Creating Second Life Last Names

I do think the time has come for fully user-created names. SL has grown up and is blooming like I never imagined years ago. No reason for the Lindens to have to think up names anymore; just police the ones that are suggested.

I, however, am known as Solitaire Guillaume not just here but in every gaming forum I belong to! (forum.preys-world.com, America's Army, to name just two.) I've had Solitaire as a first name online since 1998, Guillaume as a last name since I joined closed beta here in SL. I won't be changing now, I'm Solitaire G. forever I do believe

Thanks to everyone for all the helpful thoughts, comments and ideas. I'm going to go through the forum, along with the notecards you gave us in-world, and come up with a recommendation. Then we'll have a meeting in-world to talk before we move ahead with development. Please stay tuned!

Just my 5 cents.

I always grumbled all alone in my head about names.

Here is what I think:

When people register to SL, most (I believe)(if they are like me), are very excited.

1- We ONLY want to get ONLINE quick quick quick!!!

2- We DON'T KNOW the NAME SYSTEM since we've never been in SL yet, so we don't know there's a rotation, etc.

3- I can't even remember if it says somewhere you won't be able to change, and it probably does... but 80% of the people won't read that because... read reason 1 again! lol

SOOOOOO I believe strongly that one of the best idea would be to offer a "second chance name".
I don't care if there's a fee, up to even 20 usd. I know I'd do it, and from all the people I have talked to about this, they said it would be great and would agree to pay.

All it would do is, FOR ONE TIME AND ONE TIME ONLY (to avoid abuses), now that you know the game and etc, let you choose your final last name.
It wouldn't change anything about land, inventory or anything. Just plain change name.

I think this is straight fair. No idea if ir *technically-speaking* can be done. But would rock.

Just my thoughts and suggestions.

elka

Coming from someone who's friend signed her up w/ "Hornpipe" thinking it'd be hilarious to match a 'pipe' name to my RL name Meri Jayne (yes really).. I always wished I could change my last name.

Although the idea is great, implimenting it in a way to where it'd work seems impossible. Not only would there be names (like someone else mantioned) Smith, Smithe, Smithh, etc.. but what about ppl making ALTs to look like already established players. Capital 'eye' & lower case 'L'... 'zero' & 'O'... all way too easy. With all the options on how to change appearances in game w/ avatars, sometimes all we have to go on is someones name to recognize them. Also, changing last names to your partners sounds good for the most part, but what to do when you break up? I hope the idea of name changing for this reason is abandonded at the door. Most importantly, pLeAsE dOn'T mAkE mE lOoK aT nAmEs TyPeD lIkE tHiS!!!

If anything at all, I'd be for the one time (or once a year, once in a blue moon, whatever) name change to a last name that has already been available at one time. I know Loki & others like that older names are retired & thus rare, but if we're gonna change our names, we have to pick from something, hehe. Still keep them limited to X ppl having that last name (I heard it's 100?)

How about this: First, forget about the name ownership thing. Having someone other than Linden Labs have the right to colect fees on a name is not a good idea. Also I don't think many people want to pay annually just for their name.

Then just charge a premium at sign up for a custom last name. If you want one from the current available list, it's free. If you want a custom name, then you pay one time up front for the custom last name.

I would also suggest that Linden Labs retain some review rights to those names. Or you're going to have a bunch of non-sense last names running around like t3hl33thax0r...

Edit: For the same fee people should be able to change their current name if they wish. I'm assuming this can be done without changing their UUID so links to their objects, calling cards, etc would still work.

Valid points all. A minor change suggestion: have BASIC users stick with available last names, and PREMIUM users able to pick their own last names. Part of the benefit of being a Premium user, eh?

Good point about having last names reviewed. I see enough clowns running around with unpronounceable first names... especially griefers who use unidentifiable names so people can't easily report them.

Changing a name has pros and cons. Since the name is tied to a UUID... even items they have built might be able to change creator name reflection by referring to the UUID. HOWEVER, one problem is name recognition by others users. For example, we track people's names who cause our group problems. Changeable names would complicate that tremendously.

I've wished for a time that LL would make it more difficult to acquire an ALT for that reason. I've seen people change their ALTS time and time again as they ruin their reputation on one character, so move to a new one to work more mischief. Perhaps it could be made more time-consuming to sign on, in a manner that won't bug newbies (due to its entertaining and educational nature) but will discourage griefers from going through the process.

There does need to exist some system for allowing a name change, but which of dozens of alternatives is best is anyone's guess.

There will be an in-world discussion about these feature possibilities today (Thursday, 8/1 at 4:30PM Pacific. Please feel free to join us at Ambleside (58,10.

Thanks for keeping firmly focused on the critical issues in SL. This is great!

LOL. Good point.

However, apparently this issue is important to some, as this post has received some response. And indeed, "A name is better than fine oil". Since people often conduct commerce based on their names... I can understand why a good name would be important to many.

