Changing my User Name

No. I don’t think so. Maybe her user name gave the OP of that thread a big clue to where she lives. I could guess.

Plus, the details of that particular thread were quite unique and so anyone who was aware of the circumstances of the situation would easily be able to put 2 and 2 together.

Absolutely not! I'm an infrequent poster but serial name changer. I have my reasons.
btw this forum isn't a 'confidential kind of group* , is freely accessed by anyone, so that too might influence your decision too.

It is totally reasonable to change your user name if you think someone could trace you.
If there was someone I didn't want to find me, I would be very careful about the username I choose.

ExD
I think you need to educate yourself on the policies of GN.
It isn't a cosy little chat amongst virtual friends.
Threads have appeared in the Daily Mail. It is also on FB.

I confessed, in passing, not long ago on a thread on here that'd I'd changed my name and got quite a number of quite abusive replies which puzzled me.

I'm puzzled by that too - as one of the few on here who has never changed username. I've never 'flounced' with a bold announcement of departure - only to return under a new name!

If you google your user name you will be shocked to see all your posts in a long line. There is absolutely nothing confidential on here.

Am I stupid or am I stupid?
Well, I am a bit long in the tooth Too old to know better?
I'll be more careful in future.

I’ve just googled my username, apparently I’m a blonde haired real estate agent in California!( She is on Twitter.)
I wish.

I’m wondering about the ‘ abusive replies ‘ you received. Why would someone be abusive about changing your name ?

I try to be careful with my comments because as has been mentioned someone could type in your user name and piece together what you have said in your posts. I don’t even like saying where I live.

I changed my user name very early on as my original one was very similar to my real name and I would be easily identifiable. But I also try not to put anything sensitive on here - I mean negative comments about family/friends who could recognise themselves. I try to stay on neutral topics though I have occasionally annoyed people on this site unfortunately. But thenI don't know them and they don't know me in real life.

I'm relieved to find that when I google my name I only see links to the nursery rhyme!

How do threads end up on newspapers and fb?

Humpty try googling 'humptydumpty gransnet'

@Bluesky, because journalists trawl posts to see if anything might amuse/appal their readers.
Maybe it’s more common for MN posts to appear in e.g. the Mail - the more outrageous Bridezilla ones seem to be popular.
E.g. the one where the bride sent the gift cheque back, saying she knew the donor had recently come into some money, so in the circs. she really ought to write a rather more generous cheque.
IIRC that one made the Mail on Sunday.

Gransnet do put threads up on Twitter and Facebook, too.

Thanks Witzend that's why is so important not to reveal unique stories and circumstances by which people who know us in real life could guess it's us!

ExD
What do you think GN is? In case you hadn't realised Its business
The DM article may have been on FB and then picked up.

I changed mine once, and was told that was it.....you only have one spare. Alishka, how have you changed so often?

Please can somebody explain HOW to change username. Might be useful.

If someone says they are a serial name changer then I m very suspicious of them
I can understand someone changing their name if they have someone who recognises them but someone who says they are a ‘serial name changer‘ I have to ask Why.??

As far as I understand it, GN will not help you with a name change unless there is a breach of personal security. I believe that it is possible to simply register again under another name though GN don't approve of name changing. It's actually surprisingly easy to recognise posting style when someone does this though.

BlueSky

How do threads end up on newspapers and fb?

Because our posts don't belong to us and GNHQ has the right to use them in newspaper articles.
One Australian journal often quotes us word for word.

Some threads are duplicated on FB and Twitter too.

Alishka

Absolutely not! I'm an infrequent poster but serial name changer. I have my reasons.
btw this forum isn't a 'confidential kind of group* , is freely accessed by anyone, so that too might influence your decision too.

So if you can only change once how did this happen grannylaine
I must be very dim because I don’t find it obvious to recognise a style either