I was just wondering, is there any chance of making the 'Find messages by (nickname)' bit in search for messages, optional?

[Tatterdemalion]

I've named change because of RL person searching for messages by me as a leisure activity . It's annoying for me, but then I lead a dreary life with nothing much needing to be kept private.

I keep seeing threads where mners who have significant things happening to them, where privacy is extremely important, being found out and (possibly) searches of their previous posts occuring.

Pretty much the only time I search for messages by nickname is when I look for threads I've been on (usually recipes) .

Just wondering if other people use the nickname search bit a lot?

If you could tick a box that made it impossible (for other people) to scroll back through your life as a mner, would people feel happier about posting personal stuff?

I'm just pondering, and am not technical so wont really mind if it's a silly/impossible notion.

Oh yeah, also to find someone if I havent seen them for a while, or need to ask them a Q, I'll search for their last post.

better start posting a lot about how fab he is then

I use it quite a bit -- for example, recently someone had a breastfeeding query and I remembered tiktok's having posted an answer before so used by nickname together with a few keywords to find it. I also use it quite a lot to search for my own previous posts on things, and when someone seems to have dropped off the face of the earth and you wonder whether they are still posting but just not on the same threads as you any more.

i use it a lot.

I tend to stalk psychomum and nappiesgalore when they ignore me

soupkitchen!

I search for my own messages too... although that is hard because I never know which one of the 100 odd names I was using at the time

I search for myself in "words in message" to see if anybody has mentioned me

I use it a lot too. So I'll remember that "X" posted something about, say, summer frocks. And then I can find the thread easily without trawling through thousands and messages about summer frocks.

I suppose you could limit the search engine to a registered user. But TBH how hard is it to set yourself up as a user?

I use it as sometimes before I open up I like to chck and make sure the person is for real.

lol MamaG - I've done that before too... in my defence it is generally to see if people are asking for me in nappy chat

I use it loads, quite often to find stuff I've posted myself, or to find threads I remember and need to read again for whatever reason, or if I remember someone posted something useful it's easier to find it that way.

I always work on the basis that everyone who knows me might read everything I post, so I don't post anything under this name that I wouldn't be happy for the world to read. Anyone who thinks they know me could confirm it in 2 secs by searching for my posts. If I want to ask/post anything I would prefer to be more private, I namechange.

I had someone thinking I was from another forum and post a couple of things to me, having obviously done a name search... she was mistaken but if I had been the person she was looking for I would have been rather worried.

i use it alot...to find posts that have fallen off my 'threads i am on' but more so if i think a post or poster is a bit

What mumofmonsters says. I do look up preople if I think what they are posting is a bit specially if I think 'I'm sure I've heard this before'.

I agree with OP. It's the part of MN that makes me shudder about lack of privacy. I don't want anyone to be able to build up a profile of me by searching for posts by me.

I would feel way more comfortable if I could opt out of it.

Perhaps it's just because I am Princess Anne paranoid, though.

Thready, if you are indeed who you say you are, I have a question I have been dying to ask you. How do you get your hair to stand up like that? Products or is it naturally bouffy?

(Just search on Threadwworm + horse-spit.)

lol how very interesting.....and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeww

i agree with op.
mainly cos i don't like it that either new people or name changers ask for advice and
other people say .. has she posted before?
is this for real. etc., etc.
why otherwise shoudl people see your preivous posts?

Oh shit, i post how i feel at that moment and so must look very [hmn] if people look me up. I am sure sometimes my dp is a complete wanker and other times the model of partnership.
Note to self... must remember what I've said before or change name!!!

meant not [religious song spelt wrong]

I use the nickname search if I'm looking for a thread and for example, I remember a certain poster posted on it and said xyz. So I find it useful and would hate to see it go tbh.

So I think people should name change for v personal things if they want to but otherwise be aware that this is all public and anyone in the world with an internet connection can read anything any of us write.

i might have to eat my words

just read about an MN who i am sure i read about before,,, and would have liked to know more...
i spose if i search messages I have been on, i will find thread????

I change my name often so anyone searching for me would only find one set of threads relating to me. Any personal issoos I use one-off names for.

My last bf knows I hang out on here but I don't think he's run a search on me. he probably wouldn't like it if he did....