[LittleForgetMeNot]

I was searching a term on google to learn more about my specific problem, and the third or fourth link on the search page was a place to get to MY forum topic on pc.

I'm a little freaked out by this. Some of the things I've posted about could easily be recognized by my friends (and non-friends) and some of these "friends" know I have this certain specific issue. There is a chance they would look up the term click on the third or fourth link and I'm found out and embarrassed for the rest of my life. I don't want to be found.. Is there a way that I can hide my posts from google or any search engine or am I screwed because I decided to share a little on the internet?

[**Angel**]

If they do bring it up, say you've never heard of the site :-/ I doubt they will go searching anyway, unless you tell them to :-/

[John25]

Would it be possible to have a reply from an administrator or moderator about this issue?
I remember this issue has been discussed in this forum several months ago, but I don't remember the outcome. Limited memory...

[googley]

If I remember right, the whole of PC (including the forums) is searchable. And there is no way to make it not searchable. I believe that is what was said on the other thread.

[Indie'sOK]

If I too remember correctly, our profiles are not viewable by guests, if that makes you feel a bit better x

[(JD)]

I'm sorry this has occurred for you

It used to be that search engines weren't allowed, but that changed at some point.

Old 04-07-2006, 04:44 PM #1
DocJohn
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Default Do you care about online privacy?
So Psych Central doesn't allow search engines to index our forums. This is a good thing for your privacy, but an individual can still come onto the forums and view them without registering.

Do you care that we don't allow search engines to index the forums? Would you object to letting search engines index the forums in the future, allowing others to find the community more easily? Or do you like things the way they are now??

DocJohn

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showt...privacy&page=2

I've looked for where the warnings are about not sharing any information you wouldn't want others to read, that might lead them to know who it is... but alas I can't find it.

If there aren't too many of the posts, you might be able to have the moderators remove or edit those posts. Otherwise, if it's a real issue, you might talk to ADMIN about taking a brand new name/account and abandoning your old one. I'm not sure that's feasible, though. I don't know much on those lines.

[googley]

Here is a link to a much newer thread about this. (From the beginning of the year).

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showt...rchable&page=2

[FooZe]

We're also discussing online privacy in another thread:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=185540

DocJohn replied to it today with some clarification and suggestions (#11).

[LittleForgetMeNot]

Thanks.. I've tried not to worry myself over this too much.. and I know the whole solution is just not sharing any info you're not comfortable with people knowing, but thinking this was a very secure site, at least the forums (I didn't find this site by forums, I found by searching for support groups) would be private unless someone was a member, I might have gone a little over board.

Oh well I guess.. I suppose I won't die if I'm found as no one in my daily life knows anything about my issues, but it is still something I would rather avoid.

[NoOneButMe]

I just joined this forum today and the one thing I really appreciate was the instructions said to use a different username on this forum than any other forum.

Well, I wasn't thinking and used the same name on two forums and you can imagine what happened. It was a site similar to this where you spill out your heart and someone from the other forum went and found me and they made fun of me on the other forum (at least I hope that is all that it ever came down to and that I am long forgotten).

So I REALLY thank the admins and mods on this site for including the part about make your name unique in this forum. I've paid the price for my naivete.

As to your concerns, I would deny, deny, deny. No one can prove it's you that said whatever. It's a big world out there.

The Internet gives the illusion of safety sometimes, but we must remember our posts can be read worldwide and that is why it's so important to use a username that is unique and that no one could ever prove it's you. In the interim, do your best to forget about it. The odds of anyone finding out about you are not that great.