Free Up Names of Inactive Users

So I was thinking recently...

There are some users that join, make 3 posts, and never come back. Their user names, however, remain theirs and theirs alone. But what if someone else wants those user names? I was just wondering if those names could be freed up in some cases. Like... if there is a specific user that hasn't logged in since 2005, has no friends, no VM's and fewer than 20 posts.... Can their user name be freed up? I mean, really. They're not going to miss it.

If you ask an admin to free up a name they'll likely do it for you.

There are a few requirements for taking the username of an inactive user, but it does happen.

I took an inactive user's name. It all depends on how long they've been inactive, I'm sure.

So you just have to ask the admins?

I wish to drop the DJ (my initials) and the number. I've only added them because FoxHound was already taken.

After looking the name up this user hasn't been active since 04-05-2004, that's over 8 years ago.

Yeah, just ask anyone who is Smod or higher. Don't expect them to stand at attention for you, same as always when you ask for a name change, but they'll probably do it for you

It would be nice if in the ToS when you sign up, it said something like "Your account is deleted after 5 years of inactivity or something.

basically, if you want a username and it's used by someone who hasn't signed in in 4+ years and has less than twenty posts, I'll change their name to !name or something and then give you name. If it's the name of someone who's actually contributed to the community though or was well-known, or hasn't signed in in a few weeks, well obviously I'm going to say tough bananas.

Originally Posted by DJFoxHound16

So you just have to ask the admins?

I wish to drop the DJ (my initials) and the number. I've only added them because FoxHound was already taken.

After looking the name up this user hasn't been active since 04-05-2004, that's over 8 years ago.

Have you tried "Fox Hound" with a space? Much like my username?

FOR THE RECORD: I forgot to state that if I do do this for you (or anyone else does it) you've got to stick with this name for a while.

Yes. You most certainly MUST keep that name for a good while. You cant be all "I wanna be Link's Boy!" and there already being a Link's Boy and then i muck around with inactive Link's Boy to Link's Boyfriend and so you can have Link's Boy, but then you go "Oh i wanna be Syrio Forel!" only a month or two later. YEAAAHHHH No.

I don't know...

I made an account on some Fire Emblem forum around 4/5 years ago. I better ♥♥♥♥ing hope that no one took my name just because I don't sign in there anymore.


If someone got it first, I would have to say "tough luck". But I guess it depends on the circumstances.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

I don't know...

I made an account on some Fire Emblem forum around 4/5 years ago. I better ♥♥♥♥ing hope that no one took my name just because I don't sign in there anymore.


If someone got it first, I would have to say "tough luck". But I guess it depends on the circumstances.

For this reason, I'd prefer the rule be more along the lines of "Hasn't logged in in 4+ years and either has <5 posts or last logged in on the day they joined." Or something like that.

On a forum I went to, if they were inactive (6 months or a year, don't recall), they'd just add "inactive" to the name before changing yours

As someone who's gone inactive for long periods, yeah it should only apply to those who haven't posted (which it is so cool).

Originally Posted by TW@

On a forum I went to, if they were inactive (6 months or a year, don't recall), they'd just add "inactive" to the name before changing yours

That's a good way to do that here. Now here it should be if they've been inactive for 6 months w/o prior notice to staff or something.

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer

That's a good way to do that here. Now here it should be if they've been inactive for 6 months w/o prior notice to staff or something.

6 months? Seriously? That is a ridiculously short period of time. I've seen people go inactive for years and come back in full swing. 6 years is far more reasonable.

That's why I say notify staff first so they know to keep you active. 6 months is half a year.

Eh, I know I'd be more than a little put out to see someone sporting the name Golddron if I was unable to be on for a couple years.

I think it should only apply to those who haven't posted, or have an incredibly small post count and have been inactive for 5+ years.

Originally Posted by Golddron

Eh, I know I'd be more than a little put out to see someone sporting the name Golddron if I was unable to be on for a couple years.

I think it should only apply to those who haven't posted, or have an incredibly small post count and have been inactive for 5+ years.

These are the rules and they're not going to change:

Originally Posted by Avalanchemike

basically, if you want a username and it's used by someone who hasn't signed in in 4+ years and has less than twenty posts, I'll change their name to !name or something and then give you name. If it's the name of someone who's actually contributed to the community though or was well-known, or hasn't signed in in a few weeks, well obviously I'm going to say tough bananas.

Originally Posted by Avalanchemike

FOR THE RECORD: I forgot to state that if I do do this for you (or anyone else does it) you've got to stick with this name for a while.