Now self-conscious about posting here

i'm not quite following how you've used this name elsewhere but if it is a name you use for your blog then i'd definitely change your name here. i actually googled someone's unusual username here as i didn't know what the word meant and stumbled upon their blog. with the way T clients google i'd figure a future client could find your posts here. i deleted my old account because i was concerned a friend might find it with too many identifying details. PC threads totally comes up in web searches. didn't want my friend to know about certain feelings i had for him.

OMG now I feel the same way! It's all right there on google! I mean I knew all of this stuff was/is public but I didn't know how easy it would be to find specifics out of ALL of the forums/threads here.
I guess it is just paranoia, though...It is likely no one will know your screen name and as long as you don't give intricate details all should be golden.
If you do need to include details, maybe just switch the dates, times, locations, etc up to get your story/point/question portrayed in the same light, so that people could still help or relate but your T, or anyone for that matter, will not know it is you. I am officially doing that from now on! lol

The only way around it is if DocJ makes the forum private and then our posts won't show up on Google and guests won't be able to read our posts but I doubt DocJ will allow that to happen.

The idea of making this site searchable is so that others who are needing a site like this can find us.

It's not a bad thing to consider what one is posting on a forum site that is searchable. But, if you have taken the proper precautions with your username and all, it would be very difficult for most of society to place who you are or who you may be discussing.

Here is a post that DocJohn made regarding questions about being searchable and how best to protect yourselves:

I hope this information helps!


sabby

Yes, I knew. DocJohn I believe has even stated that the forums are public so it's easier for others to find the forum for help. I always make sure if the forums I'm posting on are private or not.

google shows a post with my birthday! I may change my user name. Thanks for this thread.

Just to clarify, in case people are scared or fearful of just learning of this information... As long as you were thoughtful in choosing a username (e.g., one not connected to your real life name or profile), nobody will know you are posting here. That's why we encourage new members to choose a name they don't use elsewhere.

The search engines only index your public posts. They do not index PMs or your profile page.

DocJohn

With all due respect, usernames are not the only way people can be found here. As everything in the public posts is indexed, if somebody were to post names of people or places or companies or what have you, that would be found in a search for those things.

But the key is to be aware that everything here is open and public, and choose the level of anonymity each one of us is comfortable with. And if you regret posting something after the 4-hour limit has passed, you can report your own post and ask to have it removed.

That is how I found this forum buy typing in a question related to therapy so I get why it couldn't be private but what concerns me is I have heard that anything we say here can be used in court

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Knowing there is a 4 hour limit makes me feel anxious about leaving it up since I know I cannot make edits after that time. So, in my anxiousness, I end up compulsively deleting it anyway.

My anxiety issues just don't work with this arrangement. It seems to only happen when I post something very personal, so I'll try to stick to posting and replying with less personal words.

A couple of things to think of:
Probably safer to not list the city/ town that you live in. Similarly, even though it might be nice to see your screen name with wishes for a happy birthday, it is probably better to leave that info private as well.

The thing about not using the same screen name in more than one forum is huge. I know a person who has the same name in 2 open forums. This person is a very active poster in both and a bit too sharing. I worry about her safety.