Hitskin.com

I remember back in '95, when I first got online. There used to be a huge sense of "caution" and paranoia about revealing any kind of personal info. (like real names and pictures) online. Nowadays we have dating sites, social networking and even webcam sites where people blast their face, real name, location, cell #'s, etc. all over them.

What do you think about this? Has society gotten too comfortable with exposing yourself over the Internet?

Yes we have, but I don't feel names and pictures are really crossing the line too much. Personal addresses or numbers however, definitely.

Indeeeeeed. The way I see it, anybody who has the know-how can already dig up all your personal information by your computer, why make it all the more easier for the nuts in the world?

Forgiveness_Man wrote:: Yes we have, but I don't feel names and pictures are really crossing the line too much. Personal addresses or numbers however, definitely.

I agree.

What's that? I don't think we 'heard' you.

^^^ It's text. Step into the 21st century? Wink

Definitely. I am really surprised about how many people are so open about info on their kids. I try to be as private as I can. But I feel that I am more loose lipped than I should be.

Nystyle709 wrote:: I agree.

Girl wake up!

Nystyle709 wrote:: I agree.

Back when the Internet was still a new thing, people assumed everyone on the other end was a stalker or hacker because they weren't used to it. I once lost out on some rare archive music footage that someone was offering that I wanted because I was too chicken shit to give out my shipping info. Today the Internet is as customary as a TV or phone. Everything is online now, companies keep their employment roster on their websites (with pictures). You still have to be careful, but the height of paranoia that people once had about their names and pictures being seen online in retrospect is silly. It's no more dangerous than being featured in a news paper article or television news story.

Impact wrote:: You still have to be careful, but the height of paranoia that people once had about their names and pictures being seen online in retrospect is silly. It's no more dangerous than being featured in a news paper article or television news story.

I don't think that a level of paranoia is a bad thing when it comes to online habits. Social networking sites like FB give people so much information. (to be fair to you, Impact, I don't think that your post was really in regard to social networking sites)

Consider a place like this. We all chat each other up, share personal anecdotes and our interests, hobbies, sometimes jobs, real names, and city of residence. If there was a nut job (NOT AT ALL saying there is) among us, and was beyond just a troll poster, he/she could really map us out and figure out ways to screw with our jobs, our kids' schools, and our extended family.

And I believe that could happen. If people are bored enough to act a fool on message boards, attacking fans of shows they don't even watch, imagine what one nut job might do if they felt they were personally attacked on some random message board.

We have gotten too laxed with exposing personal info. online, but at the same time I also don't think that because the net is so commonplace now that there's this element of "safety in numbers" that exists today that didn't once upon a time.

Yeah - I think some people really do go too far. I've seen all kinds of things that make me cringe. I think the younger generation in particular (school-age kids) are far to open and will post everything about themselves. I think some people really have become to liberal online. You only have to look as far as shows like Dateline's hidden camera eppies to see how trusting many young people are. I know that many elderly are the victims of phone scams because they willingly give out information, trusting the voice on the other end. with younger generations, I think the danger can lie in online sites where we share and don't realize how public information really can be.

You bring up a great point, redbedroom - and there are people out there bored enough and crazy enough to do it.

Marc wrote:: Girl wake up!

I'm awake now!

Nystyle709 wrote:: I agree.

ROFLMFAO

Yes. But on the other hand, since society as a whole has shifted towards online communication, I think there's an element of 'safety in numbers' that didn't exist once upon a time.

Impact wrote:: ...You still have to be careful, but the height of paranoia that people once had about their names and pictures being seen online in retrospect is silly. It's no more dangerous than being featured in a news paper article or television news story.

Since 1980 I have had well over 200 letters to the editor published in newspapers under my real name. I also have had a phone and my real name, number and address has been in the phone book all that time. And, I have actually received a couple of crank phone calls because of my expressed opinion in print - but many more calls of support.

I also received one letter from a guy pissed at my opinion about the Tawana Brawley case and the need for due process. He gave no return address but signed his name, Chilt Harper and wrote: "Stop wasting space with your stupid right-wing crap. You scum are the reason for all that is wrong in society today. Just shut up."

Right Wing?? blank stare @ you

Anyhow, stuff like that lets you know the extent of the nutcases out there and we all know they have easier access on the Web.

I quit using my real name because it just confused any search of that name with all the inane stuff we post on forum boards. So if you Yahoo search Rob, you will find enuf about me, that I am gay, nudist and not particularly right-wing. Also be warned if you click on that DSC link with numbers - full frontal nude pic of me an Bern Loibl, publisher of Naturally magazine, which ran my Nude Attitude column.

So, my real identity can be found easily enuf. I've made ref to it with links to my personal Web pages here and on other boards. I have facebook and MySpace in my real name, so Shale is not entirely hidden, just obfuscated. I also have a good spam filter in case Chilt Harper remembers my name, tho his letter was typed on a ribbon typewriter - he prolly avoids this right-wing Internets thing.

Chris wrote:: Yes. But on the other hand, since society as a whole has shifted towards online communication, I think there's an element of 'safety in numbers' that didn't exist once upon a time.

Chris, I'm not sure about safety in numbers. Depending on the threat, e.g. an email-spread virus, groups can be just as vulnerable as individuals. Unless it's a "secure" site, I'm not comfortable giving out any personal information that I wouldn't throw out with the rest of our trash.

Yeah - I'm really careful with personal info unless it's a secure site, though even those can't always be trusted.

» Do you look online for coupon codes before online ordering?
» Have you ever dated a liberal or conservative?
» Is there danger in society becoming too liberal?
» Are/were your parents conservative or liberal?
» Would it Benefit the US to Be As "Liberal" as Europeans?

Hitskin.com

Have we gotten too liberal with personal info online