RL encroaching on MN - what to do?

[BigRedPanda]

I've been on MN for four years, sometimes lurking, sometimes addicted. Today I discovered that my colleague has recently joined MN. While I'm very happy for her to bask in all the love, advice and craziness that MN has to offer, I DON'T want her or anyone else at work to know about all the personal stuff I talk about on here. And right now, I'm going through some pretty personal stuff, which I'm discussing very openly with fellow MNers. So, what to do? Do I change my name, which I like but it kind of gives me away? And how will anyone who has got to know me know that I'm me?

Advice would be very welcome.

I don't think any of us are as distinctive as we think we are. Really, there are thousands of people on MN now, so don't worry about it.

maybe she's in the same position as you?

Everyone needs to be careful what information they post on here, set yourself some boundaries of what you moan about so you don't give yourself away, name change if this helps.

I know several people at my work are on MN but I dont know who they are on here

I think that people who know you mainly from MN will be discreet if they happen upon you in RL and, unless you have told people your MN name RL people are unlikely to realise you are you (iykwim)

Perhaps remove any photos you have on your profile if you have any and avoid talking about RL stuff in any detail for a while - other than that, there's probably not much you should do.

MN is so huge nowadays that unless you were specifically looking for someone it is unlikely you would just "bump" into them on here unless you're regularly posting on meet up threads or the like.

It's not so much that she'll recognise what I'm saying, but it's my name (which I'm foolishly attached to) that gives me away.

change it then.

If your name refers to your RL life you should probably think about changing it.

Perhaps to something non-obvious but recognisable to your MN mates - BRPanda or something similar...

The only reason I know she's on here is because I stumbled on a thread she started and knew immediately it was her because I know what's going on in her life and every detail matched. Nothing dramatic in the thread, but it gave me a little scare - I wondered if perhaps I was just as easily identified by what I've been posting.

Think you might be right about the need to change my name. Damn!