Do you think it is a little dangerous to give out your address for exchanges?

[kpgclark]

I've never done an exchange but it sounds like a lot of fun. However don't you worry about giving out your name and address to a complete stranger? I mean most of us probably have children at home and this seems just a little troubling to me. What do you think?

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'm not that paranoid. In today's political and social climate, there's so such thing as privacy. Names and addresses are very easy to find if one is so inclined.

And, if I'm going to be stalked, it may as well be by a DISer.
:)

[Beauty]

Nah I'm not scared either. Unless your number is unlisted all you have to do is go to whitepages.com and you can find anyone you want.

[vickyBaby]

I think you have very legitimate concerns. We have no idea who the person is behind the name. I've never participated in an exchange for this reason. I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I have met some really wonderful people from the DIS.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea, you should elect to not participate.

[Jeff in BigD]

I wouldn't do it. My number is unlisted & while I'm not so extreme as to not list the city I live in or avoid meets (I guess someone could follow me home if they really wanted too), I just don't want someone showing up at my house or calling me on the phone. I'm pretty sure that the majority of posters are ok, but when there are almost 50,000 people (including non-registered lurkers) odds are there are bound to be a few not-so well balanced people out there. It only takes one mental person to ruin your day.


If you want to participate but are a little concerned about privacy perhaps you could get a PO box?

[gemmie214]

I have my exchanges sent to work. I know if a person really wanted to find out where I lived they could but I feel better giving my work adress

[Meriweather]

If someone wants to track me down to some little town in the boonies of Washington state......come on over. I'll even bake cookies! :teeth:

Lots of people have my address....I have the piles of junk mail to prove it!!
I'm no more concerned about a Diser than I am about the grocery store or anywhere else I cash a check at or sign up for something or have something delivered to my house.

No one is forcing anyone to participate, so if you are uncomfortable....don't do it. Some of the people in the exchanges I've done have used PO boxes.

[newmousecateer]

Not worried about it at all. I just gave my DisCon buddy my home address, telephone number, and e-mail address.

I trust her. :D But even if I didn't, with all the stuff I do on the internet, (searching, ordering things, etc), if someone wanted to find out about me, I am sure they could.

[Spinning]

I wonder about this all the time. But this year I broke down and joined in on several scrapbook swaps on the recipe/scrapbook board here on the DIS and it has been great fun! I don't think I would do it on ever board I travel and the very first time I was very nervous but now I join in and have fun!

[Breezy_Carol]

The first time I participated in an exchange, my kids wanted to know why it was ok for me to give out my name and address but they couldn't. I guess I feel like I can use disgression.

[Kermit]

I don't worry about it. I'll admit it does seem odd when your emailing your address to someone you don't know, but really, only 2 people get your info--the person organizing the exchange and the person who's sending you something. It's not like someone would get the address of someone they've always wanted to stalk, if that makes any sense.

[kylara]

I never thought about it when I signed up for an exchange. After all, I have mentioned where I work in more than one post so I guess that if anyone really wanted to find me, they would be able to. And as someone else said, not everyone gets your address, just the person who organizes the exchange and the person you exchange with. Guess I never thought of any disers as dangerous.

[DVC-Don]

I do not even allow access to my e-mail on any board. I'd never give a home address.

[Pembo]

A little! :(

[Goofyposter]

nope...I'm bigger and stronger than most people....and even if I weren't...the folks here are great! I've never talked to or emailed or mailed anyone here that wasn't a wonderful person! :) Each sumone I'd be proud to call my friend!! :):)

[December99]

I thought about that at first also but it doesn't bother me. If I really don't know the DISer that is organizing the exchange, then I won't participate. I can say for me, given that I have done two exchanges now (organizing them that is) I DO NOT give out anyone's address to anyone unless I ask them first. And I have had DISers asking for so-and-so's address, and I have always tried to make contact with the person first before giving it to someone else. And I would NEVER even ask if I didn't know the person that was asking for it.

[EROS]

No problem :jester: :jester:

EROS
666 SATAN'S LANE
BOSTON, MASS

[Wagamama]

I agree with December99. I'm organizing an exchange right now, and would not give out names to ANYONE besides the exchangee.

