Fall out from identifying posts

Thank you for all of your replies. While getting over chemo and having time on my hands, I have read lots of posts. The Good Morning posts have been comforting to read each day. Life goes on. It's more situations than names that have made me think ooops I hope the people in the situation don't read Gransnet and realise the remarks were about them especially if they have followed earlier posts. The same usernames pop up regularly and it must be easy to think it is a "private" site not one that is open to thousands or millions?? Anyway the usual advice of don't post anything you wouldn't want to see on the town noticeboard...or something like that.

HelterSkelter wishing you all the very best for your recovery.
GN is absolutely amazing company.
I have owed my sanity to it many times, and have also made some wonderful friends on here.
Please continue to post!

I'm always extremely careful not to divulge personal information on line, even to the extent that I'll slightly modify the details if I think there's the slightest chance of laying a trail. I do worry about some of the more detailed relationship threads here, some of which almost read like a plot for an episode of Eastenders, and with as many characters. That degree of detail is ill-advised, and could cause all sorts of problems.

I discovered all the personal details of a poster's relative from the information given in a post. This included mobile and landline numbers and home address.
An aspect of the post was of interest to me, so I Googled for more information, never thinking personal information would be revealed. Be careful what you post. May I add that I did not keep the personal information and have not memorised it either.

I know the exact address of one regular poster purely from what they have said on here.
Nothing dodgy, I was just intrigued.
I did wonder about the wisdom of it.

As I said, it is reasonably easy to track someone down. Try Googling yourself.

I was shocked at how much information is available about me, a consequence of my career and voluntary work.

As no-one uses their own name and surname- some back gossip must be going on if you can Google someone!?!

Fleurpepper

As no-one uses their own name and surname- some back gossip must be going on if you can Google someone!?!

Some people do use their actual names, or mention their real names in posts. Some people reveal a great deal about themselves and their families circumstances in their posts. Some people mention events which would enable a determined tracker to find them.

Oh yes, I realise, so caution is definitely in order. I shudder to think anyone on GN would stoop that low however.

Shame on them if they do.

Fleurpepper

Shame on them if they do.

Absolutely. I wasn’t thinking of Gransnetters doing it though, more potential scammers.

I read the Good Morning thread but don’t post (the mundane details of my daily life would interest nobody). I’m surprised how often a poster says that it’s their child’s or grandchild’s xth birthday that day, with gender mentioned also. And it’s clear on GM roughly where people live. Sometimes a child’s photo is posted, apparently with parental consent, but everyone in the world with internet access has access to this information.

Fleurpepper

Oh yes, I realise, so caution is definitely in order. I shudder to think anyone on GN would stoop that low however.

Anybody could be ‘on’ GN. Anybody in the world. I have come to trust some posters but anyone, anywhere, can read what is posted. I have certainly seen instances of posters not being what they seem, a man using a woman’s name for instance. It happens.

Oh yes, agreed, I am fully aware. I am talking about GNetters doing searches on other GNetters right here. I hope not- and if yes, shame on them.

Oh dear; just googled my real name to see what would come up, and it seems that I am very active in the porn industry!

Fleurpepper

Oh yes, agreed, I am fully aware. I am talking about GNetters doing searches on other GNetters right here. I hope not- and if yes, shame on them.

I was not doing a search on a gransnetter. The poster spoke of a subject concerning her relative. This subject was of interest to me because of my background. I was interested to know more so used Google. I was shocked when the details of the poster's relative came up.

Nor was any form of 'back gossip' involved.

It just goes to show the power of the internet, which many people underestimate.

Yes, indeed it does Marydol. Another concern I have is when posters say it's their birthday and give their age. Without realising it, they have given their exact date of birth. There are fraudsters out there gathering information. I know, I've just been seriously scammed, and I am careful.

I think it is a question of using the same pseudenym on more than one site.

I tried looking my GN name online and nothing came up. it seemed that Google couldn't tell the difference between m0nica, M0nica, Monica and monica and almost every reference referred to something called Github, owned by Microsoft and someone there.

To get anything else I had to add Gransnet to M0nica. So I feel quite secure, that anyone back searching my name will get nowhere. But it was a good memory jog not to be tempted to use the same name on more than one site, in case info on another site with a different purpose could lead to identification.

Searching on my real name brings a lot of references because of my involvement in running a learned society and editing their journal

Oh M0nica that sounds very interesting! I’m intrigued now!
I’d be tempted to be naughty and google you if I could.

Can I just add please, further to my earlier post, that I didn’t google anyone - the person I referred to actually mentioned where they lived on here. Mary probably knows who I mean

Aldom

Yes, indeed it does Marydol. Another concern I have is when posters say it's their birthday and give their age. Without realising it, they have given their exact date of birth. There are fraudsters out there gathering information. I know, I've just been seriously scammed, and I am careful.

I’ve definitely done that.

choughdancer

Oh dear; just googled my real name to see what would come up, and it seems that I am very active in the porn industry!

My friend JaneJudge (not her real name) has a porn star namesake!
I googled ‘Jane Judge’ to see if she had chosen a fictional character or whatever, and was shocked by what I saw.
No connection whatsoever with our JJ (thank heavens)

I’m always amazed that ‘meets’ are advertised on here for all the world to see - date, time and place including the participants.

I am intrigued as to how meet ups could be a problem. Do you mean that a dodgy character could turn up? I have been to many occasions over the years in different areas and there has never been a problem. It would be a shame to be too anxious about this although I suppose we could give information via a pm . Would that be safer?