# Protecting Personal Info = Paranoia? (Or, Epimetheus, let's continue the debate) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908 "2004-06-17T19:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/1 "2004-06-17T19:23:59Z")
In the Doper pic thread in MPSIMS, a poster linked to an online profile which contained a good deal of personal info (Full name, city and state, occupation, and photo) I pointed out that perhaps he should reconsider making that level of information available. The poster agreed, the post was deleted, prompting [this response from **Epimetheus** :](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4976543&postcount=395) > [@Epimetheus](#): > > Wow, that was close! People might be able to stalk you and do you lots of harm knowing what general occupation you do, what you look like and what big, huge city you reside in, what with the hundreds of thousands of people in that umentioned city, it would be soooo easy to find you and cause you lots of harm or whatever. I mean, gotta have that privacy, and information like names or whatnot. Information like Classic Card Games you like to play right or something cannot be accessed with the information in your screen name. Geez louise people, are we so freaking paranoid that a few general pieces of information about a person is such a big deal? I’m not really pitting \*\*Epimetheus \*\* here, but this attitude. First of all, a person’s choice to protect their own information is their own right, and, in my opinion, not something that should be derided as “freaking paranoid.” I’m tired of people saying that maintaining a modicum of discretion, and privacy, online is ridiculous. Why would you think it beyond reason to think that your name, occupation and address would be too much info to give out online, especially if you’re posting on a message board such as the SDMB. We’re not talking about phone-book info here. When you post on a message board like the SDMB, and give people access to your real-life information, a moderately resourceful person can come up with an alarmingly detailed accurate profile. Your family, its members. Your job. Political affiliations. Your sexual exploits. One deranged fly-by-night guest (or long term regular, because really, who knows these things?) is all it takes, armed with juuuust enough info to wreak havoc on someone’s life. ANyway, I didn’t want to hijack that thread any more than had been done, so that’s why I brought it here. And the information that poster made available WAS enough info. I guarantee you that. That’s why I said something. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/2 "2004-06-17T19:37:07Z")
Well, cmon, if dopers are so concerned about privacy, then maybe they should reconsider the information they put in their profile, or reconsider posting a photograph. I don’t see the harm in linking someone’s profile when anybody can access it anyway! ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/3 "2004-06-17T19:39:26Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Well, cmon, if dopers are so concerned about privacy, then maybe they should reconsider the information they put in their profile, or reconsider posting a photograph. I don’t see the harm in linking someone’s profile when anybody can access it anyway! OK see, my point was maybe he should reconsider posting that info in his profile in the first place, not that he shouldn’t have linked to it. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/4 "2004-06-17T19:42:02Z")
Hell, I don’t even sign up for grocery store discount cards because they ask too much info. Why? Staying off of the “grid” as much as possible is just my personal code. These people don’t really need my personal information, so they aren’t going to get it. I don’t want to be on any damn list, anyway. It’s not so much paranoia as prudence. This may or may not have reduced my chances of being the victim of identity theft, but at the very least it has reduced the amount of junk mail and spam I receive. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/5 "2004-06-17T19:51:35Z")
Ah wait, we’re talking about the SDMB profile. That changes things a bit. The SDMB does not compile that info into any sort of list. However, I suppose it’s possible for some crazy (say, a passing _stormfront_ member) to track you down. Unlikely, but possible, so it’s probably best not to give your full name and location. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/6 "2004-06-17T19:53:25Z")
FWIW, we’re talking about a Yahoo profile, not an SDMB one. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/7 "2004-06-17T20:02:08Z")
What would a stormfront member [for example] _do_ with my info? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/8 "2004-06-17T20:07:09Z")
> [@gum](#): > > What would a stormfront member [for example] _do_ with my info? Plug your name into the online phonebook for your city, find your address, and burn a cross in your front yard. Like I said - unlikely (especially since you live in Amsterdam). But with a full name and city of residence, it’s pretty easy to find out exactly where someone lives. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/9 "2004-06-17T20:09:10Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Hell, I don’t even sign up for grocery store discount cards because they ask too much info. So far as the fine folks at Jewel know, I’m an 87-year-old retired Eskimo army general. (no, I didn’t post a photo) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/10 "2004-06-17T20:10:55Z")
