Usernames

[invisiblecat]

I see what you've done there. I wonder whether anyone else has noticed yet.

Huh, they've 'upgraded' the app now too.

Thanks, I haven't seen that, I'm on the desktop version on a Chromebook.

No because you can name change, just not on a thread where you have already posted using a different name.

There was a recent thread with someone antagonising MNers, using the app to Sockpuppet. I wonder if that’s had anything to do with this.

@QuillBill but that means you can only use it on that thread which is useless if you're on a long running thread where it won't change over. Meh

I use this username to post mostly about specific bits of education (plus a few other things) and I've built up a little bit of a reputation as someone who generally says sensible things. I use another username for more lighthearted chit-chat. Sometime a thread I'm on takes a turn where I think that a change to the better-known name would be useful, especially if I'm linking to one of my own threads!

I have (very rarely) been tagged in to answer a specific question, and if I'm already on the thread under another name it would seem churlish to ignore.

But I'm not MNHQ and I don't know how much of an issue sockpuppets are.

I have experienced the bad side of people name changing to be argumentative so I think Mumsnet probably have good reasons for introducing this rule.

I don't really know what you mean.

If your every day name is Susan and you want a Christmas name you can change your name from Susan to Noel. When you go on a thread where you have already posted as Susan after you have changed to Noel, Susan will be in the box at the top already.

So you won't have your Christmas name on that long running thread, but you can still have a Christmas name change on any threads you post on subsequently.

Yeah but where's the fun in that?

I have (very rarely) been tagged in to answer a specific question, and if I'm already on the thread under another name it would seem churlish to ignore.

That's a good point. Not sure how you'd go about that without exposing the link between names.

Or someone might ask something mid thread that by answering you would give away more personal information than you're comfortable being associated with your regular name.

Your best option in that situation might be to PM the poster who'd tagged you, because you can use any name registered to you to PM.

@JoMumsnet would MNHQ consider a compromise for long-running threads, where names can be changed a week or so after the last comment left by the previous name?

That would prevent trolling by posters setting up two fake sides to a conversation, but still allow anonymity for those who need it.

Oooooo I just tried to post on a thread where I had a different username and it kept coming up with an error message.

I tried several times so I checked what username I'd used and changed it to that then it let me post.

When I just tried to post here, I had to scroll through pages to see the original username I posted with! However I'd used several usernames so that was a bit of nightmare trying to find the right one!

Interesting. Would be easier if it changed the name automatically though!

iPhone app

What is the reason to change usernames repeatedly on the same thread?
(apart from on joke threads of course or ones of a very sensitive nature).

NearlyAugust
Oooooo I just tried to post on a thread where I had a different username and it kept coming up with an error message.

I tried several times so I checked what username I'd used and changed it to that then it let me post.

When I just tried to post here, I had to scroll through pages to see the original username I posted with! However I'd used several usernames so that was a bit of nightmare trying to find the right one!

Interesting. Would be easier if it changed the name automatically though!

iPhone app

What is the reason to change usernames repeatedly on the same thread?
(apart from on joke threads of course or ones of a very sensitive nature).

@Twiglets1

_

I changed my username name on this thread a couple of times to see if I could.

But I change my username monthly so sometimes I'll go onto an ongoing thread to post, maybe to congratulate the OP for actually LTB, so would be a different username. It made no difference to the thread and wasn't in any way malicious.

But now I'll have to search through literally hundreds of posts on a popular thread to see what was my original username.

Luckily on the iPhone app my posts are a different colour.

I've been on here 20 years. And post most days (saddo that I am)

@NearlyAugust why would you need to scroll back to find your original name on a thread? Doesn't MN auto revert to it?

I think @NearlyAugust's point is that on the iPhone app it doesn't automatically know the UN you've previously used on an old thread.

Just curious @NearlyAugust as someone who has only changed my username once but post regularly I just wondered why people do it so much.

Im sure most don’t do it for malicious reasons and it’s just a small minority who do, unfortunately. I definitely wasn’t suggesting you do it for any negative reasons.

@Twiglets1

I NC on thread for fun and for superstition. I love sport and have lots of And ....Dancing names which I like to switch around. So if I'm watching the tennis and having a watch along I will change to the player I want to win, but then change back when the match is over.

But mainly I NC so I can't be traced. If I put something revealing on a thread I then NC and bin that name so my threads don't become a jigsaw puzzle to identify me.

I have posted less since I can't NC

There are certain topics where people get attacked if they're recognised as a regular poster so it's safest to name change on those.

Oh sorry didn't mean that you thought I was malicious! I was just explaining.

I change every month as when this place was all fields, everyone "knew" everyone and we were all a bit naive about the dangers of sharing personal info on the internet.

Then there was a fake drama about someone on mumnset having a spreadsheet with all the usernames names or something, can't remember now. Widespread panic!

Ended up not being true (I think) so long ago!

But when I read back on my early posts I was clearly identifiable to anyone who knew me. So started name changing then, making different ages for kids etc.

Then FWR and TRAs kicked off, I was genuinely afraid of being doxed! So changed monthly

But now I'm more aware of AI and scraping info and how they can link posts to people etc. so I keep it to a monthly change.

Better to be safe than sorry.

In addition to what @NearlyAugust said above I also name change on a regular basis depending on the time of year... I have Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Spring, Easter names.... and lots more, like ones I use for Telly Addicts, Games etc... I have nothing to hide and no malicious reasons. I don't think it's a bad thing to name change, each for their own.

@NearlyAugust says it better. But I agree with all that.

Ok - sounds like maybe I have been naive in not changing my name for months on end