"Changing and Creating SL Names" Meeting on April 12

Great community interest has been expressed in more flexibility for Second Life names. For example, being able to change your name if you don't like it, or creating new last names if you're not happy with the current choices on the join page.

This is an issue which has been asked about many times, including on the forums, and continues to be popular. You can also find out more context in the related "Creating Second Life Last Names" thread. It's in the works, and we'd like to get more feedback!

If this is important to you, please attend our "Changing and Creating Second Life Names" meeting, hosted by Cyn Linden. I'll also be present, and we're eager to discuss and listen to what you have to say because it's essential to making this possible.

Be seeing you!

If you couldn't make it or would just like a recap, what follows is a transcript of the meeting... thanx to Ulrika Zugzwang's Color Transcript for the autoformatting:


Cyn Linden: ok, looks like we are ready to go!
Katt Kongo: yay!!
Geoff Gavaskar: Roger!
Cyn Linden: Thanks for coming today. We have gotten lots of feedback in the feature voting tool and in the forums, but we wanted to bring this topic in world as well and get some opinions from you all "off the hoof" as it were
Will Webb: are we going voice or text only ?
Cyn Linden: text
Pyrii Akula: Typing ahoy
Cyn Linden: Essentially what we are here to talk about is two fold: the purchasing of last names, and the changing of last names.
Tao Takashi: too bad, no first name change..
Cyn Linden: I am hoping to get some opinions about how you feel it might impact Second Life, both negatively and positively.
Garicho Fatale: :)
Pyrii Akula: I have a question before we start, will shape how I view the system works regarding names.
Cyn Linden: ok, one sec pyrii
Cyn Linden: We can talk some about how it will work, but since we are still early in the design phase, I am really interested in how you would like to see it implemented more than anything.
Pyrii Akula: In the system does everyone's account work on names or "Account IDs" seperate number for each account?
Cyn Linden: But we will try and answer all your questions if we can ?
Will Webb: couldn't there be a concern about people assuming other people's names (after they changed them) and then impersonating ?
Garicho Fatale: :o
Cyn Linden: I think that is a possible concern, yes
Pyrii Akula: Well t just tells me what can and can't be done.
Jon Rolland: IMO once a name is used it shouldn't be reusable not only does it create identity confusion it prevents using an old name to find the new name of someone
Torley Linden: Pyrii, they're done via Agent IDs--a separate key number for each account. for example, my last name changed but my key stays the same.
Cyn Linden: Pyrii your account name is linked to unique ID
Hermia Linden: Hello Robin
Torley Linden: heya Robin :)
Pyrii Akula: Ah, true
Katt Kongo: Hi Robin :)
Pyrii Akula: So tot he system, names are only aesthetic
Kim Anubis: Hiya, Robin
Cyn Linden: Will: There wouldb likely be duplicate dB that would track changes, and the onld name would not be available
Tao Takashi: maybe there should be a visible record of names used
Robin Linden: Hi everyone
Leon Ash: I agree with Tao
Felix Uritsky: Howdy
Garicho Fatale: Hey Robin :)
Leon Ash: Hi Robin (again)
Pyrii Akula: Should we start the questions queue?
Will Webb: what then about ppl wanting to return to their old names, or griefers changing rapdily to lock out names ?
Cyn Linden: sure
Tao Takashi: actually I would still like to find people if they have changed names
Pyrii Akula: doesn't seemt hat many people here
Tao Takashi: e.g. because of partnership
Geoff Gavaskar: I actually think the ability to have a name collision...two avatars in world with the same name....wouldn't be all bad. Plus, it would mirror a RL issue....that of identity. As long as there is an official registrar, where one could go to check name hx
Hermia Linden: It would help to have some sort of queue or I'll get confused.
Cyn Linden: These are all questions we are trying to figure out the answers to, part of the planning process.
Jon Rolland: names aren't just cosmetic to scripters often times they are the only way to identify somone in script since SL lacks an key llName2Key(string name) call
Stephen Boxer: Another way to make money I guess to pay for them costly servers ;)
Cyn Linden: How about you all IM to Torley, and then she can pass them to me
Robin Linden: hi torley!
