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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish that people wouldn't keep name changing!

126 replies

Huskylover1 · 14/02/2018 23:20

I have seen some brilliant posters on here. The women, who every singe time they post, I think "yep, that's exactly how I feel". And, when you are scrawling through a thread, you stop on that posters post, because you just know that she's going to say something brilliant. But, with all the name changing, it's totally lost. How are we meant to feel a bond to the other users on MN, when name changing keeps losing the connection? And there's no need for it!

OP posts:
AnachronisticCorpse · 15/02/2018 00:02

I’ve been spectacularly outed before, I used to be a ‘name’ and I’ve been here since ‘‘twas all fields.

Nw I name change fairly often (probably due a new one actually). It’s changed the way I use Mn but tbh most of the people I had formed MN friendships with I now speak to daily, off board.

It’s remarkably easy to spot people from very small consistencies. If you’re posting stuff you wouldn’t want your friends or family to read then you really should be ncing a lot.

A580Hojas · 15/02/2018 00:04

I kept the same name for years but was picked apart by a couple of the posters on reddit. They think that keeping the same name is attention seeking and self important! So now I nc all the time. This will probably be my last post under this name which is a shame as I'm quite fond of this one.

WorraLiberty · 15/02/2018 00:08

A580Hojas why do you care though?

That's a genuine question btw. You don't know those people and they (presumably) don't know you.

We're all just names on a chat board. If you're fond of this name then keep it.

A580Hojas · 15/02/2018 00:14

There are some terrible aholes over there Worra. I'm not going to be a sitting duck for them - why would I? It's my little fuck you to them. I quite enjoy the anonymity anyway and as I don't recognise anyone over here now it works both ways.

BooYah · 15/02/2018 00:21

After many years of the same or very similar name, I change frequently now. Due mainly to the doxxing / hacking situation but also because my job got more high profile and I really don't want anyone to be able to join dots about my life.

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 15/02/2018 00:21

I like finding posters I enjoy on a thread. Recognising names certainly helps with that. But as I've started to say more and I now want to venture further afield than AIBU, I will probably change more regularly just as best practice for anonymity. I'll change this name soon. If nothing else, I have a similar nn to MrsHathaway!

DriggleDraggle · 15/02/2018 00:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SeniorRita · 15/02/2018 00:37

I nc because people kept making comments about my username, which was a song by my favourite band. This user name is also a song by my favourite band, with a slight (obvious) variation.

yrhengi · 15/02/2018 00:51

I namechange every couple of months or so, partly because of the Fail picking things up and partly because I don't want certain personal details linked together - there are a few people I know in real life that I've worked out are on here. I don't really post for the benefit of other people, so whether my username is 'recognised' or not doesn't bother me.

DreamyMcDreamy · 15/02/2018 00:55

but what they say is the same whether they regularly change name or not.

True,that.

alotalotalot · 15/02/2018 00:59

I don't like changing but feel I have to. I like it too, when it's a familiar name you see on a thread.

noeffingidea · 15/02/2018 01:00

I find it annoying, OP and one of the things I dislike about this forum. They might as well make it anonymous and have done with it.

DreamyMcDreamy · 15/02/2018 01:06

They might as well make it anonymous and have done with it

Eh? It is anonymous. Unless I'm missing something Confused

MiddleClassProblem · 15/02/2018 01:09

I don’t name change because I can’t remember my login details to save the changes (that’s what I thought you have to do but I don’t take things in very well sometimes tired mostly

MiddleClassProblem · 15/02/2018 01:09

Didn’t even close my brackets

emmyrose2000 · 15/02/2018 01:13

I hate OP's who NC throughout a thread. It's so easy to miss updates then, especially as they're no longer highlighted. That's particularity annoying during a long thread where there are a lot of irrelevant posts (jokes, recipes etc that have nothing to do with the actual situation in the OP) to wade through.

GrockleBocs · 15/02/2018 01:15

I nc regularly because I nearly ended up in a tricky position and it gave me a wake up call about the 'safety' of posting here. It's scary how much people put on here.

LindyHopSkipRunner · 15/02/2018 01:19

I name change these days, since the Big Hack and the Daily Mail liftings and other stuff. Just seems wiser.

DreamyMcDreamy · 15/02/2018 01:21

I hate OP's who NC throughout a thread

Never NC throughout a thread. That'd just be confusing.

KeepTheBloodyNoiseDown · 15/02/2018 01:29

I’m a hypocrite, because I like seeing familiar names on a thread, but I switch between names regularly. Mainly because I talk about quite personal things on here (assault, abuse, illness etc) and don’t want anyone I know to find stuff like that.

Battleax · 15/02/2018 01:30

People do it for safety. It's good practice. We should probably all follow their example more. "Cosiness" doesn't matter anything like as much.

Campanile · 15/02/2018 06:25

People wouldn't name change as much if certain other people would grow up and stop starting up little groups to bitch about and collect details about posters whose opinions they don't like. Get a life.

HarveyKietelRabbit · 15/02/2018 06:33

A few years ago over 2000 posters had their registration details published.

The internet isn't a safe place. MN definitely isn't. It makes sense not to build up a lot of information about you under any one name or email address.

exLtEveDallas · 15/02/2018 06:39

I don't NC, and thankfully have only had targeted shite thrown at me once as a result of shit stirring from another SM platform.

I don't however post anywhere near as much as I used to, partly because of the targeted shite, partly because of the way MN has changed. I do miss chatting to my 'mates' and the pleasure of seeing the little red dot at the top of the page, knowing a friend is saying hi, but there's not a lot I can do about that.

C'est la vie - some people prefer anonymity and their needs trump mine.

BlarneyRubble · 15/02/2018 06:42

Yes, what HarveyKietelRabbit said. I don’t post loads but when I do it’s usually asking for answers/suggestions rather than general chat so it does make me identifiable to close friends. One of my closest friends is an MNetter (never posts, only reads!) and knowing that always keeps me name changing regularly too. She’s not remotely nosy though so not sure why I bother really!