Have you read a thread and knew the person in real life?

[sheknowsitstoolate]

Have you ever clicked on a post and realised you knew who the person was? Did you say anything to them about it? I have read some and thought I could know the person but there was never been anything definitive to say it was 🫣

Yes, twice. I would NEVER let them know in real life though. I’d have to admit to reading Mumsnet!

Not as such, but a poster from my home city who repeatedly revealed such identifying info it piqued my curiosity and I googled. She is politically exposed right now and whilst I mean no harm, others would.

Delete your posts SSY

It hasn't happened to me, but I did give advice to someone who was considering buying a house on my road. I often walk past the house and wonder if it is the same person.

I read a thread once, many years ago, about a poster's emotionally abusive and controlling ex-husband who was creating massive issues with their child.
I'm a teacher and the very next day my HT came to fill me in on a worrying situation a child in my class was experiencing at home and I realised straightaway the details were exactly the thread I'd just read.
I kept quiet.

I'm interested but I don't watch them or anything

Yes, ages ago: I’m a lawyer and spotted a client who posted on the legal board for a second opinion on something I’d advised her on. I knew it was her because not only did the facts fit but her user name was pretty much her name!

Happily every poster backed my advice up.

and of course I didn’t say a word to the client.

Yes once. I let her know.

I've also been identified, but I don't have anything to hide.

Yes, several times. One of the first times it was a very specific situation with a buggy and whether someone should be a parent. I messaged the poster to say I knew who she was so she could change:

One time I recognised my SIL who was pregnant and posting about her dreadful DH. Didnt tell her - she had enough going on.

I recognised my DP’s ex-wife on a thread. She was taking a strong position against something I am well-known for. I don’t think that was a coincidence.

Yes, a good friend. She told a very specific story, but gave a very edited version of the true events, to get more sympathy/support than she would have done otherwise. I never mentioned it to her. Sadly, she ghosted me and then died.

Not on mumsnet but on a professional forum that could also be accessed/viewed by members of the public. I'd been out to see them that day and provided advice and they posted on the forum the exact same scenario for a second opinion.

I hope it was the machine thingy for some kind of skin treatment thread. That was hilarious.

Honestly never 😭

But I have an inactive social life 🤷‍♀️

Nope!

Dunno if I’ve ever been spotted. Hope not, but I have another username that I’m much more recognisable under.

Sadly not but I’ll look that thread up!

Yes. I have twice recognised close family members. It was strangely quite easy to recognise them in a post, and then search their username and have it confirmed with personal details. In fact, I found out a secret which had been kept from me. I now live with the knowledge of the secret but can't say anything about it in real life because I don't tell anyone in real life that I am on Mumsnet.

What happened with that one? Can’t remember the outcome now.

I once read a post on my way to work and realised my new client was the OP.

No, but sometimes I follow threads just in the hope someone who recognises the situation comments. Generally the ones where there’s multiple people involved, who are all women.

I think to myself, you’re talking about a kids party and 10 other mums were there. Surely at least one of them uses MN. I’m still waiting.

Yeah, my dsis, she actually used her name (she was a newbie) 😂

Yes, if seen a post that definitely from my SIL and also suspected a friend. It’s crazy go me how much detail some people give especially when writing a bitchy controversial post on AIBU. I always change my username before a big post and always switch my dc’s genders and ages when not relevant to make sure it doesn’t happen to me.

My cousin’s kids have got very out there, distinctive names, and someone posted on here taking the piss. I, and a couple of her friends, piled in!

Another time, the wife of a former work colleague posted about how her DH had got a fab job overseas. They were taking the younger DC with them but the older DC was going to boarding school in U.K. (the older DC was about 10). I had already told my colleague that I thought this was cruel - there were perfectly adequate schools where they were going, where both DC could go for three years. His wife posted on here about how to manage her DC’s homesickness and the response was very much, don’t leave your DC in the U.K. when you’re going half way round the world. The last I heard, the DC had stayed in the boarding school but never really settled.

This has happened to me seven times! Two of those, the poster had posted something pretty much identical on their Facebook page at the same time and we were mutual friends. Two were very unusual situations that I recognised because I knew the posters in real life. One was someone who posted about a mutual friend in terms that were too identifying. And two times I recognised the posters from a different mum forum I used to be on, on which people posted under their real names.

I’ve been really surprised at how many times this has happened to me!

Yes 3 times. Once a close friend posting about an embarrassing situation she was involved in. Once a school mum posting about their child. And once a friend of a friend posting about a family death. I didn’t like the feeling it gave me any of the times! I felt like I was spying! And actually this one time someone I know posted a photo of themselves!so that was pretty obvious.

Recognised the description of DC's primary school from a complaint about a new rule. Definitely the same school as someone else said "is this X?" and it was.

Recognised DC's childminder who was asking for advice about her DC's medical condition. Username was her name.

Recognised someone else from another forum due to them never changing their username in about 15 years.

I’ve recognised a few people, including my mum posting about what a terrible daughter I am.