Name change for this one...

[Beansandneedles]

...Not really, but I see this a lot and I'm intrigued. Isn't mumsnet pretty anonymous? People aren't using their real names, so why would you need to change your name to protect your identity? Or is there a whole real life side to this website I've not discovered yet? Have only recently ventured into these forums, so have a lot to learn!

Because some people look up a username and go back over old posts to piece together facts and can identify someone from things posted so name changing for something sensitive means that it cant be linked to other things the poster has said previously.

It’s quite easy to post something recognisable. I know friends who use MN and so while they might then recognise ‘me’ if I post about a problem or situation from RL, if I do it under a different username they then can’t go back and find other threads I’ve posted, maybe about something more personal.

It's not hard to understand

People share details under a name then want to distance themselves from that name to post something which could identify them....the daily Mail often picks up stories here..

Goodness okay, people have a lot more time on their hands than I do! Didn't think about the media either. Thanks for explaining :D

I've recognised people I know in real life from posts here.

I make sure I name every so often to avoid previous posts being added together to give too much information about me.

Sometimes people do post VERY identifying stuff, like e.g. "Why won't my house sell?" with photos of their actual house etc. which could easily identify them. Or perhaps a very unusual and unique dilemma.
If identified, they don't want to associated with their other posts, asking for advice on a smelly vaginal discharge/having an affair/ having the ick with husband or whatever.