Netiquette question: Is everyone on Mumsnet anonymous?

[mindthestep]

Is it a kind of unwritten rule on Mumsnet that we are all anonymous? Does anyone either use or reveal their real name/identity?

I understand completely that many people wish to remain anonymous - there is no implied criticism in my question at all. I was just wondering if it would be regarded as inappropriate for someone to join/post as herself?

No: some people are anonymous; some give a bit of information about themselves; some post photos and tell all. Each to their own.

If you run your mouse over the poster's name at the top of their post it will either be clickable (meaning they have a profile) or not (they don't). E.g. you are currently anonymous (no profile), I'm a bit anonymous (profile, but no name, pics etc).

Simples.

Of course it is ok to join or post as oneself. Bear in mind though, two things:

1. This site, bar one or two areas, is completely google accessible.
2. Apart from chat threads, which disappear after 3 months, every other thread is permamently available to be searched both on google and through the search function.

No.

Some of us are right FB slags and chat off-board too.

It would be a bit weird for someone to have their own name as their user name, but lots of people are perfectly identifiable through their profiles/what they post.

Blatantly obvious to anyone and his mother who I am by a quick squizz at my profile, and as a result I assume everyone I know is reading everything I post and am appropriately cautious.

Mary Beard (Cambridge don with a column in the paper) posts as Mary Beard (not to be confused with the poster MarysBeard, who I asssume is someone else).

It's personal choice as to what we reveal, I tend to work to the rule that I wouldn't say anything here that I wouldn't be happy to share with anyone and everyone and as such make no particular effort to hide my identity. I occasionally nc to ask specific questions but even then it wouldn't be the end of the world if I was 'outed'.

I think I'm anonymous.

I have never put anything on here that I would care if my friends or family read, but am anonymous AFAIK.

I don't name change either.

I take care, but I know that if someone knew me in RL they might be able to put together the info as to who I was. There are certain key bits of info that I don't post, ie real names, birthdays, but equally I don't really say anything I wouldn't in real life.

I have identified 2 mums at my DCs school as MNers because they have put enough info (in both cases on one thread but not the same thread) for me to work out who they are, so it is easy to give yourself away.

I don't think people on here are interested who other people are TBH.

Hello. In answer to your question, OP, most people choose a username/nickname that is not their real name. That's partly because Mumsnetters tend to value being able to post anonymously about personal/sensitive stuff and partly because it's a kinda MN thang to have an amusing/pun-nish username.

We don't have any problem with people using their real name as their username, unless they were doing so to advertise/promote (ie NaiceHamShopInHastingsHighStreet).

We would also echo Lougle's advice. Mumsnet is a public forum that is indexed by Google, so posting under your real name would mean anyone searching Google for your name would easily find all your posts.

We always caution anyone using Mumsnet to think carefully before posting real-life details - not just your name but, for example, detailed info about your children, location, job, your hideous MIL etc. Generally speaking, it's best to assume that anything you post on MN is readable by anyone else on t'interweb.

This is my real name

@TheCunningStunt

This is my real name

Thank you very much for these helpful replies - and the funny ones!

I agree that one should be careful never to say anything online that one wouldn't be happy for anyone to read. I just wondered if there might be some kind of tacit understanding about anonymity on Mumsnet that isn't in the 'official' rules.

I'm a big fan of Mary Beard! That was the kind of etiquette I meant - whether it is seen as appropriate for well-known people like her to reveal their identity on Mumsnet or not. I understand now that it's optional, as for anyone else, but I'm more interested in whether this is liked/appreciated or maybe slightly frowned upon?

I'm guessing from your replies that most people are happy with Mary Beard (and perhaps other similar people) choosing not to be anonymous?

I am definitely not Honeydragon, at all Honeydragon is a troublemaker

I am in fact a puffin and lead editor of This Week on Fancy Puffin. We have literally tens of subscribers, including HoneyDragon but no NotHoneyDragon

Mumsnet is secretly intimidated by my readership.

I have a picture on my profile. But think I'm usually distinctive when out.

I'm meant to be anonymous. But I'm shite at it, too many pics on my profile and often type one or other the dcs names by accident.
As said anyone can read this, if I wanted to be rude/very honest I'd nc.

I generally stick to the etiquette, but google me and you'll find me all over the internet.

Not seen Honeydragon around for weeks, actually.

I'm Facebook friends with a few MNers but on here I'm careful not to post anything that outs me. It means I'm not worrying about what I post. I'd never use my real name on here, partly because I'm the only one on Google with that firstname-surname combination.

Honeydragon was norty, she did blank posts.

Like Empress, I have a unique firstname-surname combo so would never use my RL name. I normally post under a different name, but have namechanged recently cause I have been using that one for years and it is now linked to other stuff that I do on the internet.

I have no issue with people knowing who I am, but prefer not to be quite so searchable.

A lot of people change their names to a slight variation so they are still recognisable.

I did a blank post too!....

Am I meant to be on a MN timeout?

I contain neither Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 or any root vegetables of the species Brassica rapa.

I'd probably be recognisable to someone who knew me well and could be bothered to do a search. Seeing as I post only inane drivel, I am not overly bothered by this.

You can always do a Buppers-style namechange if you want to complain about your scrofulous vagine, for instance, or your husband's propensity to dress up as Cardinal Wolsey during sexual congress.