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)

If people think that long term Mners never troll, they are deluded. I'm sure some of the most trolls over the years (especially trolling for financial gain) have not been newbies. I also think it reduces anonymity and should be a voluntary option, if it is introduced.

Surely the rule of thumb is that we never actually know who anyone is on the internet and we would be wise to remember this, not to be lulled into a false sense of security that length of membership is an indication of someone being on the level.

Olennas can I have some stars please? I’m a very good girl, I promise

I think number of posts may be better than exact time of joining.

Exact number of posts is too easily traceable. If I post as MilkTwoSugarsThanks (1234) and then start a new thread about something sensitive under a name change NoMilkOrSugar (1235) it's not that difficult to work out if you're that way inclined.

Paie senior citizen, corpse?

I think stars or similar is a good idea to show years as long as it doesn’t create a tiered clique whereby new users are all treated with suspicion or not fully welcomed - not saying that would happen but it could happen. There are already enough MN has been ruined or used to be better posts. Or people being seen as MN royalty based on the time they’ve been here or how prolific they are (only two users have achieved that status in my opinion and both have sadly passed away).

Oh and I was actually on Jefferys list but didn’t reregister or name change - should I have done?

@PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks
Half dead, undead?

What about something like... avg number of posts in last calendar yr?
I'm not sure what the point is of this info, though.
I've been accused of trolling when I just told an honest story about my life.

I don't think how long someone has been a member or how many posts they have made are indicators of anything very useful. I've been a member for far too long but that doesn't make my posts any more valuable than someone who has just joined IMO. For example my children are teenagers so I have forgotten much of my experience as a new mum so if I posted on say BF vs FF what I might have to say is probably less relevant than someone who has recently joined but has a new baby.

That was the advice Salty, Jeffrey may still have your details.

The was to Paie.

Great idea.

Reddit works by showing how many people have upvoted something you have said, distinguishing between OPs and comments on others' threads. You can't start a thread until you have been there for a certain amount of time and posted a certain number of comments (can't remember, but something like a week plus 10 comments)

No name-changing allowed, though, so it's not a direct comparison. And of course goady stuff can get upvotes too (along with sock puppets)

I think the unintended consequence will be that relatively new posters are more likely to have people jumping down their throats accusing them of trolling. Which, as many have pointed out on MN, can be deeply hurtful when it's untrue.

You can't spot trolls? Well maybe that makes you a lovely , innocent person. Or maybe someone who needs to switch their cynicism up a tad before interacting with anonymous strangers?

No system of gold stars is going to protect you if you are repeatedly taken in by trolls, or if you emotionally overinvest, such that getting taken in would enormously matter to you.

We're all anonymous. We're all equal. Surely that's part of the point of MN?

Count me out of any grading system.

Please don't let us move towards an upvoting/downvoting system, like they use on Reddit. That's truly horrible

I do think, though, that a simple post count would be helpful. I'm not sure the date you joined is especially relevant, as some people join, then never post, or just lurk.

But a post count shows how invested you are in MN, and therefore that you're not just popping up with your first post to post something goody about benefits, parking, breastfeeding, etc.

Definitely no upvoting. I'll have to leave - I couldn't take the pressure.

Ballpark post count could do it - not an exact count though, because again, it could out name changers.

But sometimes people delurk and sign up specifically to answer a thread, where they have precisely the specialised experience needed.

What's so great about being invested in MN? Arguably a lot of trolls and GFs are.
Prolific poster ≠ wise, kind, or insightful poster.
Some people just like the sound of their own voice.

I don't like this idea.

If you joined when MN was huge, it might make no difference. But when smaller and you might be more distinctive - maybe only a handful in your month and year. So would you really feel OK to post about something personal underba NC.

Longevity is no guarantee of bona rides, either. Long term trolling does happen. At the time of Jefferygate, there was even a C&P comment from another site about making some registrariins, which they would keep for future use.

I don't think homogeneity is a particularly good thing, so the idea that 'other sites do it' just strikes me as a pretty useless comparison. if other sites are more to your taste, then use the. And leave MN to be MN.

I agree in principal but rather than year joined or number of posts think it should just be an indicator of a new member - I've seen this on some Facebook groups it will say 'new member' next to their post.

?why not just remove the ability of posters to have unlimited namechanges. No other site permits this and it makes it far far far easier to troll if you can namechange for every post you write. There really is no need for unlimited name changing, and it would make users think twice before considering that MN is an anonymous platform where they could write so much sensitive information that it makes them identifiable.

Also, people who think that only short term posters troll are deluded. A troll was outed on another site I was on and not only was she well known to the point posters had met up with her in person but she was a moderator.

Good idea. 2004 for me.

I thought that you used to be able to get this information when you clicked on a user name? Some posters had pictures and things.

Is this still a thing? Or does it just not work on a phone? Perhaps they could do that again with 'year joined' or something.