To wonder why it’s necessary to NC on MN

[Ilovemypantry]

I’ve always wondered why posters say that they’ve NC for a particular post. Surely nobody would know who they were anyway, the beauty of MN is that everyone is anonymous and can’t be identified by their username?

I guess it was probably explained on the million other threads about this.

The point is if it was identifiable it can’t then be linked to their other posts about piles and sex? Or a post about piles or sex can’t be linked to a post where their sister in law knows it’s them.

It’s so someone can’t look at your previous posts that might be outing.

Because they don't want to risk being identified in real life. Their current post could contain enough details to identify them to anyone who knows them and they don't then want people to read back their previous comments about hating their sister in law, being jealous of their best friend or how they had an affair. Pretty simple really.

Because you may reveal a little bit about yourself on lots of different threads and before you know it someone uses as and recognises you in rl.
I don’t know why people don’t name change.

I’ve always wondered why posters say that they’ve NC for a particular post.
So some annoying goon doesn't put their troll hunting hat on and post "interesting first post OP"

As above. Don't want to be linked to their other posts. And then to let troll hunter know why no history. They may often reference well known mumsnet phrases to show they have been around a while.

I actually think people should name change regularly.

Do some people not realise what advance search is

Do some people not realise what advance search is

At one time used to be considered bad form to reference people's previous posts.

I've never felt the need to name change. Not everyone feels they have to.
In fact I'd like the facility to be restricted. I'm rather tired of posters who use it to post unpleasant and provocative content knowing they can simply take the mask off afterwards.

It's pretty simple really when you think about it, plus when you go on a thread where the OP has name changed for that reason they usually say why...

What I find unnecessary is when people feel the need to reference some of the all time greats in the opening paragraph to prove they are a regular who has NC to avoid being outed.

I'd be just as happy to reply to someone who had only signed up to post that day as a regular contributor.

I've been spotted on here by a friend (under a previous username), and recognised another. I haven't posted much that was deeply personal, but I can understand why some posters wouldn't want to be recognised.

There are people with nothing else better to do than travel through old posts trying to find out who someone is or bring in comments on completely different threads into the argument on a new one. Tedious but true. I constantly change my user name because of this.

I was stalked by ex on here. I don't often post now, but it's certainly not been under the name he stalked. And I frequently NC because of it

I do too mint and I won’t be made to feel bad about it by anyone, sooty, I don’t NC to cause controversy but to protect my privacy and quite honestly if you’ve a problem with that then find another forum

I've name changed several times because I had an abusive ex who knew my old name trawl through here knowing I'd asked for some advice, which he then attempted to use against me in court.

So I regularly name change even though I have been on here since around 2009 I think. There are all sorts of reasons

Yes my ex printed out a load of my posts on a thread to try to use at a final hearing. Not that there was anything of consequence, but you can't reason with some people. But mostly, I felt hugely violated that he followed my posts. It was like reading someone's diary. Hence I continue to NC.

Years ago a relative of mine used to post on here. She was 'MN famous' in that her posting style was incredibly recognisable and her name changes usually variations of a characteristic name.

It was incredibly obvious who she was, we never acknowledged each other on here or in real life. Uncomfortably I came to know much more than felt ok about her life because of her posts on here. If she did spot me, she probably felt the same about me, but I'm not sure she did as she made a couple of quite insulting comments about me and my immediate family. Once I realised just how recognisable she was, I started name changing more often.

Mn was smaller in those days but a anonymity is extremely limited in the modern world.

@packingpackingpacking
But how did your ex know it was you from your username?

I must be really thick but I still can’t understand how it can be “outing” if you are using a username and therefore unidentifiable in real life. I wouldn’t know who anyone was by their username (providing username wasn’t their real name!) . I’m obviously missing something here...But I don’t know what!

MN really need a pinned post or macro for this question.

Along with the "why are non-mothers on MN", we haven't had that one this week.

@bathorshower
How did your friend know it was you and how did you recognise someone from their username?

Some posts have enough details that someone who knew the OP would be about to identify them. (I once recognised someone on MN). They were involved in a petty argument with someone else at school and all the specifics matched up - too much of a coincidence.

If people are going to recognise you you don't want it linked to every health problem/marriage issue/personal problem you may have posted about before.

@Ivorycream there is no need to be insulting. I made it quite clear that I was critical of namechanging when it was used maliciously. You said you don't do that.

People give a tremendous amount of personal information away on mumsnet without meaning to - little dribs and drabs here and there - which makes it very easy to build up a full picture of who a person is. If they want to say something genuinely anonymously then they NC. There was a thread on MN a while back where someone did it as an experiment - did people’s bio based on what can be gathered from mumsnet. You reveal more than you think!

Ive spotted people I know from just a few details. Its not very difficult. I have to be honest and say when I recognised them I had a nosy on past posts.