To wonder about the etiquette of name changing mid thread?

[Barbie222]

Being quite new to MN, I've noticed the following phenomenon on some threads - usually when opinions are sharply divided.
Poster A makes a point.
Poster B disagrees.
Posters CDE etc suddenly arrive within a few minutes declaring total support and praise for one of the points of view. They then float off and don't appear on the thread again.
I'm wondering how many aliases people use on here and what is the name change etiquette?

I have changed names a few times, but I wouldn't purposely do it in one thread. Maybe if it was a zombie and I hadn't realised

It's bad form to NC on the same thread.

It's especially bad to do so to counter or support a previous post - it's called being a sock puppet.

Why do people do it - well generally because they are goady burgers frankly.

Ah ok - I suspected it was not the done thing but now I know the term! Thanks Darth.

I always think it happens to keep the thread in active conversations.

I've NC when writing about something I don't want linked to this name - work, health etc but only a handful of times.

You're not supposed to post using different names on the same thread.

Doing it deliberately to support your point of view is called sock puppeting and will get you banned or a very terse email

If it's not done deliberately or to back up your POV then MN are fine - they know some of us have the memories of a goldfish & forget to name change on some threads. Lots of people post under one name on sensitive, long running threads but under a different name for general chat. Lots of genuine reasons for it.

.

Do you mean etiquette or RULEZ?

Namechanging in order to pretend to be another person and agreeing with yourself (sockpuppeting) is obviously dishonest and twattish - you don't need us to tell you that.

Of course trills - it is policed though from what pp have said.

I name change mid-thread.

I am logged in on this account on my laptop, but an account called OvariesForgotHerPassword on my phone, because I forgot my password (obviously) and can't log in on my phone so any gripping threads I'm on, I'll NC mid-thread.

I'm not a sockpuppet though :)

I did a temporary name change to start an AIBU, as it was about friends' dogs, and I thought they might be on MN. Anyway, I didn't realise that I had to do the temporary name change with any other posts within the thread, so I sort-of sock puppeted myself.

I suppose someone with a very similar name to you could theoretically log on and start posting things you wouldn't want people thinking you'd said, so in those circumstances you might want to.

Sock puppeting is rife on MN.

Threads are not policed as such. MNHQ don't read every thread. They rely on reports from users.

YY if you suspect someone is sockpuppeting report it.

everywhere