Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Netiquette question: Is everyone on Mumsnet anonymous?

63 replies

mindthestep · 16/08/2012 11:03

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?

OP posts:

NaiceHamShopOnHighStreet · 17/08/2012 14:54

i'd like MNHQ to drop NaiceHamShopOnHastingsHighStreet as it's far too close to my NN

ThisIsNotHoneyDragon · 17/08/2012 14:58

Honeydragon is not so much in trouble for doing blank posts. More that she started a thread telling every other bugger to do it. That spawned more threads. And then Olivia got out her banning finger and Helen did the face.

So I heard anyway.

TalcAndTurnips · 17/08/2012 15:01

ThisIsNotHoneyDragon - I can understand your desire to disassociate yourself with such a person! She must be a right old rabble-rouser. I'd steer well clear, too.

ThisIsNotHoneyDragon · 17/08/2012 15:38

yes indeed, not our sort of person at all.

EmpressOfTheSevenFlames · 17/08/2012 15:44

Tee2072 · 17/08/2012 15:46

As I am known by this NN all over the place, I am not anonymous.

However, if you Google my real name, which I've even posted on here, I don't show up for pages and pages.

It's a funny old Internet...

Original poster

mindthestep · 17/08/2012 18:30

Thanks again everyone - the Mary Beard example was particularly helpful. Went off to find some of her posts and the replies and so on, and came across (among other things) a rather interesting discussion on this whole subject of anonymity, well-known people posting as themselves, etc.

I thought it was quite brave of MB to come and respond to a very critical thread. Didn't agree with everything she said, but I admire her for coming on here and responding, courteously and with good humour, to some pretty harsh criticism.

But perhaps writers/broadcasters like her join in Mumsnet discussions about their work all the time, and this is nothing unusual or remarkable?

OP posts:

LemarchandsBox · 17/08/2012 19:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 17/08/2012 19:04

Oh, god, I remember that discussion mind! It was pretty tough on her (though, um, I did feel well patronized by her on that one!) I'm quite sure it wasn't deliberate. She did also offer to have one of the posters on that thread comment for her blog, or her book - I forget which - and I thought that was a very decent gesture.

Maryz · 17/08/2012 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

mindthestep · 19/08/2012 11:53

Lemarchands - thanks, I didn't know about the Webchats.

LRD - I agree, don't think MB meant to be patronising. It was tough on her, but the MNers were courteous too, I thought.

Maryz - more helpful info, thanks.

OP posts:

NetworkGuy · 19/08/2012 12:30

I'd never post under my RL name, if only because there are some 225 with the same forename and surname in the UK, and it might bring them into disrepute

Am fairly guarded about what I reveal, since there were (and perhaps are still!) some critics of me even being on MN, when I first joined. Hence no profile or blog pages any more, though hovering over my name is still pretty much true.

johnhemming · 19/08/2012 13:05

There are over 90 John Hemmings alive in the UK. Two are reasonably well known. I am not the explorer.

MoreBeta · 19/08/2012 13:15

There was a very good thread while back by TIANC where she described how easy it was to identify many anonymous posters by scanning their posts and piecing together enough data to then combine with public online records to identify them.

She offered to demontrate it to a few posters and send a PM.

If you tried hard enough, I am sure everyone is identifiable unless they keep name changing.

EmpressOfTheSevenFlames · 22/08/2012 02:39

I think it's very likely true - IF you could be bothered, though. Surely it would still take quite a bit of work?

Thumbwitch · 22/08/2012 02:57

I expect I could be ID'd quickly enough if people already know me, iyswim. I also use this username for a couple of other sites as well, but they aren't necessarily going to reveal anything more about me.

I infinitely prefer the option to have a username that is in no way related to my own - I don't really like NM because they don't allow that (or if they did, I didn't work out how and I don't use the site any more because it gives me a headache and the Local site didn't work out for me and I can't deal with all the hunning and sparkly shite )

I CBA to namechange except for seasonal variations or to post about extremely sensitive stuff that I don't want associated with my usual name.

EmpressOfTheSevenFlames · 22/08/2012 03:13

I had a couple of other names originally but now I only change for seasonal variations too.

Some people get round the NM thing, Thumbwitch - I know at one point they had a member called FanjO

Thumbwitch · 22/08/2012 04:00

I'm sure it's doable, Empress but I wasn't bothered enough to work it out - I assume that FanjO was one of our own dear posters who hopped over there for a bit?

nagynolonger · 22/08/2012 05:40

I've only identified one person from MN and that was because she used her pesonal car reg as part of her user name. She posted in education once and I recognised the school she was talking about.

If someone is doing a spread sheet they could piece together quiet a lot about me and I'm sure I would be recognised but I don't post anything that I wouldn't tell anyone in RL.

I would never post about my GC or DIL! and I am different person on gransnet and other sites.

SofiaAmes · 22/08/2012 05:55

Am I the only mumsnetter using her real name? I signed up in the very early days and it never even occurred to me that I was supposed to use a pseudonym. But I don't post anything I wouldn't say in real life.

Melindaaa · 22/08/2012 06:24

I'm easily identifiable if you know me irl. Plus a couple of days ago I linked to some pictures on my Facebook page. I name change if I amm posting about situations I don't want anyone to connect directly with me.

SundaeGirl · 22/08/2012 06:58

The anonyminity thing doesn't really stack up too well if you are on here a lot as you are bound to reveal what you bought in Tesco or that your mil's birthday was coming up - if someone knows you well and goes digging they might find you.

I recently 'met' a friend on a random thread. I suspected who she was by the sentence construction and 'voice' of her post. I posted something I knew she knew about and she then instantly knew it was me - even though it could have been one of 50 people - she knew my tone of voice too.

Just something worth bearing in mind and if I post on one of those Friday threads I'll remember to do it in txt spk

Original poster

mindthestep · 23/08/2012 14:06

Again, thanks everyone.

Leaving aside the issue of usernames/pseudonyms...

I'm interested in the question of whether it is generally considered appropriate/desirable for well-known people to reveal their identity - through their usernames or otherwise, this is unimportant - on MN.

I suppose I'm wondering if an author or broadcaster - or whatever, someone who is known and mentioned on MN - coming on here and posting 'as herself' (whether by posting under her real name or just by saying who she is, it really doesn't matter which) is considered a good thing or not?

Is this seen as being honest and straightforward, not lurking or posting in disguise? Or could it be seen as maybe a bit show-offy, not wanting to be just an anonymous 'mum' like everyone else?

OP posts:

snice · 23/08/2012 14:11

so who are you then mindthestep ?

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 23/08/2012 14:30

I am identifiable because I bang on about DD a lot and use her name so easily googable
I don't post anything that could get me in trouble work wise. I could be embarrassed I suppose but I don't slag off people or breach confidentiality.

I was once involved in a bit of a scrp on another forum. Older posters were dismissing my concerns about a young girl talking about her workplace. She could have been sacked but they were being all 'don't be stupid how would anyone know'
Infortunatley the girl got a bit cocky and 'whatever! You are bluffing, you don't know nothing' sigh.
So I pm'd her with her name, age, workplace, the names of the dcs she babysat for, her church, college and what she looked like and even her bloody address and phone number ffs!

I assured her I had no interest in the details and would delete tem but she had NO idea how identifiable she was. It wouldn't have been such an issue if she hadn't been bitching about the parents at her workplace and criticising the parenting of her other employers.

It literally took me 5 minutes to get all that info.

I wouldn't have bothered but she was too young to let her carry on being that stupid.

Flip

1 2 3