# Why I hate sketchy profiles. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021 "2003-06-01T23:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/1 "2003-06-01T23:23:55Z")
Well, not _hate_ exactly, but dislike. And not at the SDMB of course, but message boards in general. Otherwise this would be an ATMB. Why are folks so paranoid? Have I asked this before? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mr.Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Hand)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/2 "2003-06-01T23:53:02Z")
I’m sorry. Not sure I understand. What’s a sketchy profile? One with nothing in it (hence your “why are folks so paranoid?”)? Or one with bogus information? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/3 "2003-06-02T00:00:08Z")
One with very little, or no, info. Location, occupation, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/4 "2003-06-02T00:04:09Z")
I prefer to remain anonymous. What if one of my co-workers saw me bitching about them, and was able to identify me through my profile? That’s just a silly example, but I personally feel that I wouldn’t be as open on the boards if I felt anything could ever be traced back to me, or could lead to a stalking, as remote as that possibility may be. Just think about all of the information about our lives that we reveal here. ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/5 "2003-06-02T00:08:24Z")
I think some people are just being cautious. For years I posted on a music forum and a lot of people had their name, area and occupation listed in their profiles. A few females ended up getting harassed by a guy on there who did a search and found out their address etc. When he got no attention, mainly because the girls were rather scared of him, he actually posted their details on the boards for all to see. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/6 "2003-06-02T02:58:56Z")
So I shouldn’t change my profile to “Van Gough”? (Not even a good pun…) ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/7 "2003-06-02T03:10:08Z")
I just don’t take the time to fill in everything. Too lazy ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/8 "2003-06-02T03:34:12Z")
I guess. Privacy is cool, but sometimes I think replies would be more meaningful if one knew more about the poster. Maybe not. 😉 Anyway, as an experiment, I’ll not be pissed-off if anyone can find private (address, etc) info about me using my profile. Go ahead, dopers, give it a try. **jesleigh** , I just don’t buy that. Sorry, but _nobody’s_ that lazy. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/9 "2003-06-02T03:47:16Z")
OKay, since it annoys some people, I elaborated on mine. Happy? And, mangeorge, you don’t know my brother. ---
**Author:** ![robgruver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@robgruver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robgruver)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/10 "2003-06-02T04:15:01Z")
I have been pretty open about my life and myself on the boards. So far, nothing major has come up from it, but I have thought about changing my username to something that is not my real name. I guess its my unflinching hope in the goodness of mankind. ---
**Author:** ![Nekosoft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c2a13f/32.png) [@Nekosoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nekosoft)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/11 "2003-06-02T04:22:31Z")
Experiment, eh? I like experiments… In the interest no posting too much personal information: **mangeorge** , Does your last name have two T’s and two K’s in it? If not, I’m out of ideas. Anyway, I think the quality of one’s posts are more illuminative than what a person might find in their profile. …having said that, I’m off to update mine as well… ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/12 "2003-06-02T05:02:36Z")
I’ve had some unpleasant experiences on another message board when I used my real name. One person had recently moved to the city where I live and, without even calling, came to the hospital to introduce himself on the same day that I came out of intensive care. He turned out to be an abusive and manipulative narcissist and liar who threatened me and pubished my address on the internet. He was a con man, a deadbeat dad and a freeloader. He threatened to use the court system to harrass me, admitting that he knew he couldn’t win. He called me everything but a child of God on the internet. The last I heard, he had fled the country and had set up a “counselling” center. (He has no credentials.) He counsels people to act out their dark sides.) Where did I meet him? On a “spiritual” website! Just one incident like this and you think twice before revealing your full name again. Also, a physician reminded me that criminals have access to computers in prison libraries. It’s not that all convicts are evil. But it is impossible to know for sure. But if you really insist on knowing my hobbies and interests: I collect navel lint and lobster eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/13 "2003-06-02T05:12:27Z")
Complaint noted and filed accordingly. Er, the OP’s that is. Not Zoe’s. My offshore counseling center isn’t up and running yet. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/14 "2003-06-02T07:28:20Z")
When I filled out my profile here, I didn’t realize that we weren’t authorized to change them once they were complete, so I did a quick and lazy just to get signed on. Otherwise I would have put a bit more info. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/15 "2003-06-02T07:57:18Z")
Does anyone even look at profiles anyway? I’ve probably glanced at three the whole time I’ve been on here. I’ve forgotten the info in 2 of them, and 1 of them is mine. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/16 "2003-06-02T08:04:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MeanOldLady \* > \*\*Does anyone even look at profiles anyway? I’ve probably glanced at three the whole time I’ve been on here. I’ve forgotten the info in 2 of them, and 1 of them is mine. \*\* FWIW, I’d say that I generally look at 10-20 per week. (Yes, I know that my own says very little. I can be a private person and I prefer it that way.) ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/17 "2003-06-02T10:17:47Z")
OK, I’ve filled out my profile…and it’s all true. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/18 "2003-06-02T10:19:38Z")
Doesn’t bug me that much, except when a poster makes vague references to “around here” without any info about where “here” is. Or worse, when people ask for location-dependent information or advice without saying where it should apply to. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/19 "2003-06-02T10:31:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\*When I filled out my profile here, I didn’t realize that we weren’t authorized to change them once they were complete, so I did a quick and lazy just to get signed on. Otherwise I would have put a bit more info. \*\* Now either I’m seriously out of touch or that isn’t true. “User CP” -\> “Edit Profile” -\> edit away ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/20 "2003-06-02T10:34:07Z")
Oops, forgot to address the OP. I sometimes have stuff in my profile. But much of it doesn’t much matter and if it does then I try to make note of that in my posts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021.md?page=2)