Aydin said:Sorry for bringing an old thread back alive. I wasn't aware about this thread since I've actually wrote everything below beforehand....
All the options below are plausible, there shouldn't be a lock-out, considering that users would be reminded before and after expiry (reminder / warning)
My suggestion:
Allow MAL users to change their username to an existing username that has been inactive for more than "x" years (2 to 5 years?), maybe this could be a feature for only MAL supporters.
This can be approached in various ways:
1- Auto expire inactive username after 'x' years. (automatically change username and add number. E.g. "InactiveUser#<number>" ) and possibly purge account for good if they do not login for another ‘x’ more years (…Then proceed to option 2)
2- Auto expire inactive MAL account (account is purged for good after certain ‘x’ years of inactivity)
3- On demand, request an admin/mod to make username changes to an existing inactive username (requiring their approval, possibly through a form submission)
4- Keep inactive usernames and only expire them when another user demands name change to it and complies with all the required checks (E.g. inactive for ‘x’ years and MAL supporter, etc.)
The following describes the process:
1- (Automatic / no demand required) After ‘x’ years total inactivity (access/login) only the username will automatically change to something like: "InactiveUser#<number>" (where <number> increments for each inactive user. The inactive user will receive an email before and after the change with a warning that if he/she is inactive for more than ‘x’ more years the account ‘may’ be purged for good, see option 2)
2- (Automatic / no demand required) When MAL user account is inactive for more than ‘x’ years, permanently purge the account (allowing new users to register under the purged username)
3- (Manual / Admin approval only) Process username changes manually by admin approval (only to those whom are changing it to an existing inactive username) for various administrative reasons but instead this requires admin overhead and approval for the changes. Similar to anime submissions, users can submit a form, requesting username change to an existing/inactive username which is then reviewed by an admin or mod.
4- (Automatic / process on demand) This is similar to the previous one, except the process could be automatic instead of admin approval. When changing username to an existing username, send a query check, determine if the inactive account has logged in for the past "x" years then permit or deny the username change. If it passes through validation check (inactive for more than 'x' years), then modify the inactive username and rename to something like "InactiveUser#<number>" (where <number> increments for each inactive user) then allow the new username change (permit overtake of the username, considering it complies with all validation check)
maybe: ex-mods/admins (privileged users) can be immune to this so their username will not auto-expire.
Hey man, there's already a dedicated thread for username claiming for inactive accounts here: