A Plea: People Posting Confidentially

[Lanshark]

If it's private then don't post it on the internet and your problem is solved.

If you post private information about your live often enough for others to know enough about you to "out" you then you've created the problem.

 

[ols386]

Right!



Hey, I know who you are!!

Oh shoot!! And I thought I was completely anonymous here.

 

[DEA]

Well, that was quite a day. To sum up:

1. Some people argued that people should not post anything private on the Internet. They may be right, but people do, and that is why I felt compelled to make my plea.

2. Some people said that nobody was "outed" on one particular thread. Debatable, I guess, but it isn't just one thread.

3. Several people said that it was common sense not to "out" someone. I think the debate here has suggested this is not true. I still do not understand the urge.

4. Nobody, as far as I can tell, has provided me with a reason why people's attempts at anonymity should be thwarted publicly. It just seems like "they deserve it for putting it on the Internet" is the only reason, and that seems pretty hollow as a rationale.

 

[ols386]

Oops, sorry about the gender error.

It seems lime many here saw it as that thread.

I am not taking it personally. I am mostly laughing at how worked up others got over a comment that was just a factual statement. I also found it funny that not a single one of them sent me a PM. I would have deleted the comment then but now it can stay as it has been quoted.

But why even make the post to begin with? Still don't understand what your point was in making it to begin with. What was your point? You must have had one, or you wouldn't have posted.

 

[FireDancer]

4. Nobody, as far as I can tell, has provided me with a reason why people's attempts at anonymity should be thwarted publicly. It just seems like "they deserve it for putting it on the Internet" is the only reason, and that seems pretty hollow as a rationale.

This doesn't apply to the particular situation here but someone anonymously buying bomb making materials on the Interwebs probably should outed...preferably to the NSA, CIA, or FBI.

 

[jrmasm]

Well, that was quite a day. To sum up:

1. Some people argued that people should not post anything private on the Internet. They may be right, but people do, and that is why I felt compelled to make my plea.

2. Some people said that nobody was "outed" on one particular thread. Debatable, I guess, but it isn't just one thread.

3. Several people said that it was common sense not to "out" someone. I think the debate here has suggested this is not true. I still do not understand the urge.

4. Nobody, as far as I can tell, has provided me with a reason why people's attempts at anonymity should be thwarted publicly. It just seems like "they deserve it for putting it on the Internet" is the only reason, and that seems pretty hollow as a rationale.

Not rationale for why they deserve it. I don't think anyone said they deserve it. It just is what it is. If you want something to remain private don't put it on the internet. And if you roll the dice, don't be surprised when your business isn't private anymore.

 

[horseshowmom]

I like your post. I agree with it. If someone has a problem and comes to talk about it and ask for help, just help instead of guessing.

I've never posted with a different identity but my family has faced a situation that I could have posted about and, well, it'd give people a whole lot to talk about for days...weeks even, lol. But the situation is too touchy and I know the right answers already. But the thought of having people try to guess it was me when I came for help is disturbing to me.
I guess I've been here long enough to know what would happen. :/

I could have easily written this same post and agree completely.

Well, that was quite a day. To sum up:

1. Some people argued that people should not post anything private on the Internet. They may be right, but people do, and that is why I felt compelled to make my plea.

2. Some people said that nobody was "outed" on one particular thread. Debatable, I guess, but it isn't just one thread.

3. Several people said that it was common sense not to "out" someone. I think the debate here has suggested this is not true. I still do not understand the urge.

4. Nobody, as far as I can tell, has provided me with a reason why people's attempts at anonymity should be thwarted publicly. It just seems like "they deserve it for putting it on the Internet" is the only reason, and that seems pretty hollow as a rationale.

I agree with what you say. With the exception of when it becomes obvious that someone is a troll, I don't see anything wrong with someone asking for help. I think that sometimes they have nowhere else to go, and a little compassion doesn't cost anybody anything.

