I love that we can have screen names as well as the unique account username, but I'm wondering: if I look at a comment thread containing two people using the same display name (in the worst case, where one is trying to impersonate the other) is there a clear indicator to see that Person A is not Person B?
In discord this used to be done with the four digit number after the display name, but that doesn't seem to be a thing here, and so far as I can tell it's not displaying my account name on my comments and posts.
I worry that, as Lemmy grows, perhaps an issue with impersonators could develop if distinguishing between different users with the same display name requires checking their account pages, since most people won't check. But maybe I'm missing something?
To be clear, I'm not remotely arguing for getting rid of the display names. I love the display names, keep the display names. Especially when I'm just imagining a hypothetical future problem that may not even turn out to be much of a problem.
22 Comments
Whimseymimple@beehaw.org · 9 pts · 3y
Based on what I see via browser, if you mouse over the name, you will see the username (versus the display name). I'm not sure how you'd tell in mobile.
Whimseymimple@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y
Via Jerboa
Whimseymimple@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y
Via web app on mobile
GuyDudeman@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 3y
In mlem on iOS I just see the username, not the display name.
skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl · 6 pts · 3y
Display names are probably here to stay, but representation of them can use some work.
For example, apps and clients could generate identicons (open source example) for full usernames and display those next to avatars. All you need is an algorithm that generates shapes and colours. This doesn't solve any kind of impersonation problem (you could just generate a domain that generates visibly similar usernames).
For example, this is just a simple round identicon (you'd want something longer, probably rectangular, to fit better into the website design):
These icons should be generated on-device so you can't mess with them.
Lowbird@beehaw.org · 4 pts · 3y
Maybe somebody try to temporarily give yourself the display name "Pigeon" and comment here so we can see what that looks like? I invite you to impersonate me :P
mifuyne@beehaw.org · 5 pts · 3y
You asked for it 🙃 but I'm curious too! So far, I just hover over the usernames and check the link, but a more visible mark would be good! Something like what Calckey does, where on the right side, you can see a symbol and the name of the instance they came from.
Lowbird@beehaw.org · 4 pts · 3y
Haha, thank you! xD
Good to know I can hover my mouse over the usernames, that does help a little. But yeah, something like you say would be good. And/or maybe something like having every person using the same username within a thread show up as a different color, or with a little number tag automatically appended after the name.
JuniperusVox@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y
Test. Now I didn't remove my avatar, but I can try that next.
Lowbird@beehaw.org · 2 pts · 3y
Thank you for testing! You look identical to me except the creator tag 0.o
Edit: I can't see your avatar right now for some reason, on desktop.
Barbarian@lemmy.reckless.dev · 2 pts · 3y
I still see you as Juniper
JuniperusVox@beehaw.org · 3 pts · 3y
Odd, it shows up as Pigeon for me. I wonder if there's a delay.
Barbarian@lemmy.reckless.dev · 3 pts · 3y
Maybe? Could take a bit for user changes to federate out
Lowbird@beehaw.org · 2 pts · 3y
It shows up as Pigeon for me! On desktop. The only difference I see is the "creator" tag on my name. Oh dear 0.o
Barbarian@lemmy.reckless.dev · 3 pts · 3y
1-man instances proven more superior to impersonation :P
GuyDudeman@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 3y
Interestingly, I’m using mlem on iOS and I still see your username as “Lowbird”
lrhodes@beehaw.org · 1 pts · 3y
This simplest solution would probably be to have the username follow the display name in parentheses, e.g. L. Rhodes (@lrhodes). I don't know if that's something that can be done at the administrator level, though. It may be best submitted as an issue to the Lemmy Github page.
bird@beehaw.org · 1 pts · 3y
I’ve had a same issue. I’ve seen another user with the same display name and it was really confusing at first. I thought it was a glitch. But the actual username is different.