Returning to the DIS boards under a new name

[travelbug]

I'm curious about something. Occasionally I see a post where someone points out that this poster or that poster is actually someone who has returned to the DIS boards under a new name. How can anyone tell that, unless the "new" poster reveals it in a PM to someone else or comes right out and admits it openly (which I wouldn't imagine would usually happen). Is it just a suspicion by the person pointing this out, or is there another way to tell?

I've wondered this for a while, so decided to finally ask.

 

[wilma-bride]

I should imagine things like the posting style, (mis)use of grammar, use of particular words etc. would give somebudy away, particularly if they were ( how can I put this?) a renowned poster before

 

[KristaTX]

Yes. Renowned, or more likely, infamous.

 

[brmom]

IP address would be the same.

 

[crashbb]

IP address would be the same.

Possibly (there are ways around that), but only moderators could see that anyway. Often "regular" posters will point out that someone is a reincarnation.

OP - I agree with the PP's, one can recognize writing styles and common themes in posts. Since people coming back under new names are, generally, banned posters*, they are generally "infamous".


*I know that some people change names because they forgot their old login or because they decided to change their log in name, but that isn't as common (and they generally aren't pretending that they are a new).

 

[thehowells]

Actually the ip would more than likely be different. Unless your trying to register the same day. Most major ISP have dynamic ip addresses and only businesses have static ips, your MAC address would be the same however

 

[SaraJayne]

If you're a details person like I am, people are very easy to spot.

 

[phorsenuf]

I think a dead give away is when new posters show up on the Community board and jump right in to conversations. Most people that are here usually find their way from the other forums. I would think most people would find this site from doing a search on traveling to Disney, not I got in a fight at subway.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Paranoia?

Spending too much time here?

 

[Becky2005]

I think a dead give away is when new posters show up on the Community board and jump right in to conversations. Most people that are here usually find their way from the other forums. I would think most people would find this site from doing a search on traveling to Disney, not I got in a fight at subway.

Which is why I always wonder about those 1 or 2 posts people who are posting a random scenerio on the Community Board here. I was here 3 years planning our first Disney vacation before I ever wandered over to the Community Board part of the board. It scared me. I still don't post a lot here and now that I think about it, I think I only respond to posts & haven't really had anything to post myself here.

I really wouldn't be able to tell too much though unless it was one of the really obvious posters and they started posting in the exact same way. I only know of 1 that I would be able to spot a mile away and I'm 99% sure any other regular poster would too.

 

[travelbug]

OP here. Thanks for your replies and different takes on the question. Even though I've been around for a pretty long time, I think I would only recognize a couple of people's very distinct style of posting. I know I would not recognize common subject matter, personal details, etc. Not that observant apparently.

Paranoia?

Spending too much time here?

 

[DawnM]

I remember one poster who changed her user name but kept her signature exactly the same! It was pretty easy to figure out.

 

[SaraJayne]

People aren't as "incognito" as they seem to think they are.

It will come out eventually who some of them are.

 

[avgeek81]

I don't pay too much attention to posters. A lot of time I dont even read who the poster is, just the post. But there was one person that came back that I immediately recognized by thier writing style and topic. Then I looked at the screen name and it was a veriation of thier original name.

 

[timmac]

In addition to all of the above things, some details like when an upcoming trip is planned, quantity and ages of children, etc, can be very telling.

Another scenario I've seen is someone who posts some things that come off as controversial/judgmental/etc, and get called out for it. I don't even mean being flamed unfairly, I mean legitimately called out. Then, all of a sudden, roughly a day later, a brand new poster appears asking an innocent sounding question about "do you ever great treated unfairly on these boards, becuase I've heard from some others that they have". It doesn't take much to do the math and figure it out

Overall, though, yes, it's just details about what a person is up to, what they do for work, their interests, that after enough posts (by the original username) can pretty clearly identify a person when they reappear.

ETA: Contrary to what some might suggest, it's worth noting that I believe most people on these boards aren't out to stalk people, or reserach them in great detail. It's just that when you converse with the same people enough, you start to get to know them. If anything, it only makes the interaction that much fuller, and helps make the discussion that much more useful. (For instance, remembering that they have a 12 year old son when they post asking about what resort to try next, helps one to give a better response.)

 

[Miss Peach]

Or they are extremely passionate about one topic.

There was/is a woman that is a self described expert on all things free dining. She pops up repeatedly with a new user name. Posts hundreds of posts within a week or so and then vanishes again!

It is pretty crazy to watch!

 

[SaraJayne]

Or they are extremely passionate about one topic.

There was/is a woman that is a self described expert on all things free dining. She pops up repeatedly with a new user name. Posts hundreds of posts within a week or so and then vanishes again!

It is pretty crazy to watch!

Crazy, but she sure is entertaining.

 

[Allison]

Or they are extremely passionate about one topic.

There was/is a woman that is a self described expert on all things free dining. She pops up repeatedly with a new user name. Posts hundreds of posts within a week or so and then vanishes again!

It is pretty crazy to watch!

Yeah-she gets spotted quickly.

 

[travelbug]

Or they are extremely passionate about one topic.

There was/is a woman that is a self described expert on all things free dining. She pops up repeatedly with a new user name. Posts hundreds of posts within a week or so and then vanishes again!

It is pretty crazy to watch!

That is strange!

 

[ilovemk76]

People aren't as "incognito" as they seem to think they are.

It will come out eventually who some of them are.