Page 2 | Being identified on here… hmm

rollingpizza · 2023-08-19T18:12:33+00:00

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?

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 20:13

I've had lots of huge in law issues and I've been accused! Of posting about issues before and I've seen many other posters accused of posting about the same issue.

However in law mil issues usually boil down to the same problems! So of course we are all talking about a handful of similar issues 😂

NeverDropYourMooncup · 19/08/2023 20:16

Some people have a very distinctive writing voice or drop in particular comments/phrases where it's clear they've posted before. Sometimes it's possible to remember their username at the time.

Often, it's the more contentious, goady or remarkable in some way threads, which automatically makes them more likely to be remembered.

LaMaG · 19/08/2023 20:25

Should we all be name changing? I never have.. and I've posted some fairly personal stuff on here. Not sure if anything is outing on its own but if someone were to find out it was me and look back I'd be mortified. I can't see that happening though, my life problems are very boring and generic!

SoupDragon · 19/08/2023 20:27

I used to be able to spot a handful of old timers no matter what name they posted under. I can't any more as the site is just too big. Sometimes it's just a particular way they have of phrasing things coupled with whatever personal info they have given.

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 20:28

@LaMaG definitely, do it for different subjects, fudge details always.

Aside from the saddos who link things for sport, you also have the threat of the Dailly mail lifting your story.

metalmaude · 19/08/2023 20:28

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?

Exactly, a lot of people make accusations of name changing, lying, trolling, etc, just to bolster up their own self esteem, and try and come across as clever. They are not clever, and they are normally wrong, in my experience.

Tjjd2023 · 19/08/2023 20:37

RachelsHere · 19/08/2023 19:51

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

Show quote history

This is so bizarre! I have definitely tried to change my username before only to get an error message saying 'you've already changed it the maximum number of times' (or words to that affect). But just tried again after seeing you say this, and it has now let me. It definitely does come up with an error sometimes saying you've changed too many times!

Annaishere · 19/08/2023 20:38

Oh wait they can prove it’s you. Wonder why mumsnet doesn’t let you delete comments it’s a bit odd

WhenLifeGivesYouLimes · 19/08/2023 20:39

Some people's style is memorable. In your case OP your lack of apostrophes is genuinely distinctive. (I haven't knowingly read any of your threads before though)

I do think that in some cases the appropriate advice to give to someone posting for the first time is different to the advice you'd give to someone who's posted a similar problem five times and never seemed to engage with the advice they've received. Or a poster might have repeatedly posted about different issues with the same man - or similar issues with different men. The repetition can be relevant. OTOH I can see why the amateur sleuths would be annoying, and when they get it wrong it's infuriating, so I'm on the fence.

metalmaude · 19/08/2023 20:44

WhenLifeGivesYouLimes · 19/08/2023 20:39

Some people's style is memorable. In your case OP your lack of apostrophes is genuinely distinctive. (I haven't knowingly read any of your threads before though)

I do think that in some cases the appropriate advice to give to someone posting for the first time is different to the advice you'd give to someone who's posted a similar problem five times and never seemed to engage with the advice they've received. Or a poster might have repeatedly posted about different issues with the same man - or similar issues with different men. The repetition can be relevant. OTOH I can see why the amateur sleuths would be annoying, and when they get it wrong it's infuriating, so I'm on the fence.

Apostrophes are thought of as old fashioned now, and unnecessary, so many posters leave them out.

Original poster

rollingpizza · 19/08/2023 20:46

WhenLifeGivesYouLimes · 19/08/2023 20:39

Some people's style is memorable. In your case OP your lack of apostrophes is genuinely distinctive. (I haven't knowingly read any of your threads before though)

I do think that in some cases the appropriate advice to give to someone posting for the first time is different to the advice you'd give to someone who's posted a similar problem five times and never seemed to engage with the advice they've received. Or a poster might have repeatedly posted about different issues with the same man - or similar issues with different men. The repetition can be relevant. OTOH I can see why the amateur sleuths would be annoying, and when they get it wrong it's infuriating, so I'm on the fence.

It’s funny you’ve noticed. I usually use them, I deliberately omit them sometimes (as in this thread) or change to all lower case etc not to deceive anyone but just to avoid anyone linking stuff. There’s not really anything bad they could link, but I am just perhaps OTT careful about it! I see what you’re saying and do agree to a level.

OP posts:

diamondinaruff · 19/08/2023 20:51

I had someone actually find me twice in RL .

Once it was ds employer to use in a disciplinary action against him by using my posts about him on the SN board

Another found my then partners ex and emailed the, dot ask If he was abusive to the, when they were married

It caused a massive shit storm and we split

pizzaHeart · 19/08/2023 20:55

Blondey2023 · 19/08/2023 19:48

I thought you could only name change max 3 times 🤔

If so, you can then reregister with a different email address

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 23:17

@metalmaude of course it's not clever it's bizzare.

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 23:18

😱@diamondinaruff

DrasticAction · 19/08/2023 23:19

Re apostrophe i can't use them unleash the phone does.

fabmaccawhackyrhumbsaloft · 20/08/2023 22:09

It's really annoying and an infringement of privacy.
I don't get why it's so clever to out a name changer . Pathetic . I'm on the verge of deregulation.