Torley Linden: =)
Torley Linden waves back at Robin
Pyrii Akula: Well it's a matter of what's viable and what's fair, and how to make the system so it won't be abused
Pyrii Akula: Yeah, dumb the queue on poor torley =OP
Pyrii Akula: dump*
Robin Linden: Hi Kim
Torley Linden: okay... let's do the question queue... and we've already established this is extremely popular and gets asked about frequently, hence why we're here. :)
Kim Anubis waves
Cyn Linden: Luckily Torley is a good sport
Robin Linden: I have a soapbox if anyone wants to use that
Aster Lardner: which is Toreley?
Torley Linden: right here. :)
Will Webb: the multicolored one :-)
Pyrii Akula: Melon-Head =P
Kim Anubis: the watermelon one :)
Tao Takashi: the fresh one ;-)
Thought Plasma: think mellon
Torley Linden: hahaha if you can't see me, change your active group title--it's a bug, it'll refresh the display.
Stephen Boxer: a bug in SL? nahhhh.
Garicho Fatale: heh
Tao Takashi: interesting workaround actually ;-)
Torley Linden: okay, questions are coming in now... first up, Garicho Fatale asks:
Garicho Fatale: (via Torley Linden) How much do you think purchasing last names will be? And why is it an annual fee? Are people going to be allowed to buy a whole bunch of anmes and tie up the market?
Stephen Boxer: the more bugs the more money we dish out
Cyn Linden: We don't have firm numbers yet
Cyn Linden: but the general consensus seems to be that it should be a vlauable commodity
Cyn Linden: to prevent that sort of behavoir
Cyn Linden: the annual fee is not permanently set yet, but it is an option for certain kinds of last name purchases
Stephen Boxer: annual fee?
Stephen Boxer: ok maybe i should read up on it again
Cyn Linden: having an annual fee is one idea we are looking at
Tao Takashi: think that's ok to prevent name collecting
Stephen Boxer: to have a differant last name?
Stephen Boxer: ah
Cyn Linden: for certain types of custom names
Hermia Linden: Linden won't be an option
Torley Linden: okey... next....
Jon Rolland: (via Torley Linden) is there any plan to impliment key llName2Key(string name)? since names will no longer be static they will no longer be a reliable way for a script to identify an avatar
Katt Kongo: darn
Hermia Linden: sorry to interrupt *slap*
Cyn Linden: Great question, I don't have an answer for you right here
Cyn Linden: Let em get back to you on that
Robin Linden: scripts can be keyed to UUIDs if needed
Jon Rolland: not if you don't know it
Aster Lardner: (via Torley Linden) Will trademarks be banned from Lastname? Can I be Aster Skywalker, Aster Google, Aster Fruitloops? ... Aster Lardner: Aster McDonalds Fruit-n-yogurt parfait?
Kim Anubis: haha
Pyrii Akula: I think copyright laws might stamp that one out
Jack Linden: hehe
Cyn Linden: I would say any trademarked name would not be allowed
Ben Bacon: (everybody loves parfait)
Will Webb: unless thats your real name too, then copyright doesnt apply ;:-)
Torley Linden: Will Webb has a two-part question...
Will Webb: (via Torley Linden) since this is called (and marketed) as "second life", wouldnt letting other people tie up the names be against the basics of this program ?
Will Webb: (via Torley Linden) why not require payment for a name change, rather than having one ?
Cyn Linden: Will can you restate the second part of that?
Will Webb: i meant
Will Webb: instead of an annual fee for a name
Will Webb: why not make the change into a commodity
Will Webb: to avoid numerous changes
Cyn Linden: again, annual fee is not necessarily the model we are following, it is an idea we are looking at
Crystal Lameth: any other ideas your looking at?
Cyn Linden: it may well be a commodity
Stephen Boxer: no
Pyrii Akula: I think subscriptions for customising into an identity you want or need is a bad idea, I prefer at most the idea of a one-time fee to prevent abuse.
Crystal Lameth: one time fee perhaps?
Will Webb: if certain names require payment, if ear the creation of an elite group
Stephen Boxer: I agree Pyrii
Crystal Lameth: i agree
Cyn Linden: it will depend some on how we decided to implement the program
Will Webb: *i fear
Cyn Linden: so let me ask you guys something then
Stephen Boxer: And if people are really worried about a name and pay to it to be changed in the first place then yay for lindens
Cyn Linden: do you want to be able to change your last name?
Crystal Lameth: shouldndt people get a chance to vote on t his?
