to think we should have a "date joined" shown against our user names

[ssd]

so that those posters who clearly have joined in order to promote their political views only, are shown for what they are?

no matter what party you vote for, when you try to discuss something here, there are posters who are determined to close you down or present facts when they aren't true

I think the older posters here and the newbies too I guess, would appreciate knowing how recently some of these posters joined....or not as the case may be.

I dont mind getting into a heated debate with genuine MN posters, we cant all be on the same side, that would be very boring, but when someone suddenly joins a few weeks before the general election and is all over political threads saying the same thing over and over, it dampens debate and is shit, frankly

oh come on now.

It happens all the time. They're not consciously trying to fawn all over long time known posters but they recognise the screen name.

Also, another poster just said that posters get to know who responds sensibly and who posts goady stuff. Well I think that that sounds very reasonable when it's typed but it also means that the long time posters can get away with ''saying it how it is'' a bit more and the same comment from a total unknown would be picked apart and savaged by the wolves.

Saoirse31 put it very well. It does create a hierarchy. A hierarchy which might well work for me but I reject it in favour of my anonymity and in favour of each post being a totally separate entity from all of your previous posts. You're only as good as your last hair cut. So to speak

No I dont agree. People's views are as valid if they joined last week or last decade.

YABU. No reason for anyone to know anything about anyone. Anything people know, be it the date the poster joined, or previous postings or whatever; they will just use it to attack people.

The thing I like about this site is that people can't access your profile or old posts very easily, which prevents people throwing stuff in your face easily. And you can namechange quickly if you want to post something personal or sensitive.

I've reported this to MNHQ, they can decide.

I've nothing against new posters, they have as much right to an opinion and the support of others on here that older posters have had for years

I'm just against political parties planting their own posters on here to spread their own agenda and doing nothing else

@ssd

"I have reported this to MNHQ..."

WHY?

Are you not getting the answers you were hoping for???

What makes you think @ssd that old posters (who obviously deserve more respect than newbies according to you,) wouldn't make new names up in order to post their political views?!

MrsSlocombe I agree, I like that I can be quite anonymous here.

It would defeat a lot of the point of the anonymous name change IMO.

What you could do is have a situation where you have to wait a week (or whatever) after signing up to be able to post. That would weed out a lot of bored/boring trolls and journos. BUT it wouldn't be great for someone in need of support.

You are misunderstanding me @navywhite

When someone makes a new name they do it/can do it with their original account. And many do. They just name change. I said make up new names, not REJOIN.

So, I re-iterate; many OLD posters could namechange to enable them to put their political views ..

So the whole idea of the OP is pointless and futile.

no
it will then lead to all that oldies v newbies crap
(joined 2006)

So, I re-iterate; many OLD posters could namechange to enable them to put their political views ..

But wouldn't the new nc still have the original joining date on it?

And if you were a bit of a sleuth you'd say "ooh, GoadyFuckingWankerTits joined on 3/3/10 and MrsHathaway joined on 3/3/10 - what a coincidence!"

Rather than a date joined, why not a "number of posts" count against that username ?

That way long established posters can be easily spotted, and goady fuckers who name change to stir it up can also be spotted.

It wouldn't have to be part of the name or even visible. Just click on the username and relevant data could be shown. E.g. Years per current email, posts per current email, contact details if you wanted, local Mumsnet area. Etc

No it's not a good idea to have the join date (for the new name and original name.) As Mrs Hathaway pointed out, if the EXACT date is listed on the original username AND the new name, then people will be able to spot who it is fairly easily. On the other hand putting the number of posts will identify people too, as no two people will have the same amount of posts.

Just leave things be. One of the best things about MN is that you are anonymous, no-one can look up old posts very easily, no-one can see when you joined, no-one can 'thank' or' favourite' posts to make it look as if one person is more 'right' than another, and you can namechange easily if you want to post personal or sensitive stuff.

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

As an alternative to the date joined you could have number of posts. That would be a way of distinguishing people who're new but interested from the schoolkids who come and troll us once or twice every school holiday.

Or you could all stop changing your bloody names

@hippyhippyshake

No way in HELL am I having everyone know all that info about me.

Why does all this have to be visible for the world to see?!

Agreeing with Ravenblack here. It would make the namechanging feature less workable, as people could be identified much more easily. Even just giving a year would be a bit of a coincidence, regardless of how many thousands of people sign up in a year!

I think the trolls are less bothersome than the idea of being identified because it's my 2701th post or 10th anniversary!

What I don't get is what anyone gets out of being a troll. I could think of a million things that are better to do with my time.