So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Note: I am NOT racist. Please don't flame me.

For a while I've been thinking about signing up for a poker site with a screenname designed to offend people. I was curious to see if I would get more action when people went out of their way to bust me. The name would have to offend the easily offendable without blatantly violating the terms of the site. I decided to implement my plan at Full Tilt because I heard that players there were extremely tight.

The name I chose was "Racist88" (88 is neo-nazi shorthand for "Heil Hitler") because I didn't think I could get away with "Wh1te P0wer." I planned to be very civil in my chats but if someone mentioned my SN, I would say something like "why yes, I am a racist." I would be very careful to actually say anything racist or hateful, just acknowledge that I'm a despicable racist.

In practice the idea didn't work. At all. No one mentioned my name, asked if I was racist, told me to go to hell, etc. I did get a couple "good hand racist"-type comments. No one played any differently against me. My experiment was a failure.

Anyway, I suffer some horrible beats and end up losing $200 in the process of clearing the first $20 of the bonus. I say "screw this" and decide to cash out and maybe tackle the bonus later. Several hours later I get the following email:

"It has been brought to our attention that your playerID may be seen as offensive or inappropriate to other players.

At this time, we request that you change your playerID to another name... In the interim, we have paused your account, and voided your recent withdrawal request."

WTF? Changing my name is understandable, but that's no reason I shouldn't be able to withdraw my funds. This just pisses me off because I could be putting the money to better use elesewhere.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

meh

whatareyougonnado.....

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

It sucks that they aren't letting you cash out, but if you just do what they ask I'm sure you can get your money out. FWIW, I wouldn't expect a screenname to effect your action much. I thought it was pretty cool when I used the screen name "Anilingus" at one site, and it didn't seem to affect my action at all.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Many of the stupidest events in history has been preceded by a guy thinking 'what if...'

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Just for the record, the point of this post was to share the results of my experiment and not to bitch about FT not letting me cash out.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

There is a guy called "Turkishpride" who plays on Pokerstars. If he can call himself "Turkishpride" you should be able to call yourself "Whitepride" or whatever. Of course this is Pokerstars, not FT so ymmv.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Great idea...I have a new one, come up with a screenname to offend the dealer, how will he react? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

If you get easily offended online then you'd best not be online. Doesn't surprise me that it didn't work.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

why don't you change it to something like FullTiltSux - see if that goes through.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

I've sent this post to somebody I know working at FTP. I think this is totally not ok. Offensive screen name should have NOTHING to do with your cash out.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]


I was curious to see if I would get more action when people went out of their way to bust me. The name would have to offend the easily offendable without blatantly violating the terms of the site. I decided to implement my plan at Full Tilt because I heard that players there were extremely tight.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you are a moron for trying this. Its idiots like you that make online poker more frustrating than is already is. If you're goal was to offend people in a cheap way to make a few more dollars than you deserve everything you got. I have been an victim of online [censored] such as racism, [censored] talking, and players purposely playing slow in HU matches. You are probably not racist or even a bad person at heart, but i think this was an immature act and glad to hear the outcome of your story.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

I'm not so sure. It looks bad for a site to have players on there with offensive names. I bet there is T&C clause that states they reserve the right to suspend transactions whilst they investigate such matters or until they are resolved.

Funny, but stupid idea.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have been an victim of online [censored] such as racism

[/ QUOTE ]

Story please?

Forgive me, but the phrase 'online racism' is a little bit funny to me

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

I've been online racisted before, it sucks.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have been an victim of online [censored] such as racism

[/ QUOTE ]

Story please?

Forgive me, but the phrase 'online racism' is a little bit funny to me

[/ QUOTE ]

nothing big. i was playing 20 or 30 HU matches on UB. and my screename is that of an asian player. So deragatory statements were made about my eyes being small and other statements that were made to put me on tilt. It actually worked, and he won match 1, but i stuck it out and beat him the second match and quit on him and told him its not worth my time playing with a racist. Ive also had a player in a HU match tell me he/she was gonna play slow and had all day, and took 15 seconds for every move. It got to a point i wanted to shove with ak or any hand just to end the match.

i blame all this on phil hellmuth being ub's poster boy

Edit: 20 or 30 matches as in $20 or $30

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

???
So you are actually not only justifying being racist and insulting people but you are also blaming people who got offended?

Bad behavior should neever be tollerated, online or live.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

that has nothing to do with racism!
I am italian, proud to be Italian.
I am white but not feeling particularly proud of being white!

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

I understand this isn’t the point of your thread. But, I think it would be interesting to see if they allow you to deposit money into your account.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

FWIW, I played some hands against you on FTP and noticed your screenname. I thought it was rude, not really offensive, but I didn't feel like getting into a chat argument about it. I don't think I went out of my way to play hands against you over it. We did play some hands though and you weren't very happy with me. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
Note: I am NOT racist. Please don't flame me.

[/ QUOTE ]

interesting request...

[ QUOTE ]
For a while I've been thinking about signing up for a poker site with a screenname designed to offend people.

[/ QUOTE ]

For a few seconds I've been thinking of flaming a poster who asked not to be flamed. Just as an experiment to see if posters who ask not to be flamed are really thin skinned frightened smelly weasels who are terrified of unfriendly characters on the screen.

[ QUOTE ]
My experiment was a failure.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
I suffer some horrible beats and end up losing $200

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
"It has been brought to our attention that your playerID may be seen as offensive or inappropriate to other players.

At this time, we request that you change your playerID to another name... In the interim, we have paused your account, and voided your recent withdrawal request."

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] Full Tilt.