[tiggerlover]

Since I live in Italy, I think the odds of tracking me down are slim to none. My mailing address is a post box on a military post, so it isn't even connected to my house. I was going to offer my real Italian address for the international exchange, but in this day of terrorists etc., I thought I would just stick with my box number. When I lived in the US I did participate in two exchanges and one time I used my work address and another time I used another alternate address that was not my house.

(BTW - I wasn't aware of the whitepages.com site, that is nice to know. I plugged in DH's name and it came up with the address where we lived in 1988 and when I plugged in my name it couldn't find any records. Perhaps because we are in the military and move around so much.)

:bounce::wave::bounce:

[Meriweather]

Originally posted by Wagamama
I agree with December99. I'm organizing an exchange right now, and would not give out names to ANYONE besides the exchangee.

Same here.....I've got two going (one wrapping up, one starting).

[Bob O]

No problem giving out my address. And if their is any problem im ARMED and ready for it!!

[Grog]

come on over. I'll even bake cookies!

Make mine Oatmeal-Raisin ;)

I haven't done an exchange (but may some day). I'm not worried about my address, as a couple of hundred people on ebay have it already.

[abaldacci]

I guess I am just a trusting person. I just can't help but think anyone who likes the mouse can't be all that bad.

[MrsPiglet]

But if someone wants to find me I am in the white paages. So not hard to find. But I figure the internet diser's are just aobut as safe as anyone.

Can't worry about everyone.

[Nutsy]

It doesn't really bother me..................I have thought about it, but really no bother. I trust the people who have my details & I'm pretty sure they wouldn't pass it on without first of all checking.

Exchanges are really fun..........you get to know a bit more about a person too. Also, often times it is the same people in the exchanges so you tend to strike up a friendship with them.

But, if you have qualms about it, then just don't sign up for any of the exchanges & you'll have no worries.:)

[Serena]

The way I figure it, someone is trusting me, and I have to trust someone else.
But, nervous about it yes. I did it anyway. :)

[DixieDreamer]

I don't hand my personal info out freely... but I also am not afraid to when I think it is worth it and I have at least some cursory knowledge of who I am handing it to.

If someone went to the bother of tracking me down to the hinterlands in which I live... they would likely die of boredom and frustration long before they showed up on my doorstep to stalk me. LOL!

[BrerMom]

I won't be participating this year, partly because I had been careful not to use my real name on the boards until last year's Christmas exchange. For MONTHS after the exchange, my name was being posted. Obviously not a big deal for most (a lot?) of people, but I like a little anonymity.

[Dan Murphy]

I like to be anonymous.

[DixieDreamer]

LOL! Dan.... ummm.... could you tell us your name at least? ;) :p

[Bunchkin]

Dan-
You're the furthest point from anonimity as you can get!! LOL!!!;)

I just singed up for my first exchange and gave it little thought. Not to say that I'm not a cautious person, you should see me with my children. But I trust the person in charge of the exchange and I believe that the person who receives my name will be a 'nice, normal Diser'!! :) :) hehehe

[cmatt]

I'am not bothered with it at all ,, anyone wants to e-mail me is more than welcome always looking for new e-mail buddys

thanks cmatt :earsboy: :earseek: :sunny: :wave: :crazy:

[caitycaity]

the fact is that if someone knows your name (first and last) and the general area in which you live, they can most likely find your address and phone number.

i don't really think it's a big deal, but if you do, then don't give it out. :)

[mrsapalm]

It never concerned me... I tried looking myself up using a number of "search sites" and...hee hee.... I can't find me (nor could I find my DH). So, if some whacked-out DISer wants to hunt me down, I'll know who it is because I keep track of who has my address. And I'll thank her again for the lovely gift she sent me from the recipe exchange! But seriously, I'm not worried about giving out my address via exchanges and such... there's a certain point where you just have to "let go and let God..." so to speak. It's more dangerous for me to get in my truck and drive back and forth to work than it is to participate in exchanges on the DIS.
-MrsAPalm

[Girls Scout Leader]

Nah...
you know what they say...

"You can run, but you can't hide!";)