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Internet Forums & Stalking....
I had a discussion with my eldest last night about this - something they have been talking about at school. How being a member of any web forum (such as BE) can lead to another member stalking the "real" you.
I hadn't really thought about it but I guess it must happen. I find it really weird that someone you only "know" on a forum would go to the hassle of working out who you are and contacting you/causing issues for you outside of the forum limits for no other reason than because they can - and probably because they are a total freak who needs a proper hobby. Thoughts? Have you ever had someone from a forum stalk you even though you don't know them from Adam in the "outside of that forum" world? |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 11556906)
I had a discussion with my eldest last night about this - something they have been talking about at school. How being a member of any web forum (such as BE) can lead to another member stalking the "real" you.
I hadn't really thought about it but I guess it must happen. I find it really weird that someone you only "know" on a forum would go to the hassle of working out who you are and contacting you/causing issues for you outside of the forum limits for no other reason than because they can - and probably because they are a total freak who needs a proper hobby. Thoughts? Have you ever had someone from a forum stalk you even though you don't know them from Adam in the "outside of that forum" world? I use LinkenIn to track people down/check them out all the time (for legit business purposes). Cross-referencing is bloody easy. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
I have thought about this, yeah... I don't know. I'd like to think most people around here are honest and not creepy... mostly, haha, but I think quite a few people around here could have their real identities unearthed relatively easily...
But I'm more careful elsewhere online. My Facebook is pretty well completely locked down, and I am very selective about what I post on there, and I regularly check my security settings to make sure Facebook hasn't farted around with new policies or whatever. LinkedIn is, well, LinkedIn. Again, I just have it separated from the rest of my online world - not linked to Facebook, Twitter, whatever. I have a Twitter account that I've used, uh, twice? My other online accounts I use different screen names and emails, so that they stay pretty insular. Between meetups and whatnot, I'm not too concerned about BE overall (knock wood)... but yeah, the thought has crossed my mind. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Souvy
(Post 11556924)
We had this discussion last night and, if you show up on my doorstep again, I WILL get a restraining order!;)
I use LinkenIn to track people down/check them out all the time (for legit business purposes). Cross-referencing is bloody easy. Hmm I know what you mean but I guess I am getting at more freaky stalking, like overstepping the nosing at Linkedin or someone's FB profile. I mean finding out where they live, causing issues for them within their job/personal life or spying on them in places where they hang out. Creepy weirdo stalking I guess rather than professional business type stalking! |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Not that I know of I haven't.
I also make the real me hard to find. My user names are not linked to my email address anymore, I don't use my real name really anywhere online that is public, I am not listed in the phone book, My name on Facebook is my first and middle name which aside from family nobody knows since I don't use it other then when the government wants it or requires a company to have it, but I don't tell anyone it. I am sure if someone really really wanted to they could find me, but I am pretty damn boring and they won't get much entertainment from it. I google my name all the time, I give up after about 50 pages. I also don't use my photo on my FB profile, it's always a random photo of something, a bird, a cloud, water, an airplane, a car and so on. My GF was stalked once, but the guy didn't find her online, he was her neighbor and had moved, but kept coming back and bothering her, purposely going to her work for no reason other to bug her, coming to her door and trying to come in, and so on. (Before I met her) The police never really did much but take reports, he eventually stopped after her neighbor said if he came around again his as* would be grass. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11556932)
I have thought about this, yeah... I don't know. I'd like to think most people around here are honest and not creepy... mostly, haha, but I think quite a few people around here could have their real identities unearthed relatively easily...
But I'm more careful elsewhere online. My Facebook is pretty well completely locked down, and I am very selective about what I post on there, and I regularly check my security settings to make sure Facebook hasn't farted around with new policies or whatever. LinkedIn is, well, LinkedIn. Again, I just have it separated from the rest of my online world - not linked to Facebook, Twitter, whatever. I have a Twitter account that I've used, uh, twice? My other online accounts I use different screen names and emails, so that they stay pretty insular. Between meetups and whatnot, I'm not too concerned about BE overall (knock wood)... but yeah, the thought has crossed my mind. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
I also don't use twitter, and while I have a linkedin account, its never updated and really I never did fill it out much, doesn't list where I am, where I work or anything, the employer listed is like 5 or 6 years ago.
Its not a useful website for my line of work, only signed up as someone suggested it could be useful. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 11556944)
I don't think I have ever been stalked by anyone on here but I wonder if anyone has had an experience of it. If you had would you mention it on here I wonder or would you not because you didn't want to let the stalker know you were onto them and their weird ways....:(
On the evening of that September 11th, I had planned to meet a bunch of posters from the internet and then to crash at the home of a poster called JerseyGirl. The meetup was to be in Lower Manhattan and was postponed because a plane fell on it. When it was rescheduled JerseyGirl was elsewhere and missed it. That was a shame because JerseyGirl turned out to be an utter nutcase. She fell out with another poster, a university professor, found out his real address (he posted using his actual name) and began enrolling him in political organisations and ordering goods and services in his name. She then moved on to doing the same to his wife and eventually turned up at the university. After meeting hundreds of people from the internet I would have liked to have met at least one stereotypical lunatic (I think the Montana Miltiaman was an atypical lunatic). |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11556932)
I have thought about this, yeah... I don't know. I'd like to think most people around here are honest and not creepy... mostly, haha, but I think quite a few people around here could have their real identities unearthed relatively easily...
