Linking usernames? Urgent safety concern

[MissLucyEyelesbarrow]

A poster on page 3 of this thread says that premium subscribers can see all a posters user names? Is this true? If so, this is a major safety concern for me and - I would imagine - quite a few other posters, especially those in abusive situations, who may be identifiable.

If it is true, I need to have all my posts removed, as well as deactivating my account. Please advise urgently on how I can do this.

@Whinge

For example, if I had another UN called "BoxingDayBlues", a Premium user could search on a thread for my posts under MissLucyEyelesbarrow, and it would also bring up any posts under BoxingDayBlues.

Surely they would only be able to do that if you posted on the thread using both usernames?

Yes, but as I have explained above, there may be perfectly valid reasons for doing so, which are nothing to do with sockpuppetting.

It's not against MN rules to use more than one UN on the same thread (as long as not to sock puppet), and posters who do so shouldn't be put at risk of doxing.

@WhatScratch

Ok. Just tested. ‘See All’ only allows you to see all the posts under that one username on the thread. It doesn’t show posts made by the same user under a different name. Ok?

Thanks for testing, but are you a Premium subscriber?

Yes.

@WhatScratch

Ok. Just tested. ‘See All’ only allows you to see all the posts under that one username on the thread. It doesn’t show posts made by the same user under a different name. Ok?

Did you test on a thread where you knew someone else was using several usernames on it, or where you were searching your own names?

I just wonder if it might be different if you're searching someone else's usernames and not your own account.

It's not against MN rules to use more than one UN on the same thread (as long as not to sock puppet), and posters who do so shouldn't be put at risk of doxing.

It's the poster's choice (or often error, which MN will fix if asked) to use two different names on the same thread. What is it that you are expecting MN to do about using two usernames on the same thread?

I posted earlier under my Christmas name change (ArblemarzipanTFruitcake). This is my current usual name - perhaps @WhatScratch could test the theory on this thread?

@ArblemarchTFruitbat

I posted earlier under my Christmas name change (ArblemarzipanTFruitcake). This is my current usual name - perhaps *@WhatScratch* could test the theory on this thread?

I only see this post when I click ‘show all’.

That sounds like it's all good then - thanks WhatScratch .

@ChicCroissant

It's not against MN rules to use more than one UN on the same thread (as long as not to sock puppet), and posters who do so shouldn't be put at risk of doxing.

It's the poster's choice (or often error, which MN will fix if asked) to use two different names on the same thread. What is it that you are expecting MN to do about using two usernames on the same thread?

Not allow people who search for one name, to see posts for the others.

If I post under this UN and another one, e.g. BoxingDayBlues (made this one up, so if there is a poster with this UN it is not me 😀), do you see posts by @MissLucyEyelesbarrow if you search for posts by BoxingDayBlues?

Hi @MissLucyEyelesbarrow and anyone else that's concerned about this.

We just want to reassure everyone that Premium members are not able to see a poster's other usernames. Only us at MNHQ are able to do that, so there's absolutely no need for any alarm.

We think the post on the thread that you've linked to was posted by someone who was implying that there was some sockpuppeting going on (and possibly trying to make the person they thought was sock puppeting nervous).

We're getting in touch with that poster to confirm this but in the meantime, please be assured that no one can link your usernames.

@ArblemarchTFruitbat

I posted earlier under my Christmas name change (ArblemarzipanTFruitcake). This is my current usual name - perhaps *@WhatScratch* could test the theory on this thread?

I only saw this post and also searched via ‘search’-‘by username and it didn’t seem to link to any other posts despite whether I searched March or Marzipan versions.

I hope you’re less stressed now MissLucy.

For anyone who has extra reasons to be concerned about their internet safety, a monthly name change to something unrelated to your current username makes it much less likely that you’ll be identified.

Fruitcake and Scratch, thank you for being such good detectives. You've put my mind at rest. And that's a very good name for a TV detective series.

do you see posts by MissLucyEyelesbarrow if you search for posts by BoxingDayBlues?

I'm sure others will come along later to test it, but from what Whatscratch has said, it's not possible to see different usernames on the same thread. So there's no need to worry about being linked.

Cross posted there with MNHQ. Glad it's all been cleared up.

@madisonbridges

Fruitcake and Scratch, thank you for being such good detectives. You've put my mind at rest. And that's a very good name for a TV detective series.

Premiering on ITV2 in the spring .

I think the only time I've ever posted with more than one username on a thread is when it is a long-running one, I've posted early on, then done a regular namechange and have just happened to have posted on the thread again a day or two later.

It’s worth remembering that if you want to post on a different thread under a different username you don’t have to do a name change to do it. Before the comment box is a username box, just type the username you want into that box and it’ll post under that name on that thread. The only time you have to change usernames is if you want to start another thread.

As an aside, I’ve had a username change in the past and reported it to MNHQ who withdrew the post very quickly.

@AlternativePerspective

It’s worth remembering that if you want to post on a different thread under a different username you don’t have to do a name change to do it. Before the comment box is a username box, just type the username you want into that box and it’ll post under that name on that thread. The only time you have to change usernames is if you want to start another thread.

As an aside, I’ve had a username change in the past and reported it to MNHQ who withdrew the post very quickly.

As long as you have already set that username up as one you 'own' - you can't just type in a completely new username, you have to add it to your usernames in settings first.

But, otherwise, you can type in any username that you have already registered although it's bad form to deliberately 'sock puppet' on a thread.

Of course you have to register the new username. But the point is that you don’t have to go back into settings and change it back to be able to post under a different one.

So e.g.I could change my name to fredBloggs to post a thread, and then I could think I needed to change it back to AlternativePerspective to post here, so I do that. Go back to my FredBloggs post and inadvertently don’t type FredBloggs in the username box and it posts as AlternativePerspective. Instead what I should do is change the name to AlternativePerspective on the other thread I want to post on without having to do so in settings.

Ultimately name changes are the responsibility of the individual. MN is flexible enough as it is in allowing users to change names as many times as they want to. But just as what you post here is your responsibility, so is what name you post it as. And as MN HQ have said, you can’t see other usernames anyway so this thread is basically irrelevant at this point.

@madisonbridges

Fruitcake and Scratch, thank you for being such good detectives. You've put my mind at rest. And that's a very good name for a TV detective series.

Sorry I missed this. I was catching up on all the paperwork they show on tv

Don’t

Thank you to @JoHoHoMumsnet and to those who tested searches. I’m pleased this was a false alarm.