More personal details in posts ??
 

When sydney went down it bothered me a little that we had to "sleuth" a bit to figure out his identity. Sheldon Brown once commented that he preferred another forum (rec.bikes.tech, I think) over this one because the anonymity factor is higher here. Maybe he was thinking that it's easier to be mean when you're anonymous. I don't know.

There have been several times I felt I could solve someone's problem (or they could solve mine) much better in person. But I never know if someone is local. I have discovered through these forums and from good expierences on ebay (speaking just for bike parts) that bicyclist are mostly good people.

I guess I'm saying I feel no need to hide my identity and maybe I would like to encourage more local interaction. To that end, and ever since sydney's passing, I have begun signing my name and location to all my posts. I hope others could do the same.

And is that you in your avatar? If so, we have something in common.

Everybody is different when it comes to divulging their identity. Some are open about it, like you and me, and others feel it is an invasion - like they want to reserve the right to be "somebody different" here on the forums. I've found that after the honeymoo phase, people aren't really that different here than they are in person - they may be a bit bolder in their opinion and their commentary but for the most part, their personality here is reflective of who they really are.

55/Rad

Then there is the litigation factor. Suppose you give someone advice, and maybe they don't follow it exactly and they get hurt. Hmmm...

My name is my avatar, partly because I didn't feel like coming up with something creative at the time. And the picture is actually a shot of me, on the beach in Santa Cruz, two years ago when I had dread-braids...
Since it's a sillouette, you don't know if I have the gray hair in common with you ;)

Can I have your social security number and your credit card number too? I mean, I just am encouraging the highest degree of interaction possible. :D

Seriously, I don't give out my personal info, but there are a few people who know who I am, and if something happens to me, they can get in touch with me or next of kin, depending on the seriousness of the situation.

Koffee

But all it takes is one weirdo lurker, to find out too much info on you and that could be dangerous. We casually post our bikes, say where we ride. And if a woman who has a personality that is quite charming posts her picture, she leaves herself wide open to someone who may have taken a liking to her. And to me that could be trouble if the attention is unwanted.

I agree with dbg. I'd rather let the good people know who I am than hide on account of one person in a million who might be a jerk. Besides - I'm nobody. I'm sure there are more interesting people to harass and neither my credit or bank accounts would be attractive to any would-be thief. ;)

I haven't met any locals that use BikeForums.net BUT I have met locals through several LiveJournal bicycle communities.

I've ridden and bent wrenches with half a dozen of them and met other people through them. I wouldn't have known any of them had it not been for first contact online.

Chris Patten - Ottawa, Canada (the avatar is me)

I'm probably not a very rich target for that kind of thing. collecting money has never been a high priority for me.

I don't believe there is any such exposure with free advice. If I work on your bike, and screw it up, then I'm potentially liable, but for just giving advice, I don't believe that's a real issue.

Sheldon "Nothing To Hide" Brown

So I know what you look like and what your name is? Now what?


For one thing, do you really want everyone to read everything you have written on these forums? Your boss for example? I just googled "timcupery".

Hopefully I am not his boss and he isn't spending company time on the computer??? ;)

Part of the issue is privacy here. If you are not concerned with your privacy than fine. But that doesn't mean that others don't have a right to it. How would you like every phone call recorded so anyone in the world could hear it?

Or any email that you sent? In a sense that is like what happens here if you associate your real name with your username. You lose all privacy.

I'm just a cherry here, but anyone looking for me can PM and state their case. Several members have already done so, to our mutual advantage.
Top
(feel free to Google my real name, when I put on the black suit I vanished....)

Click on the banner below and you'll find out all you want about me. :)

I work in radio so it's a bit hard hiding an identity.

If I was to sign up to BikeForums all over again I'd ditch the MediaCreations name and simply be Rodney Olsen.

