To ask how many times you name change

[pinkfishbluefish]

Just to be nosey

I have 10+ usernames (I think) and switch between some of them for different things, like different boards or just if the mood takes me, never to deliberately try and deceive.

I do it mainly so that if anyone IRL recognises a post, they can’t see my other posting history and confirm it’s me ie ‘pink fish has two dogs, a son who’s privately schooled’ etc it wouldn’t take long to put things together.

AIBU to name change often? Does anyone else change very regularly or usually stick to one?

Yeah, that's what I mean by 'horses for courses'.

Once, and I've forgotten why.

I change username every few months, and I don't go back to use any previous names except once when I was updating a thread I had started a while ago. I change username to avoid people identifying who I am in real life. I've posted asking for advice on some very specific/identifying life situations. If anyone saw all of my posts together they could easily work out who I am.

What makes you so certain about this?

I'm not here that long, in MN terms, 2017 or so, but I have never name-changed. I just don't want to, I like the consistency & doubt I'll be identified.

And I absolutely get why poster do name change, for very valid reasons, but I think there's a certain cohort who do it to be troublesome or be particularly horrible on a thread, and I dislike this.

I feel there should be more accountability in terms of being recognisable to an extent via your UN

^^ This

I've changed once in about 10 years ago, due to a real security problem.

I think users should stand by their posts, because constant name changing can encourage sock puppeting and bullying posters by NCing.

I've been on different forums years ago and never known name changing before, is it the norm on forums?

Never. I don't start threads and people IRL know my username on here. Couldn't be arsed anyroad and don't post anything I would care people knew.

I've never name changed, i dont post anything i wouldnt say in RL, and presume anyone that recognizes me must know me pretty well anyway!

@Testino no, not me! Perhaps there’s a user with a similar name? I’ve never been banned, I watch what I say lol.

No I didn't mean you.😅

Was responding to the poster before me.

@Testino ahh!! My mistake. Sorry!

I've not been on MN since 1813, I had a brief namechange after the hacking fiasco that lasted a week but otherwise that's it. Not sure why you'd assume anyone that's been here a while and doesn't namechange would bother to have other names.

Lots of times

Just counted, and this is my 39th username. I have reused previous ones a couple of times.

No worries 😊

I've not been on MN since 1813

That's an impressive age that

🤣🤣

I think I was Chardonnay1966 for a couple of weeks in 2007 when i first joined, then I got told it was naff to have your birth year in your user name so I changed it to PuppyMonkey and haven’t changed since because I can’t be arsed. Not even for Halloween and Christmas and shit.

I did wonder what the year 1813 was all about though?

They meant the time, not the year 😜

Just the original one. Can’t go through all that creative angst for a second time. 😀

I do the same thing, so someone (who has the time 🤣) can’t sit and note down all the facts on me and narrow it down from everyone in the world to being me! I’m sure there are a few people with two dogs but nope, I think that outs me on here 🤣

You'll soon get those who tell you they've always had one name and have been using mumsnet since 1813.

🤔

*Who? MNHQ or posters who do this?

If you mean posters who seem to know: Some people guess. Some trawl though posts and search for users they may think sound similar. Some will know information if the poster didn't change their name, so a search will reveal other posts in that name*.
*
P*osters. Thanks, makes sense. I find it a bit disconcerting.