 

[C.Ann]

Anyone who would purposely reveal the identity of another who is trying to remain anonymous has problems of their own. That's just mean-spirited and childish.

I pretty much lose all respect for people who prove themselves to be DIS stalkers.

Not sure who was "outed" for what today, but I have to agree with the above.. Why would anyone even waste their time engaging in these activities? I can't imagine people feeling good about themselves when they do this, but obviously they get something out of it or they wouldn't do it..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I could have easily written this same post and agree completely.




I agree with what you say. With the exception of when it becomes obvious that someone is a troll, I don't see anything wrong with someone asking for help. I think that sometimes they have nowhere else to go, and a little compassion doesn't cost anybody anything.

Agree

Not sure who was "outed" for what today, but I have to agree with the above.. Why would anyone even waste their time engaging in these activities? I can't imagine people feeling good about themselves when they do this, but obviously they get something out of it or they wouldn't do it..

Agree

[/B]


Not rationale for why they deserve it. I don't think anyone said they deserve it. It just is what it is. If you want something to remain private don't put it on the internet. And if you roll the dice, don't be surprised when your business isn't private anymore.

Throughout this thread I have see numerous posts like this. People using the internet as an excuse to excuse the conduct of those who purpose to humiliate someone by taking away their anonymity.

Unless a poster is being deliberately deceptive (i.e. faking their death, creating fictitious acts of charity, a troll looking to stir up trouble, that kind of thing), being snarky and outing someone just isn't cool regardless of what excuse they hide behind.

I am only speaking to the general idea of what the OP writes. I have no idea what thread is being referenced here.

But if someone is having a tough go at something and we want to dish up dirt to hit them while they are down for the sake of being righteous....that is just shameful. So on that note, I agree with the OP.

*And as far as I can recall--all of my above exceptions have occurred on the disboards. The one about the fake death was especially repugnant. In that case, it wasn't an anonymous post--but a situation that needed to be outed.

 

[Goofyluver]

Anonymity empowers folks sitting behind their computer screens.

Too bad.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yeah, that is kind of the funny part. If I go SaraJayne, I know your real name, SS#, date of birth, and complete medical history but stop there and don't actually post what any of those are I haven't outed you. No one knows anything more about you than they did 2 minutes ago other than I know who you are.

Folks are not talking about that kind of outing...

Folks don't want their other "disname" associated with what they are posting anonymously about.

Words don't hurt you, but words do hurt other people and while you may feel no shame from a world of people you don't know--other people might. It is just plain nasty to deliberately out someone for no reason at all.

People want their DISboard persona protected when they opt to use a different username.

Some I have seen in the past were folks who may have friends or neighbors or even family that are also on the disboards or may know their disboards persona. Perhaps they have a potential medical appointment that is of concern or a work issue that looks scary or whatever. Perhaps they don't want those people to know, yet or whatever. But then someone feeling particular righteous decides to out them.

So "outing" has more criteria than just stuff that lets you pull a credit report.

 

[DEA]

This doesn't apply to the particular situation here but someone anonymously buying bomb making materials on the Interwebs probably should outed...preferably to the NSA, CIA, or FBI.

I tend to agree with that, but there's a big difference between asking for help and purchasing C4.

[/B]


Not rationale for why they deserve it. I don't think anyone said they deserve it. It just is what it is. If you want something to remain private don't put it on the internet. And if you roll the dice, don't be surprised when your business isn't private anymore.

I think you're leaving out the human agency in all of this. Someone makes a choice to "out" a poster trying to gain some privacy. If nobody chooses to do so, then that person's privacy, or at least the comfort that comes from feeling a sense of privacy, can continue.

Again, you are making the argument that people should not post private information on the Internet, and as I have said before, I understand that.

People do, however, post private information on the Internet, and I have to start there. They are asking those on the boards to respect the privacy of their identity, even if they are sharing private details of their lives.

My argument is that when someone does choose to do this, and attempts to keep their identity private, it would be nice if people made a choice to respect their attempts to distance their real identity from the content under discussion.

