Inspired by Dislifer; "Why do you post your child's picture on the internet?"

[Planogirl]

I don't understand why someone would be bashed over it either. First and foremost, it's none of the other person's business.

 

[Mimi Q]

I had my children's picture in my signature for a while, but my DH saw it one day and told me he was not comfortable with it being in my posts so I removed it.

 

[Blondy876]

Why do I post my childrens picture on the internet?

Because I am the Mom and I make the decisions. It's really no one else's business. If you choose not to post pictures of your kids that is your choice, your the parent and I will not bash your for making that decision, I expect the same respect in return.


(Well, just to be clear I don't just go around picking places to post a picture of my kids. If I post one here it is because I choose to share it.)

 

[shortbun]

I'm not sure about the safety of posting pics on message boards. Therefore, I don't do it. I don't think people who do are stupid or bad. I'm not paranoid, just conservative about where my kid's pic is seen. He's not a model nor has his pic been published in any school book to date. I see nothing wrong with taking a few extra steps to avoid having our children used for unseemly purposes. Personal choice directs this issue.

 

[Skywalker]

Add me to the paranoid.

I think what concerns me, personally, is not some stranger on the other side of the world getting their jollies from looking at a picture (although that would be enough to make me not do it).

For me, the creepier scenario is someone in or close to my hometown seeing the picture, especially since most people also post their locations. They could then browse all my posts and find out lots of personal info about the family that could somehow be used. I just don't see it as being all that farfetched. I've heard much more bizarre than that.

 

[swilphil]

I don't consider myself paranoid, but I don't post my kids' pictures. I did once and deleted it. My reasons have to do with my husband's job, and the fact that other personal information about our family could easily be found on the Internet. No reason to add fuel to the fire. If other people want to put their pictures on public boards, that's certainly their choice.

 

[nwdisgal]

I think the worst risk of posting your pic, or kid's pic here on the DIS is being recognized by a fan (another DISer) at the theme park or in person on your daily travels (i.e "Hey I'm So and So from the DIS boards are you Blah Blah Girl?"). That would just be a problem if you are the type of person who does not like to be recognized. Then again, if you are that type, you're probably not posting your picture here. Still, I understand that everyone has a comfort level and I respect that.

As far as safety - electronic and otherwise, the world of technology has forever changed that ability to alter photographs. If you are worried about having a photo altered, that can happen anywhere. Even during the horse and buggy days when I was in highschool, our Photography instructor taught us how to alter and create visual effects with photos. The invention of the cell phone camera has taken away anonymity as we knew it, forever. It is the laws governing the use of the camera phone, etc that determine the extent of protection against exploitation.

Child predators want easy access with anonymity. They are cowards. They don't want to stand out in a way that draws attention to themselves. Technology always involves the risk of a wire trail (hey, remember, Big Brother's always watching, but there's an up side to that!). I would be more concerned about people that could potentially have close, regular (and potentially undocumented) access to my kids and gain their trust like teachers, ministers, family friends and other individuals they interact with on a daily basis. I think the best defense is a good offense - just try to keep tabs on your kids as much as possible and stay into their business.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I had my children's picture in my signature for a while, but my DH saw it one day and told me he was not comfortable with it being in my posts so I removed it.

So are you saying that your DH doesn't care about your dog???

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've also met people that I've gotten to know online. I shared an Illuminations cruise with a fellow DISer in January, seen people and talked to them in the parks, had lunch with some people who I met from a local yahoo groups site, had some of them to my house, am planning on meeting some DC area DISers nest month, etc. I do meet them in public first. I won't live my life in fear--cautious yes, but too fearful that I won't meet someone, no.

I do not care if someone is uncomfortable posting pictures online. For the people who do post pictures here I enjoy seeing them. ChrisnSteph, your DD is adorable and that picture brings a smile to my face.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

funny this thread is on the front page acuase I am in the middle of trying to learn to post pics and I am putting one of my son dressed as Batman from last night.

Of course I am all for Caution ! But we all know our limits and it is our choice .

