Seems Moneysaving expert allows similar user names.

justaquestion

Just wondering why this site allows similar user names with only difference being the letter at start of name has to be an upper case.


For example this person has same user name as myself, but joined the site in 2014 whereas I joined in 2009.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4884664=


Its no big deal but I thought that user names wouldn't allowed to be the same even if one has the same letter at start upper case.

RumRat

No different to having an email address johnsmith@ and johnsmith1@ etc really.
The system is automated, so, as long as it's different in anyway, it will be allowed.
I see your point however.

forgotmyname

Yep, been commented on before now. A seemingly identical name until you check carefully.
I dont think its the same as johnsmith and johnsmith1, thats clearly different as would be j0hnsm1th, But myname and Myname should not be allowed.

grumpycrab

Simple answer. Unix.

esuhl

justaquestion wrote: »

Just wondering why this site allows similar user names with only difference being the letter at start of name has to be an upper case.

Because computers aren't very good at judging abstract similarity. They are, however, good at distinguishing between two distinct states -- for example, "same" or "not same".

Clearly lower-case letters are not the same as upper-case letters, so the username justaquestion is different to Justaquestion.

It's essentially an arbitrary decision as to whether a computer system is case sensitive.

AndyPix

It is shoddy programming in the php ..


They have used == instead of strcasecmp when comparing the strings.


EASILY FIXED MSE #nudge nudge

Le_Kirk

^^^^
Who decides which one of the users is allowed to keep his/her user name?

System

forgotmyname wrote: »

Yep, been commented on before now. A seemingly identical name until you check carefully.
I dont think its the same as johnsmith and johnsmith1, thats clearly different as would be j0hnsm1th, But myname and Myname should not be allowed.

Indeed. It took many of us a long time to cotton on that Marisco and marisco were two completely different forum users, just to take one example.

John_Gray

Le_Kirk wrote: »

^^^^
Who decides which one of the users is allowed to keep his/her user name?

The decision should probably be based on the person who has had their username the longest?
Or whoever has the greater number of posts?

Alternatively, by medieval combat with horses and lances.
Champions allowed! :T

SamsReturn

justaquestion wrote: »

For example this person has same user name as myself, but joined the site in 2014 whereas I joined in 2009.
.

I suppose in your case they thought, well if this fella joined in 2009 and has only made 400 posts, he's not going to be here enough to mind us allowing someone else to have the same name.

AndyPix

Le_Kirk wrote: »

^^^^
Who decides which one of the users is allowed to keep his/her user name?

Rock paper scissors - best out of three