Disturbing message from staff about personal info

[ForeverWDW]

As a parent I am very disturbed that staff are now allowing this. How can they attempt to monitor all the players and how much of their real names they are giving out. I have warned both my kids if they dare give out their names I will take away computer indeffinately (sp?)

This message came from a report bc a player was giving out his real first name. I asked staff for a confirmation that this is correct before it was posted.

 

[the_jedi_master]

wow...

 

[BattyMcDoon]

I really don't think thats right. If a first name is ok what's so wrong with a birth date then?

 

[RachelNinja]

Yeah, that's a little disturbing to me. My little brother wanted to play VMK when he saw me on it all the time, but I refused to let him use his name for his user name. I know it may seem a bit hypocritical since mine is RachelNinja but I just don't trust kids with that. People can start piecing together information about kids after a bit of time. For me, people will only know my name on VMK and nothing more.

 

[laxplaya1346]

Well when Ryan was added to the VMK Dictionary due to HSM I was tempted to say my first name but i believe this piece of information is not bad as long as we can't say our last name. I mean there are over 6000 people playing VMK, not going to make a difference if you and about 500 more people have the name Ryan, they won't track you down with that info. So I see no harm in it. However I will not use my first name in VMK because I am still afraid to get banned for it.


Disniplaya

 

[mickeyminnie123]

Wow....! This is weird bc earlier today I saw someone say their first name was "***", and I reported him Although... I didnt recieve that message. I got thank you for reporting this and helping keep vmk a safe place. Akward...

 

[Berry Princess]

Wow. Considering it is just the start of personal info that could be given out I'm surprised they would say that. Weren't they at one point telling people to change their character names cause it contained a real name? Which I know it didn't hit all players but I am always surprised when I see that someone is allowed to use their real name or what could be their real name in their character name or sig. Some may not think its a big deal but really if someone starts with that what is not to say that they won't give out more then that. And really some first names are last names as well so how do they not know its a person's last name? So what's next to be ok? Age given out?
By chance did you send your screen shot of that in to the contact us and ask them about that message you got back?

 

[JGoof]

Yeah, that's a little disturbing to me. My little brother wanted to play VMK when he saw me on it all the time, but I refused to let him use his name for his user name. I know it may seem a bit hypocritical since mine is RachelNinja but I just don't trust kids with that. People can start piecing together information about kids after a bit of time. For me, people will only know my name on VMK and nothing more.

I agree with RachelNinja. It starts with the first name then over time someone could put pieces together. There is no reason to allow first names.

Anyway I like my avatar's name better than mine...

 

[Belle1997]

Not sure how I feel about that. Like is Aengus really an Aengus of is gracie really his title it could be lava boy. I can see the concern but without a last title it would be hard to find them. And kids would not have anything in their last name like a telephone number ect to be able to trace that.

As with any game it is really the parent that needs to monitor it. The kids can set up a free email address and the parents could never know. To me it is really a choice the parents make to their kids. No if I ever catch you giving out your first name on VMK you will not be playing for a long time.

So lets see this is about the most you can get by VMK my name is david and I am on Disneyland time it is sunny out. Off school today. Can not see how a person could ever gain anything with that. Oh yeah my hair is brown and I am 8.

Now unless this child is allowed to chat outside VMK without chat logs monitor then I can not figure out how they can be found.

Bottom line it is the parents responsibility to scare their kids straight if they will not respect what they ask in the first place.

So I see no issue with this. Since most kids find a board just like this one to hang out on.

 

[CinderellaWannab]

Well when Ryan was added to the VMK Dictionary due to HSM I was tempted to say my first name but i believe this piece of information is not bad as long as we can't say our last name. I mean there are over 6000 people playing VMK, not going to make a difference if you and about 500 more people have the name Ryan, they won't track you down with that info. So I see no harm in it. However I will not use my first name in VMK because I am still afraid to get banned for it.


Disniplaya

There are many ppl with last names that sound like a first name. For example; Cole, Charles, Greg. Loera, Thomas, just to name a few. What if they already have their first name in their title then give out their last? I do see a danger there. I know of a girl that was tracked down. Not from Disney! It is very scary.

