other What about a rule no username or name in title?

Hello,

Thanks for this suggestion.

This is an important topic, and it’s something we’re actively thinking about. It’s one of the more complicated aspects of moderating a public forum.

Here are some common scenarios where we’ve seen this happen:

1. Review threads: these can be negative, neutral, positive, or some combination. They do tend to lean toward negativity, but that may be because it usually takes a strong emotion to motivate someone to use their time to post something about another person or company.
2. News threads: these are typically neutral or promotional in a positive sense. Sometimes, they can even lead to real, positive change that may not have been possible without the name of the involved party appearing in the thread’s title.
3. Coupon threads: these are generally helpful to the community.
4. Warning threads: in our experience, these are where things can get the most complicated. Too often, they’re created prematurely and irresponsibly. However, when they’re created prudently, they can help others (e.g., avoid a scammer) more than just about any other type of thread.

Given that these are typically situations that need to be decided on a case by case basis, we’re hoping that our efforts toward community moderation will be the best long-term solution that enables members who care most about the community to decide when it’s (in)appropriate to include the name or username of another in the title of a thread, in posts, etc.

However, we’re certainly open to creating a rule for it, as well, if we (with the community’s help) can come up with one that works.

Any ideas?

Small update:

In the event that this suggestion was sparked by thread ID 1239010, we’ve updated the title because we agree that’s not a productive time to include a name or username in the title.

We hope that helps.

Sorry for delay in responding. I can see from the comments, indeed a complicated issue.

Yes, things that are definitely news, and not unfairly negative in nature, should allow names. Like in announcements of major sales, new appointments, new ventures, etc.

A review clearly needs to mention company or product. As long as review is fair and at least somewhat balanced, that should be allowed. Ideally a review of a product where there is a representative on NamePros, notification of the review and an opportunity to respond prior to public posting would be ideal, but difficult to accomplish.

Warning is as you say really difficult. Some are truly warnings community needs to know. But in other cases people post warnings when really they just didn't read or understand ToS or some other situation

The key issue seems to be posters hiding behind usernames other than true identity potentially unfairly damaging reputations of those who do give identity.

Thanks for changing that one title. Yes, that immediately provoked my suggestion, but it also reflected other cases in the past. I don't quite see, except in the case of news, why the need to give a name in a title. It seems to simply allow personalizing of disagreements from the very start of a thread.

I know running NamePros is challenging, and thanks for the incredible work that everyone in management and moderation does.

Bob

Hi

what about misleading titles, that are posted by members, like the Afternic is dead thread.

i reported it as misleading, but mods said that the OP would have to change it.

since afternic is not dead, then it is a misrepresentation of facts.

i would suggest that reviews be done of context, to ensure/insure conformity to the truth or actual circumstances.

fake news titles should not be permitted.

Thanks in advance

imo...

Think threads like the Adam Dicker thread show how names in Titles can be a good thing

Here is a simple rule:

- Use of a name in a title with negative connotation is not allowed.

Hi

here is another example of misleading title:
SAV.com is CHEATING - NamePros

imo...