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The policy will NOT apply to people who only comment. But if you post articles, once the new rules are in place, once you post and article or diary, you will no longer be permitted to use a pseudonym. We want consistency and that means you have one persona on the site.
we're ending anonymity in OEN articles and Diaries.
We have built into the site software a system that will warn you if you submit an article or diary that your content will be published under your real name and not your pseudonym, and that from then on, your comments will be under your real name.
This system will not affect previously posted articles or comments.
If you have created a membership which uses an obviously false first and last name, your membership will be flagged and you will be required to either start using your real name or give a compelling reason or reasons why you should be permitted to use a pseudonym.
Pseudonyms WILL still be permitted for comments on articles, but, once you submit an article or diary, you must use your real name in comments too, so you are using the same name in all places on the site.
You can mention your old pseudonym in your diary and you can use it as your middle name in your real name.
There will be rare exceptions-- a handful of partners we've been working with and you may submit to us an appeal in which you provide compelling reasons why you should be allowed to use a pseudonym.
This announcement has been posted as a diary so you can ask questions.
A related announcement will be made about our policy on BIOs. We have always required that article and diary submitters and regular commenters have acceptable Bios as members of the community. We are adding software to make it easier for us to get compliance with this rule. The goal is to build a stronger community. Those who post Bios that are dismissive or disrespectful may lose posting privileges unless thee BIOs are revised.
