People Who Name Change

[PleaseJustSayNo]

So they're not identified IRL. Do they realise that this isn't how it works and just because they have come up with a slight pun or nod to the thread content, it doesn't make them less identifiable to people who know them or will recognise them from the situation??

Like, a name change will stop people here identifying your other posts, but the people you describe will still recognise themselves in your post and thus identify you if they are going to see your post

[Aspieteach]

I name changed for a thread I started about how people would feel if they found out that their child had autism. I've only disclosed to my headteacher and some of my close family, but there were enough details that in the posts that I made on that thread, that if people in the school community did find out that I've got autism then they might work out who I am in RL.

I certainly wouldn't want parents of children in my class hunting out any of my old posts.

I've been posting for a few years and said in my OP that I'd name changed, because I didn't want to be accused of being a troll.

[applesarerroundandshiny]

The reason people start a post by saying they've name changed is because they want other MNers to know that they are a regular user, particularly if they have a situation which may sound a little unbelievable.

As everyone else has said the reason they go the name change in the first place is because people are far more recognisable if different aspects of their life are pieced together on advance search.,

[Willow2017]

I think it's because people might search your username history and see you've never posted before that and accuse you of being a troll.

This ^^
there is usually some bright spark who comes along and is sarcastic about 'first posts' especially if its a long and complicated matter.
Its like nobody is allowed to join mn for anything but a frivolous topic. Really annoying.

[CharityConundrum]

Because if people don't mention they've name changed, you get some bright spark popping up with 'Interesting first post OP' as an attempt to subvert the troll hunting guidelines.

[Lost5stone]

AryaStarkWolf I think it's because people might search your username history and see you've never posted before that and accuse you of being a troll.

[AryaStarkWolf]

I don't understand why people have to tell everyone they have name changed in the first place?

[sackrifice]

So they're not identified IRL. Do they realise that this isn't how it works and just because they have come up with a slight pun or nod to the thread content, it doesn't make them less identifiable to people who know them or will recognise them from the situation??

mean, maybe I've misread a few but it certainly seems that for some posters, their reason for name changing is so they are not identified IRL which seems a bit

It is so their OTHER posts aren't linked.

farking ells bells.

[ScrewyMcScrewup]

Yes, you've misunderstood.

I name change every so often because I'm pretty free with real life information. If someone recognises me on this name at least they can't look at my entire posting history.

[RaffertyFair]

I don't think you've 'misread' PleaseJustSayNo, I think you have misunderstood.

I have never read a "I have name changed because this will out me ..." thread in which the OP indicates that the name change will hide their identity with regard to that post.

They may try and obscure ther identify by changing some details but the name change is nothing to do with that.

[PleaseJustSayNo]

I mean, maybe I've misread a few but it certainly seems that for some posters, their reason for name changing is so they are not identified IRL which seems a bit

[Willow2017]

I would have thought its blatantly obvious why people name chsnge in certain situations.
E.g. If you are posting about a trouble maker at work making your life hell why would you want them knowing about anything you have written about your family problems/sex life/ health issues/ or anything else they could use agsinst you?

What does it matter to you what name a poster? Either post advice on the thread or dont.

[FullOfJellyBeans]

To be fair, when people post threads eg 'need help with my 7 year old, is this normal at this age' etc and people genuinely try and help, then its proven that they've previously posted about the same child who's been 4/9/21 in the space of 18 months, I don't see what's wrong with calling them out on that

That's one thing but I've seen a post where someone was asking for advice about how to get through christmas with almost no money and one poster brought up a post the OP made about 3 years ago talking about a holiday they'd been on. They cited that as evidence that OP was clearly either lying or was reckless with money so deserved to be in a shit situation.

[Crockof]

@Avonsbarksdale99 they probably have children at those ages and make up another child to hide rl. The main issue is true but just some details changed

[Theunreasonableone]

Been here 10 years and I name change every time I start a thread. I also change irrelevant facts village/city, pets/no pets, etc not enough to get wrong replies. There are some nasty people on here as well over invested people.

This is absolutely true. I’ve never known anything like the level some people on MN will go to by chasing down a poster’s previous posts to prove them wrong or make a point to rubbish their current thread. It’s really weird stalkerish behaviour.

Off to change my username now

[elQuintoConyo]

When I use a different MN name it's because I don't want someone to recognise me AND go back through my posting history to find out about my terrible labour, canal fishes, how I feel about my mother, sibling arguments, my MH issues, etc.

Someone may realise 'oh, that's her from across the road/X's SIL/my child's teacher'

Do yes, name change ahoy!

[AvonBarksdale99]

To be fair, when people post threads eg 'need help with my 7 year old, is this normal at this age' etc and people genuinely try and help, then its proven that they've previously posted about the same child who's been 4/9/21 in the space of 18 months, I don't see what's wrong with calling them out on that

[RaffertyFair]

The namechanger is saying they realise they could be identified in real life by this particular post and accept that.

They dont want their previous posts also being read so have used the new name to prevent this happening.

[FullOfJellyBeans]

People often change minor details to make themselves less recognisable and they don't want posters with nothing better to do trawling through their history saying 'hang on you have a DD not a DS and you live up north not down south'.

Also they don't want people they know to be able to see all their posting history for obvious reasons.

[CCquavers]

Been here 10 years and I name change every time I start a thread. I also change irrelevant facts village/city, pets/no pets, etc not enough to get wrong replies. There are some nasty people on here as well over invested people.

[Starch]

Yes- the subject may realise ‘hang on a minute, that’s my Evil SIL and she’s talking about me!’

But they can’t go search the OPs other posts and read all about the time she needed advice for giant piles etc.

[LeesPostersAreInFrames]

I do the same as TheYoungOffendersMum. Regular name changes prevent too much identifying (or incriminating!) Information from being traceable by my username alone.

[TheYoungOffendersMum]

Since reregistering here in December or November, I've just constantly changed my name on a regular basis and I've made one thread on the whole site (which no one responded to - it wasn't in aibu, so that figures) and I worry more that people will realise from what I write in my comments that I'm trying something on. Nope. I just genuinely want breaks in my timeline, similar reason to why people do the nc because outing, except this is just comments. And I don't use any of my usual internet aliases for it. It's just paranoia because this is an open forum.

[SquareTriangle]

Well, it's gonna be outing regardless of your username

Well yes. But as others have said, it's to avoid all other previous posts (possibly going back several years) being linked to the "outing" one.

[Twickerhun]

I don’t want to be linked to my other persons on here - the one that’s dealt with death and infertility etc so I name change to avoid linkages

[Janedoughnut]

Maybe they mean it could be outing if read in relation to their other threads.

Someone could read a thread and think they know who it is, then look at the poster's previous threads and find other details that confirm it is who they think.