name (name displayed in chat)

There's supposedly two things LL is afraid of when it comes to allowing name changes.

One is impersonation. Imagine the trouble someone could cause if they changed their name to something that was only one letter diferent than yours, such as "Azisa Moleno", then did a whole bunch of nasty things, while pretending to be you, ruining YOUR reputation, then changed their name again to be free of the stink they caused.

The other is deceptive use. That someone might try changing their name repeatedly to avoid bans, or to try to get close to the same person again and again, pretending to be someone new each time.

These are the only "reasons" they have ever given, other than "We don't do that.".

Neither is a reasonable excuse.

The only REAL reason is that the LL staff don't think of accounts as anything to be seriously attached to, and most of them don't spend enough time oin-world and actually LIVING in Second Life to understand what it is like to have to abandon hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of no-transfer assets, just to switch to a new account for some reason.

Their "Custom Name Program" amounts to "Bribe us enough and we'll do what we tell a normal Player is impossible". For an extortionately high up-front fee and an equally high annual fee, they will allow you to create a custom surname and as many associated given names as you are willing to pay for. This is usually only worth doing for a Corporation seeking to have all their employees use the same company surname, or for a celebrity seeking to perform in SL under their publicly-known name as a star in the real world. And even then, it's a new account, not a name change.

Also, they won't ever allow a formerly "closed" surname to ever be revived. Once a surname has been in use for a while, they remove it from use, adding new semi-random surnames to the choices for new accounts. This usually makes it impossible for couples to take on the same surname, like a married couple in the real world would, unless they make two new accounts at the same time, and are able to force their way past the artificial barriers at sign-up time that only show you a subset of the possible surnames!

In short, they do everything they can to ensure your name has no special meaning to you.

There are some tools that especially roleplayers use which can do this.

E.g. if you want to be known as "Aragorn" but you are called Leo Mission, you can type in "/2 I will protect the Ringbearer" and you end up with "Aragorn: I will protect the Ringbearer" rather than "Leo Mission: I will protect the Ringbearer".

You could do the same thing, though I agree it's not as satisfactory as actually being able to change your name.

If you want, drop me an IM in-world and I'll send you a freebie one I have.

Really, the only way to change the situation definitively is to make an alt. It is expensive in that you have to buy no-transfer things again, but on the other hand, I'm sure there's lots of stuff that you have you wouldn't buy again. You'd have a streamlined inventory as you would know instantly what you need and what you definitely do not need.

There is a way around this though. Check this out: http://slnamewatch.com/botlog/last_avail_log.html

It basically allows you to hunt down the surname you want, though it still has to be an active one not a retired one, and your first name-surname combination still has to be available. But it definitely helps with the above quoted issue.

I would say the main reason to avoid name changes is the virtual identity deal...

Too easy to abuse it, which is why most online services don't allow it.

To change your name in many you have to have a clean record and pay a decent amount of money.

Of course they link the old name to the new one too.

I see charge for name changes in the future.... even guildwars has jumped on that wagon

doubt it will happen here, due to real life value to items in SL

well, I almost wound up as "CreamedCorn Bartlett", so I guess it could be worse... I never thought I'd make a career here, but that's how it turned out.

explaining alts can sometimes be difficult- I tried to make a switch to a "cooler" name, but would still have to point to my old work to be recognized, and by that time the inventory issue was simply unmanageable...

so I got over my stupid name and just moved forward.

I don't think I'd change it now, even given the option.

your name becomes your brand, your identity- I say embrace it for all it is and make it work for you, like any other less-than-perfect parts.

love that part of you that chose that name, that day.

If I could find something I liked better, and if it were possible, I'd change my surname. There weren't many to pick from and most of them were awful, I just picked what I thought was the least awful one. Unfortunately loads of other people seem to have done the same - I seem to have met more Luminoses in-world than any other name. It's like being called Smith.

I keep watching the Namewatch website but I've yet to find a name I love enough to want to abandon my inventory and start afresh with an alt (although if I did, now would be a good time, as my favourite skin has just been discounted )