[HappiestGirl]

I just googled my username and psych central posts showed up. Another link and it lead right to my name! Can you block search engines from doing this? I feel like I just want to cancel my account but it has been so helpful.

[Maven]

I discovered that a long time ago. I know DocJohn has some security features set up, but I don't know if complete privacy can be accomplished on the Internet at this time.

[doyoutrustme]

This is why I mostly lurk. This stuff sits online forever. I used to post on forums quite a bit until I realized I was leaving a trail of personal information behind me.

It looks like your username might be your actual name. You might want to consider changing your username to something fairly obscure. That will help. I know if I google my username I don't come across anything about me here on psych central. Lots of links to ways to dress up like a farm girl though (I don't even want to know about people who have that kind of life; a bit kinky I'm guessing.)

[Emotionally Dead]

The number one rule is to not have any personal information attached to your user name, to your personal profile here, or to the posts that you make. As long as you do that then there would be nothing to worry about. Part of not sharing personal information would be not sharing your first and last name, that includes in your username. If it is in your username I would whole-heartedly suggest changing it. Otherwise, anyone googling a name such as mine (Emotionally Dead) would not only find tons of hits but would have no clue that it was me doing the posting. Also, as long as you make a name that is common or really hard to guess it is doubtful anyone would actually be able to google it and know that it was you posting. You shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[-jimi-]

Make your user name anonymous. Don't make it the same as other sites even even if they too are "anonymous". That is my tip.

I'm not this user name ANY other place and I'm signed up to a gazillion of things!

[amandalouise]

I just googled my username and psych central posts showed up. Another link and it lead right to my name! Can you block search engines from doing this? I feel like I just want to cancel my account but it has been so helpful.

if I remember right this issue was brought up before or rather something like it in a thread that asks if this site is searchable. doc john posted somewhere that he has this site listed with search engines so that people can find this website, which means everything you post including your user name is visible on search engines. since the site is searchable there is no way to have your user name /posts not show up. the personal profiles are not searchable but the community is.

to protect myself I dont use my user name here any place else. not even for my personal email account. the email i use for psych central is only for psych central.. and it doesnt have my real name attached to it. this way if someone for example googles dissociation and any of my posts with my user name comes up, people cant connect that to my personal email, my location, bank account ...what ever. I also do not reveal any personal information on psych central that I would not ordinarily tell my friends and family because bottom line nothing online is private and unsearchable in some way or another. for writing about personal things I would not want my family and friends to see I use good old pen and paper or my journaling computer program that I dont need to be online to use.

There is also the moderators who will delete posts that you feel you have disclosed to much personal information in and help you change your user name if needed.

my suggestion if you feel someone will find / recognize you and your posts contact a moderator they will help you.

[ECHOES]

It's the way google searches work. It goes to sites that you frequent, so PC comes up for you. For someone who doesn't frequent PC, it might not come up.

Also, you can change your username to make it less recognizable.

http://forums.psychcentral.com/faq.p...l&titlesonly=0

How can I change my username?
Members can change their username once and only once with no explanation or special permission needed. Simply send a private message (PM) to one of the site's administrators. Member names have to conform to our community guidelines, be between 4 and 19 characters in length, and not already taken by an existing user. We allow only one username change per individual.









.

[DocJohn]

Yes, the community is indexed by search engines.

When a new member signs up with us, right above where they choose their username is this set of directions:

When choosing a username:

- Do not choose a username that could identify you in real life
- Do not choose a username used on other online forums
- Do not use profanity in your username
- Do not use your email address or real name

Search engines index our community (including your public posts and your public profile), so choose your username wisely.

I can't make it more clear than that.

If you want to change your username, drop me or any admin a PM and we can make that happen.

DocJohn

[Ladyzero]

Oh my ! Now I'm worried. Not that my name Ladyzero has any recognisable links to me or to my details. So am I safe ? I have posted many threads, and some are very personal .
Should I be worried ?

[mazing]

Ladyzero, I wouldn't be too worried if you haven't posted any personal details about yourself publicly (name, contact details etc.). The only way that someone would find your posts was if they searched for 'Ladyzero' unless they already specifically knew what you had posted.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by mazing

Ladyzero, I wouldn't be too worried if you haven't posted any personal details about yourself publicly (name, contact details etc.). The only way that someone would find your posts was if they searched for 'Ladyzero' unless they already specifically knew what you had posted.

some search engines work that way and others dont. the search engines that I use brings up all internet results that contain the word I type into the search bar ...for example the word dissociation. when I do a search using that word I get results that lead me to blogs, professional sites and posts anywhere on the web including psych central that have the word dissociation mentioned in the post...

most search engines work like this where someone types into the search bar what ever the topic /word/person/ phone number/ address or even the title of books, movies, music and the search engine compiles thousands of thousands of results that have that word or phrase you type in the search bar. then all you have to do is read down the search results and select the one that pertains to what you were looking for.

for example when I do a search for the word "dissociation" the computer shows me the words ....

"About 13,000,000 results (0.15 seconds)"

.... at the top of the page and the results listed underneath.

the results include all the blogs, and posts that are out there on the web on search able blog sites, searchable mental health websites, searchable physical health websites, searchable online journals, magazines, data bases, music sites that have songs with that word for lyrics, poems that have that word in them....

I can even click on the tool bar to see any photos/images/ maps /vidoes and more that contain that word with in them.

computers are amazing things, on the one hand they make life easier but on the other hand they have made it too easy for strangers to invade our privacy if we are not careful about what we post on searchable sites like psych central.

someone asked if they are safe...only you can say whether you are safe or not according to what you choose to post.

I know Im safe because I am careful of what I post and I dont post anything that I would not tell my family and friends. and like I already stated I dont use my real name and personal email on groups like this.

I think of the internet like a party phone line. Im from a small hometown where we dont have phone lines for each household. when you are talking on the phone sometimes a neighbor will pick up their phone to make a call and discover you are on the phone, if they are rude or curious they will listen in and if they are respectful they say they are sorry for butting in, and then hang up or ask to use the phone. it gets a bit annoying when I go back there to visit because Im now used the city life of private lines and cell phones. but thats how it is "back home"

my point is I know that everything I post on the internet is going to be read by people popping in for what ever reasons that brought them to the website. like a party line the only way I can have the level of privacy and safety that I want is by only posting what I wouldnt mind others "over hearing".

my youngest sister just got her first computer for her first year at college. and Im teaching her the same concept because she didnt quite understand about internet privacy issues the way her college computer instructor was explaining....

ok I lost my train of thought and started rambling.. sorry lol

i've not tried googling mine.

to be honest, not even sure i want too- but yeah, try changing it to something that when you search for it it is asociated with something else