Why All the Fake Profiles?

The_Hurricane

I may be alone on the but I'm less inclined to respond to a long term member's post if they have felt the need to setup a fake account, in fact some of these fake accounts seem to be people taking the Michael.

Surely our own accounts are anonymity enough unless users are foolish enough to let others know their identity on MSE? Come on you're not going to he judged - use your real account.

Rant over.

DUTR

The_Hurricane wrote: »

I may be alone on the but I'm less inclined to respond to a long termmember's post if they have felt the need to setup a fake account, in fact someof these fake accounts seem to be people taking the Michael.

Surely our own accounts are anonymity enough unless users are foolish enoughto let others know their identity on MSE? Come on you're not going to he judged - use your real account.

Rant over.

Some like to shoot their mouths off, as in they would do this n do that, but once they are faced with the situation, they are quickly humbled.

YoungBaker

Well i can understand some of them as many people have came here for the purpose of getting debt help and so their partners etc are often on board with that and know their account details. They then spot or get involved in these threads and end up posting their own problems but do it under a different account in fear that said partner etc finds out.

Often because many of the problems on this board are quite personal etc and it wouldnt be hard to piece up who it was often if the story is familiar and there is any hint of who it is in the username (which can be the case as many people use the same usernames for everything etc)

Whats annoying is the random accounts that make one post with a really controversial story then just never come back, its playing on the help that people give here and abusing it really

The_Hurricane

DUTR wrote: »

Some like to shoot their mouths off, as in they would do this n do that, but once they are faced with the situation, they are quickly humbled.

I know but it's a poor reflection on the rest of us that we are deemed so untrustworthy that we have to be presented with a fake account. It's also terrible that said accounts are now being abused.

cutestkids

I think that for many people it may be that they have friends and family that also use the forum and they may know their user name on here so prefer to use a different one for some things.

duchy

I think it's very sad that you think it's all about you

If someone wants privacy for a particular topic -especially if they have posted identifying info in the past...then why not.

I use my ID here elsewhere as well-I'm sure there are people who recognise the ID who may know me face to face....so if I wanted advice on a sensitive matter -I would probably use an alt ID too to protect my privacy ....if that offends you're sensibilities ...well I guess I'll just have to live with that !

The_Hurricane wrote: »

I know but it's a poor reflection on the rest of us that we are deemed so untrustworthy that we have to be presented with a fake account. It's also terrible that said accounts are now being abused.

fluffnutter

The_Hurricane wrote: »

I may be alone on the but I'm less inclined to respond to a long term member's post if they have felt the need to setup a fake account, in fact some of these fake accounts seem to be people taking the Michael.

Surely our own accounts are anonymity enough unless users are foolish enough to let others know their identity on MSE? Come on you're not going to he judged - use your real account.

Rant over.

What does it matter? Like you say, you don't know who anyone is so what does it matter if they call themselves X or Y?

As an aside, everyone gets judged, whatever they call themselves and whatever they're saying. That's just human nature. Sometimes the person judging them agrees, sometimes they disagree, it's still all judging at the end of the day.

tea_lover

How is a new profile any more fake than an older one? Surely they're all fake to some extent - after all, I don't see anyone here posting with their full name.

The_Hurricane

My point is that some of the recent examples of new accounts have proven to be fake. Indeed I recently seen one for a user who was contemplating applying for a job - it just seems rather silly but each to their own.

lostinrates

The_Hurricane wrote: »

I may be alone on the but I'm less inclined to respond to a long term member's post if they have felt the need to setup a fake account, in fact some of these fake accounts seem to be people taking the Michael.

Surely our own accounts are anonymity enough unless users are foolish enough to let others know their identity on MSE? Come on you're not going to he judged - use your real account.

Rant over.

Well, the hurricane, as you say, in real life, we go by different names.

Now, just as a precursor, I have never used a different user name on Mse, i tend not to discuss many 'personal' issues here. My husband has two log ins because he lost one, and he's barely used the site at all.

But, back to the real life issue....

I've spent rather a lot of time here, and made friends with people I have now met in real life, some who have become real life chums. Some people I 'chat' to here and I have worked out we're quite close on the 'six staged removed' thing. One teaches at the school of a relative of mine. One I know their boss. Someone I chat to a lot is part of a team who have done a huge amount of work for my family in the last year.


Personally, I have little sense, so would probably just out with it under this user name, but for the nature of forums. Forums being what they are, on personal issues I generally talk to a group of people I have chatted to long term if using the Internet, or keep my own counsel.

marisco_2

It doesn't bother me at all if a poster sets up a separate account to discuss certain issues. If it helps someone feel able to open up completely and to seek help with a problem, then however is easiest for them to be able to do that should be respected. I give most people the benefit of the doubt and try to help where I can. There is nothing to say you have to respond if you think a thread is a total wind up. Just stop reading when you get that gut instinct about it and move on to one you feel is genuine.