Obviously, each of you have to make your own decision on what you want and what you don't want to post about yourself on a message board. I just want to make sure you are informed of the decision you may be making without knowing it.
I know we all "know" one another and refer to each other by first names, etc. I don't really see issue with that. I ask you to
PLEASE refrain from referring to anyone by their first and last name on the board, because you could be harming their safety. In fact, if I notice posts like that... I will remove them.
The board has a
setting to keep your email address private. You can go to Profile> Account Related Settings. There is a checkbox in the middle under your email address to "Hide email address from public?" If that isn't checked, anyone surfing or web bots crawling the board can harvest your email. This can cause a lot of spam, at the least. I do understand that for our hostesses of swaps, etc. there is a need to include it on their posts, so people can contact them about the swap (I do that myself). But, I want everyone to understand the risk and if you want to go back to only getting PMs with information and then privately sharing email addresses, that would be safer.
I have also noticed a few hostesses
posting their actual mailing address on the thread... while this may be convenient for your participants, the hostess could potentially be opening herself/himself to a lot of junk mail, identity theft, or worse.
I don't want to scare anyone away from being in our great group.
I just want to make sure you are aware of the dangers from the actions you take. There are ways to safely belong to a great group and protect yourself. Unfortunately, we live in an age where we have to be proactive to protect ourself and understand the threats that are out there.
Please read over the following and make a decision for yourself.
http://tcs.cybertipline.com/surfsafer1.htmIf you’re communicating online,
avoid giving out your full name, your mailing address, your cell or home phone number, the name of your school, or any other information that may help someone determine your actual identity. The same goes for your family and friends. Never reveal anything about other people that may possibly put them in danger. Always remember what you post online is not private. Parents, teachers, coaches, employers, and admissions officers may go online and find things about you – from your profile or someone else’s. Some teens have even lost jobs, admissions offers, and scholarships because of information posted about them online.
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-protect-my-personal-information-online.htmBlogs and personal websites provide new ways for thieves to steal your personal information online. Even seemingly innocent references to your friends, family, or place of employment can give criminals the details they need to steal your identity. For maximum security, refer to people by nicknames only and think twice about the content of any photos that you choose to post. Always ask yourself, “Does this content protect my personal information online?”
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