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Original poster

Usernames

33 replies

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 09:09

I've been on this site for over a decade..I have changed name a few times over years but had a regular one in early years. I noticed someone else had created a new username virtually identical and most people would think it was same user at first glance. I ended up changing names and 'losing' my usual name.

It's just happened again. I've had this one for years and now there's another user (can only see posts fairly recently) who has virtually same name (added a letter at the end).

Shouldn't there be a way of making sure names are more unique? It's annoying.

OP posts:

DriftwoodOnTheShore · 27/12/2022 21:35

My last user name was used by someone who just added a number 1 to it

So I changed mine. I change regularly but try to pick something unique rather than adding a number to someone else's.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 27/12/2022 21:26

Soubriquet · 27/12/2022 10:54

Years ago, my username was NeedACleverNN.

Someone managed to make an account that looked identical to my username. I can’t remember how they did it but I was very confused for a while. Especially as they started a post about Ben Stiller .

People thought it was me and was also confused as to why I was posting about him. MNHQ got involved and sorted it

I rember that! 😂

OIdTinHat · 27/12/2022 21:22

astralpiano · 27/12/2022 21:15

Are you talking to yourself?

Show quote history

No, playing around with the usernames as discussed in this thread. I've become O (capital i) dTinHat after the actual O (l -ell)dTinHat said that no one had their UN.

@OldTinHat I won't ever use this nn outside of this thread.

astralpiano · 27/12/2022 21:15

OIdTinHat · 27/12/2022 21:13

@OldTinHat

waves creepy

Are you talking to yourself?

OIdTinHat · 27/12/2022 21:13

@OldTinHat

waves creepy

OIdTinHat · 27/12/2022 21:12

OldTinHat · 27/12/2022 20:46

I've been here donkeys too under various UNs. My last one was unique at the time but I've now seen loads of variations of it recently.

I now use this which (touch wood) hasn't had a variation of - yet!

Funnily enough, a PP on this thread is using a similar version of my old UN!

Well this is interesting.

OldTinHat · 27/12/2022 20:46

I've been here donkeys too under various UNs. My last one was unique at the time but I've now seen loads of variations of it recently.

I now use this which (touch wood) hasn't had a variation of - yet!

Funnily enough, a PP on this thread is using a similar version of my old UN!

Original poster

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 20:10

ErrolTheDragon · 27/12/2022 19:58

I mean what are the odds of thinking of lobsterquadrille?

Someone who'd just been reading Alice in Wonderland to their DC might, so likelier to occur on MN than other platforms.

Ha. ..good point. You're better read than me. That had entirely escaped me!

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 20:09

Pixiedust1234 · 27/12/2022 20:03

Show quote history

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 20:07

FrenchCarolHelp · 27/12/2022 20:02

But it isn't saving on thinking, people think of a name, it's gone, so add a few numbers.

Show quote history

Oh I see. Yes, maybe in that case.

I just was surprised and when I've had my username for a loooooong time, don't want to have to change it. I mean I do occasionally but this is my usual name.

I mean mine is just gibberish so was surprised someone else picked it too with an added letter.

OP posts:

HuntingoftheSnark · 27/12/2022 20:04

There's actually a user called thehuntingofthesnark as well; I noticed the other day. When I transform into thewalrusandthecarpenter, I shall remember to include the definite article.

astralpiano · 27/12/2022 20:04

FrenchCarolHelp · 27/12/2022 20:02

But it isn't saving on thinking, people think of a name, it's gone, so add a few numbers.

Show quote history

Yes that's exactly it

astralpiano · 27/12/2022 20:04

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 19:55

See as @astralpiano says, clearly some people do it on purpose to save thinking of one of their own. I find it a bit unfair if people do that on purpose when it could cause confusion.

I mean what are the odds of thinking of lobsterquadrille? 🤪

No I think of something and type it in to find it's already taken so tweak it (usually by adding or changing a word). I don't go oooh that's a good one I'll pinch it and add a 1. It's hard thinking of a unique name I often have to have 3 or 4 goes.

Pixiedust1234 · 27/12/2022 20:03

FrenchCarolHelp · 27/12/2022 20:02

But it isn't saving on thinking, people think of a name, it's gone, so add a few numbers.

Show quote history

FrenchCarolHelp · 27/12/2022 20:02

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 19:55

See as @astralpiano says, clearly some people do it on purpose to save thinking of one of their own. I find it a bit unfair if people do that on purpose when it could cause confusion.

I mean what are the odds of thinking of lobsterquadrille? 🤪

But it isn't saving on thinking, people think of a name, it's gone, so add a few numbers.

HornyHandedSonOfTroll · 27/12/2022 20:00

I couldn't get worked up about this. It might have mattered more in Ye Olden Days when people were actually recognisable (I've been here 20 years), but MN is now such a massive monster that nobody notices or cares (which is both a good and sad thing).

ErrolTheDragon · 27/12/2022 19:58

I mean what are the odds of thinking of lobsterquadrille?

Someone who'd just been reading Alice in Wonderland to their DC might, so likelier to occur on MN than other platforms.

Original poster

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 19:55

See as @astralpiano says, clearly some people do it on purpose to save thinking of one of their own. I find it a bit unfair if people do that on purpose when it could cause confusion.

I mean what are the odds of thinking of lobsterquadrille? 🤪

OP posts:

HuntingoftheSnark · 27/12/2022 19:12

I joined MN probably 12 years ago as lobsterquadrille, then lobsterquadrille2. There's a poster who's quite prolific who is thelobsterquadrille - so fairly similar. 😀

KendrickLamaze · 27/12/2022 19:07

I've actually had a user use the exact same username as a previous of mine. I got notifications that they/I had been tagged a few times which is how I knew. This was a while ago but odd.

MNHQ

JoMumsnet · 27/12/2022 11:26

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 11:13

@JoMumsnet ok, thank you. It's mumteedump.

Fair enough if they say no. Just weird as I picked a nonsense one in first place 🤪

No worries at all. We'll have a word

astralpiano · 27/12/2022 11:23

Its hard to think of unique names I sometimes NC and when I think of one and its taken add something else to the end

Original poster

Mumteedum · 27/12/2022 11:13

@JoMumsnet ok, thank you. It's mumteedump.

Fair enough if they say no. Just weird as I picked a nonsense one in first place 🤪

OP posts:

ShaunaTheSheep · 27/12/2022 11:10

It was quite prevalent in the early days when far fewer threads and posters made it easier to spot a doppelgänger.
When it happened to me, I asked nicely and the other party name-changed, although they had been around for a while.

MNHQ

JoMumsnet · 27/12/2022 11:09

Hi @Mumteedum - we do understand how frustrating it can be for you (and confusing for everyone else) if someone has picked a name similar to yours. We can't really prevent this from happening - if the precise name hasn't been used before then essentially it's up for grabs. But we'll happily email the new joiner to ask if they'd mind switching to another name. Most people are fine with this when we've asked in the past.

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