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Why are people afraid to put their name on this forum?

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Originally posted by: Skoorb
Don't worry. As I said in that thread, anybody here who's sold/bought on the FS/T forum has given their address. Many of us have posted pictures also. Even before the internet (and still now) I meet many people who find out my address, whether it's at a store or just a co-worker or anything. Finding a person is easy. Don't worry. Those who are worried are simply putting fear before reason. If somebody wants to track you down and murder you it's quite easy whether you've posted a pic and address of yourself on the net or not. And why do people block out license plates? Everybody I see behind me driving has mny plate, so why is posting it on the net any worse?

Anybody worried about identity theft how exactly is somebody going to steal my identity if I give my name and address? Are they going to start buying tvs under an alias and sending them to me? Thanks!
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Don't worry. As I said in that thread, anybody here who's sold/bought on the FS/T forum has given their address. Many of us have posted pictures also. Even before the internet (and still now) I meet many people who find out my address, whether it's at a store or just a co-worker or anything. Finding a person is easy. Don't worry. Those who are worried are simply putting fear before reason. If somebody wants to track you down and murder you it's quite easy whether you've posted a pic and address of yourself on the net or not. And why do people block out license plates? Everybody I see behind me driving has mny plate, so why is posting it on the net any worse?

Anybody worried about identity theft how exactly is somebody going to steal my identity if I give my name and address? Are they going to start buying tvs under an alias and sending them to me? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yea, I mean Skoorbie even has a fan/stalker and that turned out ok for him 😀 I guess it depends on the individual though.

I'm not that worried. I my website happens to be my full name.

http://www.chadwickcmeyer.com
 
i have had my name and stuff listed here for 4 years and on another forum for 1 year prior to that. no problems for me. i don't hide my contact info in my domain registrations either, so anybody with a tiny clue can find my address/phone number. i ain't scared of no ghosts
 
meh,
never figured that i'll be important enough for people to try to steal my identity,
plus, whats the point of being part of a great online community such as this one if people don't know the real you?
AND, since so many AT'ers are from WA, if we ever meet.. pfft, call me Jerry.
 
Originally posted by: loki8481
I try to avoid using my real name so that my coworkers don't read my posts whenever I bash my place of work.
Click to expand...
Might want to take your real name out of your profile - unless that's made up, of course. 😉

A guy here got fired from work because he was posting coupon deals early (IIRC?), and the higher-ups figured out who it was by checking up on the name in the profile. Kinda sucked, because he wasn't really doing anything wrong or strictly against policy, as I understand. It still doesn't hurt to be careful.

My name and location details are accessible on the 'net easily enough with some google searching and a few inferences. I have also posted pictures of myself a few times, and have no worries from this; if I was an adult with a family (especially with young daughters), I would be much more careful about the pictures and family details.
 
I can easily be googled. I don't offer my name, but that's because I assume people here to be lazy when it coems to such things.
 
sp33ddemon = idiot

I think my stalkage level on this forum is high as anyone else's, and I don't care if anyone knows my name.

/thread
 
Hell, I think most of the concern of anonymity is so that you aren't turned into an employer, not to prevent identity theft. I'd personally be far more worried about having you ID stolen locally (or IRL) than online.

Everything needed to have your ID stolen can be found in your outbound or inbound mail or on your lease papers for an apartment or on a loan application at a store or car dealer.

What's to stop that $7.00 an hour Best Buy employee from making an extra copy of your Best Buy credit card application for themselves once they run it through the system and see that your credit is high enough for a $10,000 limit? Just bank up those applications and sell off or use the info for yourself if that's your thing.

If somebody REALLY wanted to cause some problems, all they have to do is know when bank statements are mailed out by various banks and just snipe the mailboxes after the mail is delivered. It would be cake if you lived in a place where curb side mailboxes were heavily used. That has names, addresses, bank account numbers, account statements, ect. I'm far more worried about that info being used against me than listing my name on the web.
 
Originally posted by: TallBill
Heres the thread

In that picture, my name and photo as well as my "hometown" is posted online. Sp33demon keeps trying to convince me that its unsafe to have our picture and "hometown" posted online because someone is going to steal our identity.

Theres millions of people that you can find their home address and phone number online. Its called a phone book. Second of all, thats not even where either of us live, nor is our information even in a phonebook or online whitepages or anything.

How is someone going to "steal my identity" because they have my picture and name. I've met hundreds of people in real life who know more info and my identity is never stolen.

I may not have his home phone and address just as he doesn't have mine, but what would it matter either way? Nobody is going to steal each others identity.

He even sent me this pm

I try and give you advice, and you act like a d!psh!t, 2 people have PMed me and said it was nice that I was trying to help you out yet you react in a belligerent manner. You talk a big game, but in the end you're just a skinny little man with a chip on his shoulder (do you even weigh 175 lbs with boots on, wet?). When your bank account is cleaned out because someone stole you and your wife's identity, we told you so.
Click to expand...

I "talk" big game because its the internet and I can. And yes its "advice" but come on now, arren't we being a tad bit paranoid? Theres thousands of people who respond to spam emails with bank information and password information. Dont you think scammers are going to stick to making money off of them instead of trying to get any of my real info?

Anyways, Sp33demon, your on ignore because I try to come on Anandtech to read what I want and not talk to overparanoid conspiracy theorists. You can chalk it up as a victory if you want. You can take over this thread and flame me if you want. You are the winner. Your the champ, the big man. Whatever. Its arguing in the internet, you can have it.
Click to expand...
You need to grow up, Tall Bill! Someone congratulates you and expresses concerns. Rather than show courtesy and say thank you for the advice even if you don't agree with it, you call the person names and act extremely childish. Then you proceed to start another thread in the same negative, pugnacious tone. Did you have a bad week? You need to grow up. If you can't even have a sense of humor, then I wonder what marital life you're threading into.... You speak of him crapping your thread, but what irony! You seem to have done a better job yourself with the somber tone of your thread, dismissing the significance of engagement to you, and starting a fight on much ado about nothing.

