Do You Think Is Is a Sign of Character?

OOOO Think of how much fun I could have if I had more than one account. I could have a Glenda the Good witch account and then a Wicked Witch of the West account then I could talk to myself and have arguments. THen the mamas could get all mad at the Wicked Witch and stick up for Glenda. HAHAHAHA OMG who has that kind of time.

I am who I am, some like me some don't. I do not have multiple personalities on here.

One time I had a question so personal that I didn't want anyone on here who knows me in real life to read it. I haven't used the other one since then, but I can see why someone might have another name.

I agree with some of the others. I think that some people if they have friends on here when asking more personal quesions may not want their friends to know who they really are. Or even aquantences that might hold what they say against them. If they are doing it for their own personal gain they really have no life and I wouldn't worry about them. Put it does not make them a bad role model I don't think!

I have two accounts. One that people I know in real life know about, that I use to ask questions about my DD, or some personal things.

The other account is my 'anonymous' account. I use that account when I have a question about a tricky situation with people, or a personal problem that is just nobody's business but my own. This is an anonymous forum, so I don't mind all you ladies 'knowing' my business, because you don't actually know me... but that doesn't mean that I want my family and friends to know about it. It's also where I go to vent about things, which may unintentionally hurt the people I know who use this forum too.

Although... I only ASK questions on that account. I never answer any, because my opinion is my opinion, and I don't care if the people who know me know my opinion.

I agree, L..
I know of O. person with at least 2, maybe more, accounts.

It definitely shows a lack of character. And lack of a life.

ETA: And they make sure to send flowers to each other--which is über-creepy!

Never assume anyone you meet here or any where else on the internet is who they appear to be.
Anonymity is simple internet safety.
In fact, you SHOULD teach your kids to lie through their teeth when it comes to the internet (and I lie outrageously on polls and surveys just to skew the data - I'm philosophically oppose to data farming - it's an invasion of privacy at best, and phishing and criminal at worst).
How do you know a person has multiple accounts?
If you have proof, by all means report it - since Terms and Conditions state multiple accounts are not allowed.

Sure L., it speaks of character. Everything we do I think shows our character (even when we are drunk...not the you and me "we"). Yes, this is a board on the internet but I still feel there should be truth in it. I have absolutely noticed dual accounts....way too much time on their hands!

I have always loved the main lesson you learned and did this with my daughter before she learned it in school. We follow "true character is how you behave when no one is looking or around".

Who would have the much free time?

honestly I think you're thinking way too much into it. Who would ask a question then get on multiple accounts to sway it in their favor? it doesn't make sense, although it does make sense to ask an anonymous question, or if maybe people on here are starting to prejudge you based on previous questions (i've seen this, where someone asks a questions and people read all past questions and answer based on those too, (helpful but not always what someone wants)) and you J. want an answer pertaining to this question only, it makes sese to start a new one. IDK who cares if they scewthe results, I think its a site, and these boards are for fun, and sometimes serious but its not like they're the be all end all to the decision making process.

I'm with Christy. That's way too much work. I'm sure you aren't referring to the highly personal questions.
You referance "agenda" so you must be talking about politics. I don't think anyone counts how many agree or disagree, that's just ridiculous. If you believe in your value system and have the courage of your convictions, you don't need to prop your side up with false numbers. The thing is, this country is so completely polarized that it is totally possible 2 people watched the same cable news show the night before and are in total agreement on it and both are quoting the same "news anchor." My boss was spouting Eric Cantor yesterday and claiming it to be his own thoughts. Not realizing that I have a tv too and had actually seen that. If I say something about politics, I know the few people that will almost always agree and it's because we have the same values. I also know the people that will always be on the other side. We accept that in the spirit of fair debate with no hard feelings.

I would only set up a 2nd account if I were to ask a VERY sensitive question that I didn't want associated w/ my regular account that I was on all the time. That I wouldn't want someone who had access to my computer to be able to see, etc..
I don't think most people would be doing it to push and agenda... I mean seriously, how much free time would you have to have to be doing something like replying from multiple accounts??!!

I have been accused of having more than one account. I don't have time for more than one account.

My cousin came on and got bullied by a person. She left. She wasn't even here three months before she had had enough of the accusations.

Having two accounts is deceitful. Having multiple personalities? Well, it's just a sign of the true character and intent - deceitful.

I have wondered this. Some people write so similar that it is like they're the same person. Could hints of a personality actually come out in writing? If in fact there are people using more than 1, I definitely think it is a sign of sneaky character. And way too much trouble to go through.

Though I have 1 account here, I have changed my nickname around. I was hollyinohio, H.B. and now HollyBeth. That's just for fun. Not to hide from anyone or pretend to be someone new. Just changing it up.

I don't have a second account but I have read in posts where people have more than one account and also wondered why. I have simply come to the conclusion they use that account when they either ask a scandlous question or answer rudely. I could be wrong but that's all I could come up with.

I can't be bothered with the whole "more than 1 persona" thing, but then again, I also can't be bothered to go & read everything someone has asked &/or answered as listed on their profile before I respond to one of their questions. Maybe I just don't care enough, I don't know, but I feel like if I'm going to answer a question what they've asked before doesn't matter to me.

I would never presume to take the stance that someone is or is not a good role model or parent based on some silliness such as that, either. You know the whole "people who live in glass houses" saying, right?

