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Original poster

Only using one username on a thread

44 replies

9GreenBottles · 04/12/2022 12:49

Hello Mumsnet

Having the ability to change your username is great if you don’t want to have previous threads tied to that name - until you start a thread and forget to change your username halfway through.

Could you introduce a function that locks the user to the username they start with on a thread that would save the embarrassment of the OP if they forget to swap when posting further (and would also have the benefit of preventing sock puppeting by other posters on more contentious threads)?

OP posts:
PancakesNotPlainFlour · 05/12/2022 16:06

Yes please. I’ve accidentally looked like a sock puppet because I’ve done this in an attempt to keep my privacy.

User359472111111 · 05/12/2022 16:03

Yep

tunthebloodyalarmoff · 05/12/2022 16:03

What is sick puppeting ?

wisewomanmummy · 05/12/2022 16:02

I think it's a good idea too, it's irritating when you can't "see all".

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 05/12/2022 15:58

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

FlairBand · 05/12/2022 15:02

Good idea

DishwasherMoran · 05/12/2022 15:01

Yes! I kept my MN username for years, then switched to changing my user name virtually every day. It really helps me separate issues, post more honestly without fear of being 'spotted' and helps me decompress from nasty threads.

But yep, I've accidentally sock puppeted as result. Great idea.

accidentalsockpuppet · 05/12/2022 15:00

I'd like this. I've done it myself accidentally once or twice. It's embarrassing and I'd hate to think it looked like sockpuppeting.

TwoRockSalmonAndAHaporthOfChips · 05/12/2022 15:00

Very much agree. There’s been a lot of sock puppeting lately and it will stop that.

Another point is that it’s easy to miss an OP’s responses when they name change because they then don’t then show up when you click on See All, and this would stop that issue arising too.

kingsleysbootlicker · 05/12/2022 14:58

I'm another who thinks this is a great idea. Not only for the reasons already mentioned, but also because it's annoying when an OP misspells their name halfway through their thread, and then their posts aren't highlighted anymore

Dinoteeth · 05/12/2022 14:47

That's a brilliant idea.
Hope they are able to do it. I'm another who's had name change fails on a thread that I was trying to keep separate from the rest of my posts.

Newwardrobe · 05/12/2022 14:43

It would certainly stop sock puppetry, although when they're caught out it gives MN a chance to ban them.
It's a good idea though.

JaneJeffer · 05/12/2022 14:40

Good idea@9GreenBottles

MNHQ
HebeMumsnet · 05/12/2022 12:19

Afternoon, all. This sounds like an interesting idea. We'll pass on your thoughts and find out if it's something that it would be possible to do. In the meantime, do let us know here if this is something you'd like to see and if you have any more thoughts on how it would work. As with any new idea, we need to see that there would be plenty of support for it before we begin to look at it in any detail. We'll keep reading the comments here.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 04/12/2022 16:28

Yes, I would support this. Now we have similar threads, old threads keep popping up in my 'I'm on' and I've accidentally used my current name at least once on those!

AutisticLegoLover · 04/12/2022 16:20

Sorry, I've repeated you both there Blush

AutisticLegoLover · 04/12/2022 16:19

That's a great idea! Would stop sock puppets too.

ArcaneWireless · 04/12/2022 16:18

This is a great idea.

Here’s hoping it will be one of the many great ideas that might be actioned.

Sadik · 04/12/2022 13:03

YY to this - I'm forever name changing to start a thread, then forgetting half way through. As you say, it would also be really helpful in terms of avoiding sock puppeting.