Can we have something in place so that we can have a better idea if a namechanger is genuine?

Also I assume it's possible to register more than one person on each pc as otehrwise how do husbands/wives do it? So if someone wanted to namechange to protect their identity they would just re-register with a new email address?
So all the troll would have to do is say 'I'm a reg, but I've done a new regsitration ebcause I don't want you to know who I am'
It'd just be mroe complicated.
Leave it to MN.

Agree with soupdragon too. It's not paranoid, it's just pointless.

I dont know about "proving mumsnet qualifications"
I've been here since 05 but it wasn't until the last year or so that I ventured out from the ante-natal / post-natal threads.
I dont know anything re Red Rug / Judge Flounce etc (only with references on other threads) so would my Serious Secretative Question be taken seriously?

Surely some of the trolls are the 'same' person iyswim.
For example, if the person that posted as MrsGG was the same poster as RosemaryWoodhouse, s/he would have had a good number of posts next to his/her name and have joined months and months ago so we wouldn't be any the wiser.

FGS - are we living in 2008 or 1998??

Why all the paranoia that people are going to sit their intently examining posts by all the many people that have had 222222222222222222222 posts to their name and comparing it to the namechangers who also have 22222222222222222 posts to their name - who are switching between names and totting up new posts all the time???

There was the fake death one too. That was pretty disturbing.

Mountains and molehills.

And it's not even a full moon.

they need to prove their mn quallifications

FAQ, there are lots of namechanging scenarios where people have tried to guess the poster. EG the Am I Pregnant ones as well as a large number of very personal ones, all innocent. With a number of posts thing, it would be very easy to check your suspicions as to their identity. This is unacceptable.

I didn't follow the Fox one or the modelling one. Judge flouce was suspected quite quickly by PPH but a lot of people didn't listen to her.

Polgara - some are suggesting that if (for example) there was the number 1879 next to my name (FAQ) and I changed name and posted something it said 1880 posts next to my new name) and then (possibly) changed back to FAQ posted again and had 1881 then people would actually have the time and inclination to notice that........

Well someone well known who'd been around for years - posted more than most people - say Cod, joined in March 1982 and has 2174784883833 posts. If she name changed about a serious issue, and you checked her profile, you'd know that it was her!

Ah sorry took me too long to type!

Sorry if I'm being thick but how could you identify someone by the number of posts? Am I missing something (am very hungry at the moment so brain may not be working properly - too preoccupied with thoughts of food).

Soupy - it wouldn't have to make the poster's original name identifiable - unless you're boring enough to sit there and take note every day of how many posts all the 100's of regular MN'ers have tallied up by the end of each day - and then compare that with the number of posts that "Impretendingtobenewbutamactuallyatroll" has made (IN TOTAL under all their names).

If you're suspicious, simply ask MNHQ. They have access to this info and are in a position to do something based on the "evidence", there's no need to make it public.

OMG some MN'ers are just so stuck in the 90's with their way of thinking of how forums work

Wherever it is it would make the poster's original name identifiable. I honestly fail to see any firm positives either TBH.

IIRC there have been very, very few "serious" trolls. Judge Flounce, that Fox woman (?can't remember name) and this one. Plus Lavenderrrrr I guess.

I just don't think it proves or disproves anything - what difference would that actually make? A troll could be a newbie or a namechanger - you can register on mn years ago and just lurk - then come up with a story - number of posts or date of registering doesn't prove anything at all.

Good point Boco

I don't think it would help anyway really as as someone who is determind to Troll will find a way of doing it. I find that trolls usually get picked up on relatively quickly anyway.

"i am praying for you my sweetheart stay strong xxxx"

VOMIT

I don't think the date joined is necessary - just number of posts available to view somewhere

the thing is about all these thigns is that htey always become a drama wiht mumsntters gettign all hysterical and melodramatic on them