PLEASE can we have a "date joined" next to people's usernames

[ShatnersWig]

Many of us have repeatedly made this suggestion over many years. If alongside our names it said the month and year we joined MN, it would help people realise this was a long standing poster who may have name changed and people might invest far less in what turn out to be troll postings, previously banned posters stirring up shit, DM journos etc.

I belong to many other similar forums and they all do this (some also have the number of postings they have made).

There's a thread now about the recent deletions and how to spot a possible troll and several have made the above suggestion (including me).

I really don't see the objection and every time it is suggested it gets a lot of support. It won't necessarily stop trolls but it might prevent some people investing too much in suspicious new poster threads or make long time users who need to name change not need to assure us they've been here for years (stating Pom Bears, penis beakers etc)

What's the Jeffrey thing being mentioned?

Yes, I agree we need something. I don't know what, but something to give an idea about either length of membership or no of posts. I imagine that length of membership would work as long as it didn't reset whenever a member namechanged. That would also make it more difficult for someone to match up dates of nanechanges. Same with number of posts/stars etc. As long as it relates to the entire length of membership, it wouldn't help stalkers track down namechangers.

Rat - I like stars!

(Just awarding myself a three gold star rank)

Fieau it was a data breach / attack on MN where lots of MNers had their log in details published online, along with most (all?) of MNHQ. As a result of the hack, the website came under sustained attack from people who were able to do things like edit posts and post messages purporting to be from MNHQ

During the attacks, someone said that it was probably sad little man called Jeffrey doing it from their bedroom at their parents' house, or similar, so the nick name stuck

In the end the only person charged with the attack was the initial hacker, who was indeed an 18 year old from Surrey

I can see the problem with there being a “Date joined” bit next to usernames- could be outing for some, could be a stealth boast for others- and for those who’ve changed email addresses and been here waaaaay longer than their current MN account has been used it could be deflating?

@SophieLMumsnet Would it be a better idea to just have a “NP” (New Poster) bit pop up next to newbies posts? That has an expiry time on of a few months or something?
That way you’re aware that there is a new poster but they get to blend in with the rest of us after a certain time period.

I like the idea, but just can't see how it would work.

I think you shouldn't be allowed to access to AIBU for the first 6 months if membership either tbh. Bit like you can't see the sex topic.

I think a

I agree in principle, but not with year/month joined, as I'd worry that this information would be used to work out who someone was if they'd NC'd.

I think a system based on the no. of posts would be better.

For example, I've seen one using "little fry" upto "big fish" on a fish forum or something using no. of stars, etc.

I'm sure someone could come up with a system that would suit the theme of mumsnet. You could even make it into a competition.

Defo agree with a longevity indicator but not specific month and year. I've started a few threads where I've been accused of being a troll!

I think it would be good to have something like this in place.

@ScienceIsTruth

Mumsnet themed post counting system...

Sooooo

Infant- toddler- child- preteen- teenager- young adult - adult ect

You heard it here first

Milk - that still leaves the Baby Name section (where there's an incredible amount of trolling....) and FWR, sensitive bits like Adoption, Bereavement and additional needs, and the whole of _Chat to play in....

it means nothing. some well known trolls were here for years.
not sure if i want when I joined made public.

Agree with @MilkTwoSugars - although I didn’t know you couldn’t view the sex topic as a new member - I want to ask why but I get a feeling I probably don’t want to know 🙈 it’s to put off Yoni massage type guys isn’t it?

OlennasWimple - yes, but I think AIBU is particularly bad for it. I also think newbies post in AIBU (possibly because they don't even realise there's a billion topics) get pasted and never come back, which is a shame.

I think the past objection has been it may put people off responding to new members.

Or summit.

I like the

Why do you guys want to know when someone joined? Maybe it could be looked up, but I'd prefer not to have the visual clutter ruin the 'look' of MN discussions.

Pd name changing wouldn't affect this. You wouldn't go right back to zero because your account would still be the same.

I would have thought it would actually make things much easier for namechangers.

Nobody’s ever said “interesting first post” to me either - because in god know how many namechanges I’ve never posted the sort of thing that makes people go hmm.

I think a broad brush virgin/relative newbie/been around the block/remembers when it was just Justine and her sock puppets indicator would be useful.

I'm not sure I'd stay for long if that was to happen to be honest. I started using MN in 2006/07. I de-registered after the hacker stuff in 2016 and have only been back here a week. The first thing I did was post a thread to introduce myself as a previous user who had been on a long break and I did it because I knew if I started any threads or posted something someone didn't like, a troll hunt would start and I didn't fancy having to list all the reasons I should be believed to be a long-time user.

If I had to change my email address, as I had to this time round, I would be listed as a new user and have to jumps through hoops to prove my membership. Just not worth it IMO.