A privacy comment
 

Just out of curiosity, I googled my board name. Because its not a generic name but a totally individual one, I came upon posts on this board and others, that I have made in my name - lizwil98.

The reason why I stuck to that name is because I have had that name since 1998 when I first got onto the Internet - I think back then it was words only - at least what I had was.

Anyway, I really don't care that people on this board can read my posts, but I honestly don't think I want everyone in the world who knows my board name to be able to search and find my posts. It's not that I am posting anything secret. It just feels a bit creepy to me that someone might be able to find out things about me - because my name is identifiable.

I tried it with various other people. I found someone called snorkmaiden on my space. Doesn't look like OUR snorkmaiden.

I found an NSPaul on some Honda CRV board.

I think that I might very well change my name to something generic. I only hope I remember what it is!!!

Does it concern others that if you always use the same login name - people can snoop around and find out things about you?

Re: A privacy comment
 

To honest no.

I don't post anything on here that I wouldn't want anyone anywhere else to see.

Re: A privacy comment
 

Im just going to google my name and see what comes up............:blink:

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If you turn safe search off, all kinds off filth comes up on google images.

Mind you, if you turn safe search off, all kinds of filth comes up whatever you type...

Re: A privacy comment
 

ok, just checked mine out. It did come up with a few expat posts. Also it looks like someone else may use the same screen name as there was a post on another site that was not me. That amazes me even more!

Did you also run a check under your screen name for the images on google.?
Interestingly mine came up with several pics, 1 being for iaink's atvator :confused: and sue the administrator :confused: what the hell??????

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just put my name into google hells bells I had better log off from now on as thay can use my name to post from what I can see :curse:lets see what happens I'll make this my last the next post will be from google :blink:

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yip Im in google :eek:

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thats it now Im worried anyone can use my name:eek:

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Are you saying that you could: google your name and then post from inside google? or am i being thick??!
I logged off and then googled jempee and tried to post and it wouldnt let me.

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Out of interest just searched kate white and images on google. Which one is you ;) oh and can i have a authors signed book please of your new release.........how to set your mans thighs on fire. :rofl::rofl:

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:rofl:yeah seen that as well :rofl:hay my man is on fire anyway he's coming home:rofl:have you checked yours out?.

Re: A privacy comment
 

Nope. I'm not in the slightest bit concerned because I don't have anything to hide. There are all kinds of ways to find out about people either online or offline if someone really wants to. It's true that we leave a trail behind us as we surf but who's interested in following it? I just hope that people follow my trail back to my blog! ;)

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If I google my name I get the bio of a porn Star!:D:D:D

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:rofl::rofl:beats mine but saying that I like my new look botox works wonders or is it a face lift:rofl: and new hair style who care I look good:rofl:now Im off to see what else I have been upto:lol:

Re: A privacy comment
 

I got 11.8 million hits for 'Wannabe' in Google, and 210,000 in Google Images.

Fortunately, not all of them are me. ;)

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no your not thick I just went in to google and bobs yar uncle all sorts came up thank god its not porn oops sorry zoe :rofl:still beats mine:p:rofl:

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ok own up what one is you :sneaky:

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it is a good point.and something that people should be aware of..esp if using User names close to their own name.

there are many reasons why people may not want others seeing where they are and what they are doing. Some people share very openly in these kinds of forums..and chat rooms!.....be aware also ..that some Chat room transcipts can be found by googling aswell. so not all is as private as we may think.

i am glad my user name here is maple leaf./..very common..and when i picked it i had no idea of the huge signifance it had to canada..i just picked it cos i like the leaves...:p

Re: A privacy comment
 

lizwil98, have you ever heard of echalon?

Privacy is a concept totally incompatible with electronic communication.

There are folk on here who could give you technical details, but I won't name them in case the NSA is listening. (Which they are).

Re: A privacy comment
 

I can see your underpants. :thumbup:

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I think I will keep my name on here -- too complicated to change it now!