Pyrii Akula: Yes
Leon Ash: yes
Stephen Boxer: no reason to
Tao Takashi: I wouldn't need a name change anyway, just would like to change my first name actually when e.g. clicking the "female" button ;-)
Stephen Boxer: they picked it when they got here
Pyrii Akula: If I had the option on signup I have to admit I'd have a completely different name =/
Leon Ash: that is yes to cyn's question
Hermia Linden: People do ask in Live Help if they can
Will Webb: if first name is changeable as well
Crystal Lameth: honestly me personally...i wouldnt pay for it at all
Pyrii Akula: I think some people have a very clear idea of what they want as thier identity, including the name, and not having that customisability shatters the identity
Cyn Linden: ok, i have another question
Cyn Linden: good point Pyrii
Pyrii Akula: Is was a main point in me not joining SL a year ago and I barely made it in this time
Tao Takashi: well, another point is that you don't really know about SL when you sign up and you don't know actually what you're choosing
Cyn Linden: does the notion of having last names chosen by fellow residents seem like a good thing?
Cyn Linden: True, Tao
Jon Rolland: why would you want someone else to choose your name?
Tao Takashi: My mother did for me the other day ;-)
Thought Plasma: you might getinto clans if that were the case
Crystal Lameth: haha
Crystal Lameth: good point
Will Webb: once was enought i geuss tao ? :-)
Aster Lardner: Clan "LionHeart Parfait!"
Thought Plasma: \What about a random generated name
Thought Plasma: last name
Cyn Linden: Intersting, Thought
Pyrii Akula: A thought just struck me
Torley Linden: there's been some related questions asking about heritages of names created... for example....
Thought Plasma: (via Torley Linden) Would then new last name be your own genome or genilogy ?
Thought Plasma: (via Torley Linden) would you become the "gradfater" of all thoes named after you or have any rights or say so about that name
Garicho Fatale: ...
Will Webb: bad idea i think, i made sure my first and last names went together
Torley Linden: and...
Leon Ash: (via Torley Linden) Are there limits on the number of first names associated with a lastname? Thinking about family dynasties ;-)
Pyrii Akula: Should I send it to Torley, it's not really a question, but a problem that might arise
Torley Linden: please feel free to PM me, Pyrii.
Cyn Linden: Yeah, send it to Torley, sorry, got sidetracked
Cyn Linden: Leon:
Leon Ash: yes
Stephen Boxer: Theres a lot of people here for an afternoon, does anyone work?
Garicho Fatale: I still dont understand the point of the annual fee?
Hermia Linden: I'm off-duty
Jon Rolland: my work is floating over my name
Stephen Boxer: haha
Tao Takashi: afternoon? 10 to midnight ;-)
Cyn Linden: Potentially there could be limits, as there are currently. What if there were two models, one where you just created a name to go into the general pool, one where you owned the rights to it?
Jana Fleming: east coast :))
Will Webb: evening here
Will Webb: almost midnight
Crystal Lameth: i'm done for the week
Garicho Fatale: Crystal got fired.
Tao Takashi: Will Webb is a neighbour it seems ;)
Crystal Lameth: nah
Hermia Linden: I like the idea of creating a name and sharing it
Crystal Lameth: i'm too good of a worker to get hired
Crystal Lameth: hush gar
Will Webb: i'm not in favor or owning rights to a name
Will Webb: doesn't happen in real life either
Crystal Lameth: yeah it will attract lovers
Stephen Boxer: Like in a group thing?
Crystal Lameth: "marriages"
Crystal Lameth: gag me
Crystal Lameth: but yeah
Tao Takashi: I think I am also against owning names
Jon Rolland: i think if you have name rights that right should be challengable common names shouldn't be controlled simply because someone was first
Stephen Boxer: I like that idea hermia
Aster Lardner: I don't think names should be locked, but I kinda like the idea of having clans or families, :S
Stephen Boxer: They should promote you
Tao Takashi: with 1 million people in here all the nice names might be taken already
Torley Linden: some think that "owning rights to a name" might be like owning a website domain name, or even a type of franchise... for example.
Garicho Fatale: WIll it be easier for me to indentify more gangs and mafias?
Will Webb: it'll lead to ppl making mass registrations
Jon Rolland: however i can see control a unique name
Crystal Lameth: thats wh at groups are for
Will Webb: like with website on the net
Crystal Lameth: clans n families
Stephen Boxer: Then they would have people pay for the name
Cyn Linden: why do you say that Will?
