I've been a member since 2004, and I remember being able to edit the names of how my friends on the friends list appeared to me. I did this so I'd remember where I befriended them from (which message forum, group, etc.) Now I can't figure out how to do that. Did they remove this friend feature too? The names I edited previously are still showing up as edited.
There is a way to change your friends' names; I had the link saved before NF removed the page but I can't find the bookmark now. There's a post about it somewhere on the community blog if you feel like searching for it (I posted under "acp" on the blog). Good luck! :)
Also, here's the reasoning behind removing it: "And the reason it's not there is that it's going to be decommissioned (as y'all put it), so why get folks addicted to it? You're going to need to get weaned from this feature sooner or later, and while I have no problem with you guys helping each other out, trying to recover this for the short-term, the fact is, i'd rather people try to find a better way -- maybe convince friends to use the nickname feature more and then connect as friends using the html link so the nickname shows... or... i dunno. It's just a bit of baggage in the development here to have your real name, your nickname, and then a name you give to people that they didn't give to themselves, particularly when (a) almost no one uses it, and (b) i am hard pressed to find too many examples of other sites that do it. I'm sure they're out there, but reason A is sufficient for me."
So I guess the point is don't get comfy -- it might disappear at any moment. :)
I think it'll be more and more essentail as more people get into friends and notes. I save all my friends like this Matt_Phatz Grace Arianna
That way on the note it shows their first name I can pesonalize a reply and the screen name so I remeber what reviews were theirs. Also if I foget the wife and kids name I can check it on the Friends page were it shows the full name past the spaces. It is key to buliding relationships with people IMO.
NF - keep at least a version of this. AND make it more accessable. If you show people how to use it they will and THEY'LL LOVE it! The queue change had a instruction video. Advertise this and I'm certain it'll get use and be a great distguishing feature of the Netflix site.
I am going to do everything I can to discourage them from eliminating the feature even if it is altered the ONLY way two keep straight EVERYBODY'S name real and screen and list them by what I know them as it to be able to set the name my-self. I believe everyone will find it useful and as Friends grow In-fact necessary. At one point I had three Jeffery's and three Steve's. It is IMPOSSIBLE, w/o the edit. Yes I heard the argument on th blog MONTHS ago when I was looking for where it went. The "we need to be weened from it" bit is week on NF part IMO. They need to find a better way to make it work. Thats all. =) but that is just me. anyway here is the link: http://www.netflix.com/ListFriends?myprofile=128911990&myprofil...
I will continue to strongly urge NF to re-think this decision and find a new way to set custom names. a universal name is NOT going to work when people are known differently by different friends. Sorry for the soap box. I couldn't possibly manage with out this http://www.netflix.com/ListFriends?myprofile=128911990&myprofil...
Hope it helps!