Usernames

@QuillBill but that means you can only use it on that thread which is useless if you're on a long running thread where it won't change over. Meh

There was a recent thread with someone antagonising MNers, using the app to Sockpuppet. I wonder if that’s had anything to do with this.

No because you can name change, just not on a thread where you have already posted using a different name.

Huh, they've 'upgraded' the app now too.

Oh yes that's the end of Christmas names then!

That's exactly what I was thinking!

I have a regular UN for the likes of Wordle threads, I have a LOD UN, a Christmas one, Easter, New Year etc.... plus lots of random ones. If I've commented on a thread in Dec and I go to comment again in August, I would change my UN to a non-Christmassy one - but can't do that anymore 😔 (perhaps it's irrational of me but I don't like using SantaClausIsComing (not real UN) when it's not Christmas).

Then of course there's the Thread Inspired ones - some of those are the best! (Not this one!)

@invisiblecat on the app every time you post something it says "You can only post under one username on a thread".

If you can't name change why does it need to tell you that every time when you haven't even tried to change your username? It seems a bit hostile to me we get the message

Thanks @LetMeNameChangePls

Remember the Line of Duty threads where everyone used to change names in line with whatever was going on. That was fun. Won't be able to do that kind of thing anymore.

Jane it'll default to the first one used in that thread.

What happens if you have two usernames on one thread because you forgot to change back, which one will it default to now?

I checked and answered my own question, yes, back to the very first user name. Nice to see it again I guess.

Why do we need a threatening message every time we want to post something?

If I've already posted on a thread with different usernames, will it default back to the original one? I'm not overly bothered I was just too lazy to change back for continuity, will just be interesting to see as there's at least one thread I've posted on now and then for the last maybe 10 years?

There were some funny threads which involved a lot of name changing- anyone remember the realm of Mortificado? (Maybe not, it may have been a very few number of users despite a large cast of characters)

I think most long term MNetters knew. Often very funny name changes mid thread

Plus until a year or so ago the thread wouldn't remember what name you used on the thread only the one you were currently registered with

As a pp said it was active for 20 years so hardly caused that many issues

@RaraRachael
Sock Puppet explanation

Sorry it is glitching. Message was meant to say

I completely agree, it is for the long running threads that it is a particular problem.

I also want people to know it is me, as on some threads we have chatted for years and years but by a slight name change it stops all the posts being identifiable in one search.

I completely understand why you no longer feel comfortable sharing stuff on a AF thread, and it is such a shame.

I suspect not many people knew or bothered. Having been on here for years, I don't think it was a huge problem - partly for that reason.

@MammaGisAF

Good grief! I never realised that it was possible to change your username in a thread that you've already posted in. That seems like a huge loophole, to me - you could have an entire thread dominated and skewed by the posts of just one name-changing user! Presumably there have been thousands of such threads in the past?

I'm truly astonished that it's taken Mumsnet over 20 years to sort this out!

By the way, I've never heard of the term "sock-puppeting". I had to Google it!

What on earth does Sock Puppeting mean?

I agree it's not really suitable for the long-running threads like those.
I'm interested in how much of a problem it was for people NCing mid-thread?

If they're ganging up, I'd report them as suspected sockpuppet.
If it's by accident, that seems odd as you have to actively change your name.

I’ve already used that name on the previous thread that was also 1000 posts. Would rather some nosey person didn’t trawl through it all, hence the fairly frequent name changes. It is a shame because being able to share events on that thread has been really useful.