Rethinking Participation

[StacyD]

That's exactly what Seths saying. I though have been doing some 'digging' and have not found anything under my name - however, if you type in your email address you'll be surprised what comes up. I'm on the fence now whether to continue staying.

[ScarlettO]

Yep sadly found myself on a google search also. Guess I have to make sure to keep it only to more public information. Wonder why there isn't a better safety net. But it does go to what people say, the internet no matter where you are posting is NOT a private place!!!

[Readytobethin@51]

Does it apply to even our private messages?

[Truffles]

I never realized that people thought this was a closed site. I found it through google and I could read here without logging in.

As to private messages, no, they are not viewable to google.

[MediaHound]

It wasn't the link that was bad, it was the comments that he wrote after posting the link. He offered to perform breast exams, as well as asked which ladies wanted to burn calories for sex. Sort of went off on the deep end. Those actions are by far breaches of the site rules. Several complaints came in. He was asked to apologize and refused. He can come back with conditions that he goes by the rules.. we don't mind. But he already said he felt no remorse and refused to continue to abide by the rules. We hate loosing a great member but this guy didn't want to abide by the very first rule in the rules list.
As for Google, this site is indexed by them as every other forum on the internet.. Same way most members found this site to begin with in Google when you searched for the gastric sleeve information you were seeking.. The public parts are public. Log out and anything you see, others can see. If you can't see your private messages (you can't), neither can Google or anyone else.. PMs are not public.
If he's such a good person at heart and wants to contribute to people's journeys and help the community out with his experiences, he will return and post by the rules, it's up to him.

[MediaHound]

I never realized that people thought this was a closed site. I found it through google and I could read here without logging in.

As to private messages, no, they are not viewable to google.

Exactly!

[MediaHound]

By the way, on that topic, we perform username changes all the time for members. If you want to go by a different moniker to disassociate your profile here from your typical online persona, just click the contact link and follow the steps.

[Readytobethin@51]

Admin, thank you for the clarification regarding Google, as I said above, I'm not savvy on all these things, I'm not into social medias but came here for support during a very big & serious step I was taking in my life. I fully understand rules, and am not seeking justification from the forum administrators. I did not read the particular posts you were referring to, but if I found them offensive, I would have simply not read them. M of I has chosen not to accept your terms, and I respect that, I'm simply trying to understand what I need to do in order to keep things private that I wish to be private. Thank you for clearing it up for me.

[Luann]

I did a google search on my full name, which I have kept off the forum here - my email address, etc and even searched the forum with these. Nothing comes up. If I put in my user name I can eventually find all my posts - but anyone could get my posts anyhow doing a search or just click profile & posts.

That's why I don't use my full name, or post my picture. I think you can get support without jeopardizing your privacy. Once it's posted to the internet, there is no undoing it.

[Kodi's Mom]

As this forum is in the public domain, I assumed that there is no expectation of privacy. I therefore only post what would not lead to my identity. Once something is a computer it is only as safe as the latest hacker technology. Even if this were a private forum, there would be not guarantee of privacy.
I worry more about the government mandate that all drs put my private health info on the web. (Yet, they won't tell me anything about my husband's info or another dr without my written permission.) Welcome to 1984.

[painfreenow]

OMG!!!!!! I googled my email and soooooo many things came up not only from here but for instagram (with pics) which is the one I can't believe

[MysticalMaybe]

Yes I have stuff from 1995 still show up when I google my name or user names. You have to be careful online, outside anywhere public. I'm really not afraid of using my first name on here. I know anyone in this world can find me even if I never went online so that being said I don't post anything that will hurt me. I do have a face book and I would think that that site would do more damage to me then this one. Face book has my first and last name and my location. I will post what I think will help out with the sleeve on here because I googled the sleeve this site came up and I read alot of your stories that helpped me and then I joined. If I couldn't read some of your stories I don't think I would have got the sleeve so thank you! I think anyone reading your stories is looking for help too so don't feel so mad about your post being out there as they are trully helping someone. Someone like me

I hope that made sence I'm really tired today LOL!

[VeryLargeBob]

By the way, on that topic, we perform username changes all the time for members. If you want to go by a different moniker to disassociate your profile here from your typical online persona, just click the contact link and follow the steps.

This is good to know. I'm thinking I need to change my username from VeryLargeBob to SomewhatLargeBob once I have my abdominoplasty.

[Bombshell2Be]

Good to know that you can change your username! After I have my tummy tuck and have "the girls" revamped, I can drop the "2be", and just be "Bombshell", Haha

[caroline2]

I just did an Internet search for caroline2. Nothing came up from this site. However, my profile came up on ************. I'm not happy right now!