[Rainbow Brite]

Hopefully I can articulate this properly so please bear with me.

I reveal very little personal information about myself of EB as I like to remain anonymous. Therefore no identifying information in my posts, no photos in my sig etc etc. However, a lot of EBers happily reveal VERY personal information about themselves regarding relationships, children, day to day problems, illnesses and these posters can be easily identified due to their signature.

Does it not bother you that so much personal information is out there about you? Are you worried that the general public can read all about your personal problems?

I find this rather intriguing and in no way am I having a go.....just interested.

[MummyIHK]

I think I am a bit like you. Although I talk quite openly about my children and my signature has their names, the only way anyone would be able to link my posts to who I am in real life is if a friend/acquaintance happens to be on EB.

I think its cool though that other people proudly display photos of their children on their signature and that they feel comfortable enough in this community to come here for help, advice, to share happy news etc.

This post has been edited by MummyIHK: 21/08/2012, 09:28 AM

[lozoodle]

I don't reveal anything here I wouldn't reveal elsewhere.

The really personal stuff stays personal.

[LynnyP]

I have no issue with what I reveal.

I assume that as long as people aren't posting in a fugue state they know what they are posting.

[Saecularis Angel...]

I am cautious but not paranoid. If someone really cared enough, by trawling through all of my past posts I imagine they could glean enough information to find out who I am. I assume that mostly no one will care enough...but that said, I don't put all of that information together in any one place and make it ridiculously easy, either.

Also, while I'm honest about problems and struggles I deal with, I have a "threshold" of what I'll share and some stuff I just don't post about. Partly that's about a professional awareness, too - if someone did know me irl, chances are they would know me in my professional role, and I don't need to undermine that.

I think one thing to bear in mind is that different people have different levels of anonymity on EB. Some may not know another EB member irl. Others obviously have an extended network of EB members as friends, family, colleagues (or whatever) and so the whole sense of community vs. anonymity is obviously different.

[katpaws]

There are board readers - sites that show up internet forums - and since seeing EB on one of them i have rethought what i put up on EB and have reduced the amount of personal information that i give. These sites allow you to do searchers on members and tells you how much they post etc and you don't have to go to EB to read the threads etc. It does not show the restricted sections of EB, though.

[greenacre]

Nothing OTT here, just general common details, married, one child, where we live, what we do, no photos involved.

[R2B2]

I only share what I would be willing to share with people in real life

[niggles]

My life is a bit of an open book. If I wouldn't talk about it in real life I don't post it. Maybe people have different ideas about what private is?

I've pretty much decided that this sig will be my last of DD though. She's getting old enough not to need her photos shared online anymore since she'll be starting school in the near future.

[The Cat]

I have posted a lot and a lot I haven't posted about my life. EB has shared and supported me though the hardest times and sometimes not. (thank you)

These days I do it as a last resort because I have no one who I can talk to IRL. I know several spin off groups have leached whatever information I give and have this monterized version of my life invented, and I don't like that but if I need input on something to help me sort it... then I need input, simple. They can think what they want. Irrelevant. /shrugs.