nickname changes : thoughts?

[JJmumsnet]

Hi All,

We've been discussing the name changing thing internally recently as it happens, both because of the ability to use it to cause trouble and just as importantly because of the possibility that any new poster may be a name changer or the same person posting under multiple names, which inevitably leads to an atmosphere of suspicion.

As Marina has elsewhere rightly pointed out, the number of users, threads and name changes makes it hard to keep up with who's just having fun (by far the majority) and who's trying to cause trouble.

We've raised before the notion of restricting names to two per registration, with the idea that you have one name for everyday use and a further one for sensitive stuff. We believe this is the way to go now.

Of course it won't stop the ability to troll if you are determined, but it will make it more difficult to cause trouble and to confuse. We know some people enjoy having some perfectly innocent fun with name changing and we're sorry to be party poopers in that respect but on balance we think limiting name changes is the sensible thing to do. Were anyone to desperately want/need another name for a pressing reason, we'd happily facilitate on an ad hoc basis and I'm sure Tech could do a special Christmas namechange facility too.

As mumsnet grows (as we hope it might ) it's going to become even more of an issue to keep track of things, so we hope you agree the limit is the right way to go. Tech's away this week (again you cry!) but we'll get onto it soon. Naturally if you have objections/ reasons why you think this is a bad idea - do post them here or write to us directly and we'll give it further thought.

Thanks,
Team mumsnet

Does this mean that my alteregos cannot come out to play for funfunfun on the ONLY JOKING thread???

They never ever are allowed to leave ONLY JOKING

Can't it be set that if you have posted for over 6 months you are allowed to have multiple personalities

Good idea! I think mn has now grown to the size that this is now a necessary move IMO.

Personally I don't think there's any need for restrictions on name changes, but mumsnet should reserve the right to "out" and/or ban anyone who abuses it.

Saying that I don't have any real objections. I am too lazy to change my name anyway.

yes I spose so

Sounds fair to me.

I like the idea of having two names (or three maybe as Lemon says that she uses a business one, and personal which means she can't have a deeply personal one).

I also feel that previously used names shouldn't be freed up for a very minimum of 12 months so that people don't see themselves speaking to them (IYKWIM), or others son't think its them when its not.

The over 6 months idea is quite a good one, but that could lead back to the whole "old mns/new mns" and "clique" squabbling... You're not good enough to be allowed unlimited names etc...

am with the team

Message withdrawn

I like the idea of "outing" posters who use it for Evil.

I don't like this at all, I can see why the question has been raised, but it seems a bit of a shame to punish the rest of us simply because one or two people abuse the facility. It won't stop trolling and it won't stop malicious posting; those who want to do it will still manage to do it.

And how can we possibly get rid of Kanga's alter-egos?

I think it's a shame tbh. I think reserving the right to out people who only name change to post spitefully would be a better way to go. Most name changing is because someone wants to post something v personal isn't it? Or because someone might recognise the poster - I've done this when I was worried the friend I was talking about might read it. Even as a very rare name changer I've had about 4/5 names in 3 years so 2 would really have restricted me. Not that I do it often I hasten to add.

You could just have a universal "sensitiveissueposter" name that would be open to everyone at all times. Could get quite complicated though. But it would save having to think of a sensitive name.

If members are seen as being horrible or mean and like a troll for example couldn't a standard email be sent to them directly from MUMSNET TOWERS to warn them??????

i have name changed to post about things that are very personal so that people I know that use this site cant guess its me.

I think I did change my name to stir once. Now i dont bother and leave it as Enid

i think we should leave mnet as it is.

there is the odd horrid troll but we do quite well in driving them out dont we?

'tis a shame, but once again the vicious minority win the day. Still if it stops them from attacking others then so be it!

Goodbye munchedtoomanymarslady, goodbye rtmtmml, I will miss you, but at least I can keep MarsselectionboxLady.

Thanks WWB

I haven't let them out recently because of all the upset that seems to be going around

But if Mumsnet Towers know who the posters are in advance wouldn't that be OK?

What about if my alter egos were allowed to email mumsnet before they escaped to warn them

Would that be ok then?

They are only on ONLY JOKING

Message withdrawn

I think you should try this out for a while and see what happens.

I don't think there should be any kind of 6-month system - tbh it's just as likely that troublesome name-changers have been around that long anyway. I also don't think it's fair or practical to leave it to the MN team to 'police' name-changing, let alone out people. What if a someone was outed having been misunderstood, or people were afriad to post anything sensitive for fear of being erroneously 'outed'? A determined troublemaker would just use a ubiquitous 'sensitiveissue' name in order to post malevolently.

I do think that name-changing has given rise to some of Mn's best funny moments, but in the end, that's not what the site is really FOR, and it's more important to discourage nasty stuff that undermines The MN Philosophy, than enable fun and games. I suppose.

Please don't do it! I love changing my name to have a banter!

I think its sad to limit them and am with SenoraP

to be fair I get much enjoyment from playing around with names at times and it won't be half as much fun .. but then again it also won't be as addictive so it may be a good thing after all

Actually, I think you're right, Twiglett - much less fun, much less addictive. It would actually make me far more likely to walk away and not come back. I hate the thought that one or two malicious idiots can make everyone so suspicious of each other that we're not allowed to have fun anymore.

Message withdrawn

I was kind of for banning name changes until I read the posts from people who use name changes a lot. I think now that it simply won't work to be honest- I think Soupy is right, and people will just use different email addresses. It's so easy to get multiple email addresses that I can't see it putting anyone off. I do think a lot of fun will be lost, and without any net benefit. I would have agreed with the naming and shaming approach, but I can see Blu's point as well.

I don't know why I bothered writing all this really