PSN Users read this

[Darkside_Cowboy]

Most out there already know about the PlayStation Network getting hacked earlier this year, and the lawsuit against the creator of Linnux.

Sony has taken a more aggressive approach to users who have "inappropriate" user ID names.

I've had to rename my user ID earlier this week, since someone playing SOCOM4 complained. (maybe i killed them too much?) After getting a lot of frustration with my first call to customer assistance, finally I got on the phone with a Tier3 rep who explained to me just why my 3+ year old ID wasn't up to snuff, and just what renaming the account will do. Apparently this is where X-Box is better than PS3.

I lost my contact (friends) list entirely, and all trophies earned. Purchased DLC was kept, but try explaining to your clanmates with a straight face that Sony forced you to change your username because someone MAY find it offensive.The Tier3 rep informed me that any usernames with any of the following types of words used, including short forms, acronyms or slightly misspelled can get your account banned or suspended:
-Drug references
-Religious references
-Racial comments
-Sexual references

Sony has hired a new wave of moderators who can stretch the meaning of these references pretty far, so giving all a chance for a heads up before you login one day to find your account banned. Even something as relatively harmless as "GodBlessYou" as a username will get the ban. The rep indicated that these moderators are going through the +/- 40 million user names.

From what I'm hearing from X-Box users, if your username gets banned for similar reasons, you are prompted to create a new ID name at login, and keep all your stuff. (achievements, contacts/ignored list, etc.) I guess sometimes it pays to pay to play..