[majorvices]

Major--

Don't worry Joey - your posts will increase eventually.  Seriously though, I'm sure you are right. There's simply going to be a group of people who are going to hold on to TT and not really give the forum a try. Thats a shame. What's really a shame is how this is being turned into "US" and "THEM" - it really should just be "US". Too bad for everyone I fear.

[Dan]

I've been part of other online groups that have moved from one platform to another and each time you lose members along the way. It could be that some are still stuck on the old way, sometimes it's just the inability to visit the community due to an IT restriction or it's that people were inactive members and now that they have to make an effort to rejoin the group they won't.

Personally, the hardest part about using the forum is just not knowing who's who. Over the years, I've gotten accustom to people's names and their email addresses. Yet, the forum allows people to pick a name that they'd like displayed and most people are picking things other than their name or some what they used on TT. Yes, I'll eventually learn to equate majorvices, bluesman, theDarkSide, Thirsty_Monk, etc. with some meaning but for those just starting with the forum it can feel strange and uninviting.

[gordonstrong]

Maybe it would be beneficial for AHA members (at least) to put their real names somewhere in their profile so it's either displayed on the left side or at the bottom of message.  I don't mind online handles and avatars and such. 

I notice some people have started doing this and it helps.  I like to know who I'm talking to in case I run into them in another venue, or in case someone follows up via normal email. 

Nothing that needs to be enforced, but perhaps a valuable community standard.

[tschmidlin]

Good call Gordon.  Mine should be updated in my sig now, not that there are too many Schmidlin's on the forum.  Or in general.

[Me]

There is also the option to give everyone a quick run-down of who you are under the Homebrewers Bio category. Just throwing that out there...

[bluesman]

Maybe it would be beneficial for AHA members (at least) to put their real names somewhere in their profile so it's either displayed on the left side or at the bottom of message.  I don't mind online handles and avatars and such. 

I notice some people have started doing this and it helps.  I like to know who I'm talking to in case I run into them in another venue, or in case someone follows up via normal email. 

Nothing that needs to be enforced, but perhaps a valuable community standard.

Especially if your name is Gordon Strong.  

...but I definitely agree with this logic.  I also like to associate a persons real name with a username.
I think it can hold value.  

[majorvices]

My name has always been on every post I make. You have to exchange beer with me to get the last name, though.  

Speaking of "winkies" and emoticons I have noticed that a lot of TTers feel uncomfortable about them (a few have mentioned "it ain;t their bag" and so forth), and I used to be the same way. I do realize that they kind seem like something a 7 year old girl would scribble in a note passed in English Lit., but I have also come to realize they do a very good job of communicating when you are being serious or not.  

[tschmidlin]

My name has always been on every post I make. You have to exchange beer with me to get the last name, though.  

You mean your last name isn't Prosit?

Yes, I know what it means . . .

[majorvices]

Mein nachname ist nicht "prosit".

[hopfenundmalz]

On my signature, AHA member has been added.

The comments on TT have been interesting.  I have found that I do not have a life.  I really thought it was called retirement!

[bluesman]

but I have also come to realize they do a very good job of communicating when you are being serious or not.  

I'll second that Keith. 

The emoticon is a means to communicate a certain tone to a statement. Without them we would be communicating with a handicap.  They are very useful when conveying a level of emotion to a message.

[rabid_dingo]

Maybe it would be beneficial for AHA members (at least) to put their real names somewhere in their profile so it's either displayed on the left side or at the bottom of message.  I don't mind online handles and avatars and such.  

I notice some people have started doing this and it helps.  I like to know who I'm talking to in case I run into them in another venue, or in case someone follows up via normal email.  

Nothing that needs to be enforced, but perhaps a valuable community standard.

My name is in my signature below. It stems from a similar thread in the Northern Brewer forum regarding
anonymity. It seems that there are those that would not like to identify themselves for fears from the real
world versus the internet world. So..

Hello Tech Talker's My name is Ruben. Thanks for checking out "the Forum."

Edit: then I realize I never had it in this forum. So I added it !

[majorvices]

I think it is awesome that you are named after my favorite sandwich.

[rabid_dingo]

Never had one. I have promised not to have one until my Brew Buddy, who is from the Bronx, takes me to New York to have one.

[majorvices]

Damn good choice!! I grew up a couple hours outside of NYC and that's the place to find a good one!!