changing usernames

[Flora]

Has anyone ever sucessfully changed back to their original name after a switch? I became' Flora's ghost, but it will not let me take back Flora!

[Flora]

whooooo I'm back! I have to assume I am thanking glenn, since I sent a PM.

[Moderator2]

Yesterday 42 changed to 41.99, but today he/she is back up to full 42. I wonder what's the trick?

[42]

I've swapped back and forth with new names a few times, but Buffy_ and Mu Lan both said they couldn't do it. Mu Lan said she could switch back and forth between Mu Lan and Mulan Ghost, but she couldn't get back to Mulan. She thought it might have something to do with how quickly you swap back. (I've always changed back within a few days.)

[Captain America]

If I were to change my name, would my old name still be registered to me or would it be fair game for some one else to take? I think we all understand the danger involved in someone impersonating a superhero!

Thanks!

[42]

Traci and the Moderators (which I still think is a great name for a rock band) have said that they would not allow anybody to register using a name that they knew somebody else had already been using. So if you have a lot of posts, you're probably pretty safe. See also the Impersonator (http://www.actuary.ca/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2446&start=0) thread.

[Captain America]

Thanks 42.

"A lot of posts" is a relative thing.

Right, TDA?

[The Drunken Actuary]

Traci and the Moderators (which I still think is a great name for a rock band) have said that they would not allow anybody to register using a name that they knew somebody else had already been using. So if you have a lot of posts, you're probably pretty safe. See also the Impersonator (http://www.actuary.ca/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2446&start=0) thread.
The new software seems to lock anyone from using a formerly registered name. I changed my name for a minute a few weeks ago and when I tried to change it back I got a message that the name was already taken. For a moment I was scared that someone had snuck in and stole my name but alas, it was the software. Glenn changed it back for me. I don't know if this is what Traci and the mods meant or not, but that's the way it is now. The thread referenced above was under the old board which did not have that feature.

With all the name changes, I wouldn't expect Traci and the Mods to be able to keep track of who is/was who anymore so this system is pretty good.

[The Drunken Actuary]

Thanks 42.

"A lot of posts" is a relative thing.

Right, TDA?
Interesting double meaning that I'm not sure you intended. Did you?

[The Drunken Actuary]

I've swapped back and forth with new names a few times, but Buffy_ and Mu Lan both said they couldn't do it. Mu Lan said she could switch back and forth between Mu Lan and Mulan Ghost, but she couldn't get back to Mulan. She thought it might have something to do with how quickly you swap back. (I've always changed back within a few days.)
As referenced above, I tried to change back within a couple minutes and couldn't.