Quoting Unicus69:

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Quoting T!M:

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I repeat: let's not try to re-invent the wheel here. Let's just use the IMDb name as the baseline and allow for users to prove, on a case by case basis if issues come up, that IMDb is wrong on a certain 'common name' choice.

I understand what you are saying T!M but we definately need Ken to sign off on this first.  If he decides, as he did over at IVS, that IMDb is not to be used, there is no point in even discussing it.

If I am not mistaken, Ken's problem with IMDb in the past was the wholesale copying of cast and crew lits into DVDP.  Using them as a reference does not seem to me like it owuld be a problem, but you are correct; Ken would have to bless that method.

Quoting m.cellophane:

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In that case, I'll reveal that I like Voltaire's idea.  (from the pinned thread):

Quoting Voltaire53:

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Much as I fear to say it would it not be the most consistent approach that the 'core' name is the one used by <gulp> IMDb?

This approach is probably the simplest one, but besides potential legal problems, the normalized IMDb name of an person is not as stable as we would like it. IMDb has the possibility to change a person's name and update all the links automatically.

Quoting skipnet50:

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I am not the one saying it is about me, unicus.And thank you again for the earlier help. Everybody else seems to want to make it about me. Speaking for myself I want to see a solution that is Profiler's answer and is NOT dependent on ANYONE else, pick your poison IMDb, AMG TCMDb or whoever. I can only saying that I am poring over the problem here in hopes of coming up with a Eureka moment, I would also be more than happy to see someone else come up with it. I am willing to support anything that 1) makes sense and 2) does not depend on some other source to work, but nothing has been thrown out there that meets those criteria...yet.<fingers crossed>

Stop trying to make it about me and therefore wasting valuable space. I don't have anything close to the ego that you seem to believe I have, in fact, I am not even certain I have an ego. It is not my worry who comes up with the answer as long as we find it.

I noticed you used I, Unicus. I could always refer to yself in the third person.

Skip

If it's not about you, then why does the idea have to be approved by you for it to be a good idea. I mean, what makes you qualified? I know this is going to sound bad, but there's no way else to put it. How long did it take you to understand the concept of the "common name"? I'm still having my doubts that you do understand it.
I don't see anything wrong with using IMDb data, because even if it's wrong, it won't be shown in the credits because the credited as field will be shown instead. But it will be consistanty wrong while allowing the actor linking to work. It's nothing but a glorified key we just need a standard and useable way to input it. The linking would work exactly the same way if we gave a unique number to each and every actor, but that would be completely unusable.

Quoting T!M:

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Quoting RHo:

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This approach is probably the simplest one, but besides potential legal problems, the normalized IMDb name of an person is not as stable as we would like it. IMDb has the possibility to change a person's name and update all the links automatically.

True, but these issues could be discussed in the manner that was previously suggested: we could have a separate sub-forum for "common name" debating, where we could discuss such issues on a case-by-case basis.

I would see it the other way around. Most people (90% or more?) would have a natural common name, namely the only name used in their credits or the one used in most credits. Only few cast/crew member's common name would give some troubles. In those cases I would suggest to use IMDb as a guide line (and only as a guide line) to get a useful common name. The forum could solve the really hard cases.

Keep in mind that IMDb names are not only as stable as we wish, but they also do not help in parsing the name into the relevant first name, last name, middle name fields. Discussions a la Bonham Carter will still show up.

Quoting Rifter:

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Quoting m.cellophane:

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IMDb Statistics Page

IMDb lists 281,957 AKA names in their database. Let's please not start a thread and have to vote and agree on common names for potentially that many actors and crew.

If we use the IMDb name as the baseline and allow for users to prove, on a case by case basis if issues come up, that IMDb is wrong on a certain 'common name' choice, that should cover it.

No, it won't.  IMDB can't be trusted.  Period.  If they get anything right, it's by accident!  I would go along with using TCMdb, however.  To date, I haven't found any errors in their data, and they don't get anything from IMDB.

TCMdb is R1-centric. I just tested their data with a Bollywood title of mine and it doesn't work.

Quoting richierich:

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How would we get this list - I looked on the site but couldn't see an actual list of the common names in use?

IMDb.com is "the list."

Quoting T!M:

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Quoting RHo:

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This approach is probably the simplest one, but besides potential legal problems, the normalized IMDb name of an person is not as stable as we would like it. IMDb has the possibility to change a person's name and update all the links automatically.

True, but these issues could be discussed in the manner that was previously suggested: we could have a separate sub-forum for "common name" debating, where we could discuss such issues on a case-by-case basis.

Agreed. Let's discuss the exceptions rather than all of them.

Quoting RHo:

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Quoting T!M:

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True, but these issues could be discussed in the manner that was previously suggested: we could have a separate sub-forum for "common name" debating, where we could discuss such issues on a case-by-case basis.

I would see it the other way around. Most people (90% or more?) would have a natural common name, namely the only name used in their credits or the one used in most credits. Only few cast/crew member's common name would give some troubles. In those cases I would suggest to use IMDb as a guide line (and only as a guide line) to get a useful common name. The forum could solve the really hard cases.

Agree. I think we're saying the same thing now?

Quoting RHo:

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Keep in mind that IMDb names are not only as stable as we wish, but they also do not help in parsing the name into the relevant first name, last name, middle name fields. Discussions a la Bonham Carter will still show up.

Name parsing is a whole 'nuther discussion!

Quoting pompel9:

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I think the "problem" is overrated.

Indeed! I agree.

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