Internet Safety

[Concerned]

I was just noticing the amount of names of people being mentioned on here that are not members on this site. As a concerned citizen, I think it would be safer and more considerate if you didn't mention names unless they are members on here. I know I would feel slightly violated if someone mentioned my name on here, since I'm not a member.

[blessed]

Um.. Ok........

[AgapZoe]

Al......Right!!! -Could you,concerned citizen,be a little bit mixed up(no offence), coz the names used here as far as I know,are the usernames and the real names of people over here and also,the people that are usually mentioned here,I do not think they could take any offence as those who mention them here either know them personally and whatever it is that they mention about them ain't something to be concerned* about. You know what am saying!
->I don't know,just a bit confused by this! Unless of course you are a member over here and you do not like your name to be known,or used...for that matter...other than your username only!
-Forgive me if I've stumbled you but this is just what I strongly feel,you know what I mean?
God bless.
-Halimah.

[jtucker]

so when you say concerned citizen, does that mean your a denizen of the forums?

and i am sorry if you have been offended, but i don't recall the names of people being mention that are not memebers, unless it is for a practical such as to explain a point or paint a picture of something.

such as i went to wyr last year and Brother Burly Williams preached and i met Brother Ben Norrod. see neither are forum denizens but i know that this isn't a problem mentioning their names for it in no way reflects on their character, nor de- christianizes them.

[blessed]

I think what the person is trying to say is that he/she does not think it is appropriate to mention someone's real name in our discussions especially if the person is not a member of the forum. Some people have reservations about posting their real name on the internet inc. me. Only three persons on this site know my real name.

Recently a certain Bro name has come up in some discussions( as to who is good for him and who is not ) so I am assuming this thread has something to do with it.

[AlanaH]

I only use first names and last initial because only the people who go to my church (or my close friends from other churches) will know who they really are, so I think it's safe.

[blessed]

Well.. as per the persons request let us all be a little more careful.

[AlanaH]

Sure thing.......

[BroTrevor]

Recently a certain Bro name has come up in some discussions( as to who is good for him and who is not ) so I am assuming this thread has something to do with it.

Yeah... I'm thinking it's the same, and I agree with the context of not using another young persons name in the conversation.

Also agree with JTuck, Mentioning being blessed by a preacher by name surely isn't "unsafe"

[Babyruth]

I agree with this post, in fact, I just posted something similar somewhere else. I agree with what blessed said, lots of people wouldn't be too happy if they knew their name was being mentioned on a site that they didn't use. Especially if it's not too nice, or even joking, they can't defend theirselves. Alana, even your mentions, I wouldn't reccomend them. I don't use people's names because I know they might not like it.

[AlanaH]

Wow, way to point fingers...

[Babyruth]

I'm not pointing fingers, I'm making sure people's privacy is not breached. I don't like people mentioning me online, and I know lots of others don't either. It's kind of scary to know that people are mentioning you on a website where you can't defend yourself. That's all I mean.

[blessed]

I understand what you are saying Ruth. Thanks

[leahmb]

I remembered this thread and thought I'd ask a question..........I got an e-mail from my aunt today and her PS said to be VERY CAREFUL on my xanga, so I have been thinking about that all day. I now wish I would not have made it with my actual name (same as with this screen name), but with both I wasn't thinking that I'd actually use it on a regular basis. I am trying to decide if I should change one or both of them. My reasoning for changing both is that if you search for leahmb, up I come.......

Any thoughts? Oh, and if anyone thinks I offer too much information, please tell me.

I also just got done with my first criminal justice class and am slightly more paranoid after a few stories....

[QuirkyKid16]

That's why I didn't use my real name. I'm very paranoid when it comes to this thing we call the Internet.

[HotShot53]

I don't think you have too much info out there Leah... it's not like you have your full name and what town you live in listed... I think the real danger to the internet is when you start getting into tooo personal of chats with strangers that no-one knows... but pretty much all of us here have met others on here, and we could form a link of people who have met from one of us to almost anyone else (at least those of us from the US & Australia). Being cautious is good... but I think some people can get a little paranoid, too ;)

[Skirty]

Nobody can do much with just your name... but if they can get your phone number,then they have your address... which can lead to all sorts of stuff to get paranoid about. But I wouldn't worry if I were you :)

[JoeC]

I'd also like to go on record to say that our profiles are privatized. No unregistered individual can look at your profile. Your e-mail is also masked. The only link someone might have is if you share your MSN or website in your profile or say something on the forums.

[leahmb]

I'd also like to go on record to say that our profiles are privatized. No unregistered individual can look at your profile. Your e-mail is also masked. The only link someone might have is if you share your MSN or website in your profile or say something on the forums.

Oh, well that's good to know. I just thought it was interesting when I searched for my xanga in msn, up YQ came and they could read all my posts...but I guess it's not like they're private anyways.

Thanks for you answers guys. I went through my xanga and took out just a few words (like a last name slip and town) to make it 'safer.'

[joris]

my name is real, and my email adres just gives away my last name
yes... oh and I don't care; don't do weird things, don't post home address and certain stuff on a page for the whole world, or such; it shouldn't be too much of a problem at all, I assume

[AlanaH]

No, as long as you're pretty sensible, not too much can happen.