I had an odd dream the other night... but it made me realise something about the fathers who use mumsnet...

[EachPeachPearMum]

they don't namechange!
(well, Pan excepted, who is a flighty thing, but hey)

It's funny, as DH and I have previously discussed how useful the namechange thing is for mners- as it freely allows you to ask advice on topics that would otherwise completely embarrass or freak you out. On most fora, you cannot namechange (unless you register a 2nd, or 3rd account sock puppets ahoy!) but as I pointed out to DH a lot of the real usefulness of mn comes down to the fact that it can be truly anonymous if you wish it to be, and despite recent issues, I think it is a real strength of mn.

DH always uses his own name on the forums he frequents, though he does use them in mainly a professional capacity. I find this astonishing, not least because he has a unique name, (as do I) but then he never posts frivolous or inflammatory remarks.

Dads of mn... why do you not feel the need to namechange?

Oh, and the dream?
Well, the dream was about various male mners writing a booklet to promote mn to men- it was extremely 'retro' looking- had men with beards on the cover (well, in my defence DH usually has a beard), and had cardboard covers, and black plastic comb binding- it was very vivid, but extremely surreal!

Who says we don't?

well... no-one.... but it seems you're usually around in your own skin IYSWIM!

I mean 'you' as in fathers not you personally BZ

.....I had to make a slight adjustment, after de-registering my account then changing my mind!

.....but on the whole feel that if I can't own up to anything I want to say then perhaps that indicates that I should not say it!

I've always wondered how it is that you know when a fellow MNer has name changed.

It strikes me that the point is not to be recognised. Do they out themselves or what? The only person I'd recognise if the changed names would be the much missed Cod. (Unless she started using a spell checker but then ....nah....it'd never happen.)

I've never been bothered about it. Very few people know who I really am, so in the unlikely event that I were ever to ask a question about knob-rash, or something, it wouldn't be "in front of" anyone. If you see what I mean. And as there are so few men on here, I think you could guess us by our writing style anyway.

I've namechanged in the past if I've posted something which would embarrass/upset DW if I was 'outed'. Not that I've ever been mean about her, just if something was a sensitive issue. As UQD says though, I'm sure it would have been a fairly transparent disguise.

I don't have a beard btw.

Unquiet - your posts are usually quite sensible. Except that outburst about Sarah Palin

In the main though, the fathers don't take christmas or hallowe'en names either...

I had a Chrimbo name last year. Halloween is too much effort for too little reward.

We all have sardonically amusing, self-effacing profiles too. It's like a virtual willy.

Sorry Dadada- I don't remember you changing last christmas

erm BZ- in what way is a penis self-effacing?

We don't wear them on the outside of our clothes.

And mine invariably hangs it's head all the time.

...and frankly, certainly in my case, such a thing would only be noticed by those with very acute vision.

Don't worry EachPeach, you'll see it again soon enough (too much effort to think of a new one).

pmsl...
you can tell you have dds and not little boys....

...Which is why I keep mine in and it always seems a little sad.

...she will see what again soon enough??

urgh slow typing, that was to BZ

Er. That was in answer to retiredgoth

dearie me... too many x-posts
time for sleep.

...I have a LOT of boys.

Very willing to effect a trade.

..feral 9 year old, anyone?

Gah!

I think we all need to log off before this gets any worse.