IP logging and location information

[deirdre_c]

LJ has decided to suddenly start providing explicit location details about commenters for anyone with IP logging turned on

Comments

[amberdreams]

Oh bloody hell. Why would anyone want that anyway?

[deirdre_c]

I'm guessing that some users here on LJ use the service very differently from the way I do. Where anonymity isn't important to them? More like Facebook, less like fandom? IDEK. All I know is that it's very disturbing, and certainly going to make me stop commenting anywhere that has IP logging turned on. UGH. *shudders*

[deirdre_c]

I'm just hoping my city is wrong, because I don't want everyone to know specifically where I am! I mean, there's no question any determined enough and tech-saavy enough person could figure out my identity and location without too much trouble, but I can ignore that fact most of the time. But the thought of my location being placed right in front of people's faces thoroughly creeps me out. :(

[obstinatrix]

I - just -

why, LJ, why? *facepalm* I don't even know how to check if I have IP logging turned on or not.

[embroiderama]

It's in settings under the privacy tab.

[deirdre_c]

That's just it, I can't quite figure out why LJ would think this was a bonus. Clearly there's much more going on outside my own little corner of fandom-on-LJ that I don't know about.

Please bring back my illusion of anonymity! :(

[embroiderama]

I know it sucks, but really--if somebody had IP logging on before this all they had to do was go to one of the many free IP lookup websites and plug your IP in to get the same information. I only log IPs on anonymous comments, but when I (rarely) got them I often went to look them up just out of idle curiosity.

[deirdre_c]

Yes, I've long known that. But to me there is a huge difference between someone having to deliberately go search out who/where I am (out of all the dozens/hundreds of random commenters in a journal) and being spoon-fed that info.

So, for example, I'm just being friendly and commenting on the story of someone I don't know, and then suddenly they see I live near them and they're contacting me to see if I want to meet up sometime! UGH! SO MUCH DNW!!! DNW to meet fandom strangers in real life!!!!! WINCON is hard enough for me, and it's on neutral territory, not in my own hometown.

Also, for example, I had a student in my department in fandom-- although I think she's graduated by now. I'm pretty sure I avoided ever commenting in her journal, but now I CAN'T REMEMBER. :( :( :( She would never know I was at her uni without the IP logging location info right there. YUCK.

[embroiderama]

*hugs* I don't think most people log IPs on logged-in users, so I would bet it's okay either way. *hugs*

[poor_choices]

I love that you share the EXACT SAME FEAR I did. Like--that was the exact situation I came up with that I did not want. YAY ANTI-SOCIAL TWINSIES.

[fryttu]

I don't use that IP logging feature and don't plan to do in the future. Feel free to stop by any time! :D

[deirdre_c]

You can't keep me away! *clings*