pecas
Active member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2014
- Messages
- 78
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 07/2014
- Country
- US
- State
- TX
- City
- Central
Hi all,
I've mentioned it before, but I wanted to start a new thread since I haven't found a search phrase that got me to a previous discussion of this topic. Why are these forums totally public? Is there a strategy there? Because I feel exposed, and I definitely do not participate as much or as often as I would if they were private. I mean, I have found my own posts when doing google searches on particular topics, which is disconcerting. This website has a high google rank (it comes up in the first page quite often). I'm not saying that folks need to be vetted to get into the forums, just that reading most of the forum should require registration. We are all sharing a lot of very private information here. I read in another post someone was wishing more PALS would come participate. I can assure you this is at least one large issue, because I've been actively searching for another forum that is private (haven't found a good alternative - y'all are just too wonderful, I guess).
I have a very active online presence in my "normal" life, having run online businesses and organizations and been in the public eye for over a decade. I don't use my real name on this forum because it's almost unique (I've never met anyone else with my name in all of my years and travels). I just don't really want folks out there knowing exactly what my deepest thoughts, fears, and medical issues are at the stroke of a key, you know? I've had one good friend tell me she identified me on this forum already. Fortunately, I love her and would share all of this information with her anyway. But it's not an unfounded or hypothetical concern for me.
Can we talk about this, please?
I've mentioned it before, but I wanted to start a new thread since I haven't found a search phrase that got me to a previous discussion of this topic. Why are these forums totally public? Is there a strategy there? Because I feel exposed, and I definitely do not participate as much or as often as I would if they were private. I mean, I have found my own posts when doing google searches on particular topics, which is disconcerting. This website has a high google rank (it comes up in the first page quite often). I'm not saying that folks need to be vetted to get into the forums, just that reading most of the forum should require registration. We are all sharing a lot of very private information here. I read in another post someone was wishing more PALS would come participate. I can assure you this is at least one large issue, because I've been actively searching for another forum that is private (haven't found a good alternative - y'all are just too wonderful, I guess).
I have a very active online presence in my "normal" life, having run online businesses and organizations and been in the public eye for over a decade. I don't use my real name on this forum because it's almost unique (I've never met anyone else with my name in all of my years and travels). I just don't really want folks out there knowing exactly what my deepest thoughts, fears, and medical issues are at the stroke of a key, you know? I've had one good friend tell me she identified me on this forum already. Fortunately, I love her and would share all of this information with her anyway. But it's not an unfounded or hypothetical concern for me.
Can we talk about this, please?