What are WE afraid of?

[Stan]

2 Tim 1:7-8
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.

I notice many members show nothing in their profiles. It's like going to church and everyone has a bag over their heads!
I can guess at some reasons, but I would like to hear from members on CB as to why so many are hesitant about putting basic personal info on in their profiles?

Name
Photo
City or Country
Age
Gender

Is it really about online anonymity or is it about avoiding our culpability?

 

[aspen]

How are we less culpable if we are anonymous?

 

[Stan]

How are we less culpable if we are anonymous?

Just the way some people's minds work. I'm not saying ALL people have that mindset, but some definitively do.

 

[biggandyy]

Why do you care? Are you so anxious to judge others you will pick and strain these of the smallest gnats?

 

[aspen]

Just the way some people's minds work. I'm not saying ALL people have that mindset, but some definitively do.

It is true that there seem to be people on here that talk big online, but squeak like mice in person - no doubt.

 

[Foreigner]

You are a lucky man, Stan.

You have never had someone use the personal information you share, including tracking your I.P. address, in order to attempt to make your life miserable just because he doesn't like you or your opinion.

I do not know what this level of transparency will achieve one way or another on this site.

I simply don't see how - if someone truly believes what they say - they are going to hold back or reign in their opinion.

 

[Stan]

You are a lucky man, Stan.

You have never had someone use the personal information you share, including tracking your I.P. address, in order to attempt to make your life miserable just because he doesn't like you or your opinion.

I do not know what this level of transparency will achieve one way or another on this site.

I simply don't see how - if someone truly believes what they say - they are going to hold back or reign in their opinion.

No you're right, I have never had that problem. Mainly because when I got my first computer in 1994 I made sure it was as secure as it could be, and over the years have used the best software or hardware I could find to keep my actual IP address secret. I understand the crazies out there, but sharing a bit of info just makes you more human and less of a stat. This in turn can engender more humane responses. Not always but sometimes. I think every little bit helps. Also at 6'4' and 275 lbs, I don't easily scare.

 

[Foreigner]

Doesn't matter how big you are or how brave you are....once you start seeing your childrens names and their schools posted online, your blood will run cold, and you will know fear.

And with this information:

Name
Photo
City or Country
Age
Gender

You would be surprised as to what other information can be gleaned. Unless you lie when you give that information.
And if you lie, then what was the purpose for putting it out there in the first place?

And once you are identified, it doesn't matter HOW secure your personal computer is, there is a lot of information about you and your family on the web that can be tracked down by someone who is just as smart as you consider yourself.

Been there
Don't that
Got the t-shirt

 

[Rach1370]

2 Tim 1:7-8
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.

I notice many members show nothing in their profiles. It's like going to church and everyone has a bag over their heads!
I can guess at some reasons, but I would like to hear from members on CB as to why so many are hesitant about putting basic personal info on in their profiles?

Name
Photo
City or Country
Age
Gender

Is it really about online anonymity or is it about avoiding our culpability?

I think a lot of it comes to down to personal preference. How much of our lives have we spent having to put down those details and been judged for or by those details rather than what we believe or think?
Does it matter that I'm a woman? Does it matter that I'm in my early 30's? Does it matter what my job might be or where I live? All that should matter is what I think of Jesus and what kind of beliefs I'm sharing here or encouraging. Jesus looks at the heart...at our beliefs, and not at those other details, why should we demand more?
I don't necessarily have a problem with those things (apart from the obvious troubles Foreigner pointed out)...I haven't lied. My photo is of my home...which I feel is far more attractive then I am! But seriously...I do think we should have the freedom with these, very basic, but very personal things.

 

[Stan]

Doesn't matter how big you are or how brave you are....once you start seeing your childrens names and their schools posted online, your blood will run cold, and you will know fear.

And with this information:

Name
Photo
City or Country
Age
Gender

You would be surprised as to what other information can be gleaned. Unless you lie when you give that information.
And if you lie, then what was the purpose for putting it out there in the first place?

And once you are identified, it doesn't matter HOW secure your personal computer is, there is a lot of information about you and your family on the web that can be tracked down by someone who is just as smart as you consider yourself.

