Why do some people change user name

Quite Nana
You have to take a site like this with a pinch of salt
Trusting familiar usernames (that you havent met in RL) could lull some posters into a false sense of security

Also think that some posters forget that a thread isnt just a cosy conversation between the posters on the thread: for every poster there are 10 lurkers reading.

The threads that overtly give GC details arent so bad as they get reported so dont stay up

The more risky ones are the posters who post "annonymously" about their GC on one thread having forgotten that on other threads they have already given enough details to identify their families

I post about my kids but I am careful not to identify us on other threads in ways other posters do

e.g.
The housemoving support thread, when we moved I lurked and was shocked that people were posting who their agents are, what moving firm theyre using AND their exact completion/moving days as well as specifics about waiting in for certain quotes visits being sent from their buyers. There are SEVERAL posters on their who have posted enough info over the course of the thread to be scammed or have their house identified and squatted in when it's vacant (there is enough info on their to do so).

People need to think about the bigger picture of what they are posting. Not whether each stand alone post sounds identifyable

I changed my username soon after joining because, embarrassingly, I had chosen a very similar one to another poster. I don't know why that was allowed.

I may have put some personal things on but nothing which would harm others.

I've been to several meetups with Scots GNers so am now weel- kent.
I sometimes wish it was more private but if it had been I'd never have found it!

I'm reassured that so many of you are careful about personal security. So many people on the internet share intimate details about their lives and then wonder why they get burgled or attract unwelcome attention.
Some sites demand a photo, I'm glad this one doesn't.

Not wishing to disagree n&g but I have been me almost since the beginning and I'm fairly trustworthy!!

I dont mean troll hunt but you shouldnt "trust" a wide open anonymous internet forum.

This is not accusing anyone of being "untrustworthy" its just sensible

Ladymuck I used to have a specialist hobby. I was a member of a closed members club online. I say closed because only members could read the forums, but anyone could sign up to join.

There was a spate of thefts of specialist equipment. Posters baffled. They had their locations and photos of their kit on there! Might be coincidence but...

notanan2 I agree with you 100%.
We can't be too careful about what we post online these days.

Unfortunately posters don't seem to realise how easy it would be for a lurker to join up the dots (as another poster put it).

Over time a bit of info or a photo on one of the friendly threads, added at a later date to a scraps of info spotted on another regular threads, followed by a quick Google.

Posters often mention that they are away on holiday or visiting relatives.

I have posted before, when my father passed away, I was amazed how easy it was to find people that l wished to inform of my father's death and the date of the funeral service etc.

I used Google, company house and local authority sites e.g. planning dept (as I recalled a chance remark about a home extension).

A couple of hours and I had located (inc.addresses) and made contact with all three people that I had been looking for!

And I totally believe you * Kitty * ?

Just checked the profile page and it says you can apparently have two usernames, suggesting that you use one for personal posts.
I also noticed a private message had been sent to me a week ago which I hadn't seen or replied to. I had ticked the box to send me an e-mail when I get a private post but never received one. Has anyone else had that problem?

There was one poster that took campaigning for Remain to the extreme. She posted daily, hourly, relentlessly arguing for her cause. So much that I began to worry for her mental health should Remain 'lose' after the election.

Well, they did lose and the poster hasn't posted anything under her username since. She probably felt entirely humiliated and embarrassed or perhaps was dreading the flack she would have received from others.

I have no idea whether she has reincarnated herself with another name and perhaps posts with less rancour in this new persona.

Can you be two usernames at the same time? I thought you could only change once and have just the one name.

I think I know who you mean AllTheLs and I agree it was worrying. She seemed to be posting full-time. There were one or two others who are still posting under the same name and still arguing about the result!

Can you be two usernames at the same time? I thought you could only change once and have just the one name.

Yes, you can re register with as many usernames as you like if you use different emails. The same IP address will show but thats not prohibitive as 100s of people can be using one IP address at a time.

I know, Chestnut, I don't think they'll ever get over it!

Thank you notanan2 very interesting.

My original name was my well known nickname so thought it best to change it.

How do you actually change your username?