I answer what I know about or feel strongly about. All or none of you could agree with me & it wouldn't change or influence who I am or how I live my life because I'm much stronger than that & I already know who I am. I don't need anyone to tell me if I'm good or bad at anything to be perfectly honest.

I haven't done this, but I remember reading someone say she had a really personal question to ask, so she went incognito with another name. That made sense to me. I was on another board a while back and more than one account wasn't allowed.

I don't know about the yucky reasons, but most people want to be anonymous when they ask more "personal" questions, and because of the picture feature, she knew that people from her circle of peers were on the board, so she asked questions of a more private nature with a 2nd account - she actually brought it up on the board once a long time ago.

This question is brought up every once in awhile and once there was a few people that admitted to having more than one account so they could send flowers to themselves. They wanted others to think their response to a post was helpful to others.

I guess I don't pay enough attention to notice. How can you tell if people have multiple accounts? I know of some that change their name (like me, I used to be Mama2B) that I've noticed, but it doesn't seem to be a bad thing. I sometimes read profiles, and I like to read advice given by the women I virtually bond with. :) But otherwise I don't really notice. Guess it's a good excuse for me to be on Mamapedia more often!! :)

I have never noticed anyone with two accounts, or more. Maybe, I'm just not that observant? I wonder if anyone has thought that about me...

Honestly, I can't see how anyone would have the time. I guess it shows their character. I mean, what is there to hide? It's as anonymous as you want it to be!! Two accounts just doesn't make sense to me.

What I find funny is the one person who is always seeing multiple accounts most likely has multiple accounts. It is also funny when using the same psychology that person admitted to using it to report posts because if multiple people report a post they tend to remove it without actually reading it. In other words they use it to bully.

So to answer your question, I think it says a lot about their character.

One huge problem to trying to figure out if someone has multiple accounts by their writing style is something Cialdini calls liking. When we admire someone we subconsciously use they same sayings and terms because we like them. So if one member admires another without realizing it can pick up their writing style and appear to be the same person.

Sounds tiresome and too much work - LOL! (the more than one account, not the teaching your children character)

this is bizarre and it never dawned on me that anyone would bother doing that!

WHY?

kinda reminds me of those people that cheat on their partners through role-playing games. the character is NOT YOU! stick to your own reality.

ugh, that's really pathetic.

Some people have multiple accounts because they have very private things to ask. I dont judge......but i ask my private stuff under my usual name.

You're right, L.. There are people on this site who have multiple accounts. And they get mixed up what they have heard as each person they "play", showing unintentionally that they have more than one name.

I don't know that I would go as far as to call it poor character, but I think it's rude.

I only have one account. Why someone would want more than one is beyond me.

MzKitty - I'm changing it to 31....

Well L., with my ADD, I'd never keep the 2 accounts entirely clear in my head and would end up with a befuddled mess, of where I stood on an issue.

And my stellar character has not ever thought of doing such a thing, as it seems pointless to talk to myself.

So I see it more as a personality disorder, the need to voice individual, yet different voices in the same post, but same poster with different accounts. I would think that anyone who has that kind of time on their hands to manage different accounts has too much time on their hands and would they please come over to my house and help me unpack, or do the laundry and dishes, or pick up a kid, or plan a meal??? Really, there are so many better things to do with one's time. So now I change my mind and think this reflects an inability to prioritize.

Wow! It never honestly occurred to me to have more than one account on here.

So, is it like when someone has their screen name and then their actual name and last initial, either can show up but it will take you to the same account page? Or, is it really someone has a dummy email account and a fake name and responds more than one time to the same question in order to back up their point?

If it's the latter, that seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to for one mama website. Surely there are better ways to spend time.

If they aren't using both accounts at the same time, maybe they got locked out of one, forgot their password, got kicked off, or something and started a new one.

That's odd.

I have several accounts that I use for different purposes online, one is for making online purchases so that if it's hacked it won't have any important information on it, one is for FB so that I won't get a lot of junk email from my games, and one is for only church, family and friends. And NONE of those is my primary account that I use for connecting to the internet. That one is for that purpose only. If I change providers I delete that account and make a new one. I worked for an internet support center and I cannot tell you how many people would call and complain that their account had been hacked and they needed to change their primary account. The only way to do that is cancel service and re-order it, all new contract, all new prices, etc...I learned it's easier to do it this way.

As for using any of those on mamapedia, that would just be silly. If I have something to say I say it, I get tons of hate mail. But there are also those who email me and thank me for saying it straight too. I don't think I have noticed any repetitive sounding posts. But truthfully I type in my response then read some of the others to make sure I read the question right and that I am not totally off base.

Well, I have to reply just to make it an even 30 replies! I don't see how you would have time to have 2 accounts. And I think it is a little sneaky. I read some of the replies and they said they would have an account to just ask questions, but answer questions with the other account. HUH? Or they have something really "private" to ask so they set up another account. Isn't your first account private? I've been on here for years, first under my real first name and last initial, correct town and my biz info listed under my profile. I think it was Nikki G or someone said they were being stalked that freaked me out so I changed my name, city and removed all my biz info. I have an uncommon name and you can find me easily if googled. And my office info is online so literally someone could walk right into my office. So the thought of that freaked me out. I don't see the point in having more than one since its all annonymous anyway, even if you have your correct name listed. So I think it depends on peoples intent but yes, it does reflect on their character.