Internet no longer care-free? (changed from anonymous)

[Circlenaut]

I remember years ago when I felt I could post anything on the internet, hell maybe even some felonies. Today I feel like people have a greater understanding of what the internet means and how it works. With social networking and google making a publicly available backup of the internet I now feel that I need to second guess everytime I post something on the internet relating to advice. I made a recent post that now I'm actually a little worried about because my boss may come across it. Do you guys feel like this now? The internet is not what it used to be...

EDIT: poor choice of words. I think care-free is more in line with what I was thinking. I started this thread because I used to feel that anandtech was a place where I could nearly say anything (things I wouldn't say to anyone personally) without it being tracked back to me. My name can now probably be connected to this account if someone really interested actually connected the dots and this really freaks me out. I'm actually contemplating where or not I should request to delete this account (hell I've been here 8 years) because I've posted way, way too personal things over the years when I was younger and more stupid. Granted it's only a few threads.

 

[SlitheryDee]

It still feels anonymous to me because I know no one's going to bother tracking down all the shit I say.

 

[disappoint]

The internet hasn't changed much, you just finally realized what everyone else knows.

 

[SandEagle]

yes Tom, i know about you. you are fired!

 

[spidey07]

Pro-Tip: Don't post anything that could get you arrested or fired.

 

[Circlenaut]

Pro-Tip: Don't post anything that could get you arrested or fired.

Great advice, really need to heed this one.

 

[pcslookout]

This thread made me lol. The internet has never been anonymous. Once it is digital it is there forever. If anyone ever thought this I really can't see how. You should unplug your computer now.

 

[Jeeebus]

you just finally realized what everyone else knows.

Everyone knows this

 

[spaceman]

fuck the world

 

[JackOfHearts]

A person I work with got written up for saying "work sucked to day" on facebook...

 

[daw123]

Pro-Tip: Don't post anything that could get you arrested or fired.

:thumbsup:

 

[AreaCode707]

I have a few ex coworkers on Facebook, and my little sisters. I was conservative in what I posted anyway; my status updates have gotten INCREDIBLY benign (and banal) since I added those two pools of friends.

 

[Circlenaut]

poor choice of words. I think care-free is more in line with what I was thinking. I started this thread because I used to feel that anandtech was a place where I could nearly say anything (things I wouldn't say to anyone personally) without it being tracked back to me, mostly advice. My name can now probably be connected to this account if someone really interested actually connected the dots and this really freaks me out. I'm actually contemplating where or not I should request to delete this account (hell I've been here 8 years) because I've posted way, way too personal things over the years when I was younger and more stupid.

 

[vi edit]

I just hate that some people are so filled with hate/anger(and overabundence of time) that they'll dig up posts made by somebody and put enough peices together that they can identify an employer and make a call about somebody posting on the internet. It's one thing if your employer is looking over your shoulder. It's another for somebody to call them because you jumped on their dick in some completely unrelated/stupid post and that's how they choose to get back at you.

Some people just let stuff get way too worked up about online interactions.

Facebook is a completely different ball of wax...some people just simply don't have any filter that says "maybe I shouldn't write that". But those are the same people that will say the same thing IRL at the worst time. My wife and I both work in healthcare and we are horrified by the posts that some people make about patients and coworkers on their updates/discussions.

 

[pcslookout]

poor choice of words. I think care-free is more in line with what I was thinking. I started this thread because I used to feel that anandtech was a place where I could nearly say anything (things I wouldn't say to anyone personally) without it being tracked back to me, mostly advice. My name can now probably be connected to this account if someone really interested actually connected the dots and this really freaks me out. I'm actually contemplating where or not I should request to delete this account (hell I've been here 8 years) because I've posted way, way too personal things over the years when I was younger and more stupid.

lol well thank you for saying what the original topic said instead as well. Appreciated.

It doesn't matter what username you use or whatever. If I wanted to find out if someone I knew in real life, like a friend, posted anywhere online I could easily. Doesn't matter where. It does not have to be on facebook or a forum. Could be anywhere. So simple to do. Their name could be anything.

 

[Modelworks]

The internet at one time was a lot more personal, people often posted with real names. I can search my name on google groups and find many postings I made in the 1990's and most of the replies are from people who used their real names. I also subscribe to mailing list now where people use their real names.

In a way I think anonymity has become a problem online. People do things online they would never do anywhere else, often at the expense of others. If people were easily identifiable online then it might be a better place.

 

[Circlenaut]

lol well thank you for saying what the original topic said instead as well. Appreciated.

