BRING BACK FREE LAST NAMES!!!!!
Fallacy DeCuir
You need to bring back the last names when creating a new avatar. I know it's an option under a paid account, but people just wanting to try SL are not going to pay for an account before they're even sure if they like it. I have now had 2 friends that were going to join, but they could never get a name to work without it being something stupid like Trisha00172XYS or the like. Nobody wants to be in a social environment (or anywhere else, for that matter) with a name like this. So after not being able to find a decent name that wasn't taken, they both quit before they even got to log in. I hate to know how many new residents we are losing because of this. At least with last names, you could have 25-50 (or however many last names are available) chances at getting the name you want instead of just 1 like it is now. It's both baffling and ridiculous at why this option was taken away. This is definitely not helping new people to join!
Log In
Nelani Dyrssen
To the people saying "just use the display name" - the display name is most of the time just seen inworld. If dms go to offline email, for instance? You see the legacy name/account name. The amount of times I replied via email to someone and used the "wrong" name and only noticed later when I had time to log on...
Tamiya Starling
It's not usernames that is the problem here, it is the fact we even see them at all. What we need are more robust display names that completely hide the username. I couldn't care at all if my username was "abcd1234" if I am seen and known as Tamiya Starling. One's username should never even be displayed (this is also a security improvement as it helps prevent login information being obtained). It's not like one's username is used for much of importance -- everything within the system actually uses one's UUID. It would take some effort to hide usernames for good, but doing so would fix the issue you are talking about, make display names more useful in the long run. Jennifer Boyle has it right: " If things had been designed so that user names were only for account identification and only display names were readily visible in world, it would be fine to just use display names, but it wasn't." -- let's fix this issue the right way.
Tinker Pixels
The username is ... a username. Something you type in along with your password to access Second Life. Once in, the Display Name is what you are recognised by. Other platforms like X, Instagram, Reddit etc etc does not allow you to choose a unique username with a suffix (equal to a last name).
Christi Maeterlinck
Tinker Pixels The Display Name is only needed for recognition purposes because last names aren't readily available. I've been Christi Maeterlinck for over 20 years and haven't needed a Display Name...
Tinker Pixels
Christi Maeterlinck No, because you got your name before the naming convention changed. But since it is changed, Display names has a merit, other than what the username has. I am not saying it is better, just that what we have now isn't unheard of in online forums.
Jennifer Boyle
Tinker PixelsThe problem with using the display name as the primary in-world identifier is that user names are often exposed in world without the display name. For example, contest boards show user names. If things had been designed so that user names were only for account identification and only display names were readily visible in world, it would be fine to just use display names, but it wasn't.
Tinker Pixels
Jennifer Boyle that's definitely a valid argument! :)
steph Arnott
Not available under a paid account, you can add a user name but your account name wiil always end in ''RESIDENT''. It was ended due to legal threats by people who were born with a last name that LL were using.
Rowan Amore
steph Arnott. It was not ended because of legal threats by anyone. It was changed because more games used a singular type log in name at the time.
steph Arnott
Rowan Amore, actually it was, LL actually was served papers by a legal firm representing over twenty people who had their names online being used by employment companies vetting. people for clients
Lita Jannings
steph Arnott If that is the case why is LL selling "New" last names now?
Peregreena Resident
It would be nice to have the option of a last name, but it should always include the option "None" or "Resident" as it may be explained on signup.
Lita Jannings
I think maybe the last name "Resident" should be retired and a new basic last name should be created. many objects inworld still use a Last name. so you not going to completely get around having it. Just create a "New" last name and Sl will be good for a while.
shug Maitland
In most cases, you can simply run first and last name together, maintaining capitalization. This has the advantage of choosing whatever last you want vs. picking from a LL list.
Dana Enyo
I remember at the time, SL went to single names because people complained that this is the ONLY online service that required two! Everyone wanted a single login name--the two names were a hassle. Can't win fer losin', I guess.
Alwin Alcott
people on trial can use the display name function.