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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think regulars who name change are cowards?

182 replies

ssd · 10/04/2013 18:14

whats the bloody point??

are you so scared someone on here wont think you're great anymore?

I can understand name changing if someone has recognized you and is giving you grief, but name changing because you feel like saying something that may annoy others is pathetic

stand by your convictions people!

OP posts:
kinkyfuckery · 10/04/2013 18:16

I get it when making some sort of 'confession' that you aren't ready to quite come public about yet, but those who just use it to troll - nah, cowardly!

Tee2072 · 10/04/2013 18:16
Hmm
Sparklingbrook · 10/04/2013 18:17

I don't understand name changing unless you have said something that outs you totally.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/04/2013 18:18

I dunno.

I have fairly strong convictions about a couple of controversial things and it does occasionally occur to me it wouldn't be that difficult for someone to recognize me, decide they didn't like my views, and not hire me/want to work with me.

Obviously if you just want to wind people up, it's a bit crap to NC but if you want to debate politics or ethics and they're sensitive subjects, you can't really be blamed for choosing to do it under a name you'll never used again.

Bowlersarm · 10/04/2013 18:19

I've never understood it but maybe if they are known in RL under their usual username that would explain it?

TheChaoGoesMu · 10/04/2013 18:20

Depends on the reason why. If someone has something personal that they don't want to talk about under their usual name, then its fair enough.

Sparklingbrook · 10/04/2013 18:20

I was talking to my Dad today. He was saying about employers checking your FB before employing you. It would be a bit Shock if they checked MN. Grin

Sparklingbrook · 10/04/2013 18:20

YY to embarassing things. But then go back to original name after.

shellbu · 10/04/2013 18:22

very odd and can think people only do it for the reasons you say ,every one should stand by what they think not change their names and views to suit , very cowardly .

RustyBear · 10/04/2013 18:22

Some people at work, as well as DD, know this name, so I would change if I ever posted about anything personal or about work.

StoickTheVast · 10/04/2013 18:22

I name change once every six months or so. Last time was a joke name change on X Factor thread which stuck. Changed to this one last week because I felt like it.

It probably wouldn't take too much for someone who knows me in RL to work out it is me - I have had that happen before, and equally have worked out who people are on here.

AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate · 10/04/2013 18:23

I name change. I say things sometimes that are quite recognisable and, if someone does recognise me, I would rather they could look through a few months of posts, not seven years' worth.

I name change for a thread if I want to say something that I would hate someone to recognise me on. Personal questions, health stuff, that kind of thing.

I never name change just to give a controversial view on something.

StoickTheVast · 10/04/2013 18:25

Yeah, should say I would never NC just to go 'you're all a bunch of bastards' and run away.

b4bunnies · 10/04/2013 18:25

1 - i don't actually care what you think.
2 - there's only one person who reads here who knows who i am, and that person already knows all my opinions.
3 - i've had eight names here, seven of them on a single theme. anyone who wants to find me usually can.
4 - posting on message boards is a leisure activity, it's supposed to be fun. new names are fun.
5 - don't take it so seriously. you don't know these people. they can change their names if they want to.

Sanctimumious · 10/04/2013 18:26

I name change all the time to protect my anonymity. Couldn't really give a ^%$£ what you make of it.

I call it cautious and private.

QueenCuntyChops · 10/04/2013 18:27

Um. Having had all my posts printed out, sent to my family, used to score points and been generally hounded across the internet, I namechange frequently now.

MN is as far from anonymous as it gets, really. Especially if you're posting regularly with a recognisable name.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 10/04/2013 18:28

Hmmm - having said that above....

SmellieWellies · 10/04/2013 18:29

I name change all the time too- on average once a month, used to be every Monday way back in 2009 when I first started posting!

Cautious and private, that is why. Plus i post alot of personal stuff, and would hate to be outed.

Plus- DH has an ex who has stalked him in the past- restraining orders, the whole bit, and i am worried she might be on MN and recognise me, but still do not see why i have to lurk.

Sparklingbrook · 10/04/2013 18:29

It all depends what you post.

Sanctimumious · 10/04/2013 18:30

Yes, I've had a bad experience with somebody who took it upon herself to out me. (She thought I deserved it) It was to punish me for posts she didn't like. There are some crazies who should know better.

MN won't let us delete our old posts, so we've no control over what's up here. Best policy is to name change very frequently imo

SayMama · 10/04/2013 18:30

What b4 said ^^

BOF · 10/04/2013 18:31

I think it's sensible rather than cowardly. Has something particularly upset you?

DireRear · 10/04/2013 18:31

I have NC (today, for a different thread, will change back soon) but also for 'controversial' threads. Not because I was trolling but cos I wanted to ask something that was very difficult for me to talk about - re having a child diagnosed as SN and some challenging feelings around that - and I didn't want those feelings dragged up again yonks later.

Sometimes people post to get perspective on things and then when they have chilled out and realised they were being U, they want to leave that conversation behind.

That is the point of internet avatars, you know...

ThePigOfHappiness · 10/04/2013 18:32

Oh my god queencuntychops are you me?
I had the exact same experience! Deregged and came back a few months later. Now I name change every once in a while when it occurs to me

CerealMom · 10/04/2013 18:36

I get bored with my names - no grassy knoll here.

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