 

[WWEDUDE]

Well when Ryan was added to the VMK Dictionary due to HSM I was tempted to say my first name but i believe this piece of information is not bad as long as we can't say our last name. I mean there are over 6000 people playing VMK, not going to make a difference if you and about 500 more people have the name Ryan, they won't track you down with that info. So I see no harm in it. However I will not use my first name in VMK because I am still afraid to get banned for it.


Disniplaya

Some of you may not want to know this fact:

There are 507,550 people in the U.S. with the first name Ryan.

Summary: You CAN'T track anyone down by their first names, unless they are the only one with that name (which is very unlikley)

 

[AmberDaze]

I am surprised it has taken this long for confirmation that first names are allowed...since Disney allows children to personalize t-shirts with their first names on it. I don't allow any visible names on my kid's clothing or school items (strangers can use this information to their advantage). Saying your first name on VMK isn't exactly the same thing, but the facts are this: if kids are allowed to say their first names (and this is personal info), once they begin feeling comfortable with others, they are more prone to provide other personal information to them without thinking. So, I vote for keeping all personal information private.

As a parent, this new information won't change any rules in our family. No personal information...period.

 

[goldengourd]

I do agree that it is a parent's responsibility utimately to moniter your kids. I appreciate all Disney does to try to keep vmk safe, but people will find a way around just about anything. I hope kids will not start giving out their real names, but what is told on the internet may or may not be the truth. Even their character titles that have a proper name may not be theirs. For example, if someone thought my daughter's title, KristyBlue, meant that was her first name would be wrong. Kristy is actually her cat's name.

 

[AmberDaze]

For example, if someone thought my daughter's title, KristyBlue, meant that was her first name would be wrong. Kristy is actually her cat's name.

Amber was the name of one of my bunnies.

 

[ForeverWDW]

We all know kids will try to push the line. Today first names are ok. Tomorrow the dance out a last name (we know it can be done). School colors next? and easy enough to say things like "i'm from the windy city" "I live in the town *insert news item here *". For most of us it is harmless info. For those looking for that type of info it is extrememly dangerous.

 

[TikiIslander]

A while back, VMK made me change my name, and while they wouldn't tell me exactly why, I'm pretty sure it was because they thought it was my actual name. Mine was the name of my pet as well, so the whole situation made me laugh. (luckily I was able to get my name back, sort of ) If anything, they need to come up with clear standards for their moderators. If they already do that, they really need to stick with it once they make a decision!

I see lots of kids saying "that's my title in real!" If that's true, there must be a disproportionate number of Kalis and Troys in the world! I don't think VMK should just brush it off without giving the involved kids any sort of warning, but it's not the worst thing they could say. Certainly kids who willingly give that info are more at risk for revealing more PII, or having someone probe them for the info.

That's a tough call. A slippery slope?

 

[laxplaya1346]

Some of you may not want to know this fact:



Summary: You CAN'T track anyone down by their first names, unless they are the only one with that name (which is very unlikley)

I rest my case

 

[mikeyandscoobyx2]

my opinion, i dont really care about this.

my NAME is in my title, The_Mike?

Maybe im just not seeing it because im not a parent, but im sure there couldnt be huge harm in telling people your first name. Its like, " Oh Hey, im Nicole blah blah blah " There is not 1 Nicole in VMK, ( example )

 

[VMK_KrazyLuke]

I still don't think it's right to give out your first name, whether you can be tracked down or not- it's personal information. I don't think anyone would be comfortable walking down the street and giving a random person your name. As harmless as it may seem- there are some weird people out there and a First Name believe it or not could do harm.

I guess anyone is welcome to do what they want, but I wish everyone safety regardless of their ******* choices

 

[mechurchlady]

I see data fishers in chat rooms. It starts with a name and they get friendly to the kid like "Oh, my cuzin is named Ryan". Seen the ones date hunting, password hunters, and the too friendly for their own good type. The kids often are doing things online when parents cannot or do not see them. I seen kids post pictures of their pets, houses, where they go horseback riding, as well as give out the data in so much detail. There are kids posting their pictures, discribing themselves, and giving out very personal info.

However VMK will not be cracking down on first names because kids ask and answer that too often. It is unsafe but the crack down on using first names would lead to too many innocent kids getting banned. The kids are used to answering people and used to being on a first name basis in chat rooms and in online games.

Wrong yes but the enforcement would have dire consequences on kids.