I have to say, one of my favorite things about Second Life is that all the names are "normal" names. I fear that giving users the ability to name their avatars anything they want will lead to the same thing I see on every other game online: "L33tN00b 4EvA" or "Joe732 Schmoe847135." I love looking on Second Life and seeing names like Timmy Night, Cubey Terra, Chris Linden, Geoff & Deedee Frost, etc... There's no confusion about what to call them. Walk up to "L33tN00b 4EvA" and how are you supposed to address them??

I just don't want to see Second Life erode to the same level as so many other online "Games."

I, for one, completely support the idea of creating last names changing names.
Owing a name has portential problems.


Owning names:
I wouldn't want someone to buy my name, because then I might not be able to use my own name. I might like to use my FL name, in SL, given a chance to do so. I like my privacy, but, in SL, I want to have a good reputation, so would not be fearful of using my real FL name.

On the plus side, name-ownership is an intriguing idea, that could be used to identify group membership, etc. I, for one, would desire to pay fee for such a service, were it available. LL would prolly be willing to add another revenue stream.


Changing names:
Griefers wouldn't be a problem, as they are identified by LL from their credit card details.
I doubt that UUIDS are a hash of name, so that shouldn't be a problem


Creating names:
Wierd names aren't a problem, because folks aren't making wierd first names, so, they aren't likely to make wierd last names.

Most of the really goofy names in other environments are made by folks who wouldn't be allowed on the SL's Adult Grid in the first place (e.g., too young or too stupid to qualify for a credit card).

Anyone who makes a any really wierd name, is likely to find that, for them, SL has no social aspect and limited business aspects, due to self-labelling as an idiot.

I sorta like the idea, but it's not what I would like to see.
What would make me happier is simply adopting a real life custom for partnerships, by just letting me append my partner's last name to mine, ie Araiya Bomazi-Tomba.

Name changes are fine if it's a once-off thing. Creating new names and potentially giving ownership to one person is, rather directly, daft.
What're we trying to do? Create the equivalent of ICANN and Verisign in-world?


There're some RL demons we don't need to recreate. For everything else, there's ...

As many others have addressed, there is the highly possible chance of name barons arising - I have a feeling that the end result would be much like land squatting. Someone with deep pockets decides that he/she wants to have a last name all to himself, and no one else. This brings about a few problems and negative points right off the bat...

1) How would a rightfully-owned (RO for now) last name be handled, should the rights-holder (RH) stop paying the recurring rights fee? Common sense seems to suggest that a grace period would give the RH ample time to correct or change any relevant billing information. Should this fail, the name will enter the public domain (meaning that it is fully available for use and may be incorporated into the user creation drop-down menu, and/or the name-change service.)

2) While the purchase of a RO-name would be perfectly legal, should SL adopt this solution, how would LL handle namesquatting?

To clear up the confusion (which I highly anticipate), please assume that namesquatting is defined as, "The purchase of last-name-rights 1) for the sole purpose of restricting or preventing its use, or 2) in an attempt to restrict the rights and/or freedoms of an avatar, or 3) in an attempt to abate the quality of in-world life and/or experiences for others."

3) The scenario described above is frighteningly similar to one which is a violation of the Terms of Service/AUP - landsquatting. How does this apply to landsquatting? Landsquatting, IMO, is defined as "the purchase of in-world land for the sole purpose of restricting and limiting freedoms and rights of another resident, or for the sole purpose of abating the quality of in-world life for other residents."

Why does Linden Labs want a both-or-neither approach? It's pretty clear to me that one of these options causes more harm than good.

I have seen online games that allowed people to change their last name. What evolved was mafia and cartel. In other words online gangs. I would hate to see secondlife go this route.

I only read the first post, and will read through the rest when I have more time.

I do not understand the point of either option.

Why can't we just pick our own last name (as in make it up like we do our first name)?

I want to be free to make up my own first and last name.

I dont think either option listed in the first post has any point./ Why should anybody have to pay for a screen name. It's not fair. Furthermore, why should anybody have to pay for a whole list?

Residents should be allowed to make up their own first and last name without having to choose from a list. Like in any other game, as long as the first and last name isn't already taken, you can use it.

Furthermore, we should be allowed to change our names at will using the interface. Of course, without paying any extra fees.

Most of all: It's completely obscene and absurd to be charging us for names.

Just give us a serial number, and a way to tag a name of our choosing to that number, so that the name is displayed, not the serial number. that way, any number of people can have the same name, just like in RL. But like social security number, or whatever is used in your country, only a unique number per person...

We already have that unique number. But i don't think its a good idea. What if i have a fight with Cubey Terra, i create a alt named the same, and grief his business to high hell with not working ripoffs. The difference with real live is that we can't have multiple avatars in RL.

Let us just pick any last name (or opt to have no last name), and make sure the complete name does not already exist as happens currently.
Allow existing players a one-time opportinity to change their last name to the one they wanted when signing up in the first place, and leave it at that.

