I know I'm not aibu to say wake the fuck up mn

[Muppetlove]

So many times I've seen people reply to first time posters apparently talking about their teenagers having sick, periods or even sometimes talking about issues with younger kids. Mumsnet make it too easy for people to get their sick jollies on here. I can't change mumsnet but I can say some of you are way too naive about the anonymity on mumsnet and unless you want to contribute to sickos getting their rocks off on your posts, sometimes about your own children start being a bit wiser please!

If you are replying to a thread with sicko potential please take a minute to do a quick search to make sure this is a regular poster or at least someone who has referred to name changing. It's your responsibility to help protect our kids, stop either trusting others like previous posters or mumsmey to do that

@HollowTalk

Why can't we have the number of posts we've made next to our names even if we name changed? Even if it was just 100 or 200 etc then it would show if someone was actually a regular.

Fuck no, I'd be embarrassed

Even if the original poster is genuine, perverts can still find and get off on these posts, so people still shouldn’t overshare about these issues either when posting to ask for help or when responding trying to help

The plimsoll troll was plain weird though

@HollowTalk

Why can't we have the number of posts we've made next to our names even if we name changed? Even if it was just 100 or 200 etc then it would show if someone was actually a regular.

Thats a good idea... also year of joining would be good. I must confess I do like to name change, but never for nefarious reasons!

Thats a good idea... also year of joining would be good.

It's not, name changing would be pointless if it had that much detail.

The first thing a perv says is that they're a regular who has name changed.

That said, it's wise advice to say don't share your children's personal care or intimate health issues because some internet random has asked you to.

It's not, name changing would be pointless if it had that much detail.

Its not identifying detail though... there must be thousands of members who joined in, say, 2016.

@HollowTalk

Why can't we have the number of posts we've made next to our names even if we name changed? Even if it was just 100 or 200 etc then it would show if someone was actually a regular.

This is a good idea. Or a year of joining?

Having said that, I’ve deregistered and rejoined a number of times, with my current email address and a previous one. I’ve been coming here on and off for more than a decade, though my current account looks much more recent. But not recent enough to make me look like a troll.

That is a good idea

Even genuine threads anyone can read, some for nefarious purposes. As with anything online, only share what you'd be comfortable with absolutely anyone reading.

But everyone joined and made their first post at somepoint, I joined when I found out I was pregnant with my first child, about 7 years ago or so. I'm not sure how being new to the site makes you dodgy? Are certain topics off limits unless you've posted 100 times and have been here years?

@KnowingMeKnowingYouAhaaaa

But everyone joined and made their first post at somepoint, I joined when I found out I was pregnant with my first child, about 7 years ago or so. I'm not sure how being new to the site makes you dodgy? Are certain topics off limits unless you've posted 100 times and have been here years?

But trolls are unlikely to invest years in building up a posting history before posting the things they really want to in order to get their jollies.

Genuine posters don’t suddenly turn into internet pervs.

It's against mumsnet rules to do your own vigilante style troll hunting but reporting suspicions is ok. Not always a consistent outcome though.

I don’t understand this. It’s impossible to police public fora and there will always be weirdos and perverts out there.

Unless people are sharing actual identifiable photos (which almost never happens), or the threads are so obviously dodgy as to be spotted by anyone immediately, then what’s the point in getting worked up?

Many people have embarrassing issues which they feel they can’t easily discuss or seek advice on in real life, so MN is an ideal place. Should everyone ignore them in the off chance that they are actually a pervert?

(off topic again: thank you @MrsMinge)

tbh some of them do provoke interesting discussions, such as the 17 year old having sex one today

Op I can't believe you are so naive as to assume a NAME CHANGER saying they have name changed, would be ok!?

Putting number of posts or year of joining is a terrible idea.

Some posters (me included) name change for sensitive topics.

There have been quite a few posts namechangers have put up with people outing their main username, it would be worse if users could cross check details.

Much better to report and let MNHQ see what they need to and delete as appropriate.

Its always best not to overshare on the internet though. None of us know who anyone is.

@WeDontShutUpAboutBruno

Putting number of posts or year of joining is a terrible idea.

Some posters (me included) name change for sensitive topics.

There have been quite a few posts namechangers have put up with people outing their main username, it would be worse if users could cross check details.

Much better to report and let MNHQ see what they need to and delete as appropriate.

Its always best not to overshare on the internet though. None of us know who anyone is.

But how could they cross check? Your other user names could be any one of thousands and thousands?

@TheHaveN0ts

I'm not sure what I should be looking for?

@TheHaveN0ts

Well, for a start, it's always a good idea to think about what an OP has written.

And then to approach every thread as if it were a troll. Once you take that rather more cynical view, you can see just how likely it is to be fiction.

Oh, and using Advanced Search is always useful too. Not all trolls are newbies or namechangers.

But above, all - don't be naive!

@ParanoidGynodroid

It's not, name changing would be pointless if it had that much detail.

Its not identifying detail though... there must be thousands of members who joined in, say, 2016.

Of course it would

For example

MrsRobinsonsHandprints Joined 2007 posts 145,679

Adifferentname Joined 2007 posts 145, 690

Plus you then get a weird hierarchy of who posts the most.

Plus you then get a weird hierarchy of who posts the most.

This would not be a good thing.

...oh, and also, if in doubt, report to MNHQ

But how would anyone see those together, @MrsRobinsonsHandprints? Unless a poster did a swift NC and posted alongside another of their own posts with a different name.

The "Member since xxxx" is fairly common on various forums.

Not an aubergine 🍆 we all know what that's for!

How about snake 🐍 or target 🎯

@MadameHeisenberg

I don’t understand this. It’s impossible to police public fora and there will always be weirdos and perverts out there.

Unless people are sharing actual identifiable photos (which almost never happens), or the threads are so obviously dodgy as to be spotted by anyone immediately, then what’s the point in getting worked up?

Many people have embarrassing issues which they feel they can’t easily discuss or seek advice on in real life, so MN is an ideal place. Should everyone ignore them in the off chance that they are actually a pervert?

All that is fine. But encouraging people to share stories of when they or their children have wet themselves/bled copiously/insert chosen kink here is not

The "Member since xxxx" is fairly common on various forums.

yes, but so is (on many of these forums) the heirarchy of users thing where newbies get slated and puonced on and Big Name User can post what they like with impunity/lots of back up