It doesn't matter what username you use or whatever. If I wanted to find out if someone I knew in real life, like a friend, posted anywhere online I could easily. Doesn't matter where. It does not have to be on facebook or a forum. Could be anywhere. So simple to do. Their name could be anything.

That's some scary shit man. I've used a handful of forums over the years to vent, get advice on, confess some things over the years. It was a great avenue to express internal angst. Now that more and more people are becoming techno savy I feel like I can't really do that anymore. Guess I'll have to find some other/smarter way to vent.

 

[pcslookout]

I just hate that some people are so filled with hate/anger(and overabundence of time) that they'll dig up posts made by somebody and put enough peices together that they can identify an employer and make a call about somebody posting on the internet.

Some people just let stuff get way too worked up about online interactions.

Facebook is a completely different ball of wax...some people just simply don't have any filter that says "maybe I shouldn't write that". But those are the same people that will say the same thing IRL at the worst time. My wife and I both work in healthcare and we are horrified by the posts that some people make about patients and coworkers on their updates/discussions.

I know exactly who your talking about too. It actually fun to test these people with the game to see what they do. Enjoy myself a lot by actually giving these people exactly what they want to see. Love to see what they will try to do next. Quite fun and funny at the same time. All while they are being played like a flute. It is fun to turn things around on people. Sure they may know now but I don't care. How long have I done this for ? Forever.

 

[pcslookout]

That's some scary shit man. I've used a handful of forums over the years to vent, get advice on, confess some things over the years. It was a great avenue to express internal angst. Now that more and more people are becoming techno savy I feel like I can't really do that anymore. Guess I'll have to find some other/smarter way to vent.

How is it so scary? It really depends on what you do with it. I take advance of it and use it for my own fun. Like I said once it is digital it is there forever. Surprised people do not realize this. Are you all just noticing this now ? lol

 

[Circlenaut]

The internet at one time was a lot more personal, people often posted with real names. I can search my name on google groups and find many postings I made in the 1990's and most of the replies are from people who used their real names. I also subscribe to mailing list now where people use their real names.

In a way I think anonymity has become a problem online. People do things online they would never do anywhere else, often at the expense of others. If people were easily identifiable online then it might be a better place.

Now that I'm older and look back at my stupid posts I feel like you are absolutely right. I grew up thinking that the internet is a place where I could vent things I would never say in real life but the internet is and will always will be a digital extension of the public domain. We have digital address with digital streets to worry about...

 

[Circlenaut]

How is it so scary? It really depends on what you do with it. I take advance of it and use it for my own fun. Like I said once it is digital it is there forever. Surprised people do not realize this. Are you all just noticing this now ? lol

I don't think it's a matter of noticing, it's more that I never really internalized it. I only started worrying about this when I realized that I've posted things that could really tick off some people and they have access to this essentially forever. What I'm really worried about is that if I piss someone off in the future and they actually spent some time online looking up shit on me, they could do some serious damage to my life. I think I may have to attempt to do some damage control and crawl through my previous forums and request posts to be deleted (if it's possible...)

 

[pcslookout]

I don't think it's a matter of noticing, it's more that I never really internalized it. I only started worrying about this when I realized that I've posted things that could really tick off some people and they have access to this essentially forever. What I'm really worried about is that if I piss someone off in the future and they actually spent some time online looking up shit on me, they could do some serious damage to my life. I think I may have to attend to do some damage control and crawl through my previous forums and request posts to be deleted (if it's possible...)

So your worried about your family ?

 

[pcslookout]

Well I don't care who I piss off. Life is to short to worry about that and you would never have a real opinion if you did all the time.

 

[Modelworks]

I don't think it's a matter of noticing, it's more that I never really internalized it. I only started worrying about this when I realized that I've posted things that could really tick off some people and they have access to this essentially forever. What I'm really worried about is that if I piss someone off in the future and they actually spent some time online looking up shit on me, they could do some serious damage to my life. I think I may have to attend to do some damage control and crawl through my previous forums and request posts to be deleted (if it's possible...)

A big part of that is about how people experienced the internet. Many using the net now grew up using it, it was just another part of daily life. For me I started using the internet when it was only text. To get an account you had to give your name , address , and every post you made was directly linked back to a ip at a service provider that were more than willing to ban an account for breaking the rules . They were not as tolerant as they are now. Doing something like trying to fake the posting ip or use a pseudonym when posting was against the rules. So if you did post you knew what you said would be traced back to you so people were careful with what they said.

 

[Circlenaut]

Well I don't care who I piss off. Life is to short to worry about that and you would never have a real opinion if you did all the time.

You would worry if it had the possibility to affect your job, relationships etc... I've said some dumb shit when I was a teen that I would NEVER say today.