Question: Question about changing my username.

[Cordeline]

First, I want to say that I saw a recent post by a mod (or admin?) saying that they are currently not taking namechange requests. This is fine, as my question is about something else ^-^.

What I want to know is if, when we can change our names, can we take an username that is already in use, but the account hasn't been used in a very long time? The account of the username I want has been banned and hasn't logged in since November 2014. They have plenty of posts, but the account is inactive.

 

[smocks]

I'm pretty sure you can't, otherwise they'll have to delete the account, which probably goes against their code considering there's accounts here since 2005. Plus, it'll just give a bad vibe for the community if they delete an account for inactivity for about 2 years when there's people who probably have accounts that have been inactive for more years. This is not a 100% sure answer, but I'm pretty sure you can't take that username. For now, just be satisfied with your own username or just change it to something completely different.

 

[Charlie Brown]

This might change in the next session of Name Changes but in January, the rules were:

You may not change to a taken username unless...
a) The taken username has not logged on in four or more years.
b) The taken username has not made any posts.
c) You have made 100 or more posts on the PokéCommunity.

Some exceptions were made on a case-by-case basis though (eg for accounts that have been inactive for a looong time but had a few posts) but yeah.

 

[Sheep]

I'm pretty sure you can't, otherwise they'll have to delete the account, which probably goes against their code considering there's accounts here since 2005. Plus, it'll just give a bad vibe for the community if they delete an account for inactivity for about 2 years when there's people who probably have accounts that have been inactive for more years. This is not a 100% sure answer, but I'm pretty sure you can't take that username. For now, just be satisfied with your own username or just change it to something completely different.

We do allow users to take usernames of inactive accounts so long as they meet a certain criteria, actually, but you're right that two years is far too recent.

On the topic of taking banned member usernames, it's been stated in past username change threads that banned account usernames cannot be taken:

You may not change to a taken username unless...
a) The taken username has not logged on in four or more years.
b) The taken username has not made any posts.
c) You have made 100 or more posts on the PokéCommunity.
All three of the above conditions must be met to take an already-used username. If you would like to change to a taken username and these conditions are met, it is really really helpful to include a link to the taken username in your post. You can and should check if a username is already taken; see below to find out how. Do not post requests for usernames that are just on the edge of these requirements because they will be denied. If you think that an exception should be made, please PM me so that we can discuss it. The names of banned users cannot be taken, even if the above conditions are met.

There are a few reasons for this but it's primarily so users aren't mistaken for previous problem members. At a quick glance your request definitely wouldn't qualify since they're 1) a banned user, 2) last logged into PC in 2014, and 3) have many posts. The last log in date goes back too recently and that coupled with a high post count means there's really no telling if the user will return and put in a ban appeal. If the user was gone for four or more years I'd be willing to consider it, but a year and a half simply isn't enough time for us to consider the account inactive enough that the owner would likely never return.

 

[Cordeline]

Thank you everyone. That answers my questions so I guess I will just forget about it ^-^