To feel inhibited about posting here because journalists trawl the site for stories?

[FurryDogMother]

Maybe it's just me, but I have seen so many topics that seem to have originated here turning up as 'news' on trash media sites that I no longer feel comfortable posting about anything at all controversial or personal. Is it just me, and if so, how do I get over it?

Well you're posting anonymously aren't you?

I'm not sure there's anything to get over really

It's a public forum. If you're especially worried then maybe name change weekly?

Maybe post under the more specialised topics where they won't look? AIBU gets a lot of traffic but if you want advice on a particular subject you might wait longer for replies but it will be from people with more knowledge of thst subject.

Is what you have to post that juicy and interesting then?! Your still anonymous and mumsnet has quite a wide reach so I don't see the difference.

You can always use a variety of nicknames and keep changing them.

Point post personal details. Don't link your user name to any other social media, eg your twitter handle. Change things if posts will make identifiable. Other than that - nothing you can do. You're anonoymous. Even if a thread you're on is splashed somewhere else, no-one will know its you.

It's not just you. I'm much more circumspect on MN these days, and name change, name change, name change!

Yanbu...I've thought this myself.

And with regards to name changing...when you name change I understood that all your historic posts also changed to your current (new "anonymous") name. So if you've spoke to someone under a specific name and they then changed it you could probably figure out who they were by going back to the thread where you spoke to them. Does that make any sense ? No?

No cannot

When you name change, you start afresh.

Well, yeah, I could get a bit juicy (though not necessarily interesting) if I didn't feel so exposed here - despite being anonymous I know that there are ways of tracking down a person's real identity - remember the penis beaker thread - the OP was found by journalists and hassled. Other forums I post on don't seem to have the same attraction for journalists that MN does - but neither do they have the same traffic, nor the wisdom of MN members. I realise that there's not a lot that MN can do to prevent people feeling the way I do, but tonight I was looking for an outlet to have a bit of a froth/scream in - MN would be the place if it wasn't for that awful feeling of vulnerability. Not sure a namechange would help.

Yeah worra ! Just figured that out and changed to this ! Thanks for clarifying...was having a blonde moment there...

fuzzy

Remember you've just told everyone you've name changed though

It's not going to take Sherlock to work it out

If you have something especially identifying NC for it and then lie through your teeth about stupid things. How many kids you have, where you live etc

But Nc weekly anwyay.

cannot I have been on MN for 4 year I think now and post constantly daily. Try and look up my posts

I know worra...shame too I quite liked that name.....(wanders off to think of something else...)

I know how you feel.

We should all set ourselves the task of coming up with some ridiculous, outlandish story just to see if it ends up in the DM...

Nothing is anonymous anymore.. If you're not happy having a permanent record, don't post. I don't like it either but that's the reality..

You can always be tracked ..by people that know how,, And no. I'm not paranoid. BUT.. sometimes people ARE out to get you.. Just think..

You are right to feel exposed.

What you post here, on a large well known and open Internet site can be read by anyone.

It's not, and never has been, a cosy chat with friends. It's publication to the whole world.

Right I have name changed for this as I am a journalist and love it here just to chat etc. have had loads of help in the past and would never use anything I read here for work. But anywhere on the Internet is public and can be read by anyone you have no control over it. Even Facebook.

Always keep this in mind but otherwise don't let this hold you back. Keep one eye on you privacy at all times. Not just here. Or leave the Internet altogether.

Yes, but I have always felt this way and not just because of journalists. Same with FB.

My life isn't interesting enough for me to worry! Just don't give away any identifying details and don't admit to using a penis beaker!