Do you worry about being indentified on Gransnet?

I think that if someone went looking for me on here they would be able to find me from things I have posted, but I don't think anyone reading would think 'Oh, that must be Mrs Dog from Doodle Avenue'.

The chances that anyone I know would bother to try to seek me out on here are very slim, and I don't think I post very personal things anyway. Like others, I tend to change small details, so might say 'my mum' when I mean 'my sister' or similar.

I'm not sure what anyone could do with the information if they did work out who I am. I don't have particularly controversial views. I was very careful when the 'trans threads' were in full swing, as when I was working it could have been tricky if I'd been identified, but now I'm fully retired I doubt anyone cares what I think.

I sometimes worry that maybe I have said too much, not because people could try to find me, they’re welcome to as long as they can wipe their feet and put the kettle on, but because it might sound self absorbed and rather tedious.

What's the point if you can't share how you are feeling.? And it's fairly inevitable that you give some context to your life.
Someone tell me please if I've divulged too much? 🤔

As long as you're OK with how much you've divulged Plevey IMO that's all that matters.

It was a thread about estrangement that brought me to GN 13 years ago and if I hadn't shared how I was feeling here, I wouldn't have been able to share at all.

Doing so helped me and I know that what I and other EP's have shared has helped others too so I agree Plevey what's the point if you can't share how you are feeling.

Not at all. X

Don't worry about it but wouldn't like to be identified. Don't usually do personal stuff.
Probably misnamed myself.
Probably should be Doberwoman rather than Labradora. I don't think I'd want me as a pet.
🤗😊😉

Plevey08

What's the point if you can't share how you are feeling.? And it's fairly inevitable that you give some context to your life.
Someone tell me please if I've divulged too much? 🤔

No problem with sharing feelings with a good friend.
But the rest of a crowded Starbucks?

Smileless2012

As long as you're OK with how much you've divulged Plevey IMO that's all that matters.

It was a thread about estrangement that brought me to GN 13 years ago and if I hadn't shared how I was feeling here, I wouldn't have been able to share at all.

Doing so helped me and I know that what I and other EP's have shared has helped others too so I agree Plevey what's the point if you can't share how you are feeling.

Thank you. I'm thinking the same as you

Labradora

Don't worry about it but wouldn't like to be identified. Don't usually do personal stuff.
Probably misnamed myself.
Probably should be Doberwoman rather than Labradora. I don't think I'd want me as a pet.
🤗😊😉

Love it 😜

Hmm....might rein it in a bit.

That's for MawsRosie.
It is quite cathartic expressing a few things.

There’s also such a thing as TMI

Graphite

Oh, I have no doubt I could be identified. Not because I give too much away but simply because I understand:

a) how hacked data gets onto the dark web and

b) that our internet interaction is being scraped constantly by bots for data that can be added to what’s already known, to build profiles for scammers and other malevolent forces.

The Reform Party have made so secret of they fact that they are building profiles of people. There is a case against them in the High Court as they are refusing to respond to requests to discover what personal data they are holding.

When there’s a political party that wants to repeal the legal acts which currently give us some protection, that is very worrying especially when they plan to target specific groups.

People don’t just disclose personal data about themselves, do they? They disclose personal data about other people in their life. I wonder whether those other people are aware and how comfortable they would feel knowing that things which should be private are being widely discussed and shared.

The Human Rights Act gives us the right to a private life and that does include keeping our personal and medical records confidential.

It follows therefore that if you could be identified and have discussed personal information about a family member which would identify them then you are breaching their right to privacy.

Job seekers nowadays are advised to review their social media as prospective employers will look at it. AI tools make that very easy to do. What if your child or grandchild has done that but you have disclosed information about them that could damage their chance of getting a job?

DWP and HMRC already look at social media in investigations but it wouldn’t take much of a step to use it more widely.

Crikey...think I'll just talk about the weather. Then again that could be identifying.

The partner of someone on here worked out who I was - in the early days when we out profiles on. It was weird but not at all a worry.

Oldnproud

I forgot to mention - a few times now I have found myself reading through what turn out to be old but newly resurrected threads, and have come across some posts that I totally agree with, only to realise eventually that I had actually written them myself some time in the past.

I reckon that if it takes me so long to identify my own old posts, the chance of anyone else recognising me from them is negligible 😂

🤣

Not terribly worried as I try to be restrained in giving away information to anyone, and I am on no other SM .
A lot of people presumed I was male to begin with…can’t think why !

JamesandJon33

Not terribly worried as I try to be restrained in giving away information to anyone, and I am on no other SM .
A lot of people presumed I was male to begin with…can’t think why !

Probably the and 😄

Not particularly worried. My family know I am on here my daughter encouraged me. I try not to post too much detail for example say what county I live in rather than what town. I have identified my job on here when I’ve given helpful information to people

There are many posters here who reveal that they have experience of some poor relationships IRL; neighbours, ex-partners, family members, bosses and work colleagues. inlaws, who turned out to be cheats, liars, abusers who took advantage.

So everyone should know, there are some dodgy people about. Who can't be trusted. Who are not what they claimed to be.

Yet people here still post that they live alone, are old, female, lonely and socially isolated, have mental health problems or physical disabilities, they'd love to meet new people for a chat or a coffee / are desperate to find a workman. They name their ailments. and identify the prescribed drugs they keep at home.There are people on Good Morning and Soup's Kitchen who regularly reveal where they live, their daily itinerary, the details of their life.

This is not a private conversation.

Also reading GN are an unseen sewer of neds, toerags, scammers and crazy persons looking for easy prey . Easy to PM/ befriend just long enough to be trusted with a working email, real name and address, a photo of you or your home, garden, dog.

You probably never think about this stuff; and if you do,
you 're sure it won't happen to you. The regular familiar posting names are like family; , they're all old women, we know each other so well.

You really don't.

No, I don't worry and yes you may be a wee bit paranoid.

dragonfly46

It bothered me a while ago when someone in an exercise class rushed up and asked me if I was dragonfly46. I laid low for a while after that. Now I no longer have contact with her it no longer bothers me.
However, I am aware that, unlike FB this is an open forum so I am careful about revealing my exact location and when the am going to be away etc. I believe posting when you are away on social media invalidates your travel insurance.

Really 😳

kircubbin2000

A couple of people I follow on another site have been followed and harassed by people who disagree with their views. Police have been involved.

Ditto.

Very unpleasant.

No , but I’m very careful what I post which isn’t much . I’m always surprised at what posters do post . Especially with family issues, which could out you.

Some of my friends know I post, we sometimes read GN together over coffee if there is an interesting thread, or something funny. One of them used to post some years ago, before I did.

As far as I know no one in my family apart from DH has ever heard of GN or Mumsnet.

If someone knew my family very well they may be able to guess my identity but it's unlikely.

Sago

I was really shocked when a regular poster inadvertently revealed exactly who she was.

I tried to DM her via Instagram, Gransnet and FB but she does not accept private messages.

In 5 minutes I had her name, her husbands name, her business and home address.

If it's the same real life ID I saw, I reported the post to GN.

She no longer posts.