Internet anonymity

Wait a minute, all you people out in internetworld are actually real people?!

Just kidding. I get worried about privacy at times, too. Especially with some of the stories I hear on the news. You could always create a "pen name" for yourself and your dog for online use. Or would it be called a "mouse name"?

I think Jan has a good idea.  Fake name for you, fake name for the pup.  I don't think anyone would figure out who you are, especially since you're not likely to be posting any really personal stuff.

Joyce

Indy -- I've made no secret of the fact that my ex stalked me online during our 'divorce'.  I don't blame you (as a matter of fact my real name is not "Callie" either).  I'm not really all that 'private' -- but just "once burnt twice shy".  I'd probably term it "sensible" for me.

janobonano

I get worried about privacy at times, too.

calliecritturs

I don't blame you (as a matter of fact my real name is not "Callie" either). 

OMG...(tears)......I feel like I don't even know ya now....  :(

I betcha you could pick me out of a room full of people JUST by my laugh!!  I BETCHA.

Johnny&Tessy

OMG...(tears)......I feel like I don't even know ya now....  :(

I know, me too! 

I used to worry about privacy but then Facebook came along. 

Yep -- me 'n Unca Dave actually ANSWER to Ant and Unca too LOL

But I gotta interject the point here I totally understand what she's saying -- I *am* pretty careful particularly whom I meet.  And there IS a time for it -- but there is also a time to be careful.  I came to the point of paranoia at one time -- but remember, also -- David and I **MET** online.  And we were actually pretty darned careful.  I can tell you ALL the bad stories, and honestly I know a whole lot of them that are true.  You can't say TOO much and then cover it with an "opps" --

I'm actually more careful about what I say than my own name and contact info.  That can be found in any local phone book, my college's alumni directory, church directory, white pages online, etc.  It's also really easy to find out about people if they've titled dogs.  Sounds weird, but there's so many show and trial results and catalogs that also get published online.  When I enter my dogs I'm required to give certain information and don't really have control over what is published.  I supposed if there was a reason I could ask for certain things not to be published in the show/trial catalog but I've never had a reason.

I'm more careful about guarding some of my political and religious opinions, stories and anecdotes about family or people I know, etc.

I really have zero internet anonymity since there is not currently and never has previously been a person in the history of the world with the same name as me.  If my full name is Googled, all of the hits are legitimate.  You can get my dog trial scores, gymnastics results, some articles written about my time in Africa, all the websites that I own and maintain, my photography, etc.  Instead of trying to dodge it, I do my best to use it in my favor and do certain things with search engines, indexing, coding in web pages, etc to basically control the information and put out what I actually want people to know about me, my dogs, and my work.

Liesje

I really have zero internet anonymity since there is not currently and never has previously been a person in the history of the world with the same name as me.  If my full name is Googled, all of the hits are legitimate. 

That's one thing I don't have to worry about...if you google my name about 1 million hits come up...thanks DH for the name!

 Well that's it.  My name is no longer Candace.  I'm gonna be...Jezabel, and my dogs are gonna be Fifi and Buttercup.  You decide which one is which. 

hehe, jk, I understand that some people are more concerned about this than I am.  I wouldn't be posting credit card numbers or even mailing addresses(except in PM) but other than that, I'm pretty open.  

Still...I like Buttercup...Crusher looks like a Buttercup to me...

 Crusher would make a GREAT Buttercup! And Onyx could be Fluffy!

I, too, have titled dogs. My full info can be found anywhere on the internet, along with their (occasionally abysmal, occasionally perfect) scores.

I don't worry too much about internet anonymity.  This is the only forum I belong to and I've never posted super personal stuff.  And if someone did manage to find out all my *super personal* stuff it would make for some pretty dull reading ... certainly not the stuff that novels or movies are based on.  If someone were actually interested in stalking me, they could probably figure out where to find me anyway since I'm in the phone book.

Joyce