Cyn Linden: Just curious
Crystal Lameth: well let it be an option if people want it they can if not they dont have to
Will Webb: that's how people work; hog the market and exploit
Hermia Linden: The real problem seems to be that a lot of people don't like their names, so if they have the chance to make one, they're happy and possible other people will be too
Stephen Boxer: I agree Will
Will Webb: someone will think it's a good idea
Will Webb: and it only takes one
Crystal Lameth: yup
Tao Takashi: why not simply let people choose any name?
Thought Plasma: I love my name *smirk*

Cyn Linden: OK, that's good input, thanks
Tao Takashi: like in every forum or so
Torley Linden: :)
Hermia Linden: Hello Wilder
Torley Linden: our next question relates to education in SL....
Wilder Linden: hi
Claude Desmoulins: (via Torley Linden) How will this tie in with Campus SL and that name selection process?
Leon Ash: Hi Wilder
Jon Rolland: reason in favor of controlling names what if i created Jon ACS and used it to disrupt businesses for ACS?
Kim Anubis waves at Wilder
Cyn Linden: Claude: How so? What exactly are you asking about?
Will Webb: eh, a little background on that campus sl maybe ?
Stephen Boxer: kind of how TOS does
Tao Takashi: what is Campus sl ?
Thought Plasma: Education adn Schools
Will Webb: and what's its link to names ?
Claude Desmoulins: I know that Campus SL people pick a common grop last name. RL educators may want their RL last names to make them easier for their students to find in world.
DeLana Pierce: mommi
Claude Desmoulins: *group
Robin Linden: Let me know if you want me to chime in on that
Cyn Linden: Go ahead, Robin
Aster Lardner: Maybe add a prefix or suffix to "registered names" Like Aster Linden Esq.
Tao Takashi: they then should give these people their number
Tao Takashi: e.g. calling card
Tao Takashi: like in RL
Will Webb: like the old icq system ?
Thought Plasma: first name last name 10 digit bar code ;)
Stephen Boxer: That woudl work
Stephen Boxer: Everyone has a # of thier own
Tao Takashi: well, not the direct number but in form of some card
Stephen Boxer: then do a messangers service as well
Will Webb: an ID number that's not as complicated as the UUID ?
Stephen Boxer: Change name all you want but you'll still ahve that same UD number
Stephen Boxer: *ID
Jon Rolland: the more you simplify a number the less names it supports
Aster Lardner: Like have anyone be able to add or choose any name... but have "registered" last names stand out.
Pyrii Akula: As I said, names are aesthetics
Tao Takashi: no number at all ;-) just the card which has the uuid saved in it
Will Webb: at 8 digits you can last for awhile
Stephen Boxer: yeah but they will still have the same ID number
Will Webb: since a short id would only supplement the uuid
Tao Takashi: I don't want digits which I cannot store somewhere ;-)
Pyrii Akula: Whcih allows for alot of customisability, but also has it's issues
Stephen Boxer: and just log in using your accoutns email and pw
Tao Takashi: make it your addressbbook where you add these cards and search can still be via name and group
Stephen Boxer: so dont really have to memorize the ID #
Tao Takashi: well, we have that already with the cards just make the UI better for it
Will Webb: that's a good issue, logins
Will Webb: how to handle those
Cyn Linden: We'll get back to that last one in a sec
Torley Linden: Leon Ash also wanted to ask..... Leon Ash: What about names for av's only used for business, i.e. have business first/last names?
Robin Linden: let me just explain Campus Second Life for a sec
Pyrii Akula: I have an even bigger issue that may come from all of this... it's sent to torley, so I dunno if she'll get round to it
Cyn Linden: I think that is possible, but I don' tknow that we would make a seperate designation for that at this time
Tao Takashi: yes, please, Robin :)
Robin Linden: It's a program we offer to university classes who want to study in SL for a semester
Robin Linden: we usually give the whole class the same last name
Robin Linden: we do this so they are recognizable within Second Life
Claude Desmoulins: Right now most Campus users are ground classes and can orient their students in RL and SL simultaneously.
Robin Linden: because there was an incident a year or so ago when some residents were unhappy that they didn't know some people were part of a class
Robin Linden: so it's a special circumstance
Claude Desmoulins: If you used SL as an addition to a pure distance course, that orientation and finding your instructor becomes harder.
Tao Takashi: so add groups to that addressbook and create these classes with a filled class group directly?
Will Webb: wouldn't groups cover recognizability ?
Leon Ash: Like it Tao
Claude Desmoulins: Will the new student just entering SL get that?
