Is Fluther really private?

Probably no more or less than, say, facebook.

If you want to keep your thoughts private – don’t post ‘em.

@zenele Not my thoughts but my identity. I like sharing my thoughts, this is what this site is all about…but my identity is very important as well. People can look at you in a different way if they saw your threads and you may be even attacked for it!

The Internet can’t really be considered private, although realistically I think you have little to fear from Fluther.

Your identity? From cornbird, a picture of a bird, and an email address (that could be fictitious – or used just for fluther?)

You email address is not in the shared or public data.

@zenele There was a thread that I have read once where a users identity was compromised and he/she had to change identity because the person was being attacked outside.

As @dpworkin implied, privacy in internet sites is a relative thing. Fluther seems to be more proactive in protecting user privacy than most. If privacy is your most important consideration, better not to interact on the web at all.

A thing I didn’t realize until a week ago was that you can block your profile. You can list profile info so the sorting function will work, then place the privacy setting at full block so other users can’t read it.

@cornbird That happened to me on another Q&A site. I was stalked and harassed for a while. I still think the information leak was an “inside job”.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land Thats what Ive been talking about. Is there any preventative measures that the mods are taking to prevent this?

Why not just post only information on your profile that you don’t mind others reading and that doesn’t give your identity away?

I don’t believe the Fluther Gods would ever release your e-mail address to anyone.

@cornbird I don’t know how much the mods can really do; they don’t write the software or site rules, just try to enforce them. At least on Fluther the mods actually seem to give a shit.

Someone could stalk all your answers and find out a lot about you. I’d be more concerned about that than my email address being known.

What ^ said.

You can set the privacy settings so that only people who are in your Fluther have access to your answers on your profile page.

@janbb You can even set them so that no one can read them, except, I assume the system administrators.

Yeah – I thought that was true but wasn’t sure.

@cornbird In the case that you mentioned, the user’s user name was a version of their name in real life. That was how they encountered a person they knew from the outside. They have since changed their user name.

[Mod Note:] Moderators are not able to access email addresses. Only Augustlan, RichardHenry, Andrew, Ben and Tim would be able to access it if a need arose.

Also, if you are concerned about privacy, in your account settings it is a good idea to turn OFF the settings that allow others to read all your questions and comments in one place.

Regarding users accounts being hijacked. The only cases I am aware of from Fluther happened because:

1. The user had not logged off a public computer and the account was used by another.
2. The user had shared the password with a bf who in turn locked her out of her account when the relationship soured.
3. The user had put highly personal details and links in their questions and were found on internet search.

Never has the sharing of user email ever been an issue and I am very certain that those with access would never abuse the privilege.

@Dog could you please tell us exactly how to turn off the setting that allows others to read all of our questions and comments in one place?
I looked but couldn’t find that feature.

@wilma Don’t know if @Dog is nearby so I’ll answer. If you go into “My Account”, there is a column on the left which has a category for “Privacy settings.” You can change the setting in there to “No-one” can see your answers or questions.

Thank you @janbb !

@janbb Thanks! :)

I am aware that my identity could be found by someone determined to do so. I have so little of economic value to anyone. My identity would be a poor choice for anyone to steal.

I am here to learn from and to help others. I don’t spend much time worrying about my privacy.

@janbb @Dog When I click “Privacy Settings”, I get only a control for Profile. Should there be another control for Qs and As? I don’t use Facebook or IM, might that be the reason my page lacks the control box?

That’s all it does control – what people can see when they click on your Profile. That’s where your Q & As display en masse and that’s what those privacy settings refer to. Is that clearer?

Rule of thumb—Never store or share truly personal information on the internet.

Consider the matter of Casey Anthony, who’s about to be tried for the killing of her daughter, Kaylee. Casey had stored a number of intimate, compromising pictures at a website called Photobucket. No doubt, her privacy had been guaranteed. Instead, her pictures have been located, made public, and will be admissable in court. No doubt, those photos will help to convict and sentence her.

@janbb I understand now. I had thought they were different things.

@Dr_Lawrence Check your front right pocket. Aha. And where’s your watch? Aha – gotcha. Beware of online theft.

@Primobabe A good example of why people (especially the psychos) should store stuff online – so we can catch ‘em.

The trick is, never say anything on the internet that you don’t want the entire world, including your grandmother and your boss, to know.