Been there
Don't that
Got the t-shirt

How does the info I have shared in my profile, put me in any kind of position that would allow anyone to get at me personally, or may family? There a lot more info on FB accounts and unless the proper settings are employed on FB, it would be much more problematic than on these types of forum sites.
It's not like filling out your driver's licence app. I find it funny though that some users will show a Nickname but then sign their posts with their real name. Do a search for me online...trust me you won't find a thing. All my info out there is protected, by design.
For people who want to be found, or don't pay attention to security, it can be a problem I admit. I'm talking about this website and using info like I put up. It sucks if you have had problems in this regard, but those kind of things can be mitigated by a little work. We are NOT islands unto ourselves and a little bit of candour goes a long way.

I think a lot of it comes to down to personal preference. How much of our lives have we spent having to put down those details and been judged for or by those details rather than what we believe or think?
Does it matter that I'm a woman? Does it matter that I'm in my early 30's? Does it matter what my job might be or where I live? All that should matter is what I think of Jesus and what kind of beliefs I'm sharing here or encouraging. Jesus looks at the heart...at our beliefs, and not at those other details, why should we demand more?
I don't necessarily have a problem with those things (apart from the obvious troubles Foreigner pointed out)...I haven't lied. My photo is of my home...which I feel is far more attractive then I am! But seriously...I do think we should have the freedom with these, very basic, but very personal things.

No dispute at all about freedom of your personal info. The OP is about why people DON'T feel free. I'm not accusing ANYONE of lying.
The somewhat hostile or reactive nature of some replies are rather disconcerting though.

 

[aspen]

I guess I should delete my social security number from my profile, then, right?

 

[Stan]

I guess I should delete my social security number from my profile, then, right?

LOL...uhh YEH!

 

[Rach1370]

No dispute at all about freedom of your personal info. The OP is about why people DON'T feel free. I'm not accusing ANYONE of lying.
The somewhat hostile or reactive nature of some replies are rather disconcerting though.

Oh, I didn't think you were accusing me of lying! Not at all! My point was that I'm not lying in the limited info I'm giving...which is better than giving made up info! I honestly am not fussed either way in regards to such info being given. But I do know that there are people who need to maintain privacy...not because they are ashamed of their beliefs, but because of personal hardship. Remember that there are sadly lots of people out there with evil intentions towards others...
If someone reacts badly, it doesn't necessarily mean that they're up to no good...it could just mean there's been hardship in their lives and they need understanding and space. I'm blessed in that I'm not one of them, and should you head on over to the boards facebook page you'll see a photo of me...my choice not to put it up here is based simply on the fact that I like my current photo!

 

[Stan]

Oh, I didn't think you were accusing me of lying! Not at all! My point was that I'm not lying in the limited info I'm giving...which is better than giving made up info! I honestly am not fussed either way in regards to such info being given. But I do know that there are people who need to maintain privacy...not because they are ashamed of their beliefs, but because of personal hardship. Remember that there are sadly lots of people out there with evil intentions towards others...
If someone reacts badly, it doesn't necessarily mean that they're up to no good...it could just mean there's been hardship in their lives and they need understanding and space. I'm blessed in that I'm not one of them, and should you head on over to the boards facebook page you'll see a photo of me...my choice not to put it up here is based simply on the fact that I like my current photo!

I really didn't think you had lied...just needed to address the statement. I completely understand your POV, and others that have that same POV. It has been my experience though that people who DO react badly are reacting to their own guilt or willingness to be open and honest. That of course doesn't mean exposing yourself completely to the online community, but it does necessitate some divulgence of a personal nature, whether it be a name(first only), a photo, your age...as I mentioned in the OP.
This is NOT meant to bring pressure to bare on anyone to do anything at all. It is just meant to encourage those who need it, or want it, to feel a true community exists here, and NOT just faceless, nameless and unfeeling users.
Of course this thread would be useless if I didn't do what I think others should do. I have always been an open book.

 

[Groundzero]

I sort of agree. Actual personal details are not so big a deal to me as people's belief. I get tired of people who won't state black and white what they believe. Put it in your profile, what's the big deal? If it really is truth, why must we hide it?

As for personal details, well, if you google my full name and read carefully through the pages of info and stuff on their, you'll almost be able to write a biography on me, including possible thought patterns and profile of my behaviour patterns.

 

[brightmorningstar]

Point taken but what is more important on a forum, the debate or fellowship. I think without face to face, its not the best idea of fellowship.

And lets get real, why advertise ones details on the internet if one doesn't have to?

 

[HammerStone]

Well, I recognize my status as owner of the domain (and site) puts me in a different perspective, but let me share why I don't require it. I have to echo Foreigner.

