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Original poster

Being identified on here… hmm

42 replies

rollingpizza · 19/08/2023 19:12

A while ago a poster on here identified me as one of my previous usernames.

I have name changed many times, and do often, so it’s not this user name.

It was strange as I hadnt posted on the username they identified in more than a year, the circumstances werent that outing (or I didnt think so anyway) yet they had commented saying, weren’t you ‘user123’ and this is what you said?

I have actually seen this happen to a few posters on here and when I have searched for the account thats been tagged I can kind of see how it could be the same person but it was such a huge stretch… daresay there are many thousands of active users on here so how can one be so easily identified? Do you reckon its people outing friends or family they know IRL or just individuals with extremely good memories and nothing better to do?

OP posts:
timetolive · 19/08/2023 19:33

I've noticed this too op and it's concerning. Not me personally but I've seen threads where people have clearly identified people through old usernames

BelovedLucy · 19/08/2023 19:35

It’s sometimes very obvious - people post repeatedly about the same set of facts and in the same style.

Original poster
rollingpizza · 19/08/2023 19:38

timetolive · 19/08/2023 19:33

I've noticed this too op and it's concerning. Not me personally but I've seen threads where people have clearly identified people through old usernames

It’s very strange.

OP posts:
MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 19/08/2023 19:39

BelovedLucy · 19/08/2023 19:35

It’s sometimes very obvious - people post repeatedly about the same set of facts and in the same style.

I agree with this. There's one poster who I can always recognise. She only ever posts about 1 topic and is so obviously her.

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 19:39

@BelovedLucy..

But is that a problem.
Should that be an issue.

Unfortunately uni don't think mnhq are robust as they should be on tackling posters who deliberately try and out people, link past threads, drill down into piston style.

This is an anonymous site. Or its suposed to be?

PollyAmour · 19/08/2023 19:41

Nobody should be outed on here, whatever the circumstances, including past usernames. It's meant to be a supportive network, not somewhere threatening,

BelovedLucy · 19/08/2023 19:42

@DrasticAction No, not a problem and I don’t agree with outing people as past names. But people can’t help but notice sometimes and will inevitably see new threads in the light of the old ones.

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 19:43

@PollyAmour

I couldn't agree more.

So many posters actually do see it as a sport and think they are really clever when they out people and I've reported it before but mnhq don't seem to do much about it?

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 19:44

@BelovedLucy

Unfortunately it's happened to me though and I've been accused of posting about a subject etc and they. Have. Been wrong.

Original poster
rollingpizza · 19/08/2023 19:46

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 19:43

@PollyAmour

I couldn't agree more.

So many posters actually do see it as a sport and think they are really clever when they out people and I've reported it before but mnhq don't seem to do much about it?

To be fair theyre fantastic whenever I bring anything to their attention. I agree it should be supportive and anon. I dont know what anyone hopes to gain from outing others. I dont even think I would link post to post, I have other things to think about

OP posts:
metalmaude · 19/08/2023 19:48

I think most people who think they have identified someone are wrong - people have said it to me and I have never even heard of the user name they mention. I expect some are right, but like a lot of the accusations that get flung around on here, many are wildly inaccurate

Blondey2023 · 19/08/2023 19:48

I thought you could only name change max 3 times 🤔

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 19/08/2023 19:50

Blondey2023 · 19/08/2023 19:48

I thought you could only name change max 3 times 🤔

I just checked. I've had 35 names in roughly 15 years.

RachelsHere · 19/08/2023 19:51

Blondey2023 · 19/08/2023 19:48

I thought you could only name change max 3 times 🤔

Definitely not. You can name change as many times as you want. You can change three times in a minute if you want.

Bromptotoo · 19/08/2023 19:52

I don't understand why so many people name change.

I had one previously but I cannot access it as it's linked to a dead email addy.

hiddenhidden · 19/08/2023 19:53

Do you reckon its people outing friends or family they know IRL or just individuals with extremely good memories and nothing better to do?

People who stalk this place with nothing better to do. A lot of the time anyway. I occasionally get PMs elsewhere saying that so-and-so has been spotted posting in 'x' topic. It's pathetic really.

I recognise name changers from time to time as their style is distinctive, but I'd never out their old username. That's really not on.

It's why I lurk nowadays rather than actively post.

Blondey2023 · 19/08/2023 19:53

Ohhh I see, thanks ladies!

JanglyBeads · 19/08/2023 19:56

Sometimes it's because people have spotted a PBP or other troll though, and they went to alert others before they get sucked in. MNHQ can take a couple of hours to act.

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 19:58

@Bromptotoo

People name change exactly because it this problem with mn users who try and link k old posts?
And think they a re really clever when they think they recognise stiles

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 19:59

@JanglyBeads.. It's a little like innocent before proven guiltily.

It's mnhq explicit request that people dont troll hunt.

Report to them.
We are all adults here and we all know anyone could be and I'm sure are posting absolute bull shit a lot of the time

Annaishere · 19/08/2023 20:03

But they can’t prove it’s you ?

Truemilk · 19/08/2023 20:03

rollingpizza · 19/08/2023 19:46

To be fair theyre fantastic whenever I bring anything to their attention. I agree it should be supportive and anon. I dont know what anyone hopes to gain from outing others. I dont even think I would link post to post, I have other things to think about

Show quote history

I think they just enjoy catching people out 'lying' by seeing if the details match up with the current op

Thing is though, people change little details to avoid being recognised so details may be slightly different

I don't know how anyone has the time or energy for any of that

PollyThePixie · 19/08/2023 20:06

I’ve had a stalker who would follow me round the board determined I was someone she knew of from another forum. She would reply to things I said and always seemed to be trying to trip me up so she could say aha, it is you! In the end it got so creepy I reported her and it’s not happened for a while now.

Original poster
rollingpizza · 19/08/2023 20:10

PollyThePixie · 19/08/2023 20:06

I’ve had a stalker who would follow me round the board determined I was someone she knew of from another forum. She would reply to things I said and always seemed to be trying to trip me up so she could say aha, it is you! In the end it got so creepy I reported her and it’s not happened for a while now.

That sounds horrible! I hope youre ok it must have made you feel really uneasy. I just cannot understand why anyone would want to do this? How youd even join the dots and remember any previous threads… I dunno, I never get that invested

OP posts:
Annaishere · 19/08/2023 20:13

rollingpizza · 19/08/2023 20:10

That sounds horrible! I hope youre ok it must have made you feel really uneasy. I just cannot understand why anyone would want to do this? How youd even join the dots and remember any previous threads… I dunno, I never get that invested

Show quote history

Some people spend too much time on the internet I guess