[lizardlady]

I recently found out that former members can rejoin PC with a new username. I can understand that a member might want to change their username as they grow and change. Their old name might no longer fit who they are. But for someone to leave the site, for whatever reason, then return under another name strikes me as deceptive and manipulative.

I'm not disputing the practice. If that's what admins want to allow, OK. But could someone explain the rationale?

[pegasus]

There are many reasons why someone may feel that they need to leave PC completely but then come back with another name. One of those reasons would be for personal safety ie. someone in real life finds them here. I don't think people do it to be deceptive or for manipulation. I feel a person may leave and then regret that decision and perhaps want a fresh start.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by pegasus

There are many reasons why someone may feel that they need to leave PC completely but then come back with another name. One of those reasons would be for personal safety ie. someone in real life finds them here. I don't think people do it to be deceptive or for manipulation. I feel a person may leave and then regret that decision and perhaps want a fresh start.

OK, the persoanl safety issue makes sense.

If someone leaves then regrets the decision, why not come back with the same name or announce who they are? I don't get it.

PArt of what bothers me about it stems from another site where people would become a troublemaker and leave. Then when they came back with a different name they'd cause more trouble.

[DocJohn]

We do this to allow people a "second chance." That's all they get, though, is to come back once (and maybe we've allowed one or two members more than once, but it's been the rare exception).

Some people simply have different comfort levels with an online community like this, and each time they come back, they want to start fresh with no pre-conceptions.

This is a rarely-used option, and it's rarer still where it's been done more than once. The community support team, of course, keeps an eye on returning members who change their username, to ensure they are here to give or get emotional support -- the same reason everyone is here.

Best,
DocJohn

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

We do this to allow people a "second chance." That's all they get, though, is to come back once (and maybe we've allowed one or two members more than once, but it's been the rare exception).

Some people simply have different comfort levels with an online community like this, and each time they come back, they want to start fresh with no pre-conceptions.

This is a rarely-used option, and it's rarer still where it's been done more than once. The community support team, of course, keeps an eye on returning members who change their username, to ensure they are here to give or get emotional support -- the same reason everyone is here.

Best,
DocJohn

Thanks Doc John. That makes sense.