I've dealt for over a year now with a certain crazed loon who doesn't like me because I am Calvinist (even though I am not Calvinist, for the record). He spammed the forum with every personal detail he could find, sent emails to my accounts he discovered, slurred my family, and attempted to post everything public. He's done this now to several site owners, and he's mentally unstable at best (I tracked down where he lives) and demon possessed at worst. The guy needs help. He continues to appear every few months or so and do it all over again; it's ongoing for a week or more at a time. He has my information saved, including my address which he found in a vital zipcode announcement that I did not have control over.

In this era of pedophiles, perverts, and evil people, I will not require the women and younger members to put their information out there. The same goes for the men. If you get a city, state, and so on, you can maybe glean details from posts even, or certainly in depth searching.

I realize we trust in God for our ultimate protection, but I don't think God had it in mind for us to chase down a tornado, and run into it shouting that God will protect us. He gave us the sense to take cover. It's the same principle online. There is a point where it becomes needless risk.

Stan, you may think your information is protected, but there's much more information about you available than you think. The one thing I learned in the administration of this forum is that people have a lot of time on their hands and they're not afraid of the effort if they are crazy enough.

Besides, how do you know that personal information is even a real person, or the correct person, for that matter? (You don't.)

 

[dragonfly]

Well, I don't put my personal information up because I listened to a 5 minute item on the radio a few years ago. A journalist was given one piece of information about someone who writes online - the username the person had given themself to join a forum where they had written. Within four minutes, the journalist had found the person's gender, age, real name, home address, telephone number at home, place of work, job title, work phone number, and other items of interest which the person - thinking they were hiding behind a username - had shared 'anonymously' online.

Therefore, I am not going to mention here, any avoidable footprints.

I think without face to face, its not the best idea of fellowship.

Definitely some people feel this way, but if we focus on the Lord and His word, and share discreetly, there is quite a bit of fellowship to be had - in my experience.

 

[Stan]

Well, I recognize my status as owner of the domain (and site) puts me in a different perspective, but let me share why I don't require it. I have to echo Foreigner.

I've dealt for over a year now with a certain crazed loon who doesn't like me because I am Calvinist (even though I am not Calvinist, for the record). He spammed the forum with every personal detail he could find, sent emails to my accounts he discovered, slurred my family, and attempted to post everything public. He's done this now to several site owners, and he's mentally unstable at best (I tracked down where he lives) and demon possessed at worst. The guy needs help. He continues to appear every few months or so and do it all over again; it's ongoing for a week or more at a time. He has my information saved, including my address which he found in a vital zipcode announcement that I did not have control over.

In this era of pedophiles, perverts, and evil people, I will not require the women and younger members to put their information out there. The same goes for the men. If you get a city, state, and so on, you can maybe glean details from posts even, or certainly in depth searching.

I realize we trust in God for our ultimate protection, but I don't think God had it in mind for us to chase down a tornado, and run into it shouting that God will protect us. He gave us the sense to take cover. It's the same principle online. There is a point where it becomes needless risk.

Stan, you may think your information is protected, but there's much more information about you available than you think. The one thing I learned in the administration of this forum is that people have a lot of time on their hands and they're not afraid of the effort if they are crazy enough.

Besides, how do you know that personal information is even a real person, or the correct person, for that matter? (You don't.)

That is definitely the downside of supplying a lot of info or I guess being an owner. Finding the owner of any website is actually very easy. (I won't say how to do it) I understand your POV as owner and I agree that it would NOT be proper to force anyone to put info on they didn't want to. Again this was NOT the point of my OP. Yes my info is available to admins on forums, because they require it to be able to mitigate their own liabilities and I completely understand that as well, but again NOT the point of my OP.

Again I am not trying to offend or call out ANYONE. They were just simple observations and a simple query. Fact is I don't care about creepy people who want to pretend to be someone they aren't. In my life, God has always made me spiritually aware of losers and I tend to ignore them fairly quickly. Hammer, your situation is totally different and I greatly appreciate your unique position. Please be assured I am NOT attempting to undermine your way of running your website. I just wanted to understand more. Unfortunately not many people have answered.

 

[goodshepard55]

Stan I think you will find that some are not afraid to put that info there, but others are...personally I think mine is there...I don't look at the info anyway...I gauge a person by their responses to the threads