# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/21 "2003-06-02T11:15:49Z")
I’ve yet to have any serious negative consequences from being more or less open about my true self here. But then, fat forty-year-old chronically broke male computer programmers probably don’t attract a lot of stalkers anyway … I like to think I’m presenting myself as, well, me - as openly and straightforwardly as possible. I actually don’t like using a pseudonym, although there are circumstances where I have done. But that’s just me. I realize there are people around who’ve had bad experiences through revealing their personal details … or who are concerned that they might have bad experiences that way (and it’s a legitimate concern) … or who just prefer to keep their private lives private, and their online persona separate from who they are IRL. Fine by me; being a fairly easy-going sort, I’m happy enough to relate to people on the terms they’re comfortable with. And I sometimes look up profiles … but not often. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/22 "2003-06-02T11:42:49Z")
**mangeorge** , you live or have lived on a street with the name of a well known rocksinger? You have or have had a phone number ending in sequential double-digits, for example “3837” (but not that obviously)? ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/23 "2003-06-02T11:44:53Z")
Ha! I sound like a TV psychic 😛 I am getting an X! No? Eh, how about an R then? Ah, yes, Ro… Ro… Rob… No? Re… Re… ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/24 "2003-06-02T11:48:37Z")
I don’t double-check profiles. If a poster writes about a great place to shop in New York City, I’m not gonna discount it if his profile states that they are in Akron. He might have moved last month; he may travel to NYC once a month on business. If a poster gives medical advice and her profile states that she is a doctor, I’m still gonna take it with a grain of salt. That’s what great about online debates. In the end, all that matters are the words. Somebody could bluster on and claim to be some renowned expert in such-and-such, but if she consistently posts bullshit, she will be found out to be a fraud. In contrast, an armchair history buff will be listened to with the same respect accorded a professor in the field, if said buff shows that he knows his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Astroglide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@Astroglide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroglide)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/25 "2003-06-02T11:57:45Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. [complete name, address and phone number deleted-Czarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![Pixelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@Pixelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixelle)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/26 "2003-06-02T12:54:13Z")
There’s not much of interest to be found in mine and that’s the way I like it. IMO profiles are fairly meaningless. I mostly don’t fill them in or I just make it up. I don’t do it to be deliberately deceitful, but because I don’t think anyone really cares about what my hobbies are or what I do for a living. All that should matter is what you say in your thread/post. And that’s the great thing about messageboards, what someone says is all we’ve really got to judge them on. There’s a certain freedom in that. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/27 "2003-06-02T18:57:30Z")
I had a scary experience where an internet friend tracked down my work email address using a some dribs and drabs of information I had revealed on a message board. Now, he’s a nice guy and he didn’t mean to scare me, and he certainly didn’t have any sinister intentions, but it was quite the eye-opener. There were many more not-so-nice people on that board who, luckily, we either not motivated to track me down, or not as industrious as he was. I’m now much more circumspect about the information I give out, though I admit I’m much more worried about Lissa’s scenario than being stalked. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/28 "2003-06-02T19:15:38Z")
Well, I usually don’t put any information that’s actually true in my profiles, because then I’d have a really boring profile. So it’s usually blank unless I can think of something humorous to stick in. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/29 "2003-06-02T22:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clayton\_e \* > \*\*So I shouldn’t change my profile to “Van Gough”? \*\* Not unless you want more than an earful of trouble. By then, you’ll have to cut it off. Not a pretty sight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/30 "2003-06-02T23:06:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*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. \*\* _I’ll_ be pissed off if this kind of experiment is ever tried again on this message board. Hacking, even if invited, is just not done here. ---
**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, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/31 "2003-06-02T23:22:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jesleigh \* > \*\*OKay, since it annoys some people, I elaborated on mine. Happy? > > And, mangeorge, you don’t know my brother. \*\* Cool. Now you’re more a real person to me. And I’ll watch my language. 🙂 Maybe I should re-think that “nobody” statement. I’ve got a brother too. ---
**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, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/32 "2003-06-02T23:25:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nekosoft \* > \*\*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… \*\* You **peeked**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/33 "2003-06-02T23:32:59Z")
Ummm…should I point out the typo in **mangeorge** ’s profile? Nah. ---
**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, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/34 "2003-06-02T23:36:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > \*\ ***mangeorge** , you live or have lived on a street with the name of a well known rocksinger? You have or have had a phone number ending in sequential double-digits, for example “3837” (but not that obviously)? \*\* You guys are _good_. Guess I shouldn’t issue a challenge in a field I know so little about. ---
**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, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/35 "2003-06-02T23:48:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Czarcasm \* > \*\*_I’ll_ be pissed off if this kind of experiment is ever tried again on this message board. Hacking, even if invited, is just not done here. \*\* See what I mean? Hacking never entered my mind. I found it interesting that they _could_ find the info. Sorry, all you perps. 😉 ---
**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, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/36 "2003-06-02T23:55:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Davebear \* > \*\*Ummm…should I point out the typo in **mangeorge** ’s profile? Nah. \*\* You mean this one? “You’re kidding, righ” The board did it, a long time ago. I leave it to remind myself that even I am not infallible. ---
**Author:** ![lillyflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@lillyflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lillyflower)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/37 "2003-06-03T00:01:44Z")
Ok as much as I love and trust MOST of the people on these message boards, we can not ignore the fact that SOME, NOT ALL are here for teh wrong reasons adn will use information found out to in some way bother others. So my theory is to be more safe then sorry. I am sorry if this offends you, but it is how I feel at this time, maybe in the future my views will change:) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/38 "2003-06-03T00:13:55Z")
No, no, **lillyflower**. I’m certainly not offended by your wish for privacy. I’m simply a gregarious, but sometimes naive, person. And nosey. 🙂 It was the “paranoid” thing, huh? Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/39 "2003-06-03T00:51:13Z")
Like some of the others, I try to be careful about posting too many details, simply because I once had a terribly frightening experience that lasted well over two years. Serious stalking. Because of that experience, I’m utterly fascinated about the methods folks can use to find people and information about people. **Astroglide, Nekosoft, Iteki,** please share: how did you DO that? I wanna know. Please, please, please. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021/40 "2003-06-03T01:46:43Z")
It’s scary, I know, but that’s part of what I do for a living. Basically, if you’ve got a first name, an age range, city of residence, and a few other salient details (not to mention e-mail address), you can find a lot about someone. I’m not going to go into specifics here, because I don’t want anyone to start up stalking people here. Best way to protect yourself? In my experience, don’t have a credit card, and don’t own a house. Really. That’s how a lot of the finder sites track people down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-sketchy-profiles/179021.md?page=3)