Can we talk about a dropdown box for namechanging again?

[MmeLindor.]

I brought this up a while ago and there were mumblings of looking into it but nothing has come of it.

I am going to namechange for normal chatter. I won't try to hide or disguise myself but would be grateful if you wouldn't say, "Is that you, MmeLindor?". I have realised since moving back to UK that I am rather easy to spot and would prefer a bit more anonymity.

I will however keep this name for my blog and the bloggers network and any campaigns etc.

It is such a faff to name change constantly, and I thought that a drop down box would be fab, so that I could choose when posting which name to use.

Tee
I recently saw someone take a user name and within a short period of time they knew EVERYTHING about that person. Their real name, the names of their families, where they worked, where they lived.

I am not comfortable knowing that a random (extremely competent google user) person can find out these details and link them to my blog. I have an extremely unusual name, it would be presumably easy to track me down.

Particularly with the aggression that has been around these past week.

I know that everything I put online is out there, as if I wrote it on the wall of the school, but the only people to see the school wall is the people who walk past it.

How long did that take?

back to me

Was faster the second time cause I was able to find the right place to click.

Still a faff though (its a great word, Bolderes)

I agree. I have a different name for blog stuff as it is one step closer to RL but have started to use it as my regular name more and more. It is much more of a faff to change when using the mobile version. It stops me commenting on threads because I see that I am not in the 'right' name and think oh I can't be bothered. Also don't want to be accused of sock puppetry.

MmeL I just put all that stuff out there anyway. ::shrug:: It's just a different attitude about 'being found' I guess. I don't care if people know my real name, or my son's name, or my husband's. And neither does my husband. If, when my son is older, he starts to object, I'll stop talking about him!

I talk about nothing on here or on my blog/Facebook/Twitter/etc I wouldn't say out loud in public. Anything that's private, doesn't go on the web.

I do have a very common married name, but my maiden name is very rare and you can't find me if you Google it. Which is luck, not planning.

I agree. I generally post in this name. I know a couple of RL people know my username, and I'm fine with that, I don't think I post anything outrageous or likely to get me into RL trouble.

However, for some sensitive issues, that possible need more advice and support to the usual day to day crap, I appreciate being able to namechange. I'm under no illusions that the posts are private, but they are anonymous.

Could I extend the drop box idea to having the facility available on the mobile version? My computer has ishoos and it takes me hours to do anything. If I namechange now, it's done on my iPod, which is incredibly faffy and involves lots of farting around.

Yes, that is it, Faverolles.

It is having everything under one name that makes me feel vulnerable. I am still putting stuff on the internet, but it is then anonymous, as long as I don't mess up my namechange.

48 seconds. Although I did change my hoverer too.

You will have to emphasise to people that you really don't want to be outed, MmeLindor. People often use hints which are blindingly obvious to even the most casual user, eg "O Swiss chocolatey one" etc. Very very hard ime to be truly under cover.

Also, just one heavy hint equating your "anonymous" username with your "out there" username acts like a portal; if you guess the answer - MmeLindor - then you know that all anon's posts were actually written by MmeLindor. Fine if the person making the connection is just a regular MNer, not so fine if s/he isn't.

That is true, I do hope not, but at least no one would search the archives for that.

I would support this too.
I have to nc frequently as I work in a v sensitive field and cannot risk anything being linked to me in rl.
I also have an horrifically complicated family situation going on, that I cannot risk certain people reading my posts.

Oh, and a unique name

Life's a fucker, isn't it? If someone were to link all my posts, I would be undone.

I'm rubbish at namechanging so I just stick with saying things I would say anywhere

QZ, sympathy.

As you say, life's a fucker.

I'm not in a sensitive field but in my work I have a lot of contact with members of the public, and try to maintain at least a veneers of a professional image. Not everyone I come into contact with would accept the sweariness, silliness and confessions of inappropriate sex dreams I share on MN.

Bumper: "It stops me commenting on threads because I see that I am not in the 'right' name and think oh I can't be bothered."

"witness protection programme": I believe MNHQ is adept at providing that. You get tall, fit protection officers worshipping the ground you walk on following your every move.

I think the happy compromise is to change regularly but keep parts of your username, that way you remain recognisable but not so readily searchable. I'm not sure I post enough to make it worthwhile but if I was a very prolific poster I'd do it more often. I generally try to make less than 100 posts in each name and I think that limits the likelihood of anyone putting them all together.

I'm also unlikely to say much that I'd be mortified if people in RL saw.

Less than 100 posts - so are you changing maybe every week, say?

I am not working out how long it would take me to get to 100 posts. Dh would never let me live it down.

That is ok if you then stick with the new name, but I want to be able to swap back and forth when posting about my blog or a MN campaign, then other nonsense under a completely unrelated name.

It takes me quite a while to get to 100 posts... For some people 500 or 1000 might be more realistic.

I could easily do 100 posts in a couple of days.