I'm just curious as to how much info everyone's willing to give out on the internet?
I'm pretty cautious. I will only give out my first name, middle name, and state.
If you think your phone number is safe, it's not. Internet Stalkers can find as much as a map to your house by using your phone number.

I only give out my first name, but when I'm in a chat room, I sometimes use a fake name, just to be a little more safe. I would never give out my last name (Considering only like 20 people in the whole US have it :lol: ), address and phone number. It's just way tooo risky!