I guess I won't flame you since you've made me smile.
<font color="white">(hint in white since that's your favorite color: maybe you offended someone at Full Tilt -- I'm sure you'll get your money after they complete their review of the situation -- I hope they do a very thorough job and double check everything and lose the paperwork and start over a few times -- sometimes being a jerk is -EV) </font>

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
For a few seconds I've been thinking of flaming a poster who asked not to be flamed. Just as an experiment to see if posters who ask not to be flamed are really thin skinned frightened smelly weasels who are terrified of unfriendly characters on the screen.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the guy didn't want to be flamed because he wanted the discussion to be on Full Tilt's policy (which seems terrible), and the general concept of being able to tilt people with a dumb name. Both are topics worthy of discussion. I don't play at Full Tilt, and this post made me question if I will. It is scary that a site can hold your funds because they didn't like your screenname.

As to the OP, there was a guy I used to play against on Paradise in SNG's with a racist name. People went after him verbally and on the table. I think the name did get him more action at Paradise.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

For christ's sake there is a guy on Party named 'MLKSuxDix'.

A few things I forgot to mention in the original post
 

This post was inspired by this discussion in the psych forum about what effect (if any) player names have on opponents and whether they can ever be an indicator of player style in the absence of other information. This topic seems to come up once a monthe or so.

My intent wasn't to offend per se, and it certainly wasn't to try to put people on tilt. We've all gotten satisfaction from busting someone who was being a dick and I was curious to see if some people might go out of their way to bust someone who belonged to a group of people who are dicks. Again, I didn't say anything offense or antagonize people.

I orginally tried to sign up sign up with names like "ImaRacist" and "I_am_Racist," but they had all been taken. If FT doesn't want people with "racist" in their names, why allow them to sign up with those names?

I included the "don't flame me" disclaimer because, this being an internet message board, I knew people would just read the subject line and automatically flame me with comments like "racists like you shouldn't be allowed to play poker" or something equally stupid and unrelated to the actual content of the post.

For those of you saying I'm an idiot, why? This had a small chance of being profitable and no chance of being unprofitable. I was planning on signing up for the site anyway so I thought I would try something out.

Support still hasn't written back with my new login.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
if you just do what they ask I'm sure you can get your money out.

[/ QUOTE ]

We don't give into extortion here.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am NOT racist. Please don't flame me.


[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
(88 is neo-nazi shorthand for "Heil Hitler")

[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I didn't think I could get away with "Wh1te P0wer."

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you for real

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

I have actually seen several players semitilt due to the screenname "IAssSexYourMom" on Party. They try to tell him change it etc., and he never answers and that pisses some players off [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]. Funny that Party has not censored it.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
It is cool that a site can find ways to punish annoying twits who make poker less fun and drive away players who should not be driven away.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP.

If I hadn't already signed up at Full Tilt, I would have after reading this thread.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
For christ's sake there is a guy on Party named 'MLKSuxDix'.

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazing, I am reporting this to Party support as we speak.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Racist88 is way too obvious and not nearly offensive enough to have the desired effect. I have tried similar experiments, and believe that having a screenname that makes you look like a complete douchebag IS an advantage. But "racist88" is clearly someone trying to hard to look like a douche.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

People that come up with a screen name only for inflammatory purposes, and the humor that comes from them, are retards.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Hehe, great comment from a guy named 'Jihad'

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hehe, great comment from a guy named 'Jihad'

[/ QUOTE ]
pwned

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

you should just kill the n*ggers and jews that run full tilt.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Hehe, great comment from a guy who doesn't know what jihad means.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
There is a guy called "Turkishpride" who plays on Pokerstars. If he can call himself "Turkishpride" you should be able to call yourself "Whitepride" or whatever. Of course this is Pokerstars, not FT so ymmv.

[/ QUOTE ]Turkey is a country not a race, genius. AmericanPride would be just fine.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hehe, great comment from a guy named 'Jihad'

[/ QUOTE ]
pwned

[/ QUOTE ]
yeah, totally i got "pwned"...wtf is becoming of this site?

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

ohh...sorry...i got a new idea, your new screenname could be "whitetrash"...maybe the players fold their hands out of sympathy...

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

[ QUOTE ]
(hint in white since that's your favorite color (...) sometimes being a jerk is -EV) </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Hmm... what odds would you lay that player is a NASCAR fan? LOL! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

&lt;puts on asbestos suit.

Re: So I sign up for Full Tilt with the screenname \"Racist88\"...
 

Well, you're going to catch some flames. But I applaud your investigative method and putting your money behind your theory.

A thought or two though on your test methodology, etc.

1) As one poster pointed out, Racist88 isn't really inflamatory enough. It invokes no *hate*, just distaste. The MLKSuxDix handle is a better example of how invoke hate. You have to come across as a slobbering, ranting idiot, basically confrontational. Racist88 is a label. MLKSuxDix is an *insult*. See the difference. So try something more insulting and see what happens. Try something like NiggazSuk, RapSuks, NiggazRule, HonkeysCantJump, HeilHitler, ZyklonBRulz, SlantEyedChink, NoTikeeNoLaundry, SukMyDik, UpUr@ss etc. You have to make it an emotional affront to really test the concept. It has to make folks see red want to shout you down. Personally I wouldn't, but if you want to test the concept, that's the element that needs to change. Racist88 is just to bland for the proper effect.

2) I think having a memorable screen name is a mistake. If people remember it, they remember how you play. I'd think that's a mistake. Stealth might be a better ploy IMHO. Because the last thing I want is someone *trying* to get a line on me specifically.