I've wondered whether Fodor's ever deletes a screen name if it has been inactive for a long time, opening it up to be used by someone else. I wish they would.

A lot of screen names are held by people who are no longer active here. When I first registered, I was amazed at how many different screen names I had to try before I found one that wasn't already taken.

At this point I'm not sure an editor could help, since it's not really clear what 4totravel means. S/he needs to post examples of posts by that userid that were not made by him/her.

That said, what on earth does "they said they would to much hue and cry" mean????? I've tried processing that through my brain over and over again and can't make any sense of it at all.

Hello everyone.................I'm the other 4totravel. The 4totravel that started this thread is not me. I recently registered under that user name. My intent was not to violate the other 4totravel, my apologies.

If you set the program to login automatically from a specific computer always when you enter, it is possible that somebody activated in your computer www.fodors.com and it is already login. Then he / she just answer or write a new post.

jlm_mi, Fodor's could explain the rules on use, reuse and deletion of names.

Yes, I didn't like the clarity of that either. When Fodor's said their editor would occasionally post to a thread a great deal of discussion by the regulars started about Fodor's editors interfering on this site. Since then I've only seen one or two comments by the editors.

Clear now?

jlm_mi, Fodor's could explain the rules on use, reuse and deletion of names.

Yes, I didn't like the clarity of that either. When Fodor's said their editor would occasionally post to a thread a great deal of discussion by the regulars started about Fodor's editors interfering on this site. Since then I've only seen one or two innocuous comments by the editors.

Clear now?

I am thoroughly confused!! There are TWO registered posters with *identical* screen names, as would seem to be the case from the above second 4totravel post who says he/she is not the OP. How could that happen?? Is this for real or is someone having great fun?

valtor has the most likely scenario. If you click on 4totravel's name in both posts the same list comes up.

At most we have 2 people using the the same account. At the worst we have somebody silly enough to think they can play with us. If it is the former the REAL 4totravel needs to be more careful about logging out when not at their computer.

For clarification purposes and to know who your refering to. Am I the REAL 4totravel or am I 4totravel #2.

Also, nobody uses my computer at work, How would they use my account (unless I'm missing something here),

In this instance it's obviously not a case of someone being able to post because the original user left themselves logged on because the "other" 4totravel has indicated that he/ she registered the name separately.

So it's either a strange error at Fodors end where their database failed to refuse a username request as already taken OR it's a T R O L L, as SFowler suggested.

Kavey,
I would be very, very surprised if the Fodor's database allowed 2 identical usernames. That would violate one of the main database design "rules". Also, based on other's research (Travelnut etc.), it's just not possible.

Here's my ideas, some of which are stated above:
1. Username went inactive and then became available for use again.
2. User was logged in and someone else posted using it.
3. Someone else know's the user's password.
4. Split personalities.

I'm leaning toward #4.... :)

From what I have learned here at Fodors, if one is registered, no one can use that name. There are passwords to protect you.
If you <u>un-register</u> that screen name, then it is back up for grabs.
Someone did just that a while ago, using one posters name to post nasty comments. Fodors was told and the name was banned.
So I agree, sounds Trollish. (which I do not think is a screen name yet, is it?:) )

Jbee, exactly. I work in IT and have even designed basic databases in the past (only Access but still fairly complex) and the most basic rule is to set primary keys to avoid duplication. And since that seems to be working just fine for every other user name any of us have tested it's unlikely to be a key violation in this case.

Which leaves... those other options you postulated!

Kavey -
I couldn't summed it up better myself, but you were missing acronyms in your post (PK = primary key). After all, everything is easier in acronyms, right? :))

Now that I re-read a few things on this post, I'm more confused-

&quot;For clarification purposes and to know who your refering to. Am I the REAL 4totravel or am I 4totravel #2. &quot;

If THEY don't know, how do WE know? Will the real 4totravel please stand up? :)

:D Will we ever know? What an enigma!

I have to say though that if you click on 4totravel's name, the postings certainly don't show a TROLLISH bent.

Methinks the troll doth protest too much ...

To troll or not to troll, that is the question.
Too true, I am not 4totravel; but I play her on the internet.

We can all do it too - the answer is simple, and involves a bit of a slip up by fodor's programmers (not the cleverest bunch by half) - but so far no one has precisely mentioned the answer. With all the geniuses on this board, so knowledgeable about touring and Turing, the answer should be passing obvious.

So if I understand, you already know the answer to your original question, and the answer is &quot;yes&quot;, but you want us to figure out how you did it??????

It would appear to me that 4totravel is a jerk - for jerking us around.