674200 - Make the display name unique amongst display names and usernames

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(support.mozilla.org :: Users and Groups, task)

Description

[Scoobidiver (away)]

If you want to prevent identity thief (someone using an existing display name or username), the display name must be unique.

Comment 1

[James Socol [:jsocol, :james]]

The idea of the display name was that it would not be unique, so John Smith and John Smith could both be John Smith if they wanted to. The idea was that (avatar, display name) should be unique enough to identify the person you're talking to.

Comment 2

[Scoobidiver (away)]

The idea of the display name is also to hide the username.
Will you allow that your username is used as a display name in forums or questions like that: https://support.allizom.org/fr/user/209080

Comment 3

[James Socol [:jsocol, :james]]

(In reply to comment #2)
> The idea of the display name is also to hide the username.

I don't think that's true--we display the username on the profile and might do something like put it in a title attribute where we show the display name or do something else with it.

> Will you allow that your username is used as a display name in forums or
> questions like that: https://support.allizom.org/fr/user/209080

Keep in mind that admins can edit your profile. We don't know that that will ever come up, let alone how frequently, so building technical roadblocks doesn't seem like the best use of time. If it does occur and frequently enough that fixing by hand is annoying, then we can look at putting up roadblocks.

Comment 4

[Scoobidiver (away)]

(In reply to comment #3)
> I don't think that's true--we display the username on the profile and might
> do something like put it in a title attribute where we show the display name
> or do something else with it.
So according to you, the display name is not intended to fix a disliked username, but to show the real name or an alias.
As long as the display name is displayed with the username in questions and forums as it is in the profile public view, I agree to not make it unique.

> Keep in mind that admins can edit your profile.
Yes, but before it happens, you need to be warned by a Report Abuse feedback which is not often used. In addition, the reporter needs to know that several people use the same display name. It may last awhile.
But if the username and the display name are both displayed, it is no longer so important because the username is unique.

Comment 5

[James Socol [:jsocol, :james]]

(In reply to comment #4)
> So according to you, the display name is not intended to fix a disliked
> username, but to show the real name or an alias.

Correct, if you want to show a real name, that's the place to do it.

> As long as the display name is displayed with the username in questions and
> forums as it is in the profile public view, I agree to not make it unique.

WONTFIXing this then.

> > Keep in mind that admins can edit your profile.
> Yes, but before it happens, you need to be warned by a Report Abuse feedback
> which is not often used. In addition, the reporter needs to know that
> several people use the same display name. It may last awhile.

Not necessarily--I could also see it or someone could ask why I said something--there are a number of feedback mechanisms for something like that.