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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think name changing is odd?

27 replies

mutznutz · 03/01/2011 12:50

Ok I'm a newbie to MN...been here about a week or less so maybe that's why I think it's odd - but I keep reading people saying "I've name changed incase I'm in the wrong" Or "I've name changed incase I get flamed"

I don't get it? Surely if you have an opinion strong enough to want to post it, then it shouldn't matter if others disagree with it or make you wrong? Isn't that what discussion sites are all about?

I mean, I could understand it if you were going to post something really embarrassing like "I've got boils on my fanny" or something...but incase people disagree with you?

I don't think I know any other forums where you can change your name on a whim and no-one will know who's posting...so is it just me who thinks it's odd or am I missing something?

OP posts:

Gemsy83 · 03/01/2011 12:52

Because some people on here really will make your life hell if you say something they happen to disagree with. There is a small minority of people on here who are like a dog with a bone when they think they are in the right, so I can see why others would do this.

Original poster

mutznutz · 03/01/2011 12:55

Yeah I must admit I've seen that Gemsy but it's no different to most other discussion sites in that sense...and if anyone was making my life 'miserable' I'd rather hit the X at the top of the screen than feel unable to put my name to my opinion...but I suppose we're all different.

OP posts:

YunoYurbubson · 03/01/2011 12:55

Hmm... I tend to agree that name changing to state a controversial opinion is a bit twattish. But I'm not really that bothered when other people do it.

It is a very useful feature for when you do get boils on your fanjo.

GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 03/01/2011 12:56

Sometimes people know each other in RL or could be identified. So if I have an issue with a friend who might be on MN and I post to vent/ask for advice or do an AIBU about my MIL I don't necessarily want that linked to me.

southeastastra · 03/01/2011 12:56

i tend to stick to this name myself so would agree with you,

TrillianAstra · 03/01/2011 12:57

What's better is when people say 'I've namechange because I have boils on my fanjo' and the second post is them going 'shitshitshit' because they hadn't namechanged after all.

thenightsky · 03/01/2011 12:57

I love a bit of name changing me. I get bored with names after a while. In fact I'm currently thinking of changing again. Might do it this afternoon actually.

GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 03/01/2011 13:04

I love it when that happens, trillian.

Or when they set it all up and then reply to one of the posts under their reg name.

I love namechanges, especially seasonal ones (although I only have 2 days left of this one and haven't thought up my next).

TheLittleRaccoon · 03/01/2011 13:06

How DO you change your name on here?

TrillianAstra · 03/01/2011 13:08

At the top of the page, underneath the top advert, click on 'My Mumsnet'. Sign in using your email address and password, then go to registration details and you will find a box with your talk nickname in it. Type somehting else, click save at the bottom of the page, and your name is changed.

TrillianAstraNamechangeDemo · 03/01/2011 13:09

It takes that long.

crystalglasses · 03/01/2011 13:09

Why do people announce that they've name changed? I don't get it.

TrillianAstraNamechangeDemo · 03/01/2011 13:09

About 45 seconds.

Original poster

mutznutz · 03/01/2011 13:09

'Laughing at the Fanjo comments here' Lol

Actually I hadn't thought about people knowing each other in real life...that's a good point.

OP posts:

TrillianAstra · 03/01/2011 13:11

There are people who I met on here who I now know in RL, and sometimes I might want to talk about something and not have them know it's me.

purepurple · 03/01/2011 13:14

Because whatever you say on here there are some sad posters who seem to remember every word and take great delight in remimding you at every turn.
I don't name change myself, and often wonder why others do it and then announce they have done it. Surely it would be better to just do it and say nothing?
On other forums if you name change then all the posts that you have made previously will now have your new name, makes stalking people so much easier.

theevildead2 · 03/01/2011 13:14

Fanjo boils

I name change because I would be fairly identifable in real life to friends if someone could be bothered to follow my posts. Also many people on here admit to changing details about their life to make them less identifiable. I find that too much trouble and can't be arsed to remeber if I have 2 kids and am from South Hampton or am trying ttc the first one in Italy. So prefer to be honest and name change when I've given too much info.

theevildead2 · 03/01/2011 13:15

purepurple you have to anounce it or you will get interesting first post... troll! at every turn

Original poster

mutznutz · 03/01/2011 13:16

I hadn't really thought about that angle. I guess I'm the sort of person who wouldn't put anything out there in public if I didn't want everyone to know about it.

I suppose it's a good idea then because some people (though I've not noticed it here yet) tend to post every minute detail of theirs and (worse still) their children's private lives...if it's on Facebook or Ebay forums they are often followed up with photographs of said people with problems.

I think I'd die if my Mum had posted photos and details of my life on the internet when I was a kid (not that I'm young enough for that to have happened lol)

OP posts:

Pantofino · 03/01/2011 13:17

This why!

countless · 03/01/2011 13:19

i namechange occasionaly but my disregard for punctuation is probably quite an identifier..
originally when i joined mn i stuck with my antenatal, then postnatal group and my profile was full of photos of my dc, gradually as i ventured to give my opinons on the whole gamut of human behaviours as revealed on mn i preferred to be anonymous

i think i last namechanged after a drunken thread...

theevildead2 · 03/01/2011 13:19

Mutznut many of the posters on here (not me) also have made FB friends with other mumsnetter.. so probably gets a bit personal

Original poster

mutznutz · 03/01/2011 13:25

Ahhh right Evil...it's all very secret squirrel Lol.

I'm thinking I'd better stick with this name cos I could imagine myself reading something I've posted under another name and thinking 'Wtf is that twat on about'? Before the realisation hits me

OP posts:

rocketleaf · 03/01/2011 13:27

I agree really, but then I don't think I would ever post on here something that I wouldn't stand by if I said it IRL. I suppose I can see why someone would name change to protect RL persona with a very sensitive problem but don't understand the need to announce you have done it.

That said I name changed really early on as the name I first signed up with could have been easily identifiable by anyone that knew me IRL and I started posting about some really personal stuff regarding TTC that I wouldn't have wanted some of my less close friends stumbling across (although actually one of them did recognise me and that turned out pretty well)

stoppinchingthedummy · 03/01/2011 13:31

Lol i just lol at that pantofino - Ok i might be being stupid but im new to mn and have no idea how to look at someones previous posts and profile etc - i didnt think u could do it but obviously u can - i actually cant keep track of people because of the amount of posts that go on here :)

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