do you give your real name to a stranger?
By rhane7315
@rhane7315 (5649)
Philippines
April 14, 2008 2:19am CST
when a stranger asks for your name and your number like cell phone and home phone, do you give it to them or do you give them false infos about you?
most of the time it happens on me lol especially when i'm in a public transportation a stranger would talk to me and ask me what was my name and if they could have my cell phone number. i just give them a false name and i also told them that i don't have my own cell phone number lol there was also one time that a stranger asks me if we could meet again and that he would fetch me on school lol i just thank him and told that i already have a boyfriend and he said that my bf and i were not yet married so it's ok for me to see some other guy and that pisses me off because of his very rude manner 
13 people like this
80 responses
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
26 Apr 08
wow. you're a magnet of strangers rhane! that's kind of scary isn't it?
i seldom encounter strangers that would go as far as asking for my cellphone number. but the times i did encounter something like that, i just told the person that my cellphone is broken and i wouldn't have one in the near future. and then i don't give my true name too. i just give my nickname which is a very common one. the strangest i have encountered was a stranger asked me to pass some text loads to her because she said it was an emergency and she needed to text her relative. i told her i didn't have any loads. that really freaked me out. i get too suspicious of people like that.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
27 Apr 08
we should be careful of strangers rhane. have you heard of the hypnotism gang? my officemate was a victim of that. a stranger walked up to her and after that, she didn't know what happened next and lost some of her baggages. she was at divisoria that time.
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
26 Apr 08
it's really scary and i feel weird everytime i encounters that.
lol it also happened on me but she didn't asked me to pass her a load. instead, she asked me if i could text her relative because she doesn't have a cellphone with her. i don't know what to do that time, that i even don't know how would i react and what am i gonna say to her 
lol it also happened on me but she didn't asked me to pass her a load. instead, she asked me if i could text her relative because she doesn't have a cellphone with her. i don't know what to do that time, that i even don't know how would i react and what am i gonna say to her 2 people like this
@kasandra411 (69)
• United States
14 Apr 08
It depends. If you are single, and you meet them in a place that is upstanding (not on a bus or on a corner palease) then i think its ok to give your real name and number. I would find it a bit creepy for a person to ask me if they could pick me up from school because that just yells booty call to me. Who knows what kind of STD that dude had. Sorry you had to endure that. I think its getting to the point where a lot of guys are getting cocky. Look at the information out there on how to pick up women. I'd only give my information that i could actually see a relationship or friendship with.
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
14 Apr 08
you've got a point there. if they really wanted to get my number i just give my bf's number and i also inform my bf somebody wants my number and instead of giving my number, i just give his number. he knows how to handle that kind of people when someone text him or call him with an unfamiliar number
1 person likes this
@ladyslew (91)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Believe it or not, one of my best friends met her husband on the DC Metro. They worked near each other and both took the same train, so they saw each other several days a week. He spent weeks asking her out before she agreed. They have now been married 11 years. Still, in general, I'd agree with you that someone met on public transportation isn't a good person to give your phone number to.
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
1 May 08
that would be very nice of you but remember that you also have to be very when meeting strangers
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
4 May 08
yeah, i agree with that. just give some limitations on your friends lol
1 person likes this
@dantakum (404)
• Nigeria
3 May 08
Hm,to me name is just a tag,i would give all that care to know my name my first name even the last name if you want what diffrencs does it makes,to cell number it depends on where and who did we meet ,if i meet you at the night club and you want my number hm i dont think i will give you,after all i have two cell phones i will give you the one i dont freqently use as for name you will know that forsure.
if i may ask you how then do you make friends?if you dont give out your name and since you are still single you will meet alot of people who are showin intrest in you who then will you do?
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
15 Apr 08
i don't mind giving my first name as long as the purpose is just to be polite... that's it... to get my cell phone and address... no way... i have to know the person pretty well and long enough before i am willing to give that information...
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
yeah it usually takes time for us to trust somebody
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
15 Apr 08
I might give my name...but never my cell number (not that I have one...if I did I wouldn't). Sometimes, I'll be honest and say I don't give out my number....but if I think the person would argue or try to get it out of me...I'll just make some excuse which comes to me then.
