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Original poster

Have you ever recognised someone on Mumsnet?

52 replies

magicalkitty · 15/08/2023 08:15

I mean, read a thread or a post and thought 'I know who that is?'

I am always conscious about exactly what I post on here because MN is so popular and appears easily in search results too. I have recently seen a thread on here and I'm 99% sure I know the person IRL.

OP posts:
NewYearNewUsername23 · 15/08/2023 08:18

My sister. And when she later told me the news she’d had a thread about and I asked she confirmed it. Then it turned out she’d spotted me years before.

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:18

Nope. But I find it silly when people name change because it’s ‘outing’ then describe situations in detail.

GoingGoingUp · 15/08/2023 08:21

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:18

Nope. But I find it silly when people name change because it’s ‘outing’ then describe situations in detail.

Except that’s the point…so the thread is not linked to your other posts and you don’t need to worry about people who identify you then look through your posting history…

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
MotherofGorgons · 15/08/2023 08:22

Yes. Xenia. But I think.she is ok with that.

I was almost recognised by my sister too under a previous name.

EveryOtherNameTaken · 15/08/2023 08:23

Yes. A work colleague vented to me about a friend situation. The following week I saw the exact post on here. A couple of days later she said mentioned she'd just discovered MN 😂

Angie147836 · 15/08/2023 08:23

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:18

Nope. But I find it silly when people name change because it’s ‘outing’ then describe situations in detail.

Yes, they may still be identifiable thanks to the detail of the situation,but at least by name changing it doesn't tie the post to loads of previous ones in their username. You can post once on an issue and people might recognise it, but they won't know what else has been on your mind for the last year. I change my username every couple of weeks anyway.

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:23

I guess. But if you’re worried about being identified then why post such lengthy details? Are you name changing because you’re embarrassed about previous things you’ve said?

myrtleWilson · 15/08/2023 08:24

@lightinthebox the name change then is usually so that anyone who does recognise the scenario can't link to other names. I could under one name describe a family fall out at a wedding for example but no one recognising said scenario could search my other names where I share struggle of infertility or how I think my husband is having an affair or how I loathe my mil (all made up scenarios!)

PurpleGreenandWhiteAreTheNewPrimaryColours · 15/08/2023 08:28

No, but I have been recognised by a family member who I was not on good terms with who then proceeded to make a nuisance if himself and search my posts to try and dig up dirt.

So I do nc regularly now.

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 15/08/2023 08:29

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:23

I guess. But if you’re worried about being identified then why post such lengthy details? Are you name changing because you’re embarrassed about previous things you’ve said?

Embarrassed? Possibly.

It's good to vent - it can be healthy to get things off your chest, and cheaper than a therapist - and sometimes details are necessary to get the whole story across. And you can be more indiscreet if postings are anonymous.

Why does anyone NEED to know who posters are. It's the story that matters.

Window82 · 15/08/2023 08:30

i think a friend recognised me in that I spoke to her about a situation on here and she almost verbatim said back some things on the post.

GoingGoingUp · 15/08/2023 08:30

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:23

I guess. But if you’re worried about being identified then why post such lengthy details? Are you name changing because you’re embarrassed about previous things you’ve said?

Not at all embarrassing. Why would it be?

But if a colleague of mine knows about a situation and reads about it on MN, I don’t want her then reading all my other posts where I’ve talked about my pregnancy, my DH, etc.

ShowOfHands · 15/08/2023 08:48

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:23

I guess. But if you’re worried about being identified then why post such lengthy details? Are you name changing because you’re embarrassed about previous things you’ve said?

As others have said, it's not necessarily embarrassment. People name change often because they know something is going to be identifying. So that when Pam from work or Aunty Miriam recognise you, they can't also search and read about your miscarriage, infertility, painful piles and what happened in that hotel in Rhyl. It's simple privacy.

HumanBurrito · 15/08/2023 10:00

I recognise my sister under a new name about once every six months. Hey C 🤓

Nevermay · 15/08/2023 10:02

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:18

Nope. But I find it silly when people name change because it’s ‘outing’ then describe situations in detail.

it is not silly, it means they don't mind being recognised on that thread, but don't want anyone who recognises them to be able to find out more confidential things by linking it to other threads

And anyway, people change details

EvenlyDetermined · 15/08/2023 10:08

Three times, two other mums from my DCs primary school (one posted about a very specific bit of good news that happened to the school, ome posted that she was relocating from our town to X town with DCs of a particular age). One from a class I used to attend, partly because she mentioned something very specific about our class in a thread about that hobby and partly because around the same time I picked her brain about something IRL related to her job and also posted about it on MN where she replied, so she probably spotted me too. I NC all the time.

ifonly4 · 15/08/2023 10:32

I suspect I came across a friend once. Someone had posted with a similar problem to the one I knew about and the username fitted in with her. I've never told her as I knew about the problem anyway.

storminabuttercup · 15/08/2023 10:32

No, but twice now I've been asked in real life if I was xyz mumsnetter as I'd said something irl they'd read a poster on here saying, weird

HamishTheCamel · 15/08/2023 10:35

Yes, I once read a post that was exactly the same as the conversation I'd just had with a friend, I'm almost positive it was her.

TheBeesKnee · 15/08/2023 10:38

Yes, I recognised a friend because of her writing style and username! As in, her username was something I knew she liked.

EmmaPaella · 15/08/2023 10:42

I have a few close friends on here. I never start threads but if they recognised any replies I make, I am sure what I said wouldn’t come as a surprise to them!

RhymesWithTangerine · 15/08/2023 10:45

Yes, several times.

My SIL, a friend who took her DC to the same play group, and a famous person among others.

I’ve also been recognised several times so I name change a fair amount.

FlakiestCornflakeInTheCerealBox · 15/08/2023 10:46

lightinthebox · 15/08/2023 08:18

Nope. But I find it silly when people name change because it’s ‘outing’ then describe situations in detail.

I think it's so that even if you do get recognised the other person then can't find out more by reading all your other threads. I overshare way too much so I name change pretty much everytime I start a thread.

VeridicalVagabond · 15/08/2023 10:47

Yes, 99% sure I've seen my SIL moaning about my family on here some months ago. It's quite a unique large family and she slipped and mentioned a name which is also quite unique so I'm sure it's her.

No grudge from me, my family are a nightmare sometimes and everyone needs to vent!

Toddlerteaplease · 15/08/2023 10:50

My dad is a mumsnetter. I once worked out that a posters son was in my hospital, on another ward. I really wanted to go and give her a hug as she was struggling. But since we aren't supposed to look at other wards on our iPods I couldn't.