Idea!!!

[DistinguishedSocialCommentator]

Hello MNHQ

Apologies if this has been suggested before!!

Oneone of my previous threads on this forums, you guys advised me why you have the username change facilities!!! That's great and I see your point!!

I find it had to follow names and get to know posters and their views/stance etc

My suggestions: A new MN's member or an existing member has one main name, like the one they use the most.
Then, have a permanent second name that could be used as a secret name, EG, those that know you via your main name wont know your second name.

This IMHO, will make it easier for posters to embrace or not the main names and or the second names, a way of building trust and respect, etc, etc, IMO

I hope I'm clear as often reading back the forth time my longer messages get a bit diff to follow, so sorry about that!!

Please lock the thread if this has been considered previous;y!! Thank you ll!!

Im sure im not the only poster who barely notice the names and it could be only when a proper conversation starts happening, or you come across someone batshit, that you notice who it is.

Content is more important than the name on MN. What matters is what people say. It doesn't matter if they have said things on other subjects with a different name.

Of course sometimes you can tell who is posting even before you read the name anyway from their writing style, as you must know by the number of people who say they knew it was you posting even before spotting your name @DistinguishedSocialCommentator

Good point, but I do trust the posters as the final decision always rests with me to do my own research and only then move forward

FYI - I'm hoping this will better help you understand what I was saying re "trust some posters on a certain forums" - its a Landlords forum. The info they have is second to none - therefore in our early days as LL, even though we employed and still de employ a letting agent, we always ask question on the forums to confirm etc stuff or scenarios - there are several there that are 101% on the ball, even then we do our own research and then move forward.
Thanks for your concerns!!

..............only when a proper conversation starts happening, or you come across someone batshit, that you notice who it is

🤣🤣

The ability to name change is fundamental to MN.
It's not about following posters or building "trust". Posters are free to use names as they wish. Flexibility is key. It's not "open to abuse" if that flexibility why the system is in place.

When you say ‘follow’ posters are you thinking of using Advanced Search?

Have you considered cutting down on exclamation marks?

Have you considered cutting down on exclamation marks?

I was going to ask that.

Thanks for the feedback.

We have offered an unlimited name change facility since the dawn of (Olivia's) time. To reassure you, though, we have a team of moderators who look into concerns quickly.

The idea of name-changing is to protect our users from identifying each other. However, MNHQ can see a full username history and will investigate anything that may be disingenuous. It's best to report these concerns using the report button - we'd much rather manage these concerns on a case-by-case, than limit all of our users across the whole site.

If something has been reported and it doesn't break talk guidelines, we would advise hiding a thread or not engaging further with a poster.

Why should users care about whether you trust them or not? You're not a very important person I'm afraid, you're a stranger on the internet.

Yup, it matters more to me that you (and my kids, partner, neighbour, hamster-sitter and boss) don't tie together my posts, than that you do and learn to trust me.

MN is different.

@TheShellBeach are you laughing with or at me? 😀

No thank you. I don't want you (or anyone else) to follow me. You don’t need to get to know me. I don't care if you trust me, although I am trustworthy.

Like many others on here I rarely notice user names. Although there are some posters who's posting style is so recognisable that I know it's them without seeing their name.

I also don't automatically discount anyone just because I've disagreed with them previously.

You don't need to gain trust with any of the posters on here. What a strange notion.

I'm guessing "with"

Many thanks
Enjoy your eveneing!!
😃

Same here re barely noticing names. There are no avatars, either, so you can't recognise by avatar.

We have offered an unlimited name change facility since the dawn of (Olivia's) time.

Hail the <eyebrows>!

Peace and love.

Absolutely with.

Ahem.

I miss Olivia.

Good!

You have a hamster sitter? 😮

Much easier on the hamster than being lugged along on holiday.

Well, the camping-with-gerbils was memorable, back in the day, but not necessarily for the right reasons.

'I find it hard to follow names and get to know posters and their views/stance etc'

Sorry, but why do you even want to do that? The whole point of MN is that it is an anonymous forum.

I don't know why but I was thinking of a weekly sitter like you have for the kids on date night rather than an annual sitter. I thought what an awesome job! 😂

EDIT - and this is one good reason name why name changes are essential. I don't want to be known as the dumbass hamster sitter person for eternity 😂