Be careful what you post

I've heard that some employers now google applicants names to see what comes up - suddenly those topless beach photos or drunken antics youngsters post come back to haunt them.

grannylin Thank you for that link. I have only just had time to read it. The original thread was before my time.

I have Googled back several pages before I found a mention of my posts. I will take great care in future.

Welcome back Grandmanorm! A fine blowy day now, in our neck of the woods, isn't it! A large flurry of leaves just flew past the window followed by a big splatter of raindrops!

Oh greatnan the school nurse made my eyes come out on stalks with her stories about the under 16s texting photos of themselves having sex, to their friends!!!!

I'm sure that's what happened Ana.

With hindsight, I could have concocted a juicy story and made a fortune!!

It has occurred to me that in the light of the Jimmy Savile scandal/coverup, journalists may well be trawling sites such as Gransnet hoping to dig up a bit more gossip and/or accusations - after all, we are around the right age group.

One good reason for letting friends use my flat when I am in NZ for six weeks is that it breaks up the 30-day limit for insurance.
It has taken me some time to understand how very dangerous the internet can be, as well as so useful. When one of my gds was about 14, she posted a photo of herself on Facebook, along with her name, address and phone number! Her mother never uses the computer but, luckily, her big sister saw it. So it is not only the 'silver surfers' that make mistakes.

oh dear greatnan it does make you think the internet is a very powerful tool!!

glad it all worked out ok for you and daughter.

Grandmanorm that sounds like a lovely trip you had!!

We still recovering jet lag wise from 10 days in India the 5half hours time difference has messedup our body clocks, but not been back week yet!!
We had amazing time so worth it!

You cannot imagine or believe how small the world is, and how petty and nasty some people with a bee in the bonnet can be. I joined a French Forum about 5 years ago, and got into an argument about a 'society' and what they get up to, and one of the Moderators (a member of said 'society') didn't like it. He knew my first name, the town where I lived in UK and that I was a teacher + subject. He phoned the Headmaster of a school there (member of same said 'society) and asked if he knew of me. He didn't, but asked his Head of Department for my subject, who of course knew me very well, as we met often as I also was head of dpt. Bingo - she also knew my husband and his job. He then made threats to me, saying I should be careful about my family!!! And when we next visited, friends of ours at his sports club asked us why this guy was asking questions about us. Incredible and disgusting- fortunately we have no family there any longer. But it just shows!

Well, unless you use your own name and give out your address on Gransnet, I don't see how burglars could be alerted to the fact that you were away on holiday, Grandmanorm. I'd agree that Facebook users should be very careful not to give that sort of information away willy nilly...

Hello everyone, I have just returned from 5 glorious weeks with my DD and her family in Sydney. I never posted that I was going as I was told by DD that if we were burgled during our trip, the insurance company could use that to invalidate our insurance.
I did look at Gransnet whilst away but chose not to write anything.
Perhaps that was a bit paranoid, but better safe than sorry.
PS I loved our trip there, would love to live there as weather fabulous and not having to wonder what to wear for warmth every day was glorious!!!

Yes I will email GNHQ.

Sorry, Cari - our posts collided

Have you let GNHQ know they are journalists Ella? Such underhand behaviour is not on. Fishing for stories by the sound of it.

Ella! That's a bit creepy...

greatnan I am so pleased that everything has settled down for you

I've been pmd by a journalist twice this week in reference to the current scandal in the news.
I suppose there is nothing to stop someone joining Gransnet in order to contact a member.

Be careful on this forum too as nanapug has already commented. I put some remarks regarding my DIL and family on this forum and she justifiably told me off, in a very nice way. She pointed out that these forums are open to -everyone-. As I don't follow Mumsnet it hadn't occured to me that people other then grandparents would read Gransnet. I'm fairly new to forums, though I do follow FB but am very careful what I say there. I am amazed at how some of the younger people I know put down every moment and thought of their lives on it. It is nice to see photos of people, especially those who live abroad. However, everytime my DIL or DS put one photo of their little girls, another person we know with a baby puts dozens. Luckily we are amused by it.

That's good news Greatnan

My daughter sent me a very loving pm on Facebook last night - she said I was a big 'eejit' but she loves me anyway! All's well that ends well.
I was not able to post any names or ages on my profile for some reason. It won't let me post photos either. I think it doesn't like me.

nellie have a look at the Tech forum,thread: ex pat maggie leaving Gransnet and on the last page you will find a comment from Gransnet about this

I've just looked myself up. It's amazing what I do. I seem to have about half a dozen aliases, all in America, but none in this country fortunately, as I write some pretty rude things about what the govt. and its friends are doing to the NHS!

greatnan I think this is a situation we all could fall into. Seeing your post, I had a bit of a panic and just looked up a name I rather foolishly put on something, Fortunately there are several references to other persons of that name so clear identification is probably not too much of a risk. I am very relieved by that.

This is all rather worrying! Is there anything anywhere on Gransnet that clearly warns about using such identifying details? It would be helpful if there was.

A clear and obvious warning posted somewhere on the site would be very helpful. Would it be possible HQ?

Yes, the questions are optional so good for you GRANSNET. The "developmental emails" phrase is on the registration page.
I don't know what it means, sorry