Rule clarification re: changing names in quotes

[engineer_comp_geek]

FYI - Previous discussions about this topic:

https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=815814

@John_Mace

But, can you alter a person’s name inside a quote box in the Pit?

@Colibri

No. Text inside a quote box, including the username, should not be altered.

FYI: changing usernames to insult people in the Pit

@Giraffe

There has been some confusion about whether or not there is a rule against changing someone’s username in order to insult them. I want to clarify that there is no such rule in the Pit.

I suspect the confusion originated when Liberal changed his username from libertarian, and another poster pledged to follow him around the board using his old username. The mods at the time felt this was inappropriate and made a rule against that behavior, for that situation. That rule was never meant to be a blanket prohibition on writing anyone’s username inaccurately.

So, go nuts. It’s the Pit. If we let you call each other twats and ass-lickers, it seems silly to warn you for changing Poster to Postard or whatever.

I would ask, however, that you refrain from changing usernames in quote attributions. I don’t know what the mod consensus would be in terms of warning such behavior, but it’s certainly borderline, so better not to do it. Cool?

As Colibri said, we’re still discussing this in the mod loop. We’ll get back to you.