Since when can an OP quietly change their name, on their opening post?

[WorraLiberty]

I'm confused, or has this always been a thing?

I've been posting on a thread last night and today, started by a certain OP.

I went to TIO about 10 minutes ago and now the same thread has a different OP's name, as do all their highlited posts?

Nothing from MNHQ either, to say the OP asked to have it changed?

[MWM]

That's weird. If I NC during a thread I've started it doesn't show me as being the OP when I come back with a new name.
Unless they've just started doing this?

[Fallonjamie]

Very strange.

[WorraLiberty]

Maybe it's to stop OPs asking for their threads to be deleted to 'protect their privacy'?

Either way, it's going to get confusing if it's done on the quiet I think.

[KatherineMumsnet]

Hi worra,

As you know, we don't like to delete threads wherever possible. When an OP has posted something that they are concerned will out them (or they regret, on reflection), we can offer a retrospective name-change so that the thread can remain.

[Fallonjamie]

So now you can post a thread you 'regret' and have it deleted (the privacy deletion message we see all the time now) or retrospectively name change on the thread instead?

Oh.

[WorraLiberty]

That makes sense KatherineMumsnet thanks.

Although apart from being a bit confusing, the thread in question has half of the OP's original NN left in one of the comments anyway.

[NeepNeepNeep]

I commented on that name change too and had my message deleted for breaking chat rules. Which I didn't as far as I can see. The deletion message makes me look goady which is unfair.

[AuntiePenguin]

I've done that.

I sometimes use more than one mumsnet name as a way to avoid being outed (i.e. One issue that I discuss here is done under a different name, as in combination with my other posts it would be very identifying).

Once I started a thread under the wrong name accidentally, asked mumsnet to change it and they did. This was several years ago so not a new policy.

Don't really see the problem with it tbh.

[NeepNeepNeep]

That's a good point if started accidentally Penguin. But why delete posts from others with a standard talk guidelines message when they could write "this post has been deleted due to OP name change".