Google your name

[soisew]

I read somewhere that before you name a baby, choose an ID for a website (like this forum) everyone should Google, or search at any site like ASK or MSN to see what comes up. I did that today -- I was shocked -- we have 5 names we use at various sites. I checked my 3 -- I'm changing them asap. One was the name of a porn site in a foreign language, another the name of a town somewhere (that did not matter, I was still in shock from the porn thing) and the last showed my posts to the site it was tagged to. I know I'm not any of those things and maybe no one would know that but me now that I've searched it but...I just don't want my ID name the same. Just to be secure -- in case someone else should be searching my identity -- I'm changing all my ID's. I'll 1st have to find a name that will come out "cleaner". It's always hard to find a name that is not taken so I expect it will take days to research a name, most likely a simple letter and number thing. I know all these forum sites are totally public but when you see all this stuff that the search sites pull up -- you real quick decide to make changes! It's a creepy feeling I tell ya.

However I know if I change an ID and continue to post, those posts will come up with the new name so...that will never change. I can live with that but seeing my ID name's meaning in another language...hmm mind openning!

When we had a MSN groups site we made it totally private (only allowed people via an approved invitation) but these public sites really make my skin crawl. Many of them have thousands of people snooping around daily. I think we all have to take measures to secure our safety. This site (the woman's RV one) may not be as bad as other however...I'm still feeling a bit whooosy!

[retiredhappy]

Not sure I understand why you're afraid. With the advent of computers no one is completely private. I guard my personal information regarding credit cards, banking etc. very carefully. As for people seeing what I post here or other places I really don't care. You're in much more personal danger from someone locally. I worked for the San Diego Police Department for years and don't remember anyone ever having a safety issue with someone tracking them down over the internet assuming of course, they aren't on any dating sites.

[Bethers]

I've been in public jobs for years and years - so my address and phone number were often on business cards, then on websites. if you could put 2 and 2 together. Even before the internet. Worst thing that ever happened to me - a man I hadn't told where I worked, found out and showed up there trying to be"romantic" - I wasn't interested, and that ticked me off. So, being a snoop in the way he was didn't pay off for him. (Now if instead of showing up he'd done the same snooping, but sent flowers, or some such - might have been another story ) But it didn't scare me - and didn't worry me. Geez, the hundreds of people I dealt with on a daily basis were more likely to cause me harm than the strangers. Don't let yourself live in fear.

On the otherhand, it is good to be proactive. Do what you need to to feel safe for you.

As to there being something in another language that's porn - well, you might think you research well enough - and next year you might Google again and find the new name has that. You can't control it all. That said, there are thousands of people out there fighting to be able to use their legitimate real names in email addresses - but are refused because the name contains a spellting that is taboo. For example Mr. Cunthmore - not sure I got his name right, read the article a few days ago with lots of names - but that's the idea.

[cookiemom]

I kind of understand your worries. We have always had our names and address, etc. in the phone book and weren't real sticklers about privacy, until my (at the time) 15 year old son got a letter from a "man" who had seen his photo in the newspaper and wanted to get to know him better and offered to purchase anything for him that he may need. He was able to track down our HOME address and our phone number. So he had everything on our son, his photo, his phone number and address. The photo also listed the days of the week and times our son would be playing soccer at the park.

We were told this man had been investigated for trying to entice young men into relationships, and for having spotting scopes set up in his home to view the young neighbor boys in their bedroom, and many other things.

We were able to get on his My Space and see his invitation for young men to come live with him in what he described as "kind of like a mormon mission, but a gay experience". Even though he is actually in his 40's it listed his age as in his 20's and the "My Space Groups" that he belonged to such as the Gay and Lesbian Teens of Utah, Gay and Bisexual Mormon missionaries, and many others.....

He didn't live in our town, he lived in Monticello Utah, until recently when he moved to OUR TOWN and began working at OUR Wal Mart, less than 1/4 mile from our house.

Due to him not suggesting anything illegal in the letter, there is nothing the police are able to do to him regarding our situation.

It's very scary the creeps that are out there, but even with this happening to us we try to keep it all in perpective and not get too freaked out.

[Sparkle]

Debbie I hope your son grew up into a guy big enough to beat the crap out of anyone who made an inappropriate move on him! Scary indeed.