To ask how often you change your username?

[HCantThinkOfAUsername]

This is kind of a TAAT but not, seen a thread earlier asking if you identified someone on here what would you do.

I've changed my username panicking though is practically identical and now feel lost and like a beginner again

I get so paranoid people think I'm a furry creature so never changed my name so history is identifiable.

Am I the only one that thinks like this?

I've had this one for years now but before that used loads of usernames. It took a long time to find one that 'fit', that felt right.

I actually had a username before this that I thought was The One but then this little owl face username stole my love!

I name changed due to being on the Jeffrey list twat I post under a couple of different names. I am on some regular threads where I use one name. I use this one a lot then I have another which I use to post personal stuff rarely.

Same as fruit bats.

I post under this name for my usual friends threads. If I'm posting elsewhere I tend to change my username if it's in certain topics like AIBU.

I have been on here for years.

I was on 'the list' and had to re-register. I now change my name very few months.

A fair bit. I chop and change and go back to usernames sometimes. Been on here for years but I like the anonymity of changing names now and then.

Changed once properly in the six years I've been here, but it was fairly minor - from "...Roses" to "...Music". Other than that would just be the occasional seasonal one, but always starts "Moonlightand...".

wombat I was once a variant of wombat. I loved being a wombat.

Never.

I don't post stuff that I mind others seeing. If I were to be identified it really wouldn't bother me at all.

I have the same username most places I go on the net.

Never. I don't post anything where I'd worry about being identified.

I change my name every day or so. I don't post anything contentious or even particularly interesting 😂 but I think it's too easy to post identifiable information. I've been able to identify posters from their threads (one was a minor celeb who had also posted very personal info about their adult child. I let her know and she got the info deleted ).

Like many others I have had my posts quoted in the Daily Fail (and the guardian ) and I'm glad that if anyone had bothered advance searching me they wouldn't have found anything. I really can't imagine anyone would advance search me as my posts are too dull but I don't want to risk it.

Rarely, but I have about 4 or 5 names I cycle through if I want to post anything that might be identifying or on threads which look likely to get picked up by the fail.

When I'm bored usually but I have changed it if I feel I may have compromised my identity too.

I've changed twice. Only because i signed up and used my actual first and middle names, realised how identifying it could be after mentioning something personal so dropped the first name just using my middle name, but still a bit identifying as i use my first and second names on social media so still could be recognised if i post personal stuff so changed to a quote from one of my fave games (my name is not Jill or remotely similar)

I've had roughly 7 usernames a year since I first joined.

This name is on its last legs which is a shame because I'm quite fond of this one.

It's important to me to limit how searchable my history is.

Wait you can search people? Like search their username and see all the posts they've made? I don't much like the sound of that :/

Yes Almost you most certainly can. The search function has an option to search by username.

So if someone in real life works out who you are either because they recognise a story you told, a turn of phrase or some details of a situation you've posted they can advanced search (AS) your other posts to try to confirm it with other info.

So if you mention on one thread you have 4 daughters, mention their ages on another, your location on another and what type of car you drive on another, altogether that's fairly identifying.

I find it hard to say nothing personal when posting so I name change regularly. That way either you don't have enough info to confirm the ID or at very least you only have a month or two's posts to hang me with.

The downside is that no one recognises you as a regular poster. The trade off is worth it to me.

I really like seeing familiar names on here, even if they're people I rarely agree with. I think it just gives the forum a more personal feel

I agree. I do change but keep "Lass" in it. I changed it to "ALassUnparalleled* after being told on FWR that "lass" and Shakespeare's beautiful epitaph about a lass unparalleled were sexist.

I also think it's a bit off if a name changer I have crossed swords with under their previous name harps back to something I said but I have no idea who they are.

I've wanted to ask this question for a long time now, how many usernames do people have. I change mine whenever I've posted something quite identifying. Probably on my 4th or fifth un now.

Just did...well few days ago

Thought mine was too identifying after someone picked up on a location from my UN...

hope to never change again!

Mothers I've had over 50.

I have never changed it because I don't know how.

People have explained it to me, several times, but I can't seem to do it.

I changed a few times early on but have stayed with this one for a good while now. I like it - it's simple - and it sums up my character well.

I don't really see the point of name-changing anyway. If you're posting identifying information, someone you know (however unlikely) could see it regardless of your username. Also, if you're continually changing, you run the risk of being considered a troll with no little or no posting history.

Besides, I don't live in the U.K., so there's less chance of my being identified.

I've done it about 5 times in the 13 years I've been here. Each time was when I wanted to post about a something personal or step family related.

Still settling on a name so I've changed once so far. (There was one other but it doesn't count.) They're both variations on Galen because someone already took plain old "Galen" back in 2009 and hasn't posted since, which I'm not the least bit resentful about, nope not me.

Only once after a couple of people went after me on the dog board, never bothered to go back since funnily enough! I remember their names though.