How Cautious Are You Online?
By Stiletto
@Stiletto (4579)
June 1, 2007 7:04am CST
According to a recent YouGov survey a third of Bloggers have written posts they later regret. Many were about their workplace, their employers or colleagues and, perhaps surprisingly, a number of respondents had been "found out" although it doesn't say what happened to them as a consequence.
I must admit I'm surprised by the sort of details some people disclose on their blogs (or even on myLot for that matter) and often see names and other really personal information that I personally would be wary of posting. People are lulled into a false sense of security and think no-one who knows them will either see it or know it's them. It's true it's unlikely but it's not impossible - out of 90k users I've identified someone I know personally on myLot just from what they posted on here so it can and does happen.
So how "safe" and uninhibited do you feel when you're posting to blogs, forums, etc? Have you ever regretted something you posted online whether it's on a blog, myLot or some other forum? Have you ever got in trouble as a consequence of something you've posted online?
7 people like this
15 responses
@paulick (533)
• Denmark
1 Jun 07
Good Discussion!!!!
Well no i have not regret anything that i've posted in here, in a blog or anywhere else. Then again i'm new to all of this, but i only write what i truely meens and feels and the opinions that i stand for.
my adwise to people is, not to post in blogs, mylot or anywhere else while in a bad mood, irritated or anything else that can have effekt on your objective opinion.
4 people like this
@Goldmoney (313)
• Slovenia
1 Jun 07
I haven't regret anything so far. I always represent my self with nick name and not my real name. Tray to avoid giving my personal information on the web, but this is not possible every time. Some money making sites wants your real information and mostly you have to send them some document for verification. That's because they use check for payment option and they need real data to send it.
Blogging is my favorite spear time hobby. I have personal entertainment blog and sometimes I post my photos there, but never regret it. Only problem I see with giving personal information, because they can be used for identity theft.
@smints8985 (1594)
• United States
2 Jun 07
I do like to post in my blogsite once in a while, but I try to not be so specific especially when I am complaining about someone. I could say I am somehow cautious with the details I input in my blog, those that would not harm anyone and put them in a difficult situation are okay.
And mostly the topics are about my opinions and thoughts about life and stuff, so I don't really include a lot of names or people in it.
At least that way it is somehow safe.
2 people like this
@netbuster (99)
• India
1 Jun 07
When I post on my blog it is a communication to people in a certain prescribed manner. It would be drafted and checked to my satisfaction.
When I post here at MyLot, it is in a more relaxed and friendly manner. I feel most people out here respond and start threads related to their own experiences. That I feel is what make this forum a place to be in. We can share and get suggestions that matter. Distance does not matter. Difference is culture does not hamper.
2 people like this
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
1 Jun 07
I'm also surprised about what people will put out there on the internet. Forget about those who blog about how much they hate their bosses or their co-workers, I read one blog where a woman was journaling her affair. She talked openly about her husband was completely unaware of her lover. Do these people really believe that no one will find out or do they secretly want to be found out? Anyway, my blog is totally not about me. Blogging is fun, but too much information can be a dangerous thing.
@Stiletto (4579)
•
1 Jun 07
Oh I've seen that kind of thing too - really intimate personal stuff about people's lives and their families etc. I just don't understand why people feel "safe" doing it or maybe they just don't care if they are found out. My blogs are strictly for business purposes - I have no inclination whatsoever to reveal myself to the world!
1 person likes this
@vivienna (582)
• Venezuela
1 Jun 07
I'm not very communicative in what concerns my private life, neiter on- nor offline. And although someone might recognize me by blogs or posts, for me that's all right.
More than chatting about private circunstances, I welcome the opportunity to express opinions, even taking up a feud for some noble cause -Global Warming is an issue-, and to give a testimony of faith. To public convictions can get you in trouble, but then, it's worth while.:)
@KrazyKlingon (5005)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I am always cautious when doing stuff online. Being a privacy buff, I almost always never give out IM ID's of my friends, & usually use the BCC when emailing multiple people, particularly if they don't know each other. I'm also careful not to mention other people's member names publicly when publicly posting about someone.
I don't have any kind of a blog, so I don't really need to worry. I also make an effort to keep my career & my internet life apart, & therefore, I don't see myself making that mistake any time soon. The few times I had mentioned events in my workplace, I have never mentioned any names, & if it was some kind of issue I was having with someone, well - they're either retired & most likely moved away.