I've got nothing to hide and definitely got no money for anyone to steal. :)

I remember reading that post. That's when I decided to register with a new username, * jack *, and I placed a link to my webspace in my sig. I guess I've got nothing to hide either, plus I'm a little narcissistic, so... :rolleyes:

I played around with a couple usernames since joining last year, but I later decided to 'get real' :D
It's Jack Edinger, by the way...

- what was that song lyric? Paranoia Will Destroy Ya?

This is accurate. In order for someone to be civially liable, they first must have a duty to perform in some way, then fail to take care in exercising, or fail to exercise, that duty. There are, of course, exceptions to this and every legal rule. If Sheldon gave free advice at his shop, then let some joker ride off on an as-is bike he bought there, for example, that may be another matter.

http://jonpfischer.com
http://thecuda.com
http://jonandmargaret.com

- if you can't find it there, then I haven't deemed it worthy enough of information to share with the world.

My username is my real name. If you google me you will find out that I like photography , that I speak Portuguese as my first language and work in mass disasters like the WTC, that I post a lot around the bike forums, that there are a lot of hispannics with the same name (including, apparently, a well respected "toreador") and, honestly, that you really didn't need my real name or the city where I live to find out any of it. However, I can see where the concern comes from. If I were a girl I would use some protection.

Rafael

Unfortunately, we live in a day and age where identity theft is a huge problem. Like the other guy said, all it takes is one devious person to find out your social security number, bank ID numbers, etc. I respect those that do want to divulge personal details, but I'm playing it on the safe side here. I just try to judge a person by the content of a single post and not get all wrapped up in their posting history like some other feuders on here :D

Koffee:

If that is really you in that pic you are welcome down in Richmond anytime girl!!!!

Funny thing is even locally I don't know everyone I ride with. If someone says "Do you know so and so?" I simply reply "what does he ride and what team kit does he wear?" Oh the guy in the Ofoto kit and the orange Klein? Sure I know that dude!

I'm not hard to find if you put in a small amount of effort. That's my picture in my avatar and there are links to my website sprinkled around BF when it's appropriate.

If they want to find out who any of us are for some reason they will. You can run but you can't hide.

Tim

I know as a college student right now, my co-op advisor was warning us all to take down anything even remotely incriminating that we have posted on the internet. One of the first thing employers do these days is google new applicants. If you saw most peoples Facebook/Myspace profiles, there is probably something there that would turn off a potential employer as well.

ok - here is a dumb question - I have saved a picture of myself down to 12K in size -but it won't load because it's too large - I have a basic dell with windows xp. How do I reduce the size to fit an avatar?

I need to come clean too about my identity - ginger is dog, and I don't look like Johnny Cash

Well if personal details are wanted, pm the poster. If no reply, ignore the poster.
If personal information is required make it on a personal level, ie, the private message.
Surprisingly 100% of the people I have sent private messages to, have responded, and perhaps, I have made a few new friends, and even more surprising I meet an old friend.
If your looking for credentials, well I don't know of any organization that certifies advice or opinions.

check your PMs - I can help with your avatar.

- there are also more than a few threads about your question with some good advice.

Obviously a BF member who will remain nameless had no problem finding my name & address, it's public information for anyone who takes the time to look on one of my web site's privacy policies or contact info. Has been since like 94 and I have never had a problem. But when he then used my pic, and plastered my name and address along with it, as his avatar, we had a problem, since then things he said could be mistakenly attributed to me. Now I don't mind standing behind what I say, but I'd hate to have someone knocking at my door based on something that came from someone else's poison keyboard! Luckily, our friendly neighborhood mods took care of the problem and, IMHO, the culprit is darned lucky he didn't get banned for such a stunt.

But I think avatars are meant to be fun, so the stunt in question was a good opportunity to spare everyone having to look at my luv-gawd face all the time, saving the gals from falling head-over-heels for me and the guys from wondering if they were bi! You tell me, would you rather see my loveable mug, or ole Thor the wonder dawg's? :D

http://www.chipcom.net/pvt/dan04_thumb.jpg