...to think that 'name changers' are a bit wanky?

[LoveAngel]

Ok...I'll excuse people who want to post anonymously about really sensitive subjects like having an affair, embarassing health problems etc. Or those who do it to jokey effect (where its obvious who that person still is).

But anyone else...why? Why, why, why???? Why change your name to tell us something very slightly embrassing or that doesnt cast you in perfect light? Are you the same people who then come back as your 'real self' and pretend your shit smells of lavender? Because if so, that is extremely (not just a bit!) wanky.

Please explain (and make it GOOD).

I namechanged as my dh saw something I wrote and freaked - i would do it again If I felt it necessary- nothing wanky about it - tis the nature of the internet(and shared home computers)

god i so agree

I'm curious to know this; when you name change, do you temporarily 'give up' your normal name? In which case other people could surely nick your name from under your nose. Obviously not a problem for a nonentity like me but I could forsee problems if it were Tiktok or Aitch......

manictigger, niot that i'd know, obviously

but, no, you keep all your names

brothel, if you were a namechanger, which you aren't obviously, who would you have liked to have been befreo?

i'd have loved to have been tutter before this

And think how traumatised we'd all be if someone who nicked Cod's name could type properly....

yabu

people should be able to protect their identity and name changing makes this easier

The OP is really rude.
Calling people wanky before hearing reasons, and surmising all sorts of stuff about shit.
And actually, no-one has to explain. One anonymous name is as good as another.
(and I am not, by the way, a namechanger, except for joky posts)

But why, why, why, not???

Speaking as a consummate name changer (93 up to now, not all of them used) I think there are loads of reasons why people name change.

Personally I've never namechanged to say something controversial, nasty or inflammatory.

Mostly I do it

• simply because I can
• because I think of a name that I like better
• because I like the feeling of liberation/starting anew
• for comedic effect

Don't see what the problem is.

This isn't my 'real self' anyway, it's my virtual self.

I'm sure all of us at some point have said something on here that we wouldn't have said if we were actually face to face with a group of people, not necessarily anything nasty/bitchy, just that I'm sure that some of us are quite shy in 'real life' and are much more vocal in this virtual reality so to speak.

Oh and I'm fully aware that my shit doesn't smell of lavender anyway.

It smells of roses .

am i the only one that finds the word 'wanky' a bit funny??

apparently

tut, tut, Tutter, oops I mean IMofM

only because of lots of intellgent people using the word 'wanky' to describe 'slightly decietful'

I think the only reason you're objecting to people namechanging is because deep down you feel you have some sort of right to know about the people you talk to on here, no?

Well I'm wannabe, you may know me, you may not. but the beauty of the internet is that I could be anything/anyone I chose to be, either to have a laugh or to hide my identity from people in rl who might recognize me or just because I might not want to be associated with a particular post. I'm not a regular namechanger btw, but if I was, that's my concern, not yours really is it?

and btw I don't know any mn'ers in rl, nor have I ever been to a meetup - nor have I ever been invited to one but that doesn't mean I'm happy for the entire syberspace to know my business.

oggsfrog, agree entirely with your long post. I am off to register a few more names I have been thinking about changing to. It had not occurred to me I could register the names and not actually use them straightaway! Doh!

LoveAngel, you really should have namechanged before starting this controversial thread

Seriously: YANBU, particularly when it comes to heated debates.
Just makes it more interesting / gives it another dimension
when you know who you are talking to (in a virtual MN sense)

I don't care if people namechange but I pay more attention to postings from familiar names / people with profiles.

I have name-changed, cos this is a bit embarrassing.

Somedays, I get a bug up my bum and really feel the need to dispense with the niceties of conversation. I just want to make a point on a thread and it might not be a popular one.

My main MN nickname is a lovely friendly type, and I am mostly in the mood to be friendly, but sometimes, I want to say something and changing my name is like being able to pull a moonie at the vicar and get away with it.

yes, I am a pussy, and I don't care.

only name changing i don;t like is when it is for insulting someone or saying something you don;t have the balls to say under your own name

have the courage of your convictions, if you believe that strongly!

I think NDP has it

I don't think those of us who know people on here in RL are in a minority, at all

and Greeny does talk some sense

'Courage of your convictions' that's the one!

gah - I think its 'wanky' that people get so het up by namechanging. Either you agree or disagree with what someone has posted - what difference would it make if you recognised the name or not?

Someones posting name is irrelevant.

I like it, I love the freedom on here, the swearing, the winding up, the focus on just the words not pictures or tickers or anything else as well as the support and advice and information. It reminds me of the old days of the net (ee by gum in my day!) Like Usenet before it became virtually unusable because of spam.

So if you were a troll, the perfect double bluff would be to say "I'm posting this under a different name....."