1 person likes this
@Stiletto (4579)
•
3 Jun 07
Not enough people use the BCC on email - it irritates me when I get an email where I can see others addresses because obviously they can see mine too and I get enough spam as it is without risking any more. If it's to my personal email address it REALLY annoys me because I rarely give that out to anyone and it's therefore fairly spam-free. What makes it even worse is it's usually one of those stupid email joke things that people with way too much time on their hands send.
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
2 Jun 07
Here in Canada students have been suspended from school because they posted nasty stuff about teachers on Myspace and have been found out.
But what totally amazes me is that parents and other adults constantly remind children and teens not to post personal details that could lead predators to them and yet so many of these adults reveal very personal stuff about themselves, their families, friends and bosses. Sometimes when I read a Mylot discussion I am dumbfounded. I have read accounts where bosses are discussed, the love affairs of the bosses, the wife of the boss, the type of business they were in and companies in the same building, all this in a smallish town. Other people discuss their personal problems, their children and in-laws in great detail. These are all adults and very trusting in this forum. But none of us know who is out there on the internet. Personally I have not regretted anything so far and I hope I will stay cautious.
1 person likes this
@Stiletto (4579)
•
2 Jun 07
I really am surprised by some of the detail that people go into on myLot and it's not as if it's just about themselves but as you say other family members. I guess I'm just not a particularly "open" person anyway because I would never think of posting some of the things I see on here. As for MySpace I'm stunned by a lot of the stuff I see on there.
@sankethadiga (1087)
• India
2 Jun 07
Well, it has been enlightening to read your post, but thank goodness, I still haven't goofed up! After reading your post, I'm bound to be extra careful with my postings...
I've been blogging for around 6 months now, mainly on issues close to my heart like Wildlife Protection, Politics, but I make it a point not to touch a raw nerve as if inviting for trouble...
Thankyou and have a good day!
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
2 Jun 07
When I first came on Mylot I started a discussion about a work colleague who is a bully. It was only after I told people at work that I had joined this site did I suddenly realise what I had done.
It did freak me out for a while because I did say some personal stuff that could have looked bad by people who know me, but luckily no one I know is on this site. I have never given out my personal details to anyone apart from one member here when I joined his own personal site.
Since then I am very aware of what I say if it involves other people in my life. So I tend to respond now without getting too persoanal about myself.
By the way was it weird to discover you knew someone on here and do they know you know??
1 person likes this
@Stiletto (4579)
•
2 Jun 07
It was VERY weird - I was reading a discussion and one of the responses caught my attention immediately because it was describing exactly something very specific I had done. I checked out the other members profile and other discussions etc and guess what - it WAS me he was talking about!! There's no doubt in my mind it's him because everything fits. He's an ex and I haven't contacted him because I don't want him to know it's me and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't realise unless I said something. Let's just say it didn't end well! So as they say "it's a small world"!
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
2 Jun 07
Oh, that is weird. You have certainly done the right thing by keeping quiet.
I hope his discussion about you was not horrible though, as that would not be a nice thing to do!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
10 Jul 07
I usually just give out general information so someone thinks it could have been anybody. For instance, I mentioned going on an Alaskan cruise, but there were at least 15,000 who took the same cruise. There were also other ships going on the same time. Also there were people from my city also going on the cruise so the finder outer would have to call every single apartment, house, number and if they had a cellphone, might not get them, in my city to find out. Also I use a nickname. So I am perfectly careful. I would never enter financial information even on an email.
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
22 Jul 07
I used to think that nobody would ever know who I was or who I was talking about, but since the internet is so popular these days, there are very few of us left who aren't online. There is a good chance that someone we know could happen across what we have written. Most things we post, like blog entries for instance, can generally be deleted, so if we post something without thinking about the consequences we usually at least have a chance to remove it before too much damage is done. Unfortunately we don't have that luxury with myLot. It is best to think carefully before posting these things here. I know that I have typed out a couple of things and waited until the next day, only to either delete them or at least post them elsewhere where they could be deleted if I later changed my mind.
1 person likes this
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
2 Jun 07
I generally stay away when not in a good mood. I don't regret much as far as posting. I'm safe in that sense. As far as carefulness, I'm usually just that and never worry about what will happen online.
