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?

I'm sure that people would know me from one of the names I use regularly on here for a specific topic. Mainly because I use the same name on a different forum dedicated to that topic, and folks on that forum know me IRL. So they'd know it was me on here too. I only started to use MN with that name so nobody else pinched it. I have a gmail with it too, for the same reason.

I've recognised someone from a virtual antenatal group, I've met her a couple of times. I didn't look at any previous posts, forgot the username pretty quickly and never mentioned it on our now fb group.

I don't think I've been recognised, no one has mentioned it. I change my username every couple of months anyway. My names follow a theme which only one person in this country would potentially guess but I doubt she's on here.

@JaywickCaravanOfLust

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

Hence this boring anecdote.

It's me, isn't it?

Some while back I read a post about a nursery aged child not having dirty wellies when staff said that he'd been outside to play. A couple of weeks later, while discussing my daughter's childcare situation, my Mum told me that my cousin had experienced difficulties with her nursery, and that her son didn't have dirty wellies etc etc.

If that was you and you're reading this lovely Cuz, rest assured that I've no idea of your MN user name and I'm not stalking you!

Recognised someone - nope
Been recognise - not that I’m aware of. I’ve been on and off MN for years now but very few people in RL know I go on MN.

On a thread with someone on the local board and discovered our DC were at the same school, a bit more vague questioning and we realised they were in the same year, and then finally a PM only to discover it was a friend of mine who I was seeing that weekend. I have a different user-name on local boards so I didn't mind.

And then another time, a close friend of mine was really upset about a terrible and shocking thing that had happened to her best friend. It was very specific and a couple of days later I came across a thread that had clearly been started by the friend of my friend. It revealed quite a lot of information that I wasn't sure my friend was aware of but it seemed inappropriate to send her a link as the person was clearly offloading in a place where she could be anonymous. But it was difficult. Some of the details might have helped my friend understand better, but I had to step away.

I've been sussed a couple of times, and worked out who another acquaintance is. I Name change much more regularly now.

No but I remember a thread in AIBU slagging off a certain cafe and its owner, where said owner recognised the situation and came on to refute the allegations

I recognised an old friend whose username was based on her first name and surname. She posted about where she lives so the combo was a bit obvious. I messaged her to let her know, it felt a bit dishonest not to tell her.

I got a “how are things hope you’re okay” message from a friend after I’d posted on here about struggling with... idk, life generally 🤣 I don’t know if she’d clocked me but that did make me name change. Shame because I had posted on a few long standing threads under that name.

No. I'm quite careful about what I post about in terms of identifying details. There are lots of things I'd like to post about but daren't. Cba to name change.

Yes I’ve recognised 2 of my previous bosses on here. Both of them talking about me, in a good way so I don’t mind. I made myself forget their username and never looked at any other posts to protect their privacy

Yes spotted someone I know in rl but didn't mention it. She doesn't post much

Relative of my ex clocked me when I posted about our relationship going badly. She messaged me to ask if it was me and to offer support which was very kind of her.

If I’ve been recognised, no ones let me know 😆

I’ve recognised quite a few people, quite a few people I know outed themselves a few years ago when they posted about living in the same village as [big news event]

I never tell anyone I’m on mumsnet and I’ve had to kick dh a few times when he blurted out about me going on mumsnet in front of other people.🙄

I recognised someone as they listed something on here and the exact same thing on Facebook. I searched their posts, age, job, a few situations I knew about were all mentioned. Even the username was a bit of a clue.

Yes.

There was quite the thread on here, years ago, and it involved my friend's boss. I told my friend about it and we followed it, just boggling at the details.

Another time, someone I worked with was insanely irritating about her daughter. Who was The Best Child Ever, To Whom None Must Be Compared.

She spent an hour of my precious time boring on about an inane situation at school, to my enormous resentment.

Then the exact same situation appeared in AIBU ... where she was told in no uncertain terms she was deranged.

It was very weird.

Normally, I slightly disapprove of AIBU - but that one had me actually crying with laughter.

I didn't say anything to her.

Yes I've recognised someone. I text her to let her know and change her username.

Yes, was awful and am still worried about it now.
I was not careful enough with a thread I put out about a friend. I was very upset about the situation and needed some help so posted on here. The thread got a lot of replies and although I changed some details, the situation was unique and those in the know would have been able to identity the people involved.
Someone said 'It's you isn't it (my name)?'
I felt sick and immediately got the thread deleted but I do worry that this person told the people involved about it. In fact, I am sure they did. Nobody has confronted me with it but it's still got me wondering exactly who it was. It could be between 1-3 people that I know.
Honestly, be very careful when posting on here. You think you are anonymous but you really are not. A lot post here and just don't admit it.

Personally, I think I have spotted 2 people I know on here but still can't be sure.

I hope not, but I did just name change for the first time in almost 10 years as a result of this thread.

@justoffshift

I'm standing in a playground next to a mum who is almost deffo a mumsnetter. Dressed like one of the Motherland crew, and with a 4yo who is running round screaming "fucking hell".

I once read an absolutely vile description of a child's party that I had been at with DC that day. It was clearly the same party and it was so mean spirited and spiteful. I thought much less of the mother who wrote it from that day. No attempt to disguise the situation and some really cruel comments about the kids and other families.

I recognised a friend of mines cousin. She was posting some very personal information which had me a bit

@EssentialHummus

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.

From your spare room!! 😊 I’m guessing it wasn’t very pleasant either.