But I'm more careful elsewhere online. My Facebook is pretty well completely locked down, and I am very selective about what I post on there, and I regularly check my security settings to make sure Facebook hasn't farted around with new policies or whatever. LinkedIn is, well, LinkedIn. Again, I just have it separated from the rest of my online world - not linked to Facebook, Twitter, whatever. I have a Twitter account that I've used, uh, twice? My other online accounts I use different screen names and emails, so that they stay pretty insular. Between meetups and whatnot, I'm not too concerned about BE overall (knock wood)... but yeah, the thought has crossed my mind. Quite a few people on here know who I really am and I know who they are. If I put my name on here, it would take seconds to track me down to my home. My name (my name) will get lots of search hits because I write stuff for publication and it's no secret that I live in Quebec. My name is unusual in Quebec. And I'm in the phonebook. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 11556976)
On the evening of that September 11th, I had planned to meet a bunch of posters from the internet and then to crash at the home of a poster called JerseyGirl. The meetup was to be in Lower Manhattan and was postponed because a plane fell on it. When it was rescheduled JerseyGirl was elsewhere and missed it.
That was a shame because JerseyGirl turned out to be an utter nutcase. She fell out with another poster, a university professor, found out his real address (he posted using his actual name) and began enrolling him in political organisations and ordering goods and services in his name. She then moved on to doing the same to his wife and eventually turned up at the university. After meeting hundreds of people from the internet I would have liked to have met at least one stereotypical lunatic (I think the Montana Miltiaman was an atypical lunatic). |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Souvy
(Post 11556978)
It's something you have to accept once you start publicising anything about yourself.
Quite a few people on here know who I really am and I know who they are. If I put my name on here, it would take seconds to track me down to my home. My name (my name) will get lots of search hits because I write stuff for publication and it's no secret that I live in Quebec. My name is unusual in Quebec. And I'm in the phonebook. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 11556989)
Wow - that is totally what I am talking about! Was she stalking him because she felt wronged by him on the forum or was she just plain bonkers?
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
It's a bit worrying with kids. They are growing up in a world where privacy almost does not exist, and so they are willing participants. The tech companies constantly chip away at privacy and are funnelling everyone into large social networks. I think it's only the young or famous that are at risk of being stalked.
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 11556991)
As I read this, I am feeling like you want us to go look for you..is there a prize if we locate you? :rofl:
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 11556976)
On the evening of that September 11th, I had planned to meet a bunch of posters from the internet and then to crash at the home of a poster called JerseyGirl. The meetup was to be in Lower Manhattan and was postponed because a plane fell on it. When it was rescheduled JerseyGirl was elsewhere and missed it.
That was a shame because JerseyGirl turned out to be an utter nutcase. She fell out with another poster, a university professor, found out his real address (he posted using his actual name) and began enrolling him in political organisations and ordering goods and services in his name. She then moved on to doing the same to his wife and eventually turned up at the university. After meeting hundreds of people from the internet I would have liked to have met at least one stereotypical lunatic (I think the Montana Miltiaman was an atypical lunatic). |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by The4BellsLondon
(Post 11557012)
Jerseygirl who is still on here ?
I had the same thing go through my head. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 11556994)
That's a fine line. It was a long time ago and I don't remember the thread that set her off but her beef with him was rooted in an argument on the board.
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Souvy
(Post 11557002)
Probably more of a disappointment.
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
It is not the slightest bit difficult to find out who I am IRL and where I live.
PS. I don't keep any cash there. :) |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Souvy
(Post 11557018)
Are you stalking my thoughts?
I had the same thing go through my head. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
I take great care to conceal my identity on here :)
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by JonboyE
(Post 11557028)
It is not the slightest bit difficult to find out who I am IRL and where I live.
PS. I don't keep any cash there. :) |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Zoe Bell
(Post 11557031)
I take great care to conceal my identity on here :)
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 11557020)
I would guess if you were to be stalked, that would be the main starting point for it. Having a falling out and being so incensed that you forget that the internet and that most of the comments on it are not real life.
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Didn't Bazzz get stalked and disappeared sharpish like ?
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by AmyDavid
(Post 11557032)
Ha ha! Do you worry about possible stalkings due to your info being so accessible?
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Tangram
(Post 11557048)
Didn't Bazzz get stalked and disappeared sharpish like ?
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 11556976)
On the evening of that September 11th, I had planned to meet a bunch of posters from the internet and then to crash at the home of a poster called JerseyGirl. The meetup was to be in Lower Manhattan and was postponed because a plane fell on it. When it was rescheduled JerseyGirl was elsewhere and missed it.
