123bubblegum123

when you google your username, all your posts/pictures/statistics/threads come up...

I'm really upset about this and am considering deleting my account. No one warned me about that happening.

vegibean

The MOD's can fix that for you. Nothing is sacred on the internet.

I know the moderators can assist with changing your name and all that good stuff. Switch your acct. around.

I know people can find me on here. What I post is up to me, if someone reads it......well that's something that I just need to keep in mind.

If this site wasn't somewhat "public" how would we all be blessed enough to have found it?

getr345

That's why I chose a totally random username that I have no connection with whatsoever, past, or present. It was created strictly for this site. Of course, I've posted pictures of myself here so...

What's funny is I don't care as much about my anonymity as I did when I first joined. I still value my privacy but I'm not as obsessed about keeping it all a big secret anymore.

Where I once felt shame, I now feel pride.

cmc

Each forum has a sticky similar to this one here in Newcomers.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...predators.html

The following guidelines are enforced here on SR.
3. Breaching of privacy: Solicitation of names and addresses or other personal information for commercial purposes or, in the case of minors, for any purpose. Revealing personal information, including e-mail addresses, about other members that would identify them in the real world and which they have not otherwise made public online. This includes posting the contents of emails, private messages, private phone conversations, and/or any other private information that has not been shared on the forums by the member personally.

Do not post offline personal contact information (ie. your home address, phone numbers, email address etc.) and do not ask for personal information from others. Modify your member profile in the Control Panel at the top left corner of the forum to set privacy settings for your account. Use of full names (your first and last name) is allowed but strongly discouraged. This is to protect your security and identity.
taken from the Policies, Rules & Posting Tips forum

CarolD

Always good to remember......

Don't share anything on line that you would
dislike seeing in your local newspaper.

No way would I post my own or family pictures.

This goes for all sites you use...not only recovery ones.

sailorjohn

Putting it all in perspective, I don't know if you're a member of AA or not, but the old-timer was talking about things like anonymity, and being embarrassed about being a member of AA. When we were active alcoholics/addicts we didn't give a damn about what people thought about our behavior.

As he said, we're mortified that someone we know might see us walking into that AA meeting at the church, but when we were still out there we didn't care that these same folks might see us outside the church, puking or peeing in the bushes

Why be concerned about what people think about us when we're in recovery?

As someone said, 'other peoples' opinion of me is none of my business.'

A last thought, regarding my status as a recovering A, the people that mind don't matter, and the people that matter don't mind.

Rowan

I have my settings on my profile page so that only people I have accepted as 'friends' are able to view my photos, etc.

What I share determines the extent to which I remain anonymous.

yeahgr8

I love that post sailorjohn...yeah it's ok to get pissed out of your head and stumble along the streets but ffs don't let anyone see you come out of an AA meeting hehe

I guess to some people it i important to keep anonymous for work etc. Personally i couldn't care less who knows i am an alcoholic, although i probably would not bring it up at a first interview for a job?!

Bamboozle

I would say it does matter, especially if potential employers are using the internet (many are) to search for information.

Addiction is still seen as an acceptable reason for discrimination, whether the person in question is recovered or not.

Also, some people trolling the net are predators. It is important to be careful.

BG, do what you need to do to protect yourself. Change your settings and PM a mod if you need to.

Anna

Bubblegum,

That information is posted on the registration in large letters in bold face - that people should choose a user name that no one knows and it will be found by search engines.

Frankly this is a hot-button issue for me because I deal with a lot of email for Sober Recovery. And, very often people become upset because they think they have been compromised. Doesn't anyone know that this is the internet????

stone

I was shocked to realise it too but what difference does it make? All a Google search does is bring up your posts...but your posts are here for all to see anyway so what is the problem?

I must admit though, it did freak me out when I first realised, that is partly why I have the name "stone" now, try Googling "stone", lol, it is like Googling air or water.

Ananda

lol

Ananda

WOW..... i just chose a user name that meant something to me, and i guess i chose wisely....never occured to me to google ananada...but i'm safe...i got to page 5 with no hits on me here....gave up after that....

so scared and then releived thanks for the heart attach stoney

flutter

My anonymity here isn't important to me, really. I'm proud of who I am, where I've been, and how I've grown. I'm pretty aware that anything I say/do/post/etc is public info, and it's pretty clearly laid out when joining, and in the stickies.

doorknob

I think doorknob is pretty safe, but I'm not terribly concerned anyway...

Even if you Google my real full name (it's rare), all you'll get is some dude in Colorado who actually has a life...

Lolajames

wow,that freaked me out for a bit! then i googled my user name and noticed some of my posts, but saw that other people seem to have the same user name(on other stuff, not SR) lol.

i agree with bamboozle.

stone

Bubblegum the only way for your anonymity to be blown is if you used your real name as your user name, which I am assuming you didn't.

The problem for me was that I was a member of a few different types of sites and used the same user name on each and I didn't want people from one site to know I was on the other sites.

I also used the same name on messenger so if I talked to someone on that they could then Google the name and find out all about me!?!?

So yea, it can be a problem.

joedris

I don't much care about my anonymity. I'd rather people know I'm in recovery than remember that I was an obnoxious drunk. However,, I make a point to carefully guard everyone else's anonymity. If I run into a group member in the supermarket, we pass as strangers in the night. I agree with what everyone else has said: don't use your real name or any information that could help identify you to others if you want anonymity. I don't think that anyone on this site really cares about your identity, only your problems.

Aysha

I can understand totally why anyone would be freaked out by that.
But like already said..this is the internet. If you post any personal info or photos that will give you away. Thats just common sense in my opinion.

I dont care who sees what about me here. Or anywhere really.
But thats just me. My addiction told on me long ago. And if anyone else that didnt know about my addiciton sees this. Then they dont matter. Cause they would have known.
I understand if a coworker or something like that saw it. I would be a little ashamed.
But I can not and will not act like that part of my life is a big huge secret or something.

I would not post anything close to something that would give you away if your that concerned.

Zencat

I don't mind because my anonymity is not contingent on anything that is of a useful nature to my addiction treatment. I no longer care to hide from anything or anybody recovery wise.