[FleeingFox]

Um, I'm getting really paranoid, I have noticed that there are a lot of visitors to the site, are they members?
I can't get onto the site without logging-in, surely this is so for anyone, or is it just me who must login to get in?
I'm getting really panicky that this site is not a safe environment, it's causing me a tremendous amount of concern!
The last forum I was on, the only people who had access to the site were members, the general public could not access the site there.
In the "who's online" there are sometimes dozens of anonymous visitors, is it just me being paranoid or does this mean anyone can view this site and the posts on it?

This site is readable by those that are not members of the site. but people not logged in as members cannot post. How do I know this. I was visiting this site for months before I actually got my membership registration to go through something about sometimes the site does not accept memberships from non payment form emails such as yahoo and hot mail. anywy those you see in the who's on line listed as invisable member are those people who are registered as members but have their invisable icon in their profile turned on. members listed as invisable can post to the threads. Those listed as anonomous are a mixture of the general public visiting and reading but not posting and members that have not yet logged in with their user name and password.

[brianm101]

Hi Fleeingfox
From what I understand, the anonymous members are members that decided to stay anonymous. These are members that have signed in, it's just their name that is hidded. You can do this also by modifying your profile.
Also, you can view the forum without being signed in but you can't post anything until you are signed in. I hope this helps.
I am fairly new here but I think that it is a very safe site, not to mention that there are a lot of supportive and caring people here. Just my thoughts.

[FleeingFox]

Thanks for the info'myself', so this is not a safe environment, wow, that's really messed with my head.

fox.......what those ahead of me say is true.......but this is a good place to be......i understand your concerns but stick around and i'm sure your fears will go away when you get to know people here better....

if you mean not safe as in others can see what you write correct basically when on line consider posting like sending a post card through the mail - nice picture but the letter content can be seen so don't place any information that you would not normally send through a mailed post card of phone number and so on that would disclose your real world identity.

As for the help you recieve here yes it is safe to post your opinions and what help you need and your supporting others.

You will recieve resourses and support here but people here don't perform as professional therapists and psychologists and psychiatrists. its like any real world support group without professionals attending. From time to time Doc John (who is a professional and runs this site with the help of many moderators administrators and behind the scenes professionals) pops in to make sure the site is what it should be and offering his opinions and posts and also by lending his expertise through answering questions during tuesday night chats.

[January]

Hi Fox,

It is very safe here. Some members just don't want to be seen when they are online. For example, perhaps that person wants to just read and not receive pms at the moment.

We do have a lot of visitors who can read the forums, but they can't post. I certainly didn't find this site and then join immediately. I looked around first.

You are as safe here as on any other site. I hope this helps. If it will help you, you can change your preferences to invisible so no one will see you in "Who's Online".

Cheers!

January

[FleeingFox]

On the other forum I was on, only members were able to read posts, search engines could not access post' context.
I have posted information here which I thought was safe to do so, information which is extremely personal to me. Specifically information about my brother, I don't want just anyone having access to my deepest pain.
I'm trying to get that information removed, I'm praying that admin here will be understanding and will remove my thread about my brother.
I'm not looking to run away, I don't want that stuff floating around the internet for just anyone to make a mockery of, it's simply too cruel for me to get my head around.

[(JD)]

There are no search engines rifling through this site, fox. It is a safe site. We all know the feeling about posting and yet not wanting it to be so public. (Yes anyone can read here.) DocJohn certainly knows the need to keep the search engines out! TC

[(JD)]

Only members can view the chats, though, and PMs of course.

[SeptemberMorn]

Just to add to what you said, Jan. The newest members have shown as "Visitors" for as long as I can remember, that is, until they get a certain amount of posts. That's just the first rung on the ladder. They HAVE signed up for membership!

From my experience on other message boards, THIS board is one of the SAFEST on the internet!!

And as for the "annonymous" showings on the Who's Online page, Doc John told me those are NOT people... just software.

