Abuse of name changes

[TinselAngel]

This is not aimed at one poster in particular but addresses a pattern I have noticed in FWR and it may well happen elsewhere on the site.

The ability to name change is sometimes abused by particularly goady posters who once they have exhausted everybody's goodwill by their goadiness, name change in order to trick people into interacting with them again, on the same subjects.

To me this is an abuse of name changing, which must actually be intended to help posters maintain their anonymity so different threads cannot be matched together and posters outed.

It's also against the spirit of making parents lives easier, and can make some topics and sections of the site virtually unusable for some users because very prolific, goady posters cannot be ignored.

I suggest MNHQ introduce a new talk guideline around abusing the name change feature. You must be able to "look behind the scenes" and if verify this when people report it.

What's FWR please ?

The letters stand for Feminism and Women's Rights, which is what the, er, feminism and women's rights board used to be called before first it was split into about half a dozen sections, then put back into one and then split in two.

Hi
I would suggest ignore and ignore and then they may turn to posting abuse, then report them
Those that have posted abuse at me, I wont respond to them at all and honestly, I have to lol when a couple follow me around, so sad!!
As MNHQ said, report the posts and leave it to MNHQ

I don't always look at people's names.. l don't think l can remember one name off top of my head.

That's the thing. If a poster goes against the general consensus on FWR - and there isn't many that do - the pile-on by other posters is terrible and unrelenting. I had to change my username once after being accused of child sex abuse based on the username alone. I will not apologise for doing so and, in fact, would like an apology for being forced to do so.

And yes, I know who this thread is aimed at. As I said, there really isn't many posters on FWR who are brave enough to go against the grain.

Thank you for replying @ErrolTheDragon

That's the thing. If a poster goes against the general consensus on FWR - and there isn't many that do - the pile-on by other posters is terrible and unrelenting.

This.

I don't know what this thread is aimed at.

I have no idea what this thread is about but I agree the pile on can be intense. I once clarified something on the law which many posters got wrong (I’m a lawyer!) and my goodness, my post was completely misrepresented by many, including some popular posters. My post was limited to explaining why they need to be careful saying XYZ and I was treated like I came on saying something controversial. That also forced me to name change as I didn’t feel like anyone on that board would take me seriously after.

Yes, by definition. It is usually the OP using two names on the same thread and stirring things up by pretending to be two different people.

Quite funny sometimes, when they trip themselves up by forgetting to nc.

It's understood that regular name changing is sensible though, and people don't change personalities when they change their username. You'll find me on the same topics, making the same arguments under several different usernames over the years.

I don't know the person you're referring to, but there's nothing wrong with an argument on MN (even <gasp> on FWR where I agree it is very difficult to stick your head above the parapet) and as long as they're not sock puppeting on the same thread then I don't see the issue tbh.

We all have our favourite topics.

It is very difficult to stich your head above the parapet on FWR.

stcik. haha. stick.

I've noticed an uptick in sockpuppeting in general.

I've reported two posters who were goady in the last few weeks. Both posters had no posting history, both 'disappeared' then were replaced by a 'different' poster (also with no posting history) who was equally as goady, had exactly the same posting style and backed up all of the 'original' posters posts.

It's become very tedious, boring and comes across as a mental health issue, so I usually bow out. It's a shame though as it just totally derails threads.

I was on that thread and was absolutely disgusted, glad to see you're still here @NefertitiV. I was stalked across the boards by FWR regulars for the crime of criticising the Tory government on their record on women's rights.

I get the impression that they are more concerned about the Tory party than feminism.

That is a real problem ATM. Hoping it eases off post election.

What's FWR ?

As a regular name changer (although definitely not for goady/trolling purposes) I honestly can't get worked up about this. Someone comes on a thread and is annoying/goady. Either engage with them, or ignore them. I personally wouldn't even notice most of the time if it's the same person or a different person.

femminism and womens rights!!

If it's the person I'm thinking of, the way people almost get together like a pack of wolves to leap on her as soon as she turns up on FWR is absolutely disgraceful. I also don't believe her changing her name was or is intended to be deceptive either, she's just doing what literally hundreds of other people do on here, considerably less often than most.

OMG @Scruffily, is that what this is? I thought it was about a troll.

@TinselAngel, if this is what @Scruffily says then you are out of order. Engage or ignore. I can't believe that you think someone should conform or be silenced on FWR because they disagree with you.

I agree with @Scruffily. That's what is happening here. (And thank you for your good wishes earlier.)

I don't know the thread or the poster referred to but I name change all the time (and not just to prevent outing)

I wouldn't post unless I could do this.

And I never notice the names of posters but I too was once accused of being "....ist" based on a user name, (the poster concerned failed to recognise the name as a line from a song).

Advanced search is often the problem. Someone says something, (often to clarify or put an alternative viewpoint) and gets jumped on by those looking for racists, apologists, abusers, fascists, "boomers", ageists, benefit-bashers, transphobics, homophobics and misogynists etc etc. (Whatever their particular "thing" is).

Delighted to have spotted one and caught them out they then use that to tear the poster down, (frequently without actually understanding what was said), and when said poster makes a perfectly normal point on some other thread they leap in with their accusations.

Threads should be about the argument, the points made, the information and advice, not the personalities. If you don't like the argument, don't engage. The name of the poster makes no difference.

I don't know the user you're discussing but I really admire anyone who can find the energy to challenge the views on FWR any more than once in a blue moon.

@TinselAngel thanks for raising this. I now come to Mumsnet for the FWR boards (having been lured in by AIBU) and I know the sort of posters (poster) you mean. No, to the people criticising the OP, it isn't someone who 'goes against the flow'. There are a small number (possibly one!) really goady and unpleasant posters. They set up threads utterly distorting something (think 'A well known GC campaigner is Hitler' type of thing). People come on to point out sensible things and OP distorts what they say too. I hate these threads. They are instant headache material. Thank you @MNHQ for saying that you will look at them. I'll try to remember to report.

@Igmum - usually those posts are actually pointing out that a famous non-feminist is associating with Nazis. There are several of them doing so. I've seen a thread on there recently with people justifying Tommy Robinson FFS! And that is concerning. And it should be fine to point this stuff out but you can't do so on FWR because it doesn't actually exist for discussion. It's one of the worst echo chambers I've seen.