Poll: Would you like the facility to change your own username?

I popped across to FB and sure enough the soup one went on an hour ago- I said it would at 22:39 last night!

I think that everyone needs to be aware that they are posting in 3 places and need to look for replies in 3 places.

Yes - i'd like the facility to change my username but can't see where to cast my Yes vote.

You just click on the link in the OP and get 2 choices.

Ramblingrose

Out of interest may I ask have you contacted GNHQ to ask for a name change?

It’s a straw dog saying people will want to keep changing name mid thread. And even if they did, so what? There’s a very large majority wanting to have the option and the minority who don’t keep coming up with totally fallacious arguments to support their case.

Maryeliza

' keep coming up with totally fallacious arguments to support their case.'

Blimey , 'Fallacious' hmm.

Sorry you consider my right to question as arguing in a trumped up, untrue, deceptive manner .

I do hope GNHQ is more receptive to allowing posters to have a view , an opinion when they ask " we'd like to know your thoughts."

GNHQ have organised a poll so you are having your say are you not? You just don’t like the way the vote is turning out do you? And I still think the idea that members will be spending all their time name changing mid thread is frankly risible.

I agree with POGS that the question is unclear. People on Gransnet can change their names, but they have to do it through Gransnet and Gransnet will be aware of their previous name/names.

I voted No because I think it will be too easy for people to abuse others or assume different identities in order to push certain commercial or political agendas. So far, though, the Yes votes are way ahead.

Just to clarify, I would not like to see people paid by political parties or commercial organisations to push a particular view or raise awareness of, or interest in, particular products. I think there is probably a small element of this already but allowing people to change their own names would make it much easier.

I have been persecuted by others who didn’t like my opinions and when tried to resign Gransnet kindly allowed me to change my username so that I have been able to stay with the site.

Surely GN would be able to look at all the name changes because it would be from the same email address.
I think it would be very rare for someone to change their names mid thread- it would have to be a very argumentative thread to make it necessary- the sort of thread where someone stands out as being a problem causing GN to take a closer look. I can't see any threads like that at the moment.
I don't think that most people would change- the sort who are regulars in Soop's kitchen are not going to change- they are very comfortable. I wouldn't change because I have been very careful from the start to protect my identity.
It ought to be easy for anyone who thinks they have a reason to change- GN could keep track and contact if they have cause for concerns over the reasons or if they are doing it too often. I think it would be good to allow it for one thread if they have something very personal they don't want associated with their normal name. Very often on MN a poster will say 'I have done a name change for this one'.
I am more concerned with the way anything of interest is just lifted onto other social media sites. Since GN have not commented and are still doing it I assume they are not going to stop. That alone is a good reason for allowing name changes in my opinion.
Either keep everything on GN and don't allow name changes or link it as it is at the moment and ensure it is more private with the name change. e.g if I were to respond to the tantrum thread with personal experience I am fairly sure I would keep my anonymity on GN but not so sure if someone read it on FB therefore I am not going to comment.
I still can't see why the name matters on opinions - it is just as valid if it comes from a new poster or someone who has been here for years. Either you agree or you don't- who made it isn't really relevant. There are still thread like Soop's Kitchen where who posts is important and GN are never going to lift that onto SM - it is easy to predict which ones will be used. Personally I would cut out GN and ask Twitter direct if I thought that is what they would do with my thread!

That seems a good reason to me Lilyflower . GN can be a bit like the school playground!

What in the present system prevents the nefarious use of GN by political or commercial organisations? Nothing if people want to put that effort in. How will name changing increase the likelihood of that? I genuinely don’t understand. All these straw dog arguments really seem to me to be infantilising us as if we couldn’t spot someone trying to flog us a good or a service - we do now and how would someone changing their name allow them to promote a commercial service and us be taken in? If gillybob suddenly changed her names on the Parafise papers thread and started defending the queen,what on earth difference would that mean? Some of us would just think oh another royalist prat. Sorry for using you as an example. Equally someone from a very royalist group,or ER herself, could join GN now and start posting on that thread .

What do you mean Dahlia ? Your posts are being used on social media

I agree with what Eloethan and POGS have said on here.
Changing your name temporarily because you want to post on a thread asking for advice/ support is one thing, but on any thread and maybe several times, NO!

If it goes abead then so be it, but it will make it harder to spot who is actually behind a post and why.

You mean it would make knee jerk reactions to certain posters a bit harder? And at the moment we know the who and why of posts? I really would like some specific examples of the damage that could be caused by allowing this facility?

I think people are worried that they might end up agreeing with someone they don't like!
Anything that makes the knee jerk reaction to certain posters has to be good- having known someone driven off.
I really can't see why we need to know who is behind a post or why. It makes it sound as if there is some sort of GN 'royalty' whose opinion is to be more respected than someone unknown making their very first post.
Take the list on their own merits- who makes them is irrelevant.

It’s not about opinions as such though, Leticia, it’s about increasing the number of posters “ganging up” on another.

But name change would stop them ganging up - the opinion would be what counted and not who made it.

It depends whose viewpoint you see it from, I suppose. The one with split identities having a go from several angles, or the one having to name change to avoid the attack, whether they wanted to or not.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I want to change my vote. Perhaps I could name change to do it.

I think that GN should make a statement about exactly where they are linking - in addition to FB and Twitter they are on Instagram - are they anywhere else?
They seem to me to have plenty of useful things for tweets etc from their sections - grandparenting, legal, food etc without using the forums, without people's knowledge.

The forums are used in different ways.
Some people use it as a friendship area where they go back a long way and know a back story to people and they go to meet ups. They like to know who they are speaking with and a daily chat.
Others come on with a tricky personal problem they want advice for.
Others come for support when going through a difficult time like a bereavement.
Others like advice for a mundane problem like whether to buy a soup maker.
Others want to share a joy.
Others want to get an irritation off their chest
Others want to discuss politics.
Others want philosophical discussions
I could go on and on - it is endless- and some like a variety.
I get the impression it has just evolved, without a lot of thought for the various needs.
Perhaps GN could have a safe space section where posters are sure it all remains on GN and they can change for a sensitive subject. You could still run the name change through GNHQ so that there is a valid reason e.g being outed or bullied.

Personally I come on infrequently, keep away from the cliques, and join in discussions and occasionally a game. I often spend some time saying 'I agree with......' but I can never remember who they are afterwards! I do remember one name who is likely to disagree with me . So names are unimportant to me.
I am awaiting a statement from GN and if they are not changing I shall deregister and comment on Twitter because all the threads that interest me end up there!