Just a thought here about privacy.

[Bouncy Ball]

Everyone can and does make these decisions for themselves, some people don't care, but for those who have never thought about it:

if someone had some time on their hands and wanted to find out who you are and where you lived, etc, it would be pretty easy if they were patient and watched the lounge.

Between naming where you were born, giving your astrological sign, year you were born (or president in office when you were born), name of your high school, year you were married, etc. someone who waited long enough, gathering information, could get a pretty clear picture.

For those who don't care, disregard all this.

For those who have never thought about it, it's something to be aware of. One thread at a time, one bit of information at a time doesn't seem like any big deal, but when added all up, it's a lot.

A lot of people I know either never post any kind of identifying information (even the most innocent-seeming) or they post stuff that is just slightly different from the truth. I do NOT mean making up a fake identity (ahem), but just slightly altering a few things (changing their age by one year, moving the city they were born in to the one fifty miles to the west, etc.). Just little stuff here and there, enough to throw off any sicko with a lot of time on their hands.

I'm just throwing this out there because it's easy to start feeling really comfortable posting with people you know and forgetting a hell of a lot of people lurk here who never post and cannot post. I don't want to creep anyone out, it's just something that's good to remember from time to time.

[democracyindanger]

1. kick for good advice

Although I am disappointed to learn that Bouncy Ball is neither bouncy, nor a ball.

[Bouncy Ball]

2. I know. You'll get over the shock soon, don't worry!

:rofl:

I can be quite bouncy, but a ball I am not.

[katinmn]

3. you're absolutely right

it pays to be cautious

[MissB]

4. It is always good advice

Though I don't worry about it that much. I don't post much in the way of identifying information. :shrug:

[Bouncy Ball]

5. If you're in the habit of not posting much information anyway,

that's a really good thing. If I ever do include information about myself, I examine it first to see if I need to delete any information or change it ever so slightly. Not enough to change the meaning of what I'm saying, but enough to throw off any sickos out there.

[SoCalDem]

6. My life is an open book

I don't care who knows the things I post about.. I have no money to take..or credit cards to access.. I guess if someone wanted to come to my house, I could find some chores for them or just not answer the door..

[El Fuego]

7. I've thought about that

If you know even a little bit about me (like what I do and the city I work in), you can Google me because I'm on my employer's web site, and I'm in a male-dominated field. It's been done before, and it is pretty freaky.

I've been tempted to mention things about my personal life in the Lounge (like my freeper co-workers and other annoying people I know) and I had to remind myself that this is a PUBLIC site. I had this vision of a "Harriet the Spy" scenario, where everyone I know figures out who I am on DU and reads everything I wrote about them online.

[Bouncy Ball]

10. Exactly.

While I don't subscribe to paranoia, I think it's important to be realistic and to realize that there ARE people who will google your name or use little details you don't think a thing about to find out things about you.

I've googled my real first and last name and fortunately I'm apparently nowhere on the internet.

But still. Doesn't hurt to remember that this is not a private board. I always think of it as everything I say on here, I might as well be putting it on a huge billboard, TV, or radio.

[short bus president]

8. AHA! You are too late!

Miss Bouncy R. Ball of 742 Evergreen Terrace... if that is your real name!

[Bouncy Ball]

12. OH MY GOD YOU FOUND ME!!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. It was all over for me the day I posted in the My name is thread...

In GD, right after the elections. So, they can do their best. ;) I felt strongly about it that day, and I still do today. I refuse to be afraid...My daughter on the other hand...:hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

11. Well I'm not talking about being afraid.

I mean you made that choice and that's fine, like I said. Some people here post with their real names as their user names, and that's the choice they made. It's all cool.

I just wanted to remind people who might not have thought about it too much that a little bit here and a little bit there adds up to quite a lot.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Oh, I hope you didn't take my comment as snarky, I didn't mean it

to be. I was just posting my experience. Sorry about that. :hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

16. Don't apologize! I didn't take it that way!

:hi:

[Kipepeo]

14. good advice

I try to refrain from too much personal info. although sometimes I have a beer and let a little slip. :)

I made several good friends on a previous message board and one of them turned out to be a fake who, when confronted, started calling people's job and saying 'look at all these posts, this is what soandso does all day' and emailing loved ones of those in the group with links to silly posts where they complained about boyfriend/sister/friend. Apparently he/she had been collecting city, job, friend, name info for a while and used it when cornered.

Crazy scary intrusive and enough to make me delete my personal online journal forever.

[Bouncy Ball]

18. Yep. I don't have a blog and won't.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. I poopy in my pants

just another piece of the puzzle for whatever sick fuck out there is latching onto me. :hurts:

[Bouncy Ball]

17. LMAO

Good to know, good to know.

[mitchtv]

24. I actually look like

a young Guy Madison

[Zomby Woof]

19. The only thing I am afraid of...

Is your sig pic. :scared:

;-)

[Bouncy Ball]

Hey now!

No one is afraid of The Pomeranian Daisy with the Seal Pup Eyes!

[Beware the Beast Man]

20. I had you fooled all along. I'm really Chris Fuamatu Ma'Affala.

[Bouncy Ball]

21. Wow, you certainly had ME fooled!

But now we know who you are.

[Beware the Beast Man]

22. Just joking. I'm a bot, just like you.

:silly:

[Bouncy Ball]

23. That explains a lot.

[democracyindanger]

31. I knew Chris Fuamatu Ma'Affala.

I served with Chris Fuamatu Ma'Affala.

You, sir, are no Chris Fuamatu Ma'Affala.

[Tsiyu]

25. Yes, there are certain posters

guaranteed to ask things like "Have you ever lived on Elm Street"

or

"What is your middle name"

Bit by bit you are revealed. I can't help but wonder why people answer some of these questions, but then I have answered a few myself.

Anyhoo, come up to the woods if you like, lurkers. We'd love to take you on a nightime tour of the sand pits.

And as for you and your elite little cute melty-eyed dog pic, Bouncy Ball, uh...thanks for the heads up.

"Better to be safe than sorry" *bhg* says in her best old Granny voice.

[AuntieM1957]

26. My dog just told me that she knows your dog

And she's gonna tell!

[Redstone]

27. Nah, fuck it. I'm not afraid.

What, they're going to show up at my door with the Freeper Army backing them up?

I doubt it. but if they do, they'd be well-advised to bring a cannon.

Redstone

[newsguyatl]

28. excellent advice!!!

everytime i see one of these threads you're talking about, i ALWAYS question the motive of the poster...

not only are there lurkers and such, but it has to be said, that probably a good amount of the "regular" du lounge posters are LIKELY trolls... it's the one place to go on du, to stay clear of politics, and so is probably a breeding ground.

[sundog]

29. I'm afraid I don't give a shit

no one wants to fuck with a crazy chef-- I have knives :evilgrin:

really though... I'm like whatever

still love your sig sweetie :hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

30. You like it so much, I'll give it to ya again, baby.

[gardenista]

33. Same here. They'll have to have a little talk with my lopping shears

if they try any crap with me.

[Left Is Write]

32. I will admit right now -

I give my correct age and first name and my kids' ages, but I have been known to fudge on specifically identifying details.

Maybe I should start lying about my age. I'm going to start telling people I'm 32.

Wait. Dang. I'll have to say I'm older. I couldn't squeak that adult daughter by people if I'm 32.

Anyway. Good message.