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)

You can put information into your profile if you want. I took mine out long ago because of some information security issue (can't remember what, someone being outed perhaps). This is also the reason for people name changing. If you belong to a site for a long time your information accumulates so it's better not to keep the same name for too long.

"There really is no need for unlimited name changing"

There isn't any need for any particular features of a chat site. There are plenty which don't allow name changing. That's no reason for this one to change. People tend tomselfA/elect the sites theynuse, somthise who like glittery tickers don't stick around on MN. Those who don't like name changing will find plenty of sites that suit them better than this one, where it is normal usage.

I'm another not keen. I have been here for years but on and off and post relatively little. I like the idea of unlimited name changes for anonymity and regularly change my user name.

I could get on board with something like a star system. Or a banding to indicate number of posts - e.g. First post, less than 100 posts, more than 100, more than 1k, more than 2k, 5k, etc. Or something similar. Fairly generic so not easy to use to track people but easy to spot a newbie.

FWIW, I like being able to NC. I post personal family stuff sometimes, things about my previous abusive relationship, my disability, work stuff (I work in a regulated industry), stuff local to my area. If someone I knew happened to spot one of my posts, & I'd written everything under one name, I'd be very identifiable. I don't want people knowing all that about me in RL - they've already proved they can't keep their mouths shut, hence why I no longer tell them things. I wouldn't use this site half as much if I couldn't NC, for fear of being outed.

It's a terrible idea

And who cares whether someone is 'vested' - they might not feel invested but still could have useful advice

I'm hardly here, don't post much but sfw?

Someone who is here and posts loads could still be full of drivel

It's not about posting lots of drivel. Most of us do that regularly

It's about those who join up just to goad

No not keen at all, keep it as equal as possible

How is it not equal?

Nobody should be treating people with more/less posts as any different, and I'd expect other posters to be calling them on it if they do.

But is absolutely is about exposing those who join just to goad or troll. And a sure fire indicator of this is people who haven't made many posts.

It's clearly not a guarantee, as we've seen with posters in the past like Mamazon or TDWP, but as a general rule of thumb, it's not a bad one.

If people goad or troll they will most likely be picked up on regardless

Newbies and people who want that extra anonymity should have it

A big draw is the lack of clutter here too, and limited unnecessary information

I’ve been here for ages although I lost access to my email so it wouldn’t be a true number

But that’s by the by I’m still not keen

I don't think it would add clutter. There's plenty of space on the blue bar where your name is

And I beg to differ. People who goad or troll aren't regularly picked up on it. And if people do try, it's difficult to do it without being accused (or deleted) for troll hunting.

I agree somewhat, but I can't help but think that it might discourage new posters as they may be viewed with suspicion

You see, a few years ago I'd probably have agreed with you.

But things have changed, and now there are so many trolls/goady fuckers here that I think it's time we moved to this kind of way of categorising posters.

New posters, if they post with consideration and 'normally' (I realise there's no such thing ) shouldn't be viewed with any kind of suspicion.

Number of posts might be utterly terrifying for some of us...

I’m not always in agreement with the way troll hunting is dealt with - the Surrey situation which led to reddit was very frustrating but weirdly I’m sure that helps Mnhq get trolls now although haven’t looked at it for ages

But I’m pro keeping things as unloaded / equal as possible for people who have just joined and a number would highlight it

I’m always a no thanks in these things - voting / likes etc as I do like how it is

Do you like how it is with the influx of trolls and goady fuckers though?

I'd love for MN to be the same as it was, but it isn't.

Thoroughly agree with suggestion of @ShatnersWig

I imagine it would be really expensive to implement and MNHQ won't want to spend. It won't be a real benefit to them as such.

And i do think it might help deter GFs

I don’t pay enough attention to gf threads and stick to many areas I know

Plus I usually avoid threads with cheerleaders, timed responses and other obvious signs of trolling

There’s stuff that has changed the place the beaker thread for eg which was irritating but still..

No no no. No thank you. It's a terrible idea.

(As it happens, I don't think it would be very difficult or particularly expensive to implement at all. It's just a piece of info about each user that is stored alongside their account details and could be added to the username display with some minor changes.)

It just promotes a hierarchy of the longest members being taken more seriously?