mn hq, IMO one of the things that enables trolling here is unlimited namechanges. And it's destroying your website.

[wannaBe]

No other sites allow unlimited namechanges, and they manage.

And yes other sites have trolls but generally these are long-term nasty ones that are horrible and do get outed after a time, mn hq has probably tens if not hundreds of troll posts a day.

I realize that sometimes people do wish to namechange to post sensitive things, but there must be a way to indicate that a namechanger is actually a regular poster "I'm a regular but have namechanged" isn't a sure way to know that as anyone can read these forums and post that to make themselves plausible.

It is getting to the point where people will be afraid to answer posts from first time posters or even new-ish posters because they are probably trolls having a laugh.

And tbh I do think most of these trolls are probably the same poster a lot of the time.

Please can something be done?

I don't name change becasue I don't post really personal stuff usually. Can see why people would want to be able to. But God things are getting dull now. Whether it's trolls, troll hunters or just people who are frankly over-sharing - I just can't seem to get into it as much. Meh.

I like a name change now and then
I don't want to be identified in real life, and changing every few months allows me both to retain privacy and yet still post about personal stuff.

I also agree with LadyintheRadiator that it takes 5mins to get a new email and therefore new name in any case, which I'm sure most determined trolls would do.

Oh god no, name changing is what makes mn workable. After all the Daily Mail fiasco, I think it's essential to be able to recreate yourself as many times as you like and not leave a "footprint" all over the place.

And I really couldn't give a shit about trolls - hardly ever notice them. If a thread looks a bit implausible I don't read much of it. Or do and don't care.

I have said to MNHQ more than once that name changing encourages trolls. But all message boards get trolled, mods or no mods.

The key is to assume people are not trolls but to not send money/clothes etc unless you are sure. It costs nothing to lend an ear and some advice. And maybe what you say will help a non-troll.

We are all, supposedly, adults. So use your adult common sense.

Hello
Just wanted to let you know we've seen this.

It's a tricky call - because without unlimited name-changes there would be less fun with festive/world cup name changes etc and that's one of the things we and, we think, you like.

And often the unlimited name-changing has nothing to do with it - someone with a genuine problem could just as easily open a new MN account rather than name change their usual one.

We know trolls are not only irksome but also can be upsetting. We'd also like to remind people not to cry trip trap (or indeed channel Malcolm Tucker who is nevertheless VERY funny) etc but instead to contact us using the report function and we can look into things.

As for whether we'll be limiting name-changing, we'll have to discuss it after half-term when we have a full house.

Thanks M Towers

i must be oblivious in my own little world - i've never had anyone ask me for money on mumsnet. Obv they have all read my posts about being skint!

it is not just troll who post offensive stuff, is it op.......