Namechanged, and I feel sad

[Guineapigbridge]

I’ve had to change my username as my google account got hacked recently and I realised there was a lot of information in there including my previous MN username. I realised that if a hacker searched my username he or she would get 10 years of my posts, including some of my deepest thoughts and quite a lot of information about how I live.

Now I’ve changed my name it feels like my identity is gone (my persona maybe?). And I feel sad about it.
Does anyone else feel namechange sadness?

No, I’ve found it liberating!

I change mine every now and then, especially since that hack.

I NC pretty regularly and it makes me feel anonymous on here, which I do like, but 2 or 3 names ago, I had one I just loved, and I miss it.

Maybe I also miss the poster I was under that name, but I guess that's up to me, isn't it!

I like your new name, Guineapig

If your previous name was 'anyfucker' then I'll be sad too !

It’s a feeling of losing status or loosing a sort of brand.
Maybe it’s dysfunctional and weird that I felt like people knew who I was and I liked it. Perhaps I am way too invested into posting stuff to strangers.
Gaaaaah existential crisis!!!

I used to have one with a really cute shortening that I enjoyed people using but I can’t use that one anymore. I miss it.

I change mine every few months when inspiration hits me. I haven't had one that really stands out to me yet just liked.

I really liked one I had a few namechanges ago, but I was outed IRL so had to change.

I was never a known poster, though. So it’s just a private sadness.

I change mine every month or so. Partly because I get bored of names easily. Partly because I don't want my posts linked together- I've previously posted about very specific circumstances that I think would be easily identifiable to me should they be linked.

I've never really loved a username though so I don't care about name changes. Maybe if I had a really witty or exciting username I might feel differently about it.

I'm a bit new to all this but... how will changing your username prevent that?

Well you could always give us a clue

If your old name started with G then that is sad, as I liked reading your replies/posts.

I change my name every 3/4 weeks. Lots of trolls on here.

That said it’s nice when a name I recognise gives some advice. It’s like i feel I can trust them.

Yes. Like you a hacking made me realise how much info was out there in me including mumsnet.
I've been here 12 years properly 14 years since I first dipped my toe in mumsnet waters.
I also had some rather enthusiastic troll hunters on mumsnet that would compare my posts and chased me around the boards for a while questioning me. All got a bit wierd and intense. I am was sad i lost my old name and because i regularly name change now i feel no one gets to know me. There are pros and cons to being more anonymous.

I name change very very regularly now.

Yep I started posting in 2006

Is it bad then that I've still got my first username nearly ten years ago?

I had to put the o at the end of my name because I used a crappy email and forgot the pw

It bugs me - not streamlined

Absolutely! I really liked my first username but started to get worried about too much being linked to it. I still feel a bit sad I can't use that one anymore.

If you google your username and “Mumsnet” you’ll see how google picks up your posts... a scammer can do that in seconds. They have details about your kids, your job, your husbands job. They may also have your email address (from the hack) and have it linked with passwords you use. It’s not too far from being able to extort you or threaten you or stalk you. It’s actually super scary.

They may also link your Facebook profile to you via your name and email. Then they have photos of you, know who all your friends are, know your job, your town, your kids school...
I just never really thought about how vulnerable I was.