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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has anyone ever realised a thread is about them?

186 replies

Diel · 21/04/2017 17:51

Wondering if anyone has ever recognised a thread is about them and responded?

I'm purely asking out of curiosity, no experience of it

OP posts:
Gillian1980 · 21/04/2017 21:10

No but I did recognise a thread as having been made by a close family member.

JayneAusten · 21/04/2017 21:10

Oh and I've also spotted a friend by her username and then spotted the same friend AGAIN by her new username. I obviously know her well. Grin

NotALottaPot · 21/04/2017 21:14

Not about me but I've seen a couple of threads where some people thought I was the OP (under different usernames of course) as I had posted about similar subjects recently. I guess I just have very common issues.

conserveisposhforjam · 21/04/2017 21:16

I have Grin

Someone reported a conversation we had had to complain about another person in the conversation iyswim?

It was very odd. And I worried a bit about whether I should let them know they had outed themselves. I dropped them a pm in the end and they n/ced Grin

And now I am v paranoid and nc all the time...

Footle · 21/04/2017 21:20

I recognised someone I know slightly because she used her own unusual name and surname in a barely disguised combination.

Slothlikesundays · 21/04/2017 21:21

I came across a thread about something bad that had happened to me. My mum had written it. I was overwhelmed by her perception into my feelings, her kindness and the way she was reaching out to mumsnet to get help helping me. Made me love her even more. you all gave her (and me) lots of support.
I've never told her I read it and I haven't searched her username to see what else she's posted.

NamedyChangedy · 21/04/2017 21:26

I've read a thread about myself before.

I did a silly thoughtless thing about six years ago and my friend posted about it. She was very fair and completely accurate, and it was completely my fault. I never told her I'd seen it, mostly because I'd be too embarrassed to bring up the subject again.

sonyaya · 21/04/2017 21:27

notalottapot

Now you've scared me that people think they've recognised me, talking about them but it's actually someone else!

sobeyondthehills · 21/04/2017 21:27

I spotted a close friend on here, didn't say anything, but knew it was her.

She then spotted me on another thread as I posted about my unique cat.

I live in fear that she is going to post my son's home made birthday cake on the cake thread in classics ;)

annandale · 21/04/2017 21:28

I've recognised someone on here and years ago she posted something very insulting about me though probably true - not a big thread or anything, just a throwaway comment. It hurt so much I flounced for six months. There were a couple of other comments about people we both know that weren't very nice either. She's generally a very lovely person though perhaps a bit Marmite at times but it wasn't pleasant to be able to see mysel' as others see me.

HumphreyCobblers · 21/04/2017 21:31

I recognised someone on here. Her situation was very specific and upsetting. When I realised I knew her I shut down the thread. I hadn't noted her user name so she was safe from my prying eyes on her thread....I felt like a voyeur.

HashiAsLarry · 21/04/2017 21:38

I've recognised a now ex friend a few times, though not writing about me. She keeps being banned for trolling though, which was a tip off that maybe she wasn't telling me the truth all the time in the end. So thanks MN team for figuring out what I didn't for too long IRL!

honeyfull · 21/04/2017 21:39

I am amazed at this recognising stuff. Honestly.

bumpertobumper · 21/04/2017 21:54

I read a thread a few years ago where someone was asking for advice on a travel / Visiting situation where their friend was apparently being selfish and unreasonable. The friend in question then came on the thread, having recognised herself and put her side of the story. Turned into a bit of a ding dong, with people taking sides.
Can't remember the outcome, it was a while ago, but I think most people sided with the op...
Anyone else remember this thread?

WomblingThree · 21/04/2017 22:06

It's not actually that unbelievable if you think about the birthday paradox. In a room of 23 people there is a 50/50 chance of 2 people sharing a birthday. In a room of 75 people, there is a 99% chance.

Therefore, given the sheer number of people on here, it would be more odd to never recognise somebody.

honeyfull · 21/04/2017 22:13

Wombling.

OK, but that means a lot of recognisable information has to flow from OP doesn't it?

Such a big country and still there is really no anonymity anymore. Posters need to be a bit more circumspect I think. But to me it is still bizarre to be recognised here.

frauleinsallybowles · 21/04/2017 22:17

yes it happened to me dont know if anyone remembers the carpark thread and ended up getting slagged for my frizzy hair

conserveisposhforjam · 21/04/2017 22:31

It's not just AIBU or Chat though is it? The person I recognised was having a conversation with me about something specific which was related to the board we were both regulars on.

The world gets pretty small when you start to slice it into hobbies/interests.

Hassled · 21/04/2017 22:35

I'm another one who lives in perpetual fear that one of the "My MIL is insane" threads is about me.

MiltopMighty · 21/04/2017 22:36

Shock you got slagged for frizzy hair? On a parking thread?

Threads do go so peculiar sometimes, don't they?

(John Frieda serums are fab for the frizzies)

BubbleBed · 21/04/2017 22:40

I saw my sister on here, twice. Fessed up. Haven't seen her for a while on here so guess she's name changed. As have i about a thousand times.

Saw a friend from another forum. Messaged her to let her know. All good.

Saw a post from my exHs fiance. Obvious from username. Know she's on here, and she seems to have a tendancy to social media stalk me (accidentally liking and then unliking Instagram etc) so i name change a lot.

Vroomster · 21/04/2017 22:54

I recognised someone from a local fb group when they posted the same problem on fb and on here. I also know a friend posts on here, I know their username, it's very strange seeing their posts.

Enko · 21/04/2017 23:12

I have been recognised once by a friend (who asked me over a coffee if it was me) It was a pretty happy post though so I didn't mind.

I posted years ago about a issue with my sister who had applied to be part of a tv program in the country she lives in (and I am from) and got accused of being a journalist who was trying to big up the English version of the program. I had not even known there was a English version. I actually found that a lot harder than my friend knowing as it was a issue I really struggled with and found really hard that sis wanted to do this. (in the end she got to the last 10 and was not picked for the program)

User7654 · 21/04/2017 23:14

I recognised a friend asking for baby name suggestions Smile

Enko · 21/04/2017 23:15

Oh I forgot I also recognised a friend who posted a message on facebook about her son and then posted here on MN about it. I did pm her. She kept her name (one I had always wondered if was her as she had used it on a different website years ago - if your reading this Nic yes its me Smile )

She later on posted a picture of the 2 of us on a different post, however she didnt " out me" on the picture.