to think most MN members would like to be able to click on any given username and see when they joined the site and how many posts they've made?

[LindorDoubleChoc]

It would be an easily added helpful tool in assessing - for those who care - who might be a troll or other type of fake (say AI) poster.

I has been in operation for years on other forums I use, along with no name changing without quite a convoluted process of emailing and asking permission and giving reasons.

I'm sure HQ are never going to modify the name changing facility now, but maybe they would listen if there was enough feeling in favour of establishing some sort of poster history (albeit quite minor) on the site?

Please vote! Thank you.

I think name changing posters are easier to keep track of for Mumsnet then posters keep making new accounts on new emails via VPNs. Plus people tend to name change when they think that have made themselves identifiable. Maybe just a joined in year with the profile.

so ShoeJoe joined 2012 or something.

I think we used to have year of joining back when you could have a profile.

I had photos of my then toddlers on mine!! Bloody stupid really.

No thanks, it's no one else's business..

I think if you think someone is a troll or whatever you should report to the mods.
Otherwise people may react differently depending on how long someone has been a member.

I prefer it as it is and I have been here since 2003. It is up to MN to sort out the trolls not other posters IMO.

If they could do it without losing the name changing facility it would be good.

I haven’t the slightest interest in knowing that information about other posters. Why would you?

I much prefer forums where you have the history and avatar and post count etc - it feels more like you’re talking to humans and encourages people to act like humans.

Use the other platforms if that facility is important to you?

With so many AI, goady, fantasy threads lately anything to suggest the poster is genuine would be helpful before people start wasting their time and energy replying to them

I hate it when I see people comment about a previous thread when replying to an OP. It’s snitchy and not in the spirit. Dont need any more Sherlock Holmes wannabes on this site, so it’s a no from me.

You can use the Advanced Search function to establish whether a poster is a long term and frequent poster, or whether they have on posting history and have only posted one, contentious thread. You can then use that information to help you decide if it’s worth adding your two pence to their thread or not.

I really don't care how long anyone has been on here or how many times they have posted.

I judge people on what they post.

How can an advanced search show if a poster is long term if they just name changed yesterday, BUT have had dozens of name changes over time and hundreds of posts.

I'm sure HQ are never going to modify the name changing facility now, but maybe they would listen if there was enough feeling in favour of establishing some sort of poster history (albeit quite minor) on the site?

I bet you were one of those people who signed a petition demanding Facebook bring back ‘the wall’.

I don't want to "sort out" the trolls, I just don't want to waste time on them. I agree that trolling decisions should be up to HQ.

Wrong.

but how would it be better because a person could be a long time lurker etc or they use grammerly to improve their spelling and grammer etc

Advanced search doesn't sort out the name changers from the brand new joiners. It's also very clunky compared to a button showing date joined and number of posts.

I change most days. Normally because someone makes a sly comment and I’m ADHD and struggle. I wouldn’t want to be on here unless I could change.

See the post immediately after yours. Don't you want to know if you are replying to a genuine thread? Are you honestly not bothered? I find that fascinating.

I change username often and don't want to lose that functionality. In the beginning nearly 20 years ago I had the same username forever, but so many threads are being picked up by the media that I don't want my whole posting history available.

God no. I never used to think about it but then I posted something and some freak show replied quoting things I'd said over the years and tried to catch me out (they couldn't as I hadn't lied about anything) It was really off putting and now I name change regularly.

It's not about name changing, as I clearly said.

Longevity is no indication of a genuine post.

How long have you ben on MN? There were trolls that were on MN for years.