Being Cautious Online
Growing up I was always very cautious about many things. I never wanted to ride rides at the carnivals because something might break and I would fall 500 feet from the air. I didn’t want to ride the merry-go-round because it goes around in a circle and I might throw up. I was never a very good swimmer and I never liked going out in the water in fear that a fish or shark will bite me or I would drown because I just can’t swim very well.
Being online I am not as cautious as I probably should be like some of the other bloggers are. Blessed. I have my picture posted on here, I’ve posted other information about my personal life. I guess if someone really wanted to find me they probably could. But for some reason something from my childhood makes me not fear someone “getting me”.
When you’re a teenager and realize there are choices you need to make yourself but you hear those voices of your parents in your head. “Is that really the right choice, do onto others as you would want them to do onto you, you are too cute to frown, I love you but I will not tolerate that behavior.” My Moms favorite was “If you can’t say something nice don’t say it at all.”
Then I realize why I have no fear of someone getting me. It is from my Father and one of his favorite sayings ”If someone were to take you, they would bring you right back.”
But just in case, this is my bodyguard “The Hunter” so don’t even try it.
Just a reminder, I am guest blogging over at the Deer Camp Blog
February 27th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I honestly think it would be very difficult for anyone who found me online and tracked me to my home to hurt us - my protector is a lot like yours
we have several guns in the house and I know how to use them all and would if I ever felt threatened and the dog that I let stay in the house is very protective of me and Lil Sugar - but for her sake I’ve decided to keep our specific life details private. It is hard some days and I have read and re-read every post and I’ll probably slip up sometime but for now it works for me, I don’t think I would be as cautious if I didn’t have her to protect. I do think that anyone who knows me that found my blog would know exactly who “Blessed” is. I enjoy your blog - keep up the good work!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:37 am
When I first started my blog, I stayed anonymous, but within weeks, I decided it didn’t make sense for me. For starters, I spent my entire journalism career with my name on everything I did, so I’ve always been out in the public eye - and NEVER been harassed at home, whether in person or by phone.
I’m certainly not going to print my address and hand an invitation to PETA to come do one of their idiotic protests at my house. And they wouldn’t protest at my house anyway because it’s not on a major thoroughfare, so no one would see it. And my neighbors would laugh at them.
So what made me put my name out there? One reason was Phillip at The Hog Blog - he’s pretty public and he seems to do just fine. The other was the fact that I was starting to write opinion after 19 years of having to keep my opinions to myself as an “objective” newspaper reporter, and I strongly believe that opinions are more powerful when you’re willing to put your name behind them.
But really, it’s a matter of personal preference. I’m a very public person, and I respect Blessed’s right to be private - even though I really do want to know which state had that ninkompoop working for it’s conservation department!
February 27th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I started putting my name out there without really thinking about it. The whole thing just kind of happened naturally as a result of the work I was doing. Like NorCal, I’ve written for publication in other places, and writing a blog just seemed like another piece of writing. I also feel strongly that I should put my name behind what I write.
For me, writing anonymously just doesn’t work. I am, however, careful about how much detail I give out. People who wanted to find me could find me, at least through the blogs I write for work, but I’m just not really concerned about that.
As for the picture thing, that’s more a matter of my absolute dislike for every picture that has ever been taken of me than any fear of posting pictures on the Internet. If I ever do have a picture taken I like, I probably would post it.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:51 am
The good thing is… there are millions of blogs… and it would be a one in several million chance that any idiot would choose our particular blog (and, for what reason?) to try to track us to a specific house, in a specific neighbourhood, in a specific city.. in a specific area of a specific… ..well, you get it… and then… they better spend a lot of time casing things to try to find out what surprise/s we have in store just for them…
February 27th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I love this blog! My husband doesn’t hunt often, but my son does. Thank you for reading the article I wrote on him. My husband is my protector too. He may not hunt often, but that doesn’t keep him from owning lots of guns! He is even licensed to carry. I just have a little pea shooter myself and of course my trusty bow and arrows. LOL
February 27th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I don’t think having your name out there is a bad thing. I think with kids you have to be somewhat protective of their identity, but besides that I have plenty of things in my house that can help that cause. One being a german shepherd and two being the guns we own. The wife knows how to use them too so don’t even try it:):):)
A good post though.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Thoughts like this do run through my head, but them I remember my journalism background. I published a lot of stories under my byline in my own community, and some of the stories I covered involved people who are probably a lot less stable than anyone reading my blog.
I take ownership of what I write. Knowing my name is behind everything I write does hold me back at times. I can’t let every crazy opinion just fly.
I also write fiction and fully intend to publish under my own name. My name is my brand. In fact, I started blogging with the intention of helping my writing career.
But I do use common sense. I try to be vague about locations. If I write about someone who already has a public internet life, I feel free to use their internet identity. If I write about friends or family, I usually assign a pseudonym to them, and use it consistently.
With all that said, let me add that I do have two really big, black dogs at home.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Thanks everyone for your detailed comments. You all make very valid points and I understand being overly concerned when you have small children. I also understand that once you start putting yourself out there with writing a blog, it is important to use your own name. As Haley stated it is her brand.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
My pseudonym lends a small bit of alias cover for my blogspot, but if you look further on my site you can find identifying info. So, all in all I guess I am not really concerned about being found. I too have some protection close at hand.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 am
Jody, I am a lot like you. I have tons of pictures on our site, and obviously that includes our kids too. I also blog about them a great deal. However I certainly wouldn’t recommend that for everyone.
But I have also always used my name with everything I have ever had published and never had a problem. We also live WAY out in the country where we have lots of dogs as well as guns. In addition, my wife stays at home with the kids, and I work out of the house - so it would be very hard for anyone to take advantage of us while we were there.
I worry a great deal more about common vandalism this far out in the country than anyone from the internet. And I doubt the local crackheads are reading my blog to find out my schedule or to see what I have in the house. It would be much easier for them to see me going hunting everyday and therefore realize that I have guns to steal and when I will be away.
All I can say is that everyone must do their own risk assessment (on and off of the internet) and then decide how to handle their online identity and information.