Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

not to divulge my MN identity?

59 replies

leedslassy · 04/02/2008 17:16

I thought it would be a good place to talk about my problems and feelings with other like minded people.
I told my friend that I had done my first post the other day and she asked me what my nickname was etc.
I refused to tell her thinking that this is the whole point of having a nickname so that you remain anonymous. plus there are some things going on in my life that I would want advice on but don't necessarily want to discuss as "myself". Does this make sense?

OP posts:
Saturn74 · 04/02/2008 17:17

Absolutely.
Although my DCs merrily tell my nickname to anyone who mentions the internet or parenting websites.

McDreamy · 04/02/2008 17:18

Oh yes, totally understand where you are coming from. It's the beauty of mumsnet!

lapinindetention · 04/02/2008 17:20

Tell her you post under the name "Cod"

Seriously, just make one up. What is she going to do, say "I checked out your posts and couldn't find it"? Too nosy!

pointydog · 04/02/2008 17:20

But why did you tell your friend you even posted on a board, never mind mn?

I wouldn't.

princessmel · 04/02/2008 17:20

I say a vague form of my name. One of my friends knows I think. They don't come on much. Afaik anyway.

NoBiggy · 04/02/2008 17:20

YANBU, that's absolutely how it should work.

S1ur · 04/02/2008 17:21

Yep. Reveal nothing.

Secrecy and anonymity are the cornerstones of mumsnet.

lapinindetention · 04/02/2008 17:22

I'm assuming she recommended MN, is that why you told her? What's HER nickname?!

Original poster
leedslassy · 04/02/2008 17:22

TBH I didn't think she would have asked. Naive - I'll learn probably as I go along.

OP posts:
LadyVictorianSqualor · 04/02/2008 17:22

Nah, if you want to be able to talk privately then dont tell her, I think as Lapin says you should make one up, I'd be tempted to and then post absolutely rubbish posts and imagine her looking for them.

cherryredretrochick · 04/02/2008 17:24

I have one RL friend who actually rcommended mn to me, she knows me but only because we talk about all our child probs anyway. I hope so anyway. Would hate to think that anybody else knew who i am, infact I might name change.

lapinindetention · 04/02/2008 17:24

Oh YES, LVS.

"Please help me, I think I am pregnant with triplets from the milkman's assistant, but I'm secretly in love with my neighbour's wife - what should I do?!" and we will all pile in with outlandish advice

Cam · 04/02/2008 17:25

If she does come looking, better hope she doesn't see your op, especially if you really do live in Leeds

LadyVictorianSqualor · 04/02/2008 17:27

OR start a thread about how you fancy your mate, the one who rec'd MN, but you're worried she may find you on here and discover your crush

fullmoonfiend · 04/02/2008 17:30

two fo my friends know I come on here, and i have posted questions on behalf of one so I suspect she may have come back to see for herself what all the fuss was about. But I don't think she knows my names on here. But she might guess. Hey ho!

bosch · 04/02/2008 17:30

Two RL friends have identified me in the past from a ludicrously obvious MN name. I became increasingly uncomfortable as I like the anonymity of MN and stopped posting at all - then I changed my MN name and am gradually becoming addicted again!

Original poster
leedslassy · 04/02/2008 17:31

I don't think my profile gives too much away. I have seen there are quite a few people on here from Leeds and the Leeds area itself stretches a long way. She isn't such a close friend so that she knows my likes and dislikes either so shouldn't be able to work me out.

OP posts:
LadyVictorianSqualor · 04/02/2008 17:33

When I first joined MN my nickname was just my first name, which I have no problem with anyone knowing but I did realise that if I googled it my MN threads came up quite quickly, and as I have an ex who is a total prick and has once actually dropped comments into conversation that I have on my myspace I got a bit freaked out by being so easily found, however I dont care who else knows who I am, I'm pretty crap at keeping anything to myslef IRL anyway so it's not like there are many secrets.

hotcrossbunny · 04/02/2008 17:36

A mum at school knows I MN and I know she does. I don't want to know her nickname and she hasn't asked mine. Although I guess she could probably recognise me from some threads

I want to be anonymous. Was cross with dh for telling his mother I MN

pankhurst · 04/02/2008 17:39

Lapinindetention, I AM actually in love with my milkman's assistant...and have been ordering triplet pints in a bid to see her float up my drive.

Of course anonymity is essential. HOW on earth could you ever get advise on some of the more difficult stuff?

I would HATE anyone in real life to know what a chump i am when it comes to housekeeping for example.

some of my real life friends are a bit catty - if i told them I have old mackerel decaying in the freezer, they might never come round to gloat about their perfect lives again.

...Hang on....???????

kayzr · 04/02/2008 17:44

No yanbu. If you dont want people to know who you are then its up to you.

Maidamess · 04/02/2008 17:44

My dh and dd know my MN name, and I hate that they do. I like having something that is just for me. But I don't want to change it to anything else!

2happy · 04/02/2008 17:49

YANBU and I even have other MN identities that I don't divulge to my MN 'friends'

IorekByrnison · 04/02/2008 17:53

YANBU but she might figure it out anyway if she knows you well, don't you think?

Desiderata · 04/02/2008 18:14

You're from Leeds, right?