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
you're certainly right. thanks for the response 
1 person likes this
@mchristine519 (83)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
A big NO.. Who knows what that person may do to your information.. besides, with the rampant cases of identity fraud, you may want to think thrice or more even before handing out your information to anyone.. much more a person who will just come up to you and ask for it..
1 person likes this
@kangel48446 (507)
• United States
24 Apr 08
When I'm talking to strangers, I try to limit myself to a first name basis. You never know what kind of information they are digging for AND what they plan on using it for. I am already married with children so I'm not looking for a relationship of any sorts. However, if I met someone who actually wanted to be friends.. after seeing them a few times, I might give them my cell phone number. I don't give very many people our home phone number because of the searches they can perform to find our house.
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
24 Apr 08
yeah just like everyone said, better be careful in these days because we don't know where planet those strangers come from
1 person likes this
@asawanialvin0611 (1877)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
I am not comfortable with strangers.I just give my name, my address and cell number to my closest people and those i need in my daily lives like colleagues at work
1 person likes this
@MinamiKesh (527)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
yeah im like that too....i dont give the real personal infos about me...a stranger is a stranger who cares...he/shes not part of my personal life..why should he/she bothers to know...
@sdmoonchild (731)
• United States
29 Apr 08
Unless its for a business purpose, I generally do not give out my name and number. I have an unlisted number and enjoy my privacy. Not many people have my number and I usually am very selective about who I give my number out too. I work overnights so having the phone ring all the time is a nuisance. If a stranger does ask me for my number, I lie and say that I do not have phone service hooked up.
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
29 Apr 08
that's right. i'm also like that, very selective on to whom i would give my number. thanks for responding
1 person likes this
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Well no not a total stranger, I need to know the person first in order to give out my name or cell number so of course they need to be friends first.. I mean there really isn't a way to track someone with a cell phone but a home number yes you can.. A name you can't either, you need both first and last names in order to do that too.. So I don't really see a problem of doing it.. Yeah there are strange people out there I do believe that, I myself have ran into a few and creep me out, those are the ones I ignore actually...lol I know it's sad but the last thing I need or want is someone like that searching for me.. knowing what I look like you know..
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
yeah me either, i'm just curious if what do i look like to them
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
22 Apr 08
I do not reveal my personal details to stranger. You never know in today's volatile world, who is a 'genuine' person and who is not. It is difficult to 'understand' th intentions of a stranger in a first meeting, so I would not part with my personal details to him/her.
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
22 Apr 08
i agree with you. i don't wanna be stalked just like the responder above you said
@jazgottt (1180)
• Poland
15 Apr 08
hi rhane. I don't give my cell phone to the strangers. But it happens that I give my first name to the stranger. It all depends on situation:). I also use public transportation, and, of course, sometimes someone talks to me (even if I read a book). But, fortunately, in most cases it is a nice old lady:). Sometimes it is a guy, but I don't like it, because I don't want to flirt when I'm in relationship.
happy posting, jazgottt.
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
i agree. some people will look down on you if they see you flirting with other people when you already have a boyfriend
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
if it's a nice lady i would talk to them also but i still won't give my full trust to them. me either, my bf's kinda possessive and i don't want to ruin our relationship with that kind of strangers
1 person likes this
@heart143 (1202)
• Philippines
14 Apr 08
I don't usually give any information to a stranger. I think the most I can give is my name and where am I from (but not my exact address). I make excuses for not giving them my personal information. But if I am familiar with the person say, he/she is from the same neighborhood or workplace, and I think I will give him a little more information. If I already knew him, them I can give even my number to the person.
@foundmyangel (607)
• United States
15 Apr 08
well i try to avoid situations like that but sometimes you ahve to just get rude and avoid talking to them. But I never give my number or info to anyone that i dont know enough to trust.
1 person likes this
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
being rude is also a key to avoid that kind of things so that they won't bother you asking for your name or number anymore
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