Tao Takashi: just make it an addressbook and not some subfolder of the inventory (ui wise)
Stephen Boxer: yeah, but how much do you charge for books?
Garicho Fatale: lol
Will Webb: you mean an addressbook not linked to the friends list ?
Tao Takashi: we already have calling cards
Chantal Bachman: ao of
Tao Takashi: which are not neccessarily friends
Chantal Bachman: (pardon- lag)
Tao Takashi: so use these for identifying people, maybe even after name changes
Chantal Bachman: ao off
Thought Plasma: Yes you have that tied to you home location LAND x,y,z then two bob smiths could exisit and be tracked
Leon Ash: Excuse me for butting it, but wouldn't name change change all references to thet UUID as well?
Chantal Bachman: ao on
Robin Linden: Claude - it's really less about the class and more about everyone else being able to identify the class
Thought Plasma: then if you move its just like change of address
Torley Linden: "the Resident formerly known as..." ideally it'd be nice to keep it simple and effective, because the whole thing of changing names can be confusing enough.
Tao Takashi: the uuid should stay, the name can change
Thought Plasma: to Linden Post office
Tao Takashi: and the calling card is probably right now linked to the uuid already
Will Webb: that would be a problem if somebody reported one of those bob smiths for griefing
Torley Linden: yes--UUID will stay the same. i know from personal experience, i guinea-pigged this at an earlier stage.
Hermia Linden: Henceforth I am Confuse-a-Cat
Felix Uritsky: As was said before, how about having a "name history" button in the profile, similar to the way Ebay does it?
Thought Plasma: no since they would have other info
Torley Linden: Calling Cards don't get updated to the new name--however, Friendships and most other things do.
Thought Plasma: tiesd to bob
Cyn Linden: Felix: That is another idea we are looking at
Aster Lardner: Can't you just have the system check if that person currently exists first before issuing a new name?
Tao Takashi: that's a proposal, Torley or it's the case right now?
Cyn Linden: Aster: Yes, it does check that already
Jon Rolland: as far as tracking changes that should be optional to the person if i changed my name i would want people to be able to find my new name but if someone was trying to get away from someone being able to have their new name found with the old name would
Jon Rolland: defeat the purpose
Will Webb: jon: that could be abused by griefers
Torley Linden: Tao: that is how it works right now--the mechanics of doing it.
Jon Rolland: not if the key stayed the same
Tao Takashi: k, maybe this can be changed then ;-)
Tao Takashi: link calling cards to uuids and loko the actual name up in the DB
Jon Rolland: however forced name lookups could also be abused by griefers
Tao Takashi: just don't allow griefers in SL ;-)
Pyrii Akula: This comes back to the issue of privacy which seems to get conveniently pushed to the back of any linden disussion for some reason. With "we're thinking about it"
Pyrii Akula: Maybe privacy should be another discussion like this
Thought Plasma: oh identity
Garicho Fatale: Can stupid people get auto-banned for attempting to use their real life first and last name?
Thought Plasma: is huge
Will Webb: what if they want to use their RL name ?
Will Webb: there are already some
Thought Plasma: We woudl have alot of bob smiths
Tao Takashi: what if Tao Takashi is my real name? ;-)
Garicho Fatale: You open yourself up to a lot of problems.
Cyn Linden: I am not sure what you are referring to Pyrii, can you be more specific? Privacy is very important
Thought Plasma: I am thinking about going to court to change mine IRL ;)
Pyrii Akula: Maybe not use thier RL name if they're teen grid only, but main grid peple might want to
Torley Linden: there are certainly legitimate reasons for using RL names--for example, people who don't want to adopt a "second persona" in here but treat SL as an extension of their first life for education or academic purposes.
Jon Rolland: some business people might want to be available by first name
Torley Linden: yes--business reasons, certainly.
Tao Takashi: I would let ppl decide themselves if they want to use their RL
Chantal Bachman: **came in late- SORRY_ is a first name change in the planning as welll????
Tao Takashi: actually nobody knows anyway if it's their realname ;-)
Cyn Linden: Not at this time, no
Chantal Bachman: kk ty
Pyrii Akula: I'm thinking of the teen grid, and the use of RL names causing certain "issues"
Garicho Fatale: certainly
Will Webb: some manners here ?
Tao Takashi: obviously not ;_)
Thought Plasma: Teen Grid should be false name
Leon Ash: Do you believe the name system will remain first & last name? Planning for middle names at all?
