Community Chat

[chickenbutt]

I've been guilty of saying when my birthday is and each time I get miffed at myself.   This really is a big one.  

I'd never do a 'happy birthday to me' kind of thing because, well, that just skeeves me out.  But, in context, I have told my birthday.  I think I'll put more thought and stop doing that.  

[Trinity11]

What about photos? I have seen posters use photos of themselves in their avatar here? Couldn't they be easily traced?

Some have shared photos of their grandchildren.

[SaRina]

@sidsmom, At one of my workplaces, we had a huge fight about our Payroll Secretary being allowed to give out dates of birth so employees could send birthday wishes or make parties for that person. The pro-people argued that it was only the month and day being given out, not the year. Of course, it never came to be, but just the fact that it was suggested....can you imagine?

[Mj12]

I agree that these seemingly innocuous questions threads may not be so innocuous.  But also it's important to be guarded with the info we post. Some people give out SO many details, it's not smart. 

[Moonchilde]

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@silentgirl wrote:

Yes pet names - good idea not to use them at all as passwords-

What I wish is; that the more seasoned members here could some how point out some of the peculiarities they see for some of us who may not read as much or put it all together.

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@silentgirl, it's tried, periodically, but rarely ends well. Whatever someone might warn against, however mildly, those posters who believe no one and nothing is ever not what they/it seem, just have to show up to smack those posters for "daring to suggest" all might not be on the up and up. If you suggest someone might not be who they say they are, might not be a brand new sweet & innocent poster, or just that there is something fishy somewhere, those posts may well be deleted, precisely so that the unaware can be drawn in. And dead seriously, people have posted in the forums that they don't care if they're responding earnestly to a troll, they can if they want to, so there. Yes - really.

So many of us rarely bother - not really worth it and you get little thanks.

[silentgirl]

I would just gently suggest;  if you have not done so to date, search yourself by name-see what information comes up, and how easy it is to pair it down-

edited for spelling

[Moonchilde]

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@chickenbutt wrote:

How about - what are the last four digits of your SSN?   Just the last four, that will be ok.    

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I know. LMAO. Someone will get away with it some day - and the person who says hey wait a minute will be the one deleted.

[Nomorebirthdays]

@Moonchilde. Yes I have also read I turn 70 years old next Tuesday. That single thing gives potential hackers birthday and year.

Ancestry Web sites are a big tool for indenitty thieves.

[chrystaltree]

I'm sure that no one is going to figure someone's identity out from the conversations here. that's just silly.  In all my years on this board, I have never seen anyone give out any true identifying information.  You eye color and where you shop and who does your tax returns is not identifying information.  The only thing here that troubles me and I've only seen it 2 or 3 times are the grands who post pictures of their grandchildren.  I just think thats not necessary and intrusive, even if they don't give the children's names and where they live.  It just makes me uneasy.

[Noel7]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

I'm sure that no one is going to figure someone's identity out from the conversations here. that's just silly.  In all my years on this board, I have never seen anyone give out any true identifying information.  You eye color and where you shop and who does your tax returns is not identifying information.  The only thing here that troubles me and I've only seen it 2 or 3 times are the grands who post pictures of their grandchildren.  I just think thats not necessary and intrusive, even if they don't give the children's names and where they live.  It just makes me uneasy.

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@chrystaltree

It was already done, you are incorrect.