I am not worried about posting a pic of my son but of course he is 6'2 and 180 lbs . Not to mention he is a nationaly ranked Wrestler( sorry a shamless Mommy brag) . So he could fend for himself : )

 

[nwdisgal]

Yes, I agree, that is the hardest part is getting the picture posted!

 

[Mimi Q]

So are you saying that your DH doesn't care about your dog???

He didn't specifically say Miss Puggles couldn't be in my signature.

 

[shortbun]

You have made an excellent point as well. One can take their film into the local CVS or Ritz Camera for developing, and there is access to photos that could be abused in those locations as also. If there is a will, there is a way.

We develop our own now. I LOVE digital!!!! You bet there's a way if you have a will to be conservative about your kids. Obviously, it's not a requirement for a sucessful and happy life but just one more thing that makes me comfortable. I always threw away half what was developed anyway by those outside sources. For what it's worth, one of us stays at soccer practice, chess team and basketball. We volunteer at school at least twice a week, sometimes drop in as I always have with all my childcare providers. Once, I lurked outside on a summer day and heard our childcare provider screaming at the kids(my 16 month old son included). I lurked outside often and parked down the block. That was his last day in her care and I told her why.
I watched through a window for 10 minutes while 2 and 3 year olds(5 of them) were left unattended and our provider talked on the phone in her kitchen. Last day there too as I witnessed minor biting and major crying with no response. Ya just can't be too careful with your kids. Luckily, my schedule allowed flexibility and I dropped off and returned unpredictably. I do what I can to protect my child. He knows it and does not object. He's not fearful either if he's on his own, he's very confident. I know all his friends, the names and habits of all his classmates and even the custodians at school very well. My husband and I try not to leave anything to chance. Is that bad? Hey, we take care of kids whose parents don't have the kind of schedules we do too. We adore children and our house is the hang out thus far. My husband would and can destroy anyone who laid a hand on any of these kids.

 

[nwdisgal]

He didn't specifically say Miss Puggles couldn't be in my signature.

Miss Puggles looks like she can hold her own. I certainly wouldn't be trying to get that dog bed away from her

 

[ChrisnSteph]

ChrisnSteph, your DD is adorable and that picture brings a smile to my face.

Aw, shucks...thanks Tig!

 

[justhat]

I don't really have any fear of posting photos of my daughter (obviously). Maybe it's because I live in a very secure building so I don't have much fear of someone tracking us down and being able to get in to do something to us. Sure, we do leave the house so I guess we could be attacked/stalked/whatever then, but living in a big city that's a risk I take anyway. In fact, just blocks from here a woman my age was viciously stabbed by an insane, homeless man on the street about 2 months ago. She survived and they caught the stabber, but it could just as easily happen again-yet I still walk outside.

 

[tiff211]

I just recently posted pics of my kids and I feel comfortable with my choice. Did you know that you can put your kids pictures on your checks now? THAT would make me leery becuase most checks have personal info like address and phone # and used to locally a lot of the time.

One thing that did freak me out the last time we were at WDW, was while DD5 was posing for a pic that DH was taking, I saw a man snapping her pic and disappear into the crowd.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I don't post pics of my kids, but have no opinion of people who do. I know I do tickers and many people won't do those for safety reasons. However, you wouldn't know who I am, what I look like or where I live based on anything I post. They may know I'm at a certain hotel one night, but how are they going to find me or my kids, without pics and/or a name?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I. Did you know that you can put your kids pictures on your checks now? THAT would make me leery becuase most checks have personal info like address and phone # and used to locally a lot of the time.

That I can never imagine doing that, either.

Yeah, let's put our kids pictures on our checks and while were at it, print our vacation dates in them, too(or just tell the cashier at the grocery store, hopefully within earshot of other people). Let's put a pretty bow on our personal information and someone can decide if they'd like to kidnap our kids or wait until we are on vacation and ransack the house.

Mimi Q, Personally I would not mess with Miss Puggles!

 

[iwantahemi]

I would NEVER post a picture of my child on a public forum. Call me old fashioned, but you never know WHO is lurking on any forum, Disney or not.

pinnie

Not a chance in this world a pic of my DD is going up on any public forum! I agree totally!