Usernames

[Mumteedum]

I've been on this site for over a decade..I have changed name a few times over years but had a regular one in early years. I noticed someone else had created a new username virtually identical and most people would think it was same user at first glance. I ended up changing names and 'losing' my usual name.

It's just happened again. I've had this one for years and now there's another user (can only see posts fairly recently) who has virtually same name (added a letter at the end).

Shouldn't there be a way of making sure names are more unique? It's annoying.

Usernames are unique, but I don't think there's anything you can do about them being similar. Where do you draw the line? One letter less? 2 letters more? Adding a number?
I don't think it's a problem if it's similar, as they say on the baby names threads... no one owns a name.

Why do you care?

How similar is too similar?
Someone once turned up with my usual name but with an 0 instead of an o. I pointed out male swamp dragons can't abide seeing each other or even a reflection of themselves so she apologised and found an alternative. Not everyone is as reasonable but it's worth asking a doppelgänger to change.

If your name includes a lower case L or an upper case i - which look almost indistinguishable in the sans serif font used by MN (l and I) then it's worth registering the alternative(s)

If your name includes a lower case L or an upper case i - which look almost indistinguishable in the sans serif font used by MN (l and I)

Not sure which one is which, but one is slightly taller - barely distinguishable though, even side by side - testing... Il

Years ago, my username was NeedACleverNN.

Someone managed to make an account that looked identical to my username. I can’t remember how they did it but I was very confused for a while. Especially as they started a post about Ben Stiller .

People thought it was me and was also confused as to why I was posting about him. MNHQ got involved and sorted it

Exactly. If you're a long standing user and someone else starts posting stuff when people think it's you...well it's a bit annoying.

There was a period when people seemed to be doing that maliciously in FWR.

In fact…I found it!

The actual post has long been deleted but the report on site stuff is still there

link

Hi @Mumteedum - we do understand how frustrating it can be for you (and confusing for everyone else) if someone has picked a name similar to yours. We can't really prevent this from happening - if the precise name hasn't been used before then essentially it's up for grabs. But we'll happily email the new joiner to ask if they'd mind switching to another name. Most people are fine with this when we've asked in the past.

It was quite prevalent in the early days when far fewer threads and posters made it easier to spot a doppelgänger.
When it happened to me, I asked nicely and the other party name-changed, although they had been around for a while.

@JoMumsnet ok, thank you. It's mumteedump.

Fair enough if they say no. Just weird as I picked a nonsense one in first place 🤪

Its hard to think of unique names I sometimes NC and when I think of one and its taken add something else to the end

No worries at all. We'll have a word

I've actually had a user use the exact same username as a previous of mine. I got notifications that they/I had been tagged a few times which is how I knew. This was a while ago but odd.

I joined MN probably 12 years ago as lobsterquadrille, then lobsterquadrille2. There's a poster who's quite prolific who is thelobsterquadrille - so fairly similar. 😀

See as @astralpiano says, clearly some people do it on purpose to save thinking of one of their own. I find it a bit unfair if people do that on purpose when it could cause confusion.

I mean what are the odds of thinking of lobsterquadrille? 🤪

I mean what are the odds of thinking of lobsterquadrille?

Someone who'd just been reading Alice in Wonderland to their DC might, so likelier to occur on MN than other platforms.

I couldn't get worked up about this. It might have mattered more in Ye Olden Days when people were actually recognisable (I've been here 20 years), but MN is now such a massive monster that nobody notices or cares (which is both a good and sad thing).

But it isn't saving on thinking, people think of a name, it's gone, so add a few numbers.

No I think of something and type it in to find it's already taken so tweak it (usually by adding or changing a word). I don't go oooh that's a good one I'll pinch it and add a 1. It's hard thinking of a unique name I often have to have 3 or 4 goes.

Yes that's exactly it

There's actually a user called thehuntingofthesnark as well; I noticed the other day. When I transform into thewalrusandthecarpenter, I shall remember to include the definite article.

Oh I see. Yes, maybe in that case.

I just was surprised and when I've had my username for a loooooong time, don't want to have to change it. I mean I do occasionally but this is my usual name.

I mean mine is just gibberish so was surprised someone else picked it too with an added letter.