Tao Takashi: and titles? ;-)
Pyrii Akula: Direct questions at torley linden
Cyn Linden: Leon: Not at this time, but I gues that is a possibility
Leon Ash: And qualifications?
Torley Linden: you can IM your questions to me, please, and i'll queue them to ask Cyn. :)
Jon Rolland: can the fart system be zapped? it strikes me as unneeded
Leon Ash: eg. Dr Prof etc
Pyrii Akula: The system at the moment I think only supports 2 part names
Leon Ash: soz
Will Webb: oh for god's sake, if your av cant hold his methane take him somewhere else
Pyrii Akula: unless a space will be allowed in "chosen" second names
Garicho Fatale: somebody dropped an object "can o beans" can we find it and get rid of it.
Cyn Linden: Anything else Torley?
Torley Linden: that's all the questions i got in IM for now. :)
Cyall Akula: What about names with no surname, if someone wanted one? I do :o)
Leon Ash: Yeah Cyall
Felix Uritsky: It's attached to Stephen's av
Pyrii Akula: What about my "problem"?
Tao Takashi: what about noname? ;-)
Pyrii Akula: Wasn't a question but made a good point =P
Garicho Fatale: Felix you snitch.
Felix Uritsky: It's getting annoying
Cyn Linden: I ma sorry Pyrrii, can youplease state it again?
Stephen Boxer: booh freakin hoo
Pyrii Akula: I was thinking about identity and how it might become a problem if people keep changing names, we know people by "Pyrii Akula", but if it keeps changing, how are they gonna know what to call me. It might cause problems with people knowing thier freinds
Pyrii Akula: names. Causing identity and comms issues. Maybe this should be a completely one-time thing just to add the customisability that we didn't have before.
Pyrii Akula: Of course in my "idea" there was a grace period between changing names, say a month or a few weeks before they could change it again. But still, this problem crops up
Garicho Fatale: id's?
Cyn Linden: I agree, that is one of the mosrt serious questions we need to answer, that is why we are here, really
Cyall Akula: Payment for each name change would help some
Garicho Fatale: ????
Cyn Linden: I want to know how you all feel about that, is it a good idea?
Jon Rolland: isn't identity and what you want to be called a personal choice not a systemic issue?
Tao Takashi: yeah, make it a grace period between changes
Garicho Fatale: Instead of payment how about allowing one name change per year
Thought Plasma: excuse me I have ameeting in 3 min thx Linden's and everyone else take care
Tao Takashi: in RL you also cannto change your name every hour
Pyrii Akula: What makes a good grace period? A month, 6 months?
Felix Uritsky: Personally, I think having a paid system would be fine, and I'd go so far as to say only Premium accounts can change their names
Will Webb: 6 months
Leon Ash: At least 3 months
Cyn Linden: Those are good thought Tao
Garicho Fatale: OMG
Cyn Linden: *thoughts
Jon Rolland: why do we need a grace period?
Will Webb: felix: i agree
Felix Uritsky: LL needs more Premium members, and that'd be a nice perk to add to it
Cyall Akula: Resticting it to premium accounts would be very harsh
Will Webb: 1 change per 6 months
Cyn Linden: Good, Felix, I like that
Garicho Fatale: :|
Torley Linden: some have suggested that as opposed to a grace period, it be limited by # of times you can change. so use them wisely (like alt accounts, there is a limit).
Geoff Gavaskar: harsh is good/
Tao Takashi: otoh if people do keep changing their names and their friends get confused I'd say it's their personal problem nevertheless
Garicho Fatale: I dont want to play for SL
Aster Lardner: I like the premium account aide
Garicho Fatale: premium
Pyrii Akula: But yeah, I'm thinking this migt be better as a one-time thing, with further changes needing aproval by lindens. (Say for spelling errors or stating a need for it)
Will Webb: erstricting it to premium removes the temptation of creating alts to grief and then changing their name
tal Ricardo: What're we doing here?
Purrts Trumbo: There would also be those that change names to get around banning.
Cyall Akula: I see
Jon Rolland: wouldn't adding it to premium only be counter productive to the new estate inititives?
Torley Linden: people can create their own confusion if they wish ;) but it is very understandable how some would rather come up with a new identity under one account than start anew on another account--especially if they have more flexibility with last names.
Will Webb: ban is by uuid i think
Tao Takashi: banning should be uuid based