On topic without making this about your vendetta with another member: There's every reason to keep your information on the internet private. There's a lot someone could gather about you with information you leave left and right. Do you go to all neighborhoods in your city broadcasting your name, address, all people involved in your life, etc? You would look silly and risk your life too. The same is applicable to the internet. Just giving your name isn't necessarily harmful, but leaving bits and pieces could leave much for someone to work with. There's public records available to anyone. There's tax assessor's record to check for someone's home address if the person owns a home. And you could obtain that just with first name, last name and city, county and state of residence.

A good example is the case of the cookie gesture. The lady's record is public and some stupid immature, nerdy kids got it, published it on the internet and encouraged others to send her threats. She and her SO have been victims of harassment and threats. You may be willing to take that crap, but not everyone is or appreciates it. Some people enjoy the anonymity of the internet and the leeway it affords them. They could talk about anything they so desire, whereas with their true identities and contact information, they couldn't say things for fear of retribution from others in their real lives, or even on the internet.

There's also the female factor. You don't know what rapist, murderer, or whoever else is looking for his prey. Safety and precautions isn't a bad thing, provided not taken to extremity. Some people don't mind these things, but they should respect those who do. To each his/her own.
 
Originally posted by: DearQT
Originally posted by: TallBill
Heres the thread

In that picture, my name and photo as well as my "hometown" is posted online. Sp33demon keeps trying to convince me that its unsafe to have our picture and "hometown" posted online because someone is going to steal our identity.

Theres millions of people that you can find their home address and phone number online. Its called a phone book. Second of all, thats not even where either of us live, nor is our information even in a phonebook or online whitepages or anything.

How is someone going to "steal my identity" because they have my picture and name. I've met hundreds of people in real life who know more info and my identity is never stolen.

I may not have his home phone and address just as he doesn't have mine, but what would it matter either way? Nobody is going to steal each others identity.

He even sent me this pm

I try and give you advice, and you act like a d!psh!t, 2 people have PMed me and said it was nice that I was trying to help you out yet you react in a belligerent manner. You talk a big game, but in the end you're just a skinny little man with a chip on his shoulder (do you even weigh 175 lbs with boots on, wet?). When your bank account is cleaned out because someone stole you and your wife's identity, we told you so.
Click to expand...

I "talk" big game because its the internet and I can. And yes its "advice" but come on now, arren't we being a tad bit paranoid? Theres thousands of people who respond to spam emails with bank information and password information. Dont you think scammers are going to stick to making money off of them instead of trying to get any of my real info?

Anyways, Sp33demon, your on ignore because I try to come on Anandtech to read what I want and not talk to overparanoid conspiracy theorists. You can chalk it up as a victory if you want. You can take over this thread and flame me if you want. You are the winner. Your the champ, the big man. Whatever. Its arguing in the internet, you can have it.
Click to expand...
You need to grow up, Tall Bill! Someone congratulates you and expresses concerns. Rather than show courtesy and say thank you for the advice even if you don't agree with it, you call the person names and act extremely childish. Then you proceed to start another thread in the same negative, pugnacious tone. Did you have a bad week? You need to grow up. If you can't even have a sense of humor, then I wonder what marital life you're threading into.... You speak of him crapping your thread, but what irony! You seem to have done a better job yourself with the somber tone of your thread, dismissing the significance of engagement to you, and starting a fight on much ado about nothing.

On topic without making this about your vendetta with another member: There's every reason to keep your information on the internet private. There's a lot someone could gather about you with information you leave left and right. Do you go to all neighborhoods in your city broadcasting your name, address, all people involved in your life, etc? You would look silly and risk your life too. The same is applicable to the internet. Just giving your name isn't necessarily harmful, but leaving bits and pieces could leave much for someone to work with. There's public records available to anyone. There's tax assessor's record to check for someone's home address if the person owns a home. And you could obtain that just with first name, last name and city, county and state of residence.

A good example is the case of the cookie gesture. The lady's record is public and some stupid immature, nerdy kids got it, published it on the internet and encouraged others to send her threats. She and her SO have been victims of harassment and threats. You may be willing to take that crap, but not everyone is or appreciates it. Some people enjoy the anonymity of the internet and the leeway it affords them. They could talk about anything they so desire, whereas with their true identities and contact information, they couldn't say things for fear of retribution from others in their real lives, or even on the internet.

There's also the female factor. You don't know what rapist, murderer, or whoever else is looking for his prey. Safety and precautions isn't a bad thing, provided not taken to extremity. Some people don't mind these things, but they should respect those who do. To each his/her own.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Now lets all become advocates of the Apocalypse and warn others of the dangers of burning in hell for all eternity.
I doubt people will thank me for that kind of advice.

You also said "If you can't even have a sense of humor...". So how is being confident that
no one on ATOT reading that thread is a potential stalker/murderer not having a sense of humor? Its uptight people like Sp33dDemon that makes this world so skeptic.

Lets all baracade our doors and get bars on our windows! My name is George. I go to SUNY-ESF. I live off-campus on Wescott. I am 20 years old and Taiwanese. I am 5'9" at around 143lbs. Since there's only 3-5 asians that live on my block, I encourge any friendly passerbys from ATOT to come on over and have a cup of coffee w/ Smores Poptarts on the side.
 
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