Not in the one discussed here but in a previous picture thread, I found something interesting. The link to one very attractive female Doper’s pictures was to a directory. Being the curious (nosey) sort, I went backwards in the directory and found another subdirectory called “nudes.” In that directory were a few nudie pics of said very attractive female Doper. I emailed her to let her know and she was able to fix this oversight. Great pics though. Haj ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/11 "2004-06-17T20:16:31Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > FWIW, we’re talking about a Yahoo profile, not an SDMB one. What would make you think that said person gives a shit then? He’s got a Yahoo! profile with personal information it, and that’s obviously one of the largest online groups of people in the world. He probably doesn’t need you playing Net Nanny for him, either and I think Epimethius’ comments while snarky, reflect exactly how I’d react in the same situation. What’s good for Yahoo! is good for the SD. Hell, 5 minutes of searching online will yield all the info on me you’d ever want. Full name, phone numbers, resumes, Usenet stuff, SD stuff, Amazon stuff…I’m still waiting for that mystery person to steal my identity. There’s something qwuite liberating about not trying to hide from the watchful eyes of the world. Paranoid, indeed. Sam ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/12 "2004-06-17T20:19:52Z")
That’s it, **haj**. You’re out of my will. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/13 "2004-06-17T20:25:18Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > What would make you think that said person gives a shit then? He’s got a Yahoo! profile with personal information it, and that’s obviously one of the largest online groups of people in the world. He probably doesn’t need you playing Net Nanny for him, either and I think Epimethius’ comments while snarky, reflect exactly how I’d react in the same situation. What’s good for Yahoo! is good for the SD. > > Hell, 5 minutes of searching online will yield all the info on me you’d ever want. Full name, phone numbers, resumes, Usenet stuff, SD stuff, Amazon stuff…I’m still waiting for that mystery person to steal my identity. There’s something qwuite liberating about not trying to hide from the watchful eyes of the world. > > Paranoid, indeed. > > Sam The poster happened to agree, and requested that the link be removed, thus the snarky comment. If you don’t feel a need to protect your own data, hey, have at it, whatever floats your boat. I just have an issue with someone else telling me, in essence, that it’s time for a tinfoil hat just because I don’t happen to want someone else to have mine. ---
**Author:** ![Craneop2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Craneop2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craneop2)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/14 "2004-06-18T01:33:05Z")
Since I am the poster that made the original mistake, maybe I should join in on this conversation. First allow me to thank **TellMeI’mNotCrazy** for pointing out the possible problem with my post. I am gratefull. I read and reread the post and NEVER realized that it contained information that I really would like to remain confidential (that being my last name). Therefore I asked that it be removed. I had absolutely no problem with her post and cannot understand why someone would take umbrage to what I considered friendly advice. I reckon some folks look for any excuse to be obtuse! ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/15 "2004-06-18T01:53:30Z")
Well, my intent was not snarkiness if that is any consolation. I dropped the whole thing because I didn’t want to hijack the thread and it was pointed out to me that he put his last name on there. A fact I wasn’t aware of because I didn’t see it. If you wanted to have a conversation about this, it could easily have been done, but seems to me you just want to start a fight, being in the pit an all. Kinda lame thing to get your panties in a twist about, IMO of course. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/16 "2004-06-18T01:57:58Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > The poster happened to agree, and requested that the link be removed, thus the snarky comment. If you don’t feel a need to protect your own data, hey, have at it, whatever floats your boat. I just have an issue with someone else telling me, in essence, that it’s time for a tinfoil hat just because I don’t happen to want someone else to have mine. Well, the poster could just have removed the offending information, rather than delete his entire profile and post. I mean, we already know he is a crane operator that lives 27 miles south of San Antonio from his SDMB profile. I don’t see how paranoid automatically equates with tinfoil hats though. I get paranoid about things all the time, doesn’t mean I go out and buy a roll of aluminum foil every time that happens. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-personal-info-paranoia-or-epimetheus-lets-continue-the-debate/250908/17 "2004-06-18T02:11:37Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > Well, my intent was not snarkiness if that is any consolation. I dropped the whole thing because I didn’t want to hijack the thread and it was pointed out to me that he put his last name on there. A fact I wasn’t aware of because I didn’t see it. > > If you wanted to have a conversation about this, it could easily have been done, but seems to me you just want to start a fight, being in the pit an all. Kinda lame thing to get your panties in a twist about, IMO of course. I put it in the pit because that’s where it belongs; as I already stated, I just didn’t want to hijack that thread any further. If I wanted to start a fight, I would have worded my OP a lot more strongly. You might notice that I said that this wasn’t a pitting of you. I would have put it in MPSIMS, or IMHO, but I’ve seen every other similar thread just get moved here anyway.