I wont be mentioninng people by name. Doc John has recently told me that specific names were not allowed so I am going through my blog entry by entry removing and changing names that I had proviously in past entries have mentioned. But the bottom line is that I am not the only one that is linking blogs to other blogs and psych central message boards to blogs. Last night I was in technical and found a thread where one member posted to an administrative person asking how to do this. that thread was posted in 2005 if I remember correctly. Now The only difference from me and those that have for example mentioned my blog and have slammed my blog and threads and posts with in their own blogs is that I am being upfront with everyone that I DO and have been since I first began blogging been discussing MY being in on line support groups and MY opinions of what I am reading within those PUBLIC on line support groups.

I fully understand why people are upset at the moment. They just realized that their posts placed within PUBLIC message boards ARE open for others members and not to discuss within their blogs, websites and so on, Just like members here have from time to time gone to other on line support groups and or websites somewhere out on the world wide web and have brought the information that they have found out there and brought it in here and into their personal blogs.

PUBLIC Message Boards means anyone and everyone members or not, friends or enemies, relatives or strangers can and do read those message boards and blogs and can publish on line their own opinions of what they are finding on line. Regardless of if it is here at Psych central, or for example Glitter.com, Image.com, SIDRAN, NAMI ISSD, nancyjnapier.con, a game site, (You can find many exmaples of this within the Dissociatibve Disorders message boards by me and others including those that are upset that I have disclosed that I do put with in my blog my opinons of what I am reading here on the PUBLIC message boards.)

If it is not a closed community where people have to register to have access to those message boards what is posted IS PUBLIC and free to all.

The only difference between me and those that are slamming my PUBLIC message board posts and my blog with in their own blogs, and sending out warnings about my posts, threads and blogs either by pm, email or within their own personal blogs is that I am being up front with everyone and saying I do put my opinions have been since I first began blogging and now that includes my replies to some of the PUBLIC message board posts and threads within my blog.

Someone here has asked how other members here will know that I am replying to them, will I be posting a link here to my blog reply and the answer is yes.

Am I placing links in my blog entries to the posts here No, My blog and anyone elses here that have a blog here ALREADY has two links so that anyone that finds the blogs can and do and have already for over a year been coming in here to the PUBLIC message boards and reading these same threads and posts that I will be blogging my replies to.

Outsiders are ALREADY reading what is posted here in the Public message boards by way of the hundreds of blogs that contain those already installed links and by way of the sites main website page.

The only difference in what I am doing in what has not ALREADY been happening is that I have chosen to be upfront with the fact that I have been and am discussing with in my blog the public message boards and my replies.

I am not doing anything different then those that go to other online groups and websites and come here on the public message boards and in their blog discuss their own personal opinions of what they are finding out on the world wide web and sharing those opinions with people here, and those that discuss me and my blog and PUBLIC message board threads and posts within their personal blogs for the past two years.

I just happen to be the one that is admitting to including my opinions of and replies to PUBLIC message board posts and threads.

From day one people are told when they register that the PUBLIC message boards are OPEN for registered and non registered members. People not registered do "lurk and read" before deciding to become members. SO to only post what they feel comfortable posting and having revieled to others outside this community area.

Many times this issue has come up when someone posts someone they know was doing research on line and came across Psych Central and recognized their threads and posts so they want to change their names, This issue has been discussed many times when someone here has told someone in their real life that they are here and now want to change their names, This issue has been discussed many times when threads asking if people here tell their therapists that they are here, This issue of the PUBLIC message boards not being closed to outsiders has been discussed many times when people have asked Doc John for a members only and closed to the PUBLIC message board area, and this lack of privacy has again been discussed when Doc john honored that request and came up with an idea for a closed to the PUBLIC message board.

People here are very much aware of the fact that the members here are NOT the only ones that see their PUBLIC message board posts and threads.

Whether or not they choose to follow the advice given to them of only posting what they feel comfortable having outsiders read because the PUBLIC message boards are open to all not just members is up to each person to decide.

And MANY times when this lack of privacy comes up it has been discussed that ANYONE that has accidentally posted something they don't want outsiders to see can pm a moderator and administrator and discuss having those posts and threads removed.

Rules and guidelines aside? no people here are very much aware and have been from the first day that they registered that the community message boards is a PUBLIC area and to use online edicut of only posting what you are comfortable as being disclosed to others outside the community. This site does PUBLIC advirtizing so that these message boards are usable to us for free so there is no limit to who can come here and read these PUBLIC message boards.

If anyone is upset it is because they chose to disregard that information given to them at the time they registered and first posted here or they forgot.

I do respect and care for each and every person here which is why many many times as this issue of lack of privacy on the public boards comes up I repost the fact that this site is and always has been open to the public.

And Forget rules and guidelines? No that is how people get banned and suspended from on line groups because they have forgotten the rules and guidelines.

not to be rude and so on but if people remembered the rules and guidelines here they would not be getting upset whenever they encounster lack of privacy on line.

A good rule that I follow is that being on line is like sending a post card through the US mail -

quick and easy, nice picture on one side but the other side where you write the letter is open for all to see.

By remembering the rules and guidelines that I was given when I first registered here and remembering PUBLIC means open to all members or not I remember NOT to post any personal information that I have not disclosed with in my life outside of the on line community. And I do NOT disclose any personal information on line that will enable those with in the on line support groups to locate me in my life outside of the on line support group.

Outside of on line support groups have confidentiality rules. On line in OPEN and PUBLIC groups there is NO confidentiality rules for the public areas.