To ask how you can tell whether a poster is new

[PineGreenPumpkin]

and not simply a name changer or even simply a poster who you haven't seen around before (it is a very big site after all...)

I have seen people say things like "the OP is a new poster" or "interesting first post" and similar, usually when they're doubting whether the poster in question is being serious.

But how can you actually tell whether someone is new or not? From what I can see they're only basing it on the fact that they don't recognise them but like I said they could be a name changer or even simply someone they haven't come across before.

Unless there's another way you can tell whether someone is a new poster that I've missed...in which case please let me in on the secret!

And yes I have recently name changed myself....

Magic

Derren brown and Sally

You can't tell if it's a name change or a new poster. People are just rude if they suspect trolling.

Why do people nc and how do you do it?

"lol" and the misuse of acronyms are instant giveaways.

Its often a big clue if they say something like "i've lurked here for years"

AS

Depends what you mean?

There's a big difference between a new poster and an interesting new poster. Only the latter tend to get pointed out.

You're taking things too literally.

When we oh-so-casually comment on someone's "interesting first post", we're not saying, "look this is a new person".

We're saying, "heads up, folks, this dame has never posted before. Do you think they're someone from another forum messing about or one of our own MNers on a namechange?"

I think people work out over time the kind of diction that's used on Mn, as well as the acronyms - the stereotype is that newbies come on and ask questions or bring up topics that have been recently discussed at length about million times in a combination of LOLs, 'hun's and textspeak, but there's probably a grain of truth in it. Mn is pretty literate as fast-moving online forums go - I joined another one recently, but couldn't even bring myself to read more than a couple of posts because the txtspk and LOLs were so impenetrable.

Having said that, I've been here for years, and I make a habit of name-changing every week or two, so no one is likely to 'recognise' me as a familiar name. I have posted about quite personal things, and I don't want anyone to be able to look back through a lot of those kinds of posts.

I lol. Sometimes, amongst friends I Hun a bit too.

Also what QueenTilly said - when someone who has never previously posted erupts into Mn with something ferociously goady and controversial, people are suspicious.

Anyone who goes on and on about how they are a new poster probably isn't.

Apart from that - difficult to tell in most cases, nor does it matter. I can't bear the endless "oh, I've namechanged" comments - so what? The forums are for everyone not just long term posters, and you're far less likely to be outed if you don't make a big song and dance about how there's loads of juicy identifying information here posted under another name.

I assume people have searched the person's username, so they can tell that it is their first post under that name. They still wouldn't know if it was a new user or just a new name, but would at least know that it wasn't just someone they didn't recognise. I don't think anyone would expect to recognise every username on here as there are so many people! :)

I did lurk for years before I ever actually posted a message bit scared of you all!

Not saying it as a negative thing jimmy just that if someone with a new name says they have been lurking, then they are a new poster and def not a namechanger