Have you ever recognised or been recognised on MN?

[Spidey66]

This thread is inspired by people "namechanging because this is outing'"

Have you ever recognised or been recognised by someone on MN? Have you ever thought "that's my friend/sister/mum/colleague" because of something posted here? Or had someone in real life say they recognised a post here as being you?

No, but I recently discovered one of my old threads being discussed elsewhere online

Yes. She did a very nasty thing. She actually set up an email address that was like [email protected] to create a new name and post something that took my breath away. (Mumsnet told me the email address was meaningless and didn't contain a name). I was wondering who it was for ages but when it came to me who it was, I just knew. I name change very frequently.

I have recognised several people on here from my Facebook mums group. By name, by some of the things they post. But I would never out them or say anything because I assume they wish to remain anonymous! No one I know in person.

I don't think I've ever been spotted, if I have no one has said anything to me. I name change about once a week though, change lots of identifying details if I do an OP and try not to put myself when I respond to posts!

No, but one poster's user name is very similar to my own name. The friend who recommended mumsnet to me posted on one of her threads asking some questions that only I knew the answer to, so I emailed her to say it wasn't me, and my user name was something else.

Yes. That's why I name change every couple of months.

I am actually very open about being on MN. But I change my user name once a week so feel okay that i cannot be advanced searched too much.

I have definitely identified the wife of one of DH's friends. I had a suspicion and then advanced searched and it was for sure her. I never said a word though and then promptly (and genuinely!) forgot her user name.

I’ve recognised a colleague before - didn’t say anything, though, and it was clearly a seasonal username so assume they’ve now namechanged again.

Another colleague mentioned a very MN cliche in real life, so assume they read if not post here. Which is why I a) name change frequently and b) don’t post anything really personal

I think I've been recognised. In the past I was going through an awful break up. Ex knew I'd used mn in the past. Think him and ow checked to see if they could spot me. I once posted about how lonely I was and he promptly sent a very emotional message to me about how terrible he felt.

I also suspect work colleagues have spotted me cos the same issues I mention on mn also form most of my conversation topics offline.

Very often I post something then think "shit that's identifying" and change username! I'd be dreadful in witness relocation programmes, they'd have to keep moving me!

I’ve clocked a couple of people from FB groups I’m in.
I’m off to make change now just in case!

Yes, at least twice that I've been told about, once by a close friend and once by a friendly acquaintance (IYKWIM). I know people think that nothing is outing unless completely unique, but it's combinations of posts that do it every time.

The first was from talking about 2 different countries I'd lived in (plus I assume writing style - that was the close friend), the second time because I'd posted about my (moderately unusual breed) dog + then in a separate post mentioned a political campaign I was involved in at the time. Now I just assume I'm obvious under my usual user name and namechange for anything sensitive!

I was recognised once. I've suspected a few times I might know who people are but I don't have a great memory for usernames and tend to forget very quickly who said what. If your name sticks in my head here I either really like your posts often, or think you are a right tit.

I’ve recognised someone but didn’t say anything. I doubt anyone has recognised me.

@Sadik

Yes, at least twice that I've been told about, once by a close friend and once by a friendly acquaintance (IYKWIM). I know people think that nothing is outing unless completely unique, but it's combinations of posts that do it every time. The first was from talking about 2 different countries I'd lived in (plus I assume writing style - that was the close friend), the second time because I'd posted about my (moderately unusual breed) dog + then in a separate post mentioned a political campaign I was involved in at the time. Now I just assume I'm obvious under my usual user name and namechange for anything sensitive!

yes it is the combination of things that put together make the complete picture.

Possibly. I posted a picture of my dog once near where I live. Someone said they recognised the place, and said the rough location (correctly). They also said how distinctive my dog was and put a winking face.

Name change ensued!

All the fucking time. I just go with it now - if I want to post about shagging someone else’s husband, work drama or a health scare I name change! Tbh my circumstances/background are fairly unique and I’m open about where I live, so I’m not doing well to hide.

Recognising other people - yes, fairly regularly. Nct mums (including one who posted about me/my child while sitting in my spare room! ), Facebook mums’ groups I’m on, people living in my corner of London. Baby names is another very common one - “We have a little Xanthe and Milo, we’re expecting another baby next week, does the name Jedediah go well?” For the love of god name change if you don’t want to be outed in those circs.

Someone once started a thread with a lot of very specific details about my DC’s school and our area.
The poster’s DC were a few years older than mine though so I wouldn’t have been able to pinpoint which particular mum it was.

I've recognised one person but she's really boring and I recognised a really boring thing about her.

Hence this boring anecdote.

Someone once asked me if I had posted more or less the same on Facebook, I hadn't but my dd had, we'd been discussing the subject earlier! I truthfully said I hadn't, thankfully I'd namechanged not long before that so hopefully they couldn't find much history!

I've been recognised with an old username. Was quite odd, the person recognised where I lived on a 'what's your local area like' type thread. Then did some digging irl which made its way back to me 😶. Odd. I nc'd obviously and have funnily enough just nc'd again.

I could never be RL friends with the type of person who would be on MN
😁😁😁😁

Nope. Never.
Nor recognised anyone else I knew in RL.

I once recognised a colleague who was worried about ttc with a complex medical issue that she has. I was delighted when she got pregnant and had a straightforward pregnancy!

No, although in a thread someone mentioned a relative with my birth month and name and for a second I wondered if I knew them.
I did once get recognised in real life from a Facebook group. It was a group for fans of a TV programme, and in a cafe one day a stranger asked me if I was in the group as she recognised me from my profile picture, (I have a distinct look and had been in a discussion/argument on there after which I'd left it and moved on.)

I recognised someone from a local fb neighbourhood page. She's told a story on the fb about a trip to the shop and a rude customer and word for word put in aibu. I never said anything tho as don't know her personally