That was a shame because JerseyGirl turned out to be an utter nutcase. She fell out with another poster, a university professor, found out his real address (he posted using his actual name) and began enrolling him in political organisations and ordering goods and services in his name. She then moved on to doing the same to his wife and eventually turned up at the university. After meeting hundreds of people from the internet I would have liked to have met at least one stereotypical lunatic (I think the Montana Miltiaman was an atypical lunatic).
Originally Posted by The4BellsLondon
(Post 11557012)
Jerseygirl who is still on here ?
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 11557029)
When this last came up JerseyGirl here said not. That JerseyGirl was from Colt's Neck.
Jerseygirl is a very popular internet handle. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
I've seen some fairly whacko stalking on other bulletin boards, the bulk of which was north-American centric (OK, USA) but there seems to be an outbreak of nutcracker back in blighty too.
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
I know who Souvy is and understand that he publishes a lot of material under his real name. I don't operate in quite the same circles, but my contact details do appear on the end of a bunch of media releases and corporate bulletins. It would take probably not a lot of effort to go from knowing where I work to finding where I live - my user name on here makes the general area, at least, reasonably obvious!
Earlier in my career, when I worked for a public relations agency and was the point of contact for a couple of (for the tech industry) fairly high-profile organizations, I would fill the top page of a Google search of my name. Now that Google's algorithms are a bit more sophisticated, and my employer is in such an esoteric field that I don't talk to media people, even trade press folks, nearly so often, I've fallen off the top of the list in favour of some oceanography prof who shares the same name and publishes prolifically. That's a good thing, in my book. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by dbd33
(Post 11556976)
On the evening of that September 11th, I had planned to meet a bunch of posters from the internet and then to crash at the home of a poster called JerseyGirl. The meetup was to be in Lower Manhattan and was postponed because a plane fell on it. When it was rescheduled JerseyGirl was elsewhere and missed it.
That was a shame because JerseyGirl turned out to be an utter nutcase. She fell out with another poster, a university professor, found out his real address (he posted using his actual name) and began enrolling him in political organisations and ordering goods and services in his name. She then moved on to doing the same to his wife and eventually turned up at the university. After meeting hundreds of people from the internet I would have liked to have met at least one stereotypical lunatic (I think the Montana Miltiaman was an atypical lunatic). Well I never!? To be honest Facebook was invented for stalking the opposite sex. How do you think it got to 1 billion people so fast? |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by JamesM
(Post 11557077)
There are University Professors on this forum!
Well I never!? |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
I tend to feel relatively safe here on BE & the only other board(s - 2 of 'em) I post to regularly. Some people know here & there who I am in Real Life; I'm not too hard to find, really.
I buttoned down Fbook, & changed the pattern of my user names online, a couple of years ago after 2 rather unpleasant incidents which could be classed as stalking: 1. Someone who had a beef with a person with the same name as me, from the same area, DID actually turn up on my doorstep, breathing fire. 2. Some weirdo tracked one of my children via me, through Fbook. Both incidents were resolved very fast. Years & years ago (think Usenet), I got some offline, in-person, hassle resulting from someone tracking/stalking my online persona. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
If the stalker is female, good looking with a hot body, looking for sex and shows up at my door nekkid carrying a shepherds pie and a bottle of rum then stalk away if not then I prefer to remain as anonymous as I can.
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by JamesM
(Post 11557077)
There are University Professors on this forum!
Well I never!? To be honest Facebook was invented for stalking the opposite sex. How do you think it got to 1 billion people so fast? |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
I'm so glad I have a really really common name and all the others with my name are waaaaaaaaaay more accomplished than me. My mediocrity keeps me safe. :thumbup:
as for kids, i chose to scare the crap out of mine by showing her what's online about people. the rule is - would you want to invite this person into your home? if not, don't talk to them on the webz. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian
(Post 11557103)
If the stalker is female, good looking with a hot body, looking for sex and shows up at my door nekkid carrying a shepherds pie and a bottle of rum then stalk away if not then I prefer to remain as anonymous as I can.
It got too much by the 7th straight night and I had to boot her and warn the concierges. Toronto is the capital of crazy stalkers. They don't put that on their liveability indexes. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
This thread has been useful as it has prompted me to delete my Facebook account that I set up when it was still steam powered. My last visit was in 2008!
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Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
Originally Posted by Shirtback
(Post 11557089)
I buttoned down Fbook, & changed the pattern of my user names online, a couple of years ago after 2 rather unpleasant incidents which could be classed as stalking:
Based on what some posters here have said about themselves it isn't too hard to figure out who is who. |
Re: Internet Forums & Stalking....
i used to be quite traceable on the web through usernames etc, but I tightened everything down recently
I searched myself under my own name, and my usual online handles, and apart from my linkedin display picture, a couple of instagram likes and some old car pictures...i'm not very identifiable imo |
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