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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU have you ever outed yourself on mumsnet Or...

99 replies

MoonStar07 · 28/09/2016 22:56

Worked out who someone was from a thread? Or has anyone ever said to you I know you? I see a lot of NC so I just wondered!

OP posts:
Original poster
MoonStar07 · 28/09/2016 22:56

I should say AIBU to ask...

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 28/09/2016 22:58

Yes and I was mortified Blush

AtSea1979 · 28/09/2016 23:00

No never, I just don't get the whole 'outing' thing. It's such a bit site what are the chances of someone who knows the tiny details being on here and then actually reading your comment.

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 28/09/2016 23:01

I'm not secretive.

I've said many things which could out me.

No idea if anyone knows who I am.

RJnomore1 · 28/09/2016 23:02

Yes. I posted something about adapt online club dh us part of. Someone else whose dh was part of the club too replied with details. Another club member found it on google and posted it on the club Twitter. Dh saw the Twitter and peed himself laughing. I panicked even though o never post bad stuff about him, mnhq removed the thread, I name changed, we all breathed again and moved on.

RJnomore1 · 28/09/2016 23:02

A daft club sorry Asian they mostly don't take themselves too seriously

Original poster
MoonStar07 · 28/09/2016 23:03

I have recently come across friend mumsnetters through their Facebook 'liking' and sharing and I wonder if they could work out who I was!! It's a bit scary lol

OP posts:
Boogers · 28/09/2016 23:03

I'm the same as KingJoffrey. Don't know how to name change on my phone anyway.

ProfessorPickles · 28/09/2016 23:03

I out myself constantly, I'd be mortified if someone were to realise who I am and read the things I say on here Blush

I like to throw people off the scent on occasion though by changing small details by saying DD instead of DS. Muhuhahaha.

ilovesooty · 28/09/2016 23:04

I've spotted people I know.
I'd imagine a good few people know who I am. It doesn't bother me and I never post anything which I'd be worried about being traced to me.

SapphireSeptember · 28/09/2016 23:05

Yes, I posted a list of things that make me happy and my mum found it, and said only I could have written it! Grin She knows me too well!

worriedabouthimagain · 28/09/2016 23:06

I've nc a few times due to fear of outing mm has become somewhere I can let it all out.

KanyesVest · 28/09/2016 23:06

I recently spotted a poster I recognised from a different forum. I didn't "know" her particularly well there, and I've never "spoken" to her here. I've certainly never been told if anyone has recognised me.

x2boys · 28/09/2016 23:06

Stranger things have happened though Atsea i commented on a rather mundane thread about the secondary school i went to i had a pm asking if was rhe same secondary school they went to it was indeed! Whilst it wasent an outing small details can give things away my secondary school was a run of the mill catholic high school in the north west nothing special!

GruochMacAlpin · 28/09/2016 23:06

AtSea it doesn't actually take that much. Say the poster mentions a story that sounds familiar to someone and they do and AS to check.

And find a post that happens to mention where they live/went on holiday.

And another post with the sex and age of their children.

And another post that mentions what they do for a living/specific hobby/etc etc

Within 3 or 4 posts you could easily confirm the identify someone you know.

And then read years worth of posting history and find out all about their relationship with their DH/Mil/colleagues etc etc. Things which aren't necessarily public knowledge.

MsMermaid · 28/09/2016 23:07

I know who one person is. We had a conversation about MN a couple of years ago, so I know she's on here and vice versa. I worked out who she is just by a few things mentioned in passing, I assume she knows who I am by the same reasoning, but it's not really being outed more recognising a friend I don't see much of.

There are a couple of other friends on here, but I haven't spotted them yet. They may well have worked out who I am but I don't say anything I wouldn't say in public anyway.

EssentialHummus · 28/09/2016 23:08

I've spotted one person I know from another anonymous forum under a different name Confused but tbf she has a, er, distinctive posting style. I also know who she is irl and could feasibly meet her through work!

I think anyone who knows me would quickly recognise me on here by putting together various clues about my work, studies, location, background, DH etc. I'm waiting for it to happen.

Abetes · 28/09/2016 23:09

I'm not sure if anyone has ever recognised me, but I have recognised a friend of mine who posts a lot in a specific area of the site and also recognised my next door neighbour. Have not mentioned to them though.

tristerflexu · 28/09/2016 23:10

I am about 99% certain that a mum from my DD's class is on here and I'm 100% certain a mum from DS's class is on here. I've not been outed though and regularly NC and alter details

heron98 · 28/09/2016 23:12

I am not worried about it. I don't have kids so no one would suspect me! MN is my guilty secret. I've been on it for ten years.

clumsyduck · 28/09/2016 23:13

proff

I do the same haha then panick that someone will be like hold on do you have dd or ds and accuse me of being a liar .

I only ever alter insignificant details though
And name change too

Muddlewitch · 28/09/2016 23:14

Same as KingJoffrey. It wouldn't be difficult for anyone that knows me to work it out as I do post identifying things, but no one has ever said that they do and I wouldn't be worried if they did.

x2boys · 28/09/2016 23:20

I also post on netmums and i have spotted several people i know on there but they use their own name unlike on here i like being anonymous.

Rattusn · 28/09/2016 23:38

I have recognised a friend, she did post a lot of very specific, identifiable information, so there was no doubt it was her.

She also posted about personal issues. I'm not sure she realised how easily identifiable she was, or maybe she didn't care. I thought about telling her, but then she name changed.

MammaTJ · 28/09/2016 23:39

I would hope that if any of my friends spotted me they would message me saying so and offer their support.

TBH, if anyone did anything other than that, they would show themselves as being not real friends, and it would be no loss!