Your online trail

[peachy]

Somebody posted something on another forum and it made me think, as I often have before, about our online identity and how we can actually give away more information than we intend to. This is a bigger problem with more targeted sites, such as this one, where you know the country most of the people live.

The post I'm referring to was a quite simple request for a babysitter listing when the babysitter was needed and the location (both essential I guess). From the persons username and location I was about to find their exact home address (with an aerial photo no less) and had details about when their house would be empty.

What are your thoughts on online anonymity? Is it a problem? Do we share this information too freely?

[swissflygirl]

This is something I recently discussed with friends too. Same situation, one poster on another forum who had put his first name, part of his surname and his home town in various posts. From that I found (in Twixtel) his full name, address and mobile phone number.

Whilst I am generally of the opinion that most people do not mean any harm to others, I am aware of the fact that people can find you quite easily should they want to. So, unless it's a well protected site, I'd err on the side of caution and post little personal info.

[retto]

agree with you both. i've seen that post peachy.
i find that i like to know about the people on forums in general but i do it through PM and emails. even though i may know someone in real life, i always refer to their screen names, when on the forum (i think that is just common net curtesy?)
i feel too many people are unaware of the dangers of revealing too much info.
I guess living in Zurich/Switzerland my guard is somewhat down, so i am quite trusting of the forum folk here but i guess if it was more an worldwide site i would be much more private about my personal details.
but on the other hand i know a few members (in the other party) are uber-paranoid about sharing any personal info with me (even through emails and even after i have told them a few details about myself) i find that a bit...off..

[swissflygirl]

If you only know someone online, then the ability to know how comfortable you are about them knowing personal stuff about you is only based on their online persona....and we all know that a persona is easy to manufacture.
In real life we have the ability to take our gut instinct as extra input. Therefore being careful is not a bad thing when it comes to online personal interaction, I think.

[Jet Lag]

Unfortunately, I was "found" by someone that I had no desire in "finding" me on a site. Of course, it was entirely my own fault in that I hadn't thought of a more clever pseudo and had put the town where I live.

Nothing like finding out you've been vitually stalked to make you sick to your stomach.

Sitting here in my living room, in Switzerland, typing away, I admit to stupidly assuming I am safe- not good.

Re: SFG's and Peachy's examples- I can only shake my head.

[HAT]

This information can be abused by anyone, at anytime.

I had the lousy experience of being tracked, threatened and banned, all at the same time. How? They knew my IP and they had friends all around who were willing to trade information without knowing full extent of their actions.

I only hope that someday, these very people will get "raped" too. That's was how I felt when they emailed me at my office address and they kept saying "I know who you are".


HAT
Sorry: I am being mean, I know.

[Speaker to Animals]

Originally Posted by HAT

This information can be abused by anyone, at anytime.

I had the lousy experience of being tracked, threatened and banned, all at the same time. How? They knew my IP and they had friends all around who were willing to trade information without knowing full extent of their actions.

I only hope that someday, these very people will get "raped" too. That's was how I felt when they emailed me at my office address and they kept saying "I know who you are".


HAT
Sorry: I am being mean, I know.

That's appalling HAT - did you threaten any consequences if they actually did that? I can't see any justification for emailing you in your office.

The whole question of data security is one which the Swiss seem to take with worrying levels of innocence - car registrations for example can be looked up on the computer by anyone and will show the keeper and the address - that's a joke! The only way to avoid it is to opt out of the registry but I feel the default should be that you are not entered unless specifically requested. Twixtel is another that I'm not keen on

[tornado]

The policy I would like to establish here is one where obviously personal information should not be posted. No addresses, phone numbers or full names please.

There are competing pressures here, on the one hand we like users to get to know each other personally and build real bonds where they wish to do so, but on the other hand please be aware of the risks of posting personal information and the ability of others to piece it together....

Some people are quite comfortable creating an online persona or simply answering points hypothetically "if I had three kids..." as opposed to "for my three kids...".

Most posters are capable of getting the balance right, but please give a nudge to those who seem a bit too fond of full disclosure...

I will try and establish an FAQ which will help the Apprentice Conspirators...

Have fun !
BigT

[red*light*special]

I think I know this one. I was lurking over there during one of my bannings when I came across a post from a man seeking a baby-sitter as his wife was injured. Because he actually posted his phone number I could contact him even though I couldn't log in. I spoke to him on the phone for ten minutes, he rang me back 15 minutes later to ask me if I could come and look after it the next day. I thought I'd be staying there with the mum (who couldn't carry the child, hence the need for a sitter) so that we could get to know each other in the safety of the kids own environment. Nope, I was expected to take the baby out with me, they didn't ask my address or even my surname and, after a month, they still have none of my details........ anyone want to buy a baby?

Originally Posted by peachy

Somebody posted something on another forum and it made me think, as I often have before, about our online identity and how we can actually give away more information than we intend to. This is a bigger problem with more targeted sites, such as this one, where you know the country most of the people live.

The post I'm referring to was a quite simple request for a babysitter listing when the babysitter was needed and the location (both essential I guess). From the persons username and location I was about to find their exact home address (with an aerial photo no less) and had details about when their house would be empty.

What are your thoughts on online anonymity? Is it a problem? Do we share this information too freely?

[peachy]

Originally Posted by Jet Lag

Re: SFG's and Peachy's examples- I can only shake my head.

Well actually I wasn't criticising the person, in a request for a babysitter it is perfectly reasonable, even necessary, to give your approximate location and the dates.

Do you think there is ways that the Tornados of the world can realistically protect their flock from themselves?

Does it REALLY matter if people know who you are?

Has anybody ever been caught out by it aside from nutters stalking them? I actually had a *reverse stalking* in that somebody I knew in "real life" tracked me onto a forum and started sending me strange PM's. The person tried to test my integrity with regards to Mrs Peachy (pretending I had met them at an event) then when they didn't make any progress just stopped. A year later they sent some more and it got really personal, it was certain phrases and info that revealed who it was.