How much do you pay attention to / remember usernames?

[ladybee28]

Just that, really.

I definitely have a few names that I recognise when I see them, but not enough to remember how/in what context I've encountered them before.

I've noticed recently a few people namechecking other posters: "So-and-so will be along in a minute to say X" or "Such-and-such usually has a good idea of things like that".

There seem to be so many posters here, I'm amazed at how some people seem to keep track, not just of familiar names but of personalities, too.

Do you?

The only ones I genuinely remember from one day to the next are the ones who always seem to crop up saying something thoroughly irritating or provocative or unhelpful. I think some posters have enjoyed making a name for themselves from taking that kind of tone and fascinatingly, are usually described in admiring tones by hangers-on as no-nonsense, when personally I feel they are just bloody rude. I could name probably 5 off the top of my head (I won't though).

Sparklingbrook yours was the first name I thought of when I saw this thread. Your name sounds lovely and you always seem nice too. Now I sound like a stalker 😆 I do also recognise chaostrulyreigns as a blast from the past.

There is a poster with a very similar name to me who is rather judgemental and I am always worried someone will mix us up.
I always used to look out for @notthefordtype who had such a wise POV but I haven't seen her on here for a while.

Worraliberty!!!

I hardly ever notice them

I hardly notice them really, there’s a few regulars that I see, and some people who must have the same taste in threads as me as I see their names a fair bit. But not enough to read a post and imagine they’ll be joining soon

I remember a few: lauriefairycake, graphista, bellinisurge, ssd, clavinova, sparklingbrook, bluntness100, anyfucker, worraliberty, surferjet, laplanderaccordment, ah there's loads.

Only one who was prevalent on here when I joined in around October/November 2011! They announced a flounce fairly soon after, well, possibly within about 6 months or so.
Think they came back as noticed a resemblance to the distinct style of posting!
But literally no other name comes to mind.

Yes, but only a few. Some because they said something that made my eyes roll. Some because they tend to be pretty straight. Then a few well known names.

A few, couple of dozen maybe. People who are reliably sensible, funny, right-but-in-a-twatty-way, absolute jerks, and the gender crowd who murder any discussion they turn up in. And precisely two UserNNNNNNNNN out of however many of those there are.

I've been here for many years but thankfully seem to fade into the background.🐱

There are names from years ago no longer with us who I miss, i.e. Expatinscotland who always stated things straight down the line and used to make me smile and PurpleUnicorns who sadly died from dreadful cancer and whose bravery still sticks in my mind to this day.

It's been interesting to see new names rise to the top so to speak.

Stealthpolarbear, wolfiefan, awwlookat my babyspider, originallem, branleuse, mikeuniformmike, pigletjohn!

I've started recognising a few names that have already been mentioned, but often I don't have a sense of their personality, just remember the name.

Although pigletjohn always gives sage advice about practical housey things.

I don't really start threads either so haven't really had any "direct" dealings with anyone.

I'll read a reply and it'll piss me off because it's reaching so far I think they're going to fall off their chair making the point, or twisting the facts completely around and vilifying the OP when it's clear what the OP has said. And then I see the username and think, "Oh of course it's you, you complete and utter goady fucker!! I should have known!"

@bluntness100 definitely! Also @anyfucker and @formerbabe all stick in my head 🤷🏻‍♀️

Aquamarine, formerbabe, anyfucker, noego. Theres another one that I always notice but it just wont come to me at the moment. She is always helpful on the relationship boards, especially as far as domestic abuse is concerned.

It definitely depends on which boards you frequent. There are quite a few names I recognise but several mentioned on this thread I've not heard of .

I am often surprised / disappointed when there's a poster whose stance I've always agreed with on one topic, and I think I may get on with, only to find they have really annoying views on another topic !

I don’t really notice anymore. I had to name change after years of posting as my previous name. Somehow I’ve never really engaged in the same way again. I remember all the old posters on the SN boards, but they have mostly name changed now too.

MrsTerryPratchett sticks in my head because I often find she has a similar opinion to me (and it’s not always the popular one!) I really like the way she words her posts- they tend to be sensitive and carefully-phrased.

As for other users: There’s one person who always pops up on one board whenever there’s a thread on a particular topic. I have to admit I roll my eyes when I see their name as they do seem to have appointed themselves as Mumsnet’s #1 Expert on this topic. If I read one of these threads and they haven’t appeared yet, I know it’s only a matter of time.

And then there’s one who sometimes has good advice but I just remember one particular post that revealed something quite unkind about them.

I used to.

I joined in 2004 and back then, you knew everybody and remembered enough about them to have quite a familiar chat.

Now? I don't notice so much. It's far less personal and whimsical.

Oh also, for some reason a lot of details about BikeRunSki (I think that’s right) have stuck in my head, so I feel like I know a lot about her. I have no idea why my brain has chosen to remember it though!

Not at all, tbh. I don't look at usernames.

There's a few names I recognise because they post a lot on the same boards as I do and have never seemed to have changed their name, but I'm talking 2 or 3 names maximum.

I've changed my username about 12 times as I occasionally drop a bit if information thats a bit too specific and then panic I'll have outed myself and change my name

I joined in 2005-6, but name change probably about once a year. Assumed that most posters do that to keep anonymity, but recognise the names mentioned on here.

I once used a reference to chocolate and marshmallows in my name and suddenly lots of posters had chocolate-based names. I thought I'd encouraged a trend, but now realise it's just a popular reference 😄

@Bluntness100
@WorraLiberty
(I have a theory that they are related, no idea why!)
@Nicknacky