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Should we worry about 'perverts' reading our posts?

(79 Posts)
MamaCaz Mon 21-Dec-20 10:27:45

I hope this won't be taken as a thread about a thread, although it stems from a matter that arose on another thread (look on the health threads if you want to find the post in question).

I know in advance that we will all have different views on this, but hope that we can respect each other's thoughts without any need for a bunfight grin

Concerns were raised over the wisdom of posting about an 'intimate' health concern, on the grounds that perverts might get off on it.

Personally, as we are anonymous, that thought, unpleasant as it is, doesn't really concern me. I wouldn't know, therefore I see it as unimportant.

Then I started wondering how far people's concerns stretch. For instance, there are no doubt perverts with a fetish for rubber gloves.
A lot of people have described their (anti-covid) glove-wearing practices in great detail. Are any concerned that perverts might be getting off on those descriptions?

As I said, just thought it might be interesting to generally compare our different views on this.

Galaxy Mon 21-Dec-20 10:30:34

I think the majority of posts on those issues, bowel, intimate areas etc are made by trolls, it's a particular issue on MN.

Galaxy Mon 21-Dec-20 10:31:11

Sorry I dont mean the majority of posts I mean the majority of threads.

vampirequeen Mon 21-Dec-20 10:40:42

I don't post anything that I'm ashamed of or sensitive about so if some pervert wants to read them, so be it. Tbh it doesn't matter what you say or do it will appeal to some fetish.

Marydoll Mon 21-Dec-20 10:43:24

I'm not worried about perverts reading such threads, but what does concern me is that people start threads about intimate issues hoping for advice from anonymous posters with no medical knowledge, who then starting offering all sorts of solutions or diagnoses.
It is totally irresponsible.
That's why I always advise seeking professional help.

Also I agree with Galaxy, there are people who get kicks out of starting such threads.

FannyCornforth Mon 21-Dec-20 10:44:52

I think that posters with ill intent are quite easy to spot here, mainly because of user name rules.
As galaxy has said it's a cause for concern over on MN. I do wonder why they don't have the same name change thing as on here.

Galaxy Mon 21-Dec-20 10:51:43

What do you mean fanny, people change names on here all the time?

OceanMama Mon 21-Dec-20 10:54:52

There are much better places to 'get off' on something than a health forum on this kind of site. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about health posts.

FannyCornforth Mon 21-Dec-20 10:59:01

Galaxy

What do you mean fanny, people change names on here all the time?

I thought that you couldn't name change!?
It mentions it somewhere in 'the rules'. It says that you can change it once.
I could be wrong, but I've seen it somewhere. Also one of the mods told me it wasn't allowed.
Tbh I've never understood when users say that they've been 'locked out' and had to NC.

Daisymae Mon 21-Dec-20 11:01:31

Can't say that I worry about it but I personally wouldn't post anything too personal. I think that people forget that once its up any one can see it. We have a neighborhood group and people start with their entire personal history, relationship status etc. Seems a bit niaeve.

MissAdventure Mon 21-Dec-20 11:10:21

It's for each individual to decide.
Someone with a particular fetish will hunt around until they find what they want, and that could be a myriad of different things.

Grannynannywanny Mon 21-Dec-20 11:24:42

Suspicions are often quickly aroused when a seemingly new poster starts a thread on a sensitive or potentially embarrassing subject. But I wonder is it possibly a regular poster who has set up an alias as they don’t want to be identified?

MissAdventure Mon 21-Dec-20 11:26:26

A lot of new users find their way here because they've been looking online and a search result showed gransnet.

Charleygirl5 Mon 21-Dec-20 11:30:01

That post has now been deleted. No more worries until the next one.

Grannynannywanny Mon 21-Dec-20 11:34:31

On the topic of name changes, I’ve looked at my settings and can’t figure out how to do it. I read it can be changed once. Does it need to be done by GNHQ?

I’d like to change mine as it’s ridiculously long and came about by accident during the registration process!

Doodledog Mon 21-Dec-20 11:35:32

FannyCornforth

Galaxy

What do you mean fanny, people change names on here all the time?

I thought that you couldn't name change!?
It mentions it somewhere in 'the rules'. It says that you can change it once.
I could be wrong, but I've seen it somewhere. Also one of the mods told me it wasn't allowed.
Tbh I've never understood when users say that they've been 'locked out' and had to NC.

Of course you can change your name - you'd just re-register using a different email address. How do you think people who share a computer can have separate FB accounts and so on?

You wouldn't be linked to the rest of your posts, as GN doesn't have a 'search user's posts' function as far as I can tell (if we did it would be a very good way of seeing who has asked the same thing over and over, and whether someone shows patterns of behaviour), but presumably people who want to change in order to post a spoof thread aren't bothered about that.

It would be very easy to have several identities on here if you wanted to, and almost certainly there will be people who do exactly that.

Elegran Mon 21-Dec-20 11:37:38

If you worried about it, you'd have to worry about just about anything, really. Anything you can name has someone somewhere who is turned on by it! Even so, no need to encourage the more - umm - mainstream fetishists by adding your own details in reply to a thread newly started about intimate symptoms. Keep them for your GP - or the specialist you are referred to.

dragonfly46 Mon 21-Dec-20 11:39:36

I don't worry about pervs posting on here. They can be ignored. I am, however, very careful about what information I put on about myself and never post pictures of the DGC. For one thing they are not my children and for another once the pictures are posted here they could end up anywhere on the net.

FannyCornforth Mon 21-Dec-20 11:40:22

Thank you for your (rather exasperated!) explanation Doodledog
I'm not the brightest when it comes to things like this.tchconfused

MissAdventure Mon 21-Dec-20 11:42:55

I love your name grannynannywanny

It always makes me smile.

25Avalon Mon 21-Dec-20 11:44:32

Mixed feelings. Yes it is good advice to tell people to see their GP with intimate health problems, but some people won’t unless prompted to do so as they are maybe scared or don’t want to waste their doctor’s time if it’s something trivial. There are, however, medical forums you can go on although like children’s playgrounds they too may attract perverts.

Elegran Mon 21-Dec-20 11:57:27

Doodledog You say "GN doesn't have a 'search user's posts' function as far as I can tell" but if you put the user's name into the search box, it brings up posts by that user and mentions of them by other posters. That gives you an idea of any obsessions that a poster may be displaying. You can sort the results by date if you want, which makes it easier to find things if you know roughly when it was posted.

Grannynannywanny Mon 21-Dec-20 12:07:36

Thank you MissAdventure ?

Being the sensitive little soul that I am, I’ve been embarrassed about it since another poster replied to me and said grannynannywanny or whatever ever your name is it’s too long. Ouch!

sodapop Mon 21-Dec-20 12:09:28

I can see why people share their health concerns on here as its easier than face to face. Also good to know if others have similar problems and how they dealt with it,
I do agree with Marydoll though there is no substitute for professional help.

MissAdventure Mon 21-Dec-20 12:09:33

It's lovely.
We used to call my mum things like that, because we loved her so much. smile