However, I will admit that a while back - not on this board - I had quite a bitch session about somebody and after a couple of days I got cold feet in case this person connected my login name and found out I was complaining - so I went back and deleted all the posts - which I couldn't do on this board.

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So out of curiosity I googled my name - and found out I'm a computer virus:eek: Honest, I'm not, I took the name from a motorbike we used to have!!!

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I guess your name could be either start-win or star-twin. That's the thing about concatenating words - of course we all know about experts-exchange and pen-island.

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I googled Morwenna and was disappointed to find that there was no reference to me or any of my musings until page 19!! :eek: :rofl:

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I'm a bit confused as to what people thought they'd find. After all, BE is part of the internet, and kids are always being warned not to post their details on the net :confused:

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I just thought I was more famous than that! :p

Re: A privacy comment
 

I wouldnt use my real name on here, i know from experience ;)

Our username came from a spelling mistake, but coulnt be bothered changing it, looked like to much hassle :rofl::rofl:

Wow there is pages of my posts, only been on here since march this year :ohmy:
pictures attached to my username are off the webs on trees :eek::eek:

Maybe BE should advise new users not to use there real names :thumbsup::thumbsup:

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I searched my real name a while back, and did come up with a few things!

Re: A privacy comment
 

thats why i dont use my real name :rofl::rofl:
and better if you

"real name"

comes up with just the name :sneaky:
The internet is a powerful tool used right and like the other poster pointed out, you can get info on people from all over ;)

Re: A privacy comment
 

There is nothing I mind on there .... one is a reference to me being added to the list of registered Physiotherapists of Alberta, two are cast lists from shows I was in, and one is a response I made in 2004 to somebody asking about the effects of exercise on an arthritic hip .... I can't think that I realised my own name and email would be posted along with my reply when I did so, and it has resulted in my getting two or three private emails from individuals wanting advice for their hip problems! :o
I usually just advise them stongly to consult their own doctor or therapist who can make a proper examination and advise accordingly!

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Mine just comes up with 1 link when I google it:(. Thats to the blog.

Sharon

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Surely in this day and age we should all be sensible enough not to use our real names :confused:

We repeatedly warn our children to be careful when they're on the internet and constantly advise them not to give away information about themselves (never divulge real name, images etc - as adults we surely apply the same criteria to ourselves).

Re: A privacy comment
 

well Im not going to change my name;)but glad liz did bring it to light from now on I know not to give away too much;)

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I have become dbd33, it's more my identity than whatever my birth name is.

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I don't think I'll bother searching all 66,000,000 hits.

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The thing is, when you google your name, you know if all those differnet areas of interest that come up are related to you alone, If I did it I wouldnt know if it was 20 other people all using the same handle, so unless you are posting personal details on 20 different fora, no-one should be able to stitch together much of a picture of you anyway.

I dont much care anyway, I figure "bad people" will be able to find out stuff about you if they want anyway, so what does it matter if I give vague details here about roughly what my income and expenses are, where I live, who I bank with. I dont think there is enough to do any real harm, and if it helps a few people make a better informed decision on emmigrating then its worth it.

Where I do draw the line is posting recognisable recent pictures of my kids. That was part of the deal with the witness protection people...no not really.:D

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Why not post them?

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My granddaughter's Mom freaked out a few months ago becuase they all had pages on My Space or something similar with photos of themselves. Then she herself opened a page on Face Book and has posted pictures of my granddaughter and her other child!!

Mind you, I have never understood WHY its bad to post pictures of kids on the Internet. I can understand if you identified their name and address etc. but if its just a photo on a board - what can someone do with it? After all a child molester would only have to stand outside any school with a camera in a car and take photos of children if he or she really wanted to - it wouldnt be hard to find photos of anonymous children.

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Maybe they're not very nice to look at.

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I wont bore you with the details, but lets just say that we know how paedophiles operate and groom their victims, and we have no intention of helping them find an "in"

Not for me to say:) I have posted pictures before....just out of date ones. Kids change all the time at that age.