Internet safety

[kiwi_magic]

So I was thinking recently (well, not recently, actually for a while) about the use of one's real name on the internet - whether it be in some fandom community, writing fanfiction somewhere (fanfiction.net or even just reg. fiction at fictionalley), or any sort of discussion forum or anywhere, really, where you are interacting with other people who

Comments

[teaberryblue]

Because I work on the internet, it is impossible for me not to use my full name on the internet.

Stalkers are everywhere. They exist in bars and restaurants, on college campuses, at churches and synagogues, at clubs and recreational activities, just as much as they do on MySpace or in chat rooms.

The difference for me is that if you meet someone on the internet, you can choose how much information to give them, you can decide whether to let them know what you look like, who you are, etc.

In your case, I just Googled your name. Your writing for school, awards you've won in high school, personal information that your friends have posted publicly on their personal websites comes up. I can find the town you're from, what high school you went to, what college you go to, and your photo. I'm not going to, because it would be creepy, but with that information, I could definitely get your phone number and address.

The fact of the matter is that we don't live in a world where you can keep yourself off the internet. Other people have already made that choice for you. The internet is part of every day life for most people and they don't even consider whether someone might be too private to want this kind of information online. The information I provided is information that would be far more accessible to someone who knew your full name, however, than someone who only knew your first name. If I put in your first name and the name of your school, I find you in the top three Google results, though.

If you wanted to come up with a pseudonym going forward for communities you're not already a part of, it can work. I have done that several times when I've joined new messageboards, made sure I felt comfortable with the group or with individuals before giving out real information, but once you do decide to give out real information, you can't expect everyone to keep it to themselves. People are bad at that. It's usually a pretty all or nothing proposition.

[kiwi_magic]

Wow...that's really creepy. (not you, but the fact that people can find all that out about me).

[teaberryblue]

It's creepy if you think people would use it for the wrong reasons. It's actually kinda nice for most people-- like, you can find out what people you went to high school with are up to and things like that. I feel like it just depends how you think about it. Really stalking and nasty stuff like that is a question of protecting yourself, and protecting yourself in real life as much as you do online. Remember that creepy people online are much easier to cut off from your life if you don't like them than people you see every day.