Those that choose to be "Invisible" do it for privacy's sake and nothing more.

Hi Fleeingfox,
I understand your concerns. I posted a couple of times in the relationship forum and I got too paranoid that someone I know would come across it, or worse yet, that the person I was writing about would see it and figure out it was me! I do understand your feelings about not wanting just anyone to know your deepest pain, and I hope that thread can be removed for you if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Best Wishes,
Sujin

[Lexicon78]

(((((FleeingFox)))))

I'm sorry you are feeling so unsafe here. I hope that you can overcome this and stay with us. It won't be easy but I think in the long run staying will help you as far as support goes.

Hang in there.

[mlyn]

I have visitor under my name.

[(JD)]

hmm that's a glitch admin can fix for you, for you are definitely a MEMBER!

[wi_fighter]

Fleeing Fox, if it helps at all, this is also a "no research" site. None of our posts will turn up unexpectedly in a book or article.

[Rebound]

In a very real sense, no site on which you post personal information is ever truly safe. But this place is about as safe as it gets. I've never heard of anyone having had inforrmation posted here appear elsewhere on the internet. I hope all turns out well for you.

[FleeingFox]

Now the phase have come and passed over me, I've been able to see this concept in a new way.
I rather think it's a good thing that this site is more open than the last one I was on. Besides which, it feels okay inside my head now that anyone can read my post, it feels weird, but okay!
You folk here are wonderful, thanks for helping m to overcome this phase of paranoia, it's enabled me to grow a little, always a good thing me thinks.
Peace to one and all.........
Fox

[Sabrina]

You know, you're going to be just fine FleeingFox! I am so glad that you are able to read everyone's thoughts, opinions and ideas and look at it from all angles. That takes a lot of strength.

I am happy that you feel more peaceful with us now, and it is good to have you here!

[ozzie]

I'm glad you are feeling better about being here, FleeingFox. It's a good place to get help.

[desirae]

Sweetie, Yes anybody can come view your post, but that don't mean you have to be concerned. It's not as if they know you or anything. They can't even reply, and they can't see who's online either.

Your completely safe here. There is no reason to be concerned. I can't tell who you are, where you live, or even your email address by the name FleeingFox. Don't you agree?

Please don't be scared here.

[darkeyes]

Another thing if you wish, is to choose "invisble" if you do not feel like everyone know when you have logged in, and just feel like reading posts but not post or reply.
If you even still want to post/reply you can stay under that choice of invisble or shown.
Like others have said, no one sees your real name,e-mail,address, etc. so it's safe in that respect.
And to feel safer, don't put anything publicly where anyone can read, if you do not want people to know of personal things, sort of like what someone said here, if it's something you wouldn't want someone to read on a postcard you were sending to someone, you may want to see things in that way in relation to what you wish to post for others to see. You'll find in time you'll overcome that unsafe feeling you are having, PC is not like other sites.
I hope you enjoy your time here at PC.

[(JD)]

Well... ppl who don't log in CAN see "who's online" but their only screen names... _Sky... unless I choose to let someone know who I am, no one knows... out of how many millions of ppl on the internet (and far fewer who read here.)

It's quite natural, imo, to want to double check things...and you pose good thoughts that help keep you safe (especially when on another site.) Please be assured that if anything else were to jeopardize our safety here, DocJohn would fix it! He's very protective of this site, and it's members.

Take your time acclimating. Feel free to voice your fears in the future...that's what the site is all about.

[FleeingFox]

All excellent advice and wonderful encouragement, I'm all fluffy n gone soppy in the head

Thanks Sky, I also believe it is a good thing to check things out when one is not sure, instead of stumbling around in the dark getting all paranoid and stressed out.

You folk are so lovely, thank you all.......
Fox

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

I belong to 3 sites kinda like this..I do not post in 2 anymore but still read them... I personally like this one.....so far....the best IMHO