I know, I know, it's a rough Internet out there, but why not try to make it a little nicer?

 

[morethananyonex]

I saw the thread some people are talking about. The person wasn't outed, someone just said it was easy to tell who they were (or something like that). If people went out and searched on that information, then they're just as bad.

 

[Swan4Me]

I saw the thread some people are talking about. The person wasn't outed, someone just said it was easy to tell who they were (or something like that). If people went out and searched on that information, then they're just as bad.

Agreed-unless you are here 24/7 how could you tell who it is?

And the vague "facts" they gave apply to many here-moved to Orlando and work for disney-how many folks here say that?

 

[ilovemk76]

I saw the thread some people are talking about. The person wasn't outed, someone just said it was easy to tell who they were (or something like that). If people went out and searched on that information, then they're just as bad.

What I find really funny is many are up in arms over connecting the two accounts. There is not need, she posted all the details of her alias in her main account and it was all in one post. That is why I remembered it. I had just read it and it was the same details. Nothing new was posted.

That is why said I was just stating a fact.


The alias was 3 years old.

Many on here just want to offended even when there is nothing to be offended about .

 

[tlbwriter]

Actually, you don't have to name names to "out" someone. Saying stuff like "oh, I know you. Your spouse works at xxxxxx, you posted this x days ago, aren't you from ...?, etc. can pretty effectively out someone - especially to fellow stalkers who will then add that to their stalking info.

Again with the "stalking." Whenever someone says "Hey, you say you're filing bankruptcy due to circumstances beyond your control, but you took a big expensive trip two months ago" or something along those lines, they're accused of being a "stalker." When someone posts a very detailed story, and posts a contradicting story later, anyone who remembers the first story is called a "stalker." People, there's a difference between stalking and remembering.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

Again with the "stalking." Whenever someone says "Hey, you say you're filing bankruptcy due to circumstances beyond your control, but you took a big expensive trip two months ago" or something along those lines, they're accused of being a "stalker." When someone posts a very detailed story, and posts a contradicting story later, anyone who remembers the first story is called a "stalker." People, there's a difference between stalking and remembering.

Especially some of the posts that are particularly unforgettable.

 

[SaraJayne]

Again with the "stalking." Whenever someone says "Hey, you say you're filing bankruptcy due to circumstances beyond your control, but you took a big expensive trip two months ago" or something along those lines, they're accused of being a "stalker." When someone posts a very detailed story, and posts a contradicting story later, anyone who remembers the first story is called a "stalker." People, there's a difference between stalking and remembering.

 

[ols386]

I tend to agree with that, but there's a big difference between asking for help and purchasing C4.



I think you're leaving out the human agency in all of this. Someone makes a choice to "out" a poster trying to gain some privacy. If nobody chooses to do so, then that person's privacy, or at least the comfort that comes from feeling a sense of privacy, can continue.

Again, you are making the argument that people should not post private information on the Internet, and as I have said before, I understand that.

People do, however, post private information on the Internet, and I have to start there. They are asking those on the boards to respect the privacy of their identity, even if they are sharing private details of their lives.

My argument is that when someone does choose to do this, and attempts to keep their identity private, it would be nice if people made a choice to respect their attempts to distance their real identity from the content under discussion.

I know, I know, it's a rough Internet out there, but why not try to make it a little nicer?

This is the bottom line, and some on the internet don't really understand the meaning of the word, either that or they choose to ignore it.

 

[ols386]

What I find really funny is many are up in arms over connecting the two accounts. There is not need, she posted all the details of her alias in her main account and it was all in one post. That is why I remembered it. I had just read it and it was the same details. Nothing new was posted.

That is why said I was just stating a fact.


The alias was 3 years old.

Many on here just want to offended even when there is nothing to be offended about .

I would venture to say that there may be some things that offend YOU, that don't offend ME. So does that mean that if I am not offended by something, and you are, then there is really nothing to be offended about?

That statement works both ways.