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Original poster

Do you ever worry that someone could find you in RL from your postings on here? Or are you more careful than that?

157 replies

WideWebWitch · 10/03/2007 10:54

For example, I posted once (ages ago) about where we were going be at half term and vaguely worried about it at the time and wondered whether I should have done so.

I also posted some details about another event which could have led someone to my rl name and address (it's my old one so it's not relevant now)

I haven't tried but I wonder if I searched on a particular mumsnetter's name, would I be able to find something that would lead me to their rl details were I to want them? I wouldn't, of course as I'm not a weirdo or a stalker but this is the www and anyone else could.

So, should we all be careful what we reveal here? Or am I being over cautious?

OP posts:
MamaG · 10/03/2007 14:11

Heifer - I know who you are

HEIFER · 10/03/2007 14:16

Do you MamaG????? who am I then????

(expects a link to a bovine creature).....

SHOSHAlee · 10/03/2007 14:20

MamaG im going to go through all your threads and find out who you are then im going to stalk you, nah nah nah na

MamaG · 10/03/2007 14:20

HEifer I won't out you on here, but I will speak to you when I see you on Wednesday

Shosha - right back atcha

LadyTophamHatt · 10/03/2007 14:22

The only nice photo of me in existance is on my profile so it really wouldn't take a genius to work out who I am

I'm really not bothered anyway. I don't post stuff that I don't want people to know.

SHOSHAlee · 10/03/2007 14:24

I'm behind youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

twinsetandpearls · 10/03/2007 14:25

Someone could very easily find out who I was, certainly where I work, where my dd goes to school and where I live.

If someone is on here that I knew in real life they woudl spot me in secinds as I have a strong personlity and views.

I have posted under other names as I am so easily recognisable.

HEIFER · 10/03/2007 14:25

MamaG - no way!... this has got to be a wind up!!!!

If you had said Tuesday - I would have worried.. but wednesday is a pretty safe day!... I don't know anyone from preschool!

twinsetandpearls · 10/03/2007 14:26

Oh yes and there is a photo of me lurking in mumsnet archives just make it even easier for a wannabe stalker.

MamaG · 10/03/2007 14:27

GAH I nearly put Tuesday as well

HEIFER · 10/03/2007 14:30

Nice one MamaG..

You know when you are 99.9% someone is pulling your leg.... but is that 0.1 that gets you..

If you had said Tuesday - I may have belived you (mother and toddler group)...

glad I didn't waste time doing a search on your posts to see if you mentioned where you lived!..

15-love to MamaG (but its a game of 3 sets)...

UnquietDad · 10/03/2007 15:10

Trolley - I am a brand name, actually, of sorts! I don't have 57 varieties though.

moondog · 10/03/2007 15:12

I never assume I am so interesting as to warrant being sniffed out.
Who cares?

HEIFER · 10/03/2007 15:22

Maybe you're not...

katelyle · 10/03/2007 15:34

This is a hobbyhorse of mine - can I ride it round a bit? I use my real name, and just occasionally use an alias if I'm asking advice about something which concerns somebody else who could be identified through me. I think that quite often the trouble that happens on internet forums happens because people forget that behind the witty nickname there's a real person - and also that they can get away with being awful to someone because they're anonymous. I could understand if someone is dealing with a violent partner or something like that, but I really don't care who knows my daughter wants to dye her hair red, or my views on state education or the cute thinks my son said. Why do people feel the need to keep that sort of thing anonymous?

UnquietDad · 10/03/2007 15:40

Kate, I remember you flying the flag for Real Names before. Are you not worried about people finding out who you are and where you live? I can think of at least one person on here whose real name I know because of her posting her email address, and whose real-life address I could work out because of the area she has said she lives in... and she has posted photos too. Isn't that a bit worrying?

glitterfairy · 10/03/2007 15:58

Yes you are right Unquietdad and it has happened to me. My X, who is abusive and violent took me to court and constantly updates court proceedings with postings on here so I now have to be very careful. He has never got anywhere with it but for some time I stopped posting at all.

Original poster
WideWebWitch · 10/03/2007 16:07

Kate, just out of interest do you live at a number 10?

OP posts:
shonaspurtle · 10/03/2007 16:10

I could see why someone with a violent or controlling xp might need to be very careful with the personal information they gave out.

Obviously if you feel uncomfortable with the thought that someone might try to track you down in real life (I'm sensing just a little bit of paranoia here though - just because it's possible doesn't mean that anyone would actually be arsed doing it and I include burglars in this category of those who have far easier ways of identifying their victims!) then there are sensible precautions you can take to ensure that it can't happen.

Personally I'm dull as ditchwater and don't give a fig if someone wants to find out all about me, which they easily can. Another mn identified me on here a few weeks ago and so I've got back in touch with someone I hadn't seen for years and was delighted!

For any burglars reading, as you well know from the previous times you've burgled me, there is nothing left to steal.

Original poster
WideWebWitch · 10/03/2007 16:11

Kate, a quick search on your posts shows where you live, your daughter's name and age and the school she goes to (or is going to, I didn't go into detail!) Fair enough if you're not worried about it though.

OP posts:
Original poster
WideWebWitch · 10/03/2007 16:12

And if you live at 10 bc then I got your phone no quite easily, although it may not be you!

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 10/03/2007 16:15

Im sure anyone who wanted to could find me as I posted what I do and (roughly) where I live. As I'm not that fascinating a person though, no one gas bothered!

chipmonkey · 10/03/2007 16:16

has bothered

oxocube · 10/03/2007 16:25

I'd be pretty easy to track down I think. Because of this, I wouldn't post photos of me or my kids or add to certain threads. For example, I know there are lots of posters who are happy to reveal all manner of personal details about say, their sex lives, or their relationship problems. Fine if they don't mind, but not for me thanks

pinkchampagne · 10/03/2007 16:25

I probably give too much away & make my identidy pretty obvious, but I have never posted any pictures on here.
I used to have a different name on here, which made it easy for people I knew to spot me. I had to name change after being spied on by my mother, which was just awful!