to wonder if some of you consider how recognisable you are?

[Serendippy]

Loads of threads today in which the OP details a very specific situation they are in at the moment, asking for advice and opinions. (Not a thread about a thread, so you can read on). I would imagine that if I were the person being complained about in the OP, I would recognise myself instantly from the topic, even if fine details have been changed. Do any of you think, or even care, if you are recognised?

AIBU to think there could be backlash from finding out that someone recognised you posting about them on an internet forum?

I try not to say anything I wouldn't want overheard in real life.

If I need advice on a delicate matter I name change. That's personal stuff though, nothing anyone would recognise.

Dunno! Just thought you might...

I would imagine if someone who knows me well was to read my posts here, they would probably guess it was me.

But I have never told you about any of my criminal activities or anything so it doesn't really matter.

What are people going to know about me?

I have children with autism
I am ill
I don't much care what other people do with their lives
I am not very sociable
I have a very complicated relationship wih my husband
We've had very big ups and downs business and money wise

This will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me

Yes, I am very recognisable were I to post every day details.

So I don't.

my DH has been known to frequent AIBU and the relationships boards, so anything dodgy and I namechange!! apart from that, I do it sporadically anyway. when i first joined my name was the same as many other places, and too close to my actual name, and quite rare, so i changed that.

like hec anyone that reads my normal posts who knows me in RL would prob guess its me. thats also why i namechage frequently though, just so theres not too much of me spouting crap if they do find me! at least not all together in a nice tidy pile!!

I think the chances of being recognised are fairly slim, even if you are the type to post lots of details. There are sooooo many threads and even the most posted upon AIBU threads are up for a week at most before they fall down the list for good.

Plus, even if someone posted about their sister banning their 3 month old DD from a wedding in March, they could just have changed the details from their best friend banning their 7 month old DS from a wedding in August, for example.

I don't think that I have ever moaned about anybody from my real life on here

I mainly just use MN to slag you lot off. And for occasional boasting.

Not the brand of paint and type of sofa, LeQueen?

Doesn't bother me at all. I've given up having a fake persona, people are welcome to dislike who I really am!

With personal problems, posters often link the other RL person to their thread (have done this myself). Why waste all that good/funny/annoying feedback for the sake of "anonymity"?

I post quite a bit of detail - nothing that I would be actually concerened about people knowing but might be slightly odd if someone chose to read all my previous posts IYSWIM.

For that reason I do sometimes fiddle with details and I mess around with varriations of my name. But TBH if someone wants to nosey in on my life then I suppose they could regardless of my posting here.

can people really have a fake persona?

How on earth would you remember all the lies? You'd just trip yourself up in the end, surely?

I haven't the memory to be a successful liar I don't know how people manage it.

It's very convincing indeed.

That's what I find, Hecate. I can understand if people change details for a specific circumstance, but then you run the risk of saying something contraversial and getting 'Oh, so your DD was 3 and now she's 7? And you have a sister now when you were an only child on so-and-so thread? TROLL!!!'

Anyway, DOES everyone change fine details? And isn't the situation sometimes recognisable anyway from the events (not something common like a wedding but a very specific favour or something)

I clearly spend WAY too much time on AIBU, don't think there are many threads I miss!

RealityIsKnockedUp Thu 10-Feb-11 14:31:21
I have a fake persona. It's of a pregnant ratty neurotic sweary newly wed.

Isn't that lots of us at one time or another?

Hectate I have seen it done on another forum. It's very odd. Generally a mental health issue is involved in the end - quite sad.

No. I don't. I'd never remember what I'd said.

It's far easier to just tell the truth. Then you don't have to try to remember lies.

And if you don't want to tell the truth - you have the option of not mentioning anything.

That's why you don't know about my...

I did take all my personal details and photos out of the profile recently - I don't mind if friends spot me, but I got into an argument with an animal rights activist on here, and said I work in science. She immediately made the (incorrect) assumption that this means I torture bunnies for a living.

So I decided that all location and photographic evidence of who I am that might help a nutcase stranger to work out who I am had to go.

Some of this is aimed at posts like mine earlier on today. I HAVE changed some details and the traffic on AIBU is high so things do disappear. I suppose I assume that people I am talking about wouldn't be on here anyway.

That's why you don't know about my...

I am completely recognisable. As a result of which I never post anything that would cause more than mild embarrassment (on my part). I decided some time ago that it was best to assume that I might as well be posting in my own name. assuming anonymity is daft.If rl friends spot me I'd quite like them to let me know, but if they prefer not that's ok.

Tee - your blog looks lovely (especially the cakes - yumyum)!

Thanks SDTG! The cakes were lovely!