You would hope by now that people on the internet can spot the difference between similar names, and there's nothing currently stopping me from creating, for example, Amshe Chung (assuming that surname is still available, of course)

AAAHHHAHAHAHAHAHA!! YOU SAID SCREEN NAME!! LOL. Admit it!! You use AOL, Admit it!! LOL

This is doubly funny due to my ability to see into the future.

lol.

*Ding* "You've got prims"


But seriousely though, I think "domain names" (pun intended) will cause more problems than it's worth, unless LL is considering commercial possibilities. For instance having people who work for coka cola in world with Ccola as thier last names. I see this most beneficial to companies, inworld and out world, and name barons. Using a domain isn't very usefull to people, only organizational entities.

I like the first Idea, I wouldn't mind paying a bit for creating my own name, and I wouldn't mind paying to be the second or third... to use a premium name either. I payed for my basic account but as I predicted a while ago, they are now free, and I say for free I'm happy to use the names available and I wouldn't blame LL for fund raising by charging a little bit for the option to choose a name. However I would include this option in premium accounts, people who are paying monthly fees should get to pick out thier own name I feel.

I'm fairly new here, but the personna that I use here is one that I've played for several years elsewhere. I was actually quite disappointed that the rather unique fictional surname that I have used for quite some time, Darkwynde, was not a choice I could enter.

I would favor the idea of allowing people to start a new SL surname, and being the first to use it, for a fairly reasonable fee, while others could then use that name freely afterwards. I would happily have paid a small fee to enable me to use my personna's existing name.

If given the option, I would pay a fee now to enable me to change to my preferred surname. I think that would be a good idea. In our First Life, we can apply for a legal name change, so why not here?

Having special rights to a unique surname should require a higher fee, and such names should be monitored or protected in some way, to ensure that people aren't snapping up names just to resell them, like domain name squatters. To be able to invite someone to 'join your family' is really rather cool. But having someone own exclusive rights to 'Jones' or 'Smith', for no better reason than that they snagged it first, is rather annoying. I would rather see it that for a higher fee, you could ensure that a specific surname would not get retired, and that as 'founder' of that name, you can continue to invite others to use it. But demanding that you get *paid* for that invitation should be an infraction that would dump the name into the 'public use' category.

Perhaps the best option is an ability to create a new surname for non-exclusive use, for a small fee, and then for a higher fee, paid at the time the name was created, or later, you gain the ability to offer to someone that they can *change* their surname to match yours. A form of 'Adoption', as it were.

For example, let's say that I became close to someone with a different surname. I wasn't ready to declare a full 'partner' status with them, but we agreed that I wanted to 'join their family'. One or both of us could, possibly, apply to have one of our surnames changed to match the other, for a fee. Rather like a domestic partners arrangement.

In any case, I think creation of a name should be monitored in some way, to ensure that truly offensive or deliberately misleading names don't get created. Or to have a policy for a forced change of name if a chosen name is found to violate certain defined standards. In a community this size, you can't hold each new member application until someone checks out the name. But you could have a means of rectifying problems if an issue is escalated by one or more community members.

The most idiotic idea I've ever heard!

We'll have people squatting names for no other reason than to extort people for using them. I'd be "Lucca Skunk" if the name were availible, but it's not... Last thing I want is for this to happen and then someone comes up with the last name "Skunk" and starts charging $100 a year just to let me use it when in other programs, I can have the name "Lucca Skunk" for free.

If this happens, I will SERIOUSLY think about leaving SL as it will only serve to make the problems worse...

While it is a good idea on the surface (the ability to create a family that's yours and yours only), its riddled with problems that will only serve to alienate everyone.

Domain name squatting is such an ugly problem on the web, we DON'T need it HERE too! If we're going to have the ability to have our own last names, it should not have any exclusive rights of ownership attached to it. I can see "pay an extra fee to choose your own last name when signing up" but not "buy a name and extort the living crap out of people to use it as well".

We already have a serial number... It's called a "key" which is a 128bit integer. Every object, texture, sound or any bit of information in the SL world has its own "serial number".

IF we do this AT ALL, there should be SERIOUS screening done to limit WHICH names can be exclusive...

For instance, being a part of the SLBC, it might be nice if we could hand SLBC employees the last name much like the Lindens have their last name. But it should be limited to corporations only. There should also be a trademark search done on any name proposed to have exclusivie ownership.

In addition, one should have to provide proof that the name is for business purposes and that there can be no "prior art". Generic words such as "Runner" "Skunk" "Robot" should not be allowed for exclusive rights. There must be ***LEGITIMATE*** legal reason for having exclusive rights. Simply "I got to it first" isn't enough. Land barons are bad enough, we don't need name barons.

if a name is changed then the system database would have to be changed to reseet anything they own a global edit should be able to change the name in all your listed friends and notes
or at least thats how it works in text mucks

personally I took three days to decide wether to even make a charactor in Second Life
I still do not care for the second name I have but it is at least tolerable
I did come very close to never joining Second Life becouse of what felt like a high handed aproach to naming

my suggestion

I have no easy answer, but the present system is very annoying