To think 90 percent of people wouldn't post what they post on here if it wasn't anonymous?

[EasterEggsComeAtMe]

So much sarcasm and vitriol sometimes! I have been guilty of engaging in a passionate debate here and there but I try to keep it respectful. When posters tag essentially complete strangers for a two word, sarcastic comment, add a full stop to a thread or slag something/ someone off with stress much venom aibu to think that if suddenly mumsnet waived the anonymity of it all there would be a lot of deeply ashamed people ? I sort of wish it would happen!

Yabu - I speak how I speak in real life and the exact same as if my name was attached
Yanbu - mumsnet anonymity allows bullies to surface with no repercussions

I'm nicer on here than IRL. IRL I let people have it with both barrels, I am very opinionated and blunt.

I totally agree about people having too many kids, and I'm not shy about saying so in real life. I am the only one of my friends who doesn't think that the two child cutoff is a disgrace. In my view, it is the only austerity measure that makes any sense.

I do think though @EasterEggsComeAtMethat if MN insisted on actual proof of your I.D, and asked for a payment off your debit card - even of 25p, to validate who you are - there would be no trolls or nasty vitriolic behaviour. Once 'approved' you can make up a pen-name fair enough and not your real name, but MN would have your real identity.

No thanks, they have already been hacked once. I'm not giving them my bank card or real name tyvm.

I mostly post the real me but I wouldn't post at all if I had to do it under my real name. I'm not on FB for this very reason. I do use a different name when the OP seems particularly vulnerable, eg in Relationships.

@goingdownfighting

There is something seriously wrong with the society if people feel that they can't be truthful on their views regarding Brexit or immigration.
I've spoken to citizens from other EU countries who freely share that they'd rather be out of the union.
I am a migrant but I oppose lax immigration rules and think that tightening of the policies is long overdue.

This constipation when it comes to expressing own political views and keeping own interests at the forefront when it comes to shaping our political, economical and cultural future looks to be a uniquely English affliction (or that of Anglo-sphere more precisely).

I wouldn't want my neighbours to know that I hate their unkempt house and garden (neighbourly relations and all that) but I'd happily put my name to my political views (and I do).

Yes other views that piss me off and that I see on mn ALOT are that those who inherit play the victim/poor me Card. They say ''well my 85 year old granny/mother/uncle'' had to die for me to get the million so I'm in no way better off and I'd rather them here than the money. The money means nothing blah blah blah''

We all lose parents and family, there is no escaping that but those who inherit in the process are in no way victims. They are lucky in that regard when you compare them to the many who are left bugger all.

If they'd lose their legs and got a million then I'd see their point more.

I like to think I am as witty and urbane in real life as I am here. As it’s anonymous here I suppose I can think that and nobody can tell me otherwise! So it’s a win-win for me really. I’m never mean to people here though, if somebody is deliberately being a twit I ignore them.

This^^ for most people
Of course there are others who take anonymity as a green light to bullying, probably very bitter and insecure in real life.

@tiredmama23
Sometimes I think the best thing to do in your situation is to just post your thanks to the posters who have offered useful advice, and then hide the thread.

I know it's not fair - but if people are being unnecessarily mean, for your own sake it's better to just leave them to it and forget about them .

I like the anonymity and probably wouldn't post if it was under my own name. However, I think it is too easy for people to post something awful and then name change the next day. Perhaps name changes should be limited ?

I think many of us wouldn't say the things we say though/share our views if a camera was on us 24/7. I hear people say all sorts of things in 'safe' company but I know they wouldn't say the same thing in front of others.

I used to work in a construction site. Often I had hard hat on and had short hair so was probably mistaken for a man often, and it was male dominated. I was the only woman in there, I'd hear ALOT of homophobia. I doubt the same men would do it in the presence of females as they'd be called out.

Likewise when I am 1 on 1 with close friends I often hear racism, bitterness, envy, slagging off about others/rants etc I know the same people would never voice openly. What goes on in peoples head is complex and their thoughts can often offend or be brazen.

I wouldn't post at all under my own name as I wouldn't want some loon knocking on my door.

As a teacher in Australia, I could lose my registration for saying anything that could be construed as breaking data protection/safeguarding or the school's reputation, as well as the 24/7 expectation of good conduct that is mandatory for teachers in Victoria.

@EasterEggsComeAtMe your YABU and YANBU address quite different aspects of this topic so voting has little meaning.

I've been here for years and I don't think I have ever been mean to anyone 😁 . I'm very conscious that people could be going through all kinds of stuff, and have been upset myself by comments on other forums (fora?)
I do think some people are brutal, maybe they are like that in RL, whi knows!

I call out people more online, for agism but it is much more openly expressed on here than in RL.

I tend to talk about personal stuff on here that I would never speak about in RL. Anonymity allows that - the benefit of the internet.

I wouldn’t say anything here that I wouldn’t say in real life to someone’s face, I like honesty and straight talking though.

Some people are so used to having others indulge their drama and behaviour IRL that they can’t cope when people tell them the truth on here.

Report anything you see as bullying obviously, but people disagreeing isn’t bullying and a lot of people are quick to say it’s bullying and say others should be ashamed, when really it’s just because they don’t like what they hear. Tough shit. Don’t post here if you want people to agree with what is often batshit behaviour.

I suspect that people are more forthright when anonymity is involved.

I enjoy the anonymity, not to bully people, far from it, but feeling l might be able to help others. I’m a bisexual woman and comfortable with that, but other people in real life can be very judgemental.