Am I the only paranoid Mommy here?

[3jsmommy]

This has been bothering for a while now, so here goes....
(at the risk of sounding like Debbie Downer)
I find it suprising that parents (very well meaning responsible I am sure) post pictures & ages of their children on here & then give out info like.. where & when they are staying in Disney, what time their ADRs are etc...
Maybe I am being silly but this just doesn't seem smart to me, I really feel that this is a very wonderful site w/ friendly users but still I wouldn't give out all that info.... am I the only parent here who feels this way??

 

[jakenjess]

No, you're not alone. I've never posted pictures of my kids, although I'm not sure there would be any harm in it. I do have strict instructions from DH not to post pictures of any of us! Maybe it's being a little overly cautious, but better safe than sorry. Having said that, I wouldn't have any problem meeting at Disney with a fellow DIS-er at a park, but that info would be exchanged via PM and not publicly on the boards.

 

[belle&beast]

I don't post pictures either, but I do have a ticker. If people want information about anyone or anything, they can get it using the internet. And we always have a house sitter when we travel to take care of our 2 large dogs so I don't worry too much.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I'm sure you are not the only worrying mom out there. People share what they are comfortable sharing. I don't think I've ever listed info on when my ADRs might be.

I also haven't shared any pics but that's mostly because I don't know how to.

 

[CampbellScot]

I don't post pictures either, but I think it's just a personal choice and not necessarily dangerous. I don't give identifying information so I don't have a problem telling people that I'll be at Wilderness Lodge in August. I won't be checking in as CampbellScot!

I love to see pictures of families enjoying Disney! I guess you just can't live in fear. But like I said, everyone has a different comfort level.

 

[CampbellScot]

I'm sure you are not the only worrying mom out there. People share what they are comfortable sharing. I don't think I've ever listed info on when my ADRs might be.

I also haven't shared any pics but that's mostly because I don't know how to.

If you get a free photobucket account it's easy peasy to post pics!! Basically you just upload pictures into photobucket, copy the "message board" link thingie under the pic and then paste it into the body of your post. There it is!

It's super easy! Happy picture posting!

 

[mom2aredhead]

While on one hand I feel very comfortable here, sharing some personal information with my fellow DIS-ers, I do worry. All of you know my son's hair color by my screen name, and I have mentioned the state that I live in, but I have never posted a picture because for me, that completely takes away any anonymity I still have.
I don't even have any pictures on on-line sharing sites like photobucket or kodak galleries. You just never know. I do love seeing pictures of other families on their trips, and have been tempted many times to share ours, but I worry.
Google your screen name here. Without even logging on to the dis, your posts are out there in cyberspace. I'd rather keep the faces that go with the posts private.

 

[Georgia]

I, too, have sometimes wondered about how much information to give out. Ultimately, the assumption that someone wants to harm me/my kids and is lurking on DIS AND could put together the pieces of the puzzle between a pix, ticker, ADR times....well, let me just say I think that is highly unlikely. I think people have become very paranoid in our society. I'm mean it's hard not to with all you hear in the news.

One thing I've noticed over the years is that we are way more likely to be victims of a crime committed by someone we know even just in passing than by some stranger on the boards.

 

[grlpwrd]

I, too, have sometimes wondered about how much information to give out. Ultimately, the assumption that someone wants to harm me/my kids and is lurking on DIS AND could put together the pieces of the puzzle between a pix, ticker, ADR times....well, let me just say I think that is highly unlikely. I think people have become very paranoid in our society. I'm mean it's hard not to with all you hear in the news.

One thing I've noticed over the years is that we are way more likely to be victims of a crime committed by someone we know even just in passing than by some stranger on the boards.

True. I worry more about my mean neighbor next door or the pedophiles who aren't listed under our city's registry due to plea bargaining or not being prosecuted.

I post pics of us, but never full face or too close and I share general information. I never share my kids' names ...and I bet no one even remembers my first name. lol

Yes, it really depends on your comfort level. I want to have some privacy, but I also feel like I belong to this community and want to let people know I am real and not some 45yo man living in my mom's basement. lol j/k

This also goes for selling on ebay or Craigslist. I never have people come to my home. We meet in a public location. I take necessary precautions, too.

 

[jupers]

I too considered this. I settled on an alder costumed picture of DD so I doubt anyone could recognize her anyway. You make a good point there are far too many sickos and you can let your guard down when you become comfortable...

 

[sunsprinkle24]

I don't post pictures, and even my MySpace account I keep private because I have pictures of my kids on there.

 

[pednurse]

I never post pics of my kids anywhere on any site, nor will I ever. Not even on our own password-protected site that DH set up. Why take the chance? I also don't allow anyone else to post pics of my kids (SIL was doing a website for a school project and wanted to post them on her site and DH and I told her no). Just not worth the risk in this day and age IMHO.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

If someone is determined, they will get to you no matter how much or how little you share of yourself. I did have a picture posted in my profile of our family, but did decide to take it out. I have no fear of listing what state I am in. States are big places-it puzzles me when someone is so afraid they will not list where they are in general or they are elusive. I am more leery of that than anything else. I think for the most part, this is a very friendly community. I will wear my lime green Mickey heads at the park proudly and will be more than happy to chat with anyone that recognizes us as being from the Disboards. I used to worry about stuff like this, but as someone else said, you just can't live in fear all the time. Anyhoo-for me and my family, we do not have a problem sharing certain things. Probably won't share photos and my exact ADR's, but I don't see the harm in saying we will be at Disney on certain dates. I'd have to offer extreme congratulations and admiration to the guy that finds me in Disney when they haven't seen my photo and only know me by state and screen name. Even with ADR's, that would be a tough one to pull off. We have met a number of people on this and other message boards (Disney related) and have met up with them at the parks. I really don't see too much harm in it and we have made some wonderful life long friends and traveling companions. It really is a personal decision and you do what you are comfortable with.

 

[Manda]

I don't think it's really any different than standing in the airport and chatting with fellow people in the security line and saying things like, "Oh, really, we're staying at Port Orleans, too!" All the while, talking to your children by name, waving around airline tickets and luggage tags with your full name on them, yada, yada, yada...

Bad people could get information from anywhere. I think random strangers get a lot more information about my life from random chats at the mall, in the elevator, etc. than they ever do from the fact that people on the Internet know my son's first name and when we're going to Disney.

 

[DVCLiz]

While I don't post pictures on the DIS, I also don't worry about discussing my resort dates and my ADRs. I think it's extremely unlikely that someone would be able to tell me from any other guest staying at the Beach Club Villas with an ADR at Mama Melrose's for 8pm next Thursday. What would distinguish me from any other guest in the MGM park, eating at that restaurant, using that transportation back to the resort, or walking through and into the hotel? What would be the motivation for me to be a crime victim?? I just don't see that as dangerous.

But just in case, I made all of the above info up...I'll be at (insert home address here) grilling a hamburger in my backyard next Thursday!!!

 

[3jsmommy]

I wasn't concerned about adults making friends or Dis meets or posting when you are going (tickers etc..) Posting pics of kids on the internet isn't a great idea IMO, but then when I see people giving all kinds of info places, times etc.. it just seems like too much. Like I said though, maybe I am paranoid, OT ~ My cousin uses the in-room babysitting while at WDW & when she explained that to me I had to tell her I thought that was nuts! She explained to me how sweet the girl babysitting was & the screening process but still how do you walk out the door. Even if I could DH would never either, like someone said everyone has different comfort levels. BTW I really am in general a very friendly trusting person, I would let some college kid I never met before, use my car, watch my house, pet, or whatever else before leaving them alone in a hotel room w/ my kids for hours

 

[Mono~rail]

I don't share personal info or post pics of any of our faces anymore because of trolls. Internet message board trolls worry me more than kidnappers or pedophiles.

 

[Cruz91]

I don't mind posting pictures and/or telling when I'm going to the park. What I find strange is people telling others when they're NOT going to be HOME and then supplying their address to get postcards from a fairy godmailer. I did it once - but won't do it again.

 

[Stephres]

I don't share personal info or post pics of any of our faces anymore because of trolls. Internet message board trolls worry me more than kidnappers or pedophiles.

I totally agree. I stopped posting my pictures because one of my friends had trouble with a troll taking her picture and posting it around the internet. That being said, I think as long as you allow your kids in public you put them in risk. It's a risk I'm willing to take.

There are parents who don't allow their kids to be in the school yearbook. There are different levels of trust for different parents and I don't think we should judge either way.

 

[kaysmommie]

I never really though about it and I'm the most crazy overprotective mom ever. I have a picture in signature and have posted photos of my kids occasionally. I have also posted my trip dates and have a ticker. I guess I figured the Dis boards was a pretty safe place and I was among mostly family friendly people like myself.