Have you been spotted posting on Mumsnet? Or identified someone you know?

[1reason]

Im fairly new to Mumsnet and have been reading many threads and posts.I get confused with AIBU! Just curious about this.
It struck me that it is likely that if you post very personal information then there is a.chance someone you know in real life could identify you.
Has this ever happened to you?
Spotted someone from real life or have posted on Mumsnet and been identified by people you know in real life.

No idea if I have been recognised (as no one has told me so), but I did recognise a colleague. I didn't tell her.

Yup, spotted a cousin. No idea if she spotted me, we’ve never said anything to each other. She posted on here for eight years or so. Have noticed a couple of friends on here but they weren’t around long. Then I’ve had a few meet ups but I guess that’s not what you mean.

I met one of my best friends through MN, we were discussing birthing options on here 18 years ago. Through discussions about local options we found we were in the same village..... then slightly further probe... she lives opposite me and we waved at each other through our front windows. Thank goodness she is adorable and not a dodgy stalker :-)

Someone came to interview and didn’t get it and posted on here and I knew exactly who she was. I didn’t write down her name or anything so wouldn’t recognise her on here now. This was about 6 years ago.

I don't post anything identifying but there is one person here I recognise from elsewhere. I don't think they care or they wouldn't have made it so easy to recognise them. No, I don't follow them around, just notice sometimes if they've posted on a thread I read.

My mum has recognised a story or two I've told on here and, likewise, I've recognised her. We have both, separately, identified a woman I used to work for as she posted more than one about me (nothing unreasonable or upsetting or anything. One in particular was a massive compliment).

Said.emplpyer.once posted asking for advice about a situation she wanted to address with me where she felt someone was at risk of taking advantage of me (I know it sounds weird but I'm trying to be vague). I recognised her and the situation and replied as if I didn't know her but explained how I would want her to tackle it "as someone who worked in the same profession". It worked brilliantly and she followed my advice!

Mum and I admitted that we had found each other but I've never told my (now former) boss that I've seen her posts.

Interesting replies so far!
Is Mumsnet UK only? Or worldwide scope?
Guess it may put some people off as it seems that many give very specific personal details.

Worldwide. The person I recognise is in the UK, but didn't used to be.

I recognised a nice former colleague/ friend of a friend on here once.

It was weird because nothing she put was particularly identifying, just that she had been out with 2 friends the night before and then through relaying the story I thought "hmmm this sounds a lot like annoying former colleague"

I then saw on my friends Facebook that she had been out to dinner the previous night with nice former colleague and annoying former colleague and it all slotted into place.

I felt awful for her because she had posted in AIBU and got a lot of flack, however I knew from having dealt with annoying former colleague that she would have been really rude and nasty and that nice former colleague was clearly trying to do an unbiased retelling and not drag anyone through the mud online.

I never told her I recognised her but I did name change and comment on her post anonymously defending her.

I have recognised, and been recognised, by someone who I knew from a differernt site, who lives in a differernt country from me and whom I have never met.

Yes I was identified. My ex and OW printed out 3,000 posts and presented them to the judge in court as “slander” 🙄🤣

Yes, I recognised the mother of one of DD’s friends on here through something she posted on an exam thread about what her DS has said about it. DD had done the same exam and I was reading out the comments and she recognised her friend. She would also know who I am now because she would recognise this story.
I have name changed but I am probably recognisable over time as I don’t really change much and tend to be quite open about my life. But it did make me think how easy it is to recognise someone from small details.

This is why people name change often or change elements of their story (age of dc, location, whatever). I’ve occasionally posted about things then spoken to people in real life about them and thought shit I hope they don’t recognise me from that.

It’s a good reminder to keep things vague if you don’t want to be outed. There are more people on here than you’d think.

Yep my old neighbour June used to post massively fabricated, one sided stories of how I was the neighbour from hell.

It was all utter lies but she had everyone on the post sympathising with her.

I trolled her massively without letting on it was me and I have no regrets for doing so.

I've also read a post that was a story I've told people regarding something that happened to me irl.

It was too specific to be a coincidence and it made me realise that people probably come on here and pass off others' stories as their own for whatever reason. Either boredom or they have nothing exciting in their own lives.

I recognised a female relative and I found out that she had secretly got married. I have never told anyone that I know she is married to the man she lives with, although I have no idea why they have never told anyone that they are married.

I recognised her because she posted on a thread about the city she lives in and shared her DC's sex and ages and who she works for.

We have both changed user names and, if she is still her, I have never stumbled across her again.

What did the court make of it??
How can it be slander when no names are shared?

I recognised someone from another forum, but don't know her name IRL. She knows that I recognised her and said she didn't mind.

I recognised a colleague - she posted details of an incident that were very outing. Her thread helped me to understand her better, as I realised she was far more affected by what happened than she let on IRL.

I also recognised someone who was part of a major news story a few years ago.

I once read a post on here about some problem with building works and a neighbour which I immediately recognised, as someone on a house type Facebook group had posted the same problem word for word.
They weren’t known to me and I had no interest in it but I’m sure others out there would have known them and then been able to search their history on MN.
Be careful what you post.

Someone thought they recognised me by cross referencing my Facebook post... Except I only post on Facebook to alert people that their parcel has turned up at my house or wishing acquaintances happy birthday. I hope my MN posts aren't so dull and mundane.

They were quite adamant that I should take down my non existent Facebook and MN post because they knew who I was.

Yes i know 2 netters its funny when i read their threads and mumsnet commenters thinks its true what they are saying.

If I am posting anything I wouldnt want linked back to me I always change a lot of identifying details. I am always surprised when people don't do that!

I was outed by my carpet from a picture I posted in Sporners’ Corner.

They ignored it completely much to my amusement. So they tried the police and labelled it “harassment”. You couldn’t make it up!

It's interesting how things come across online. The person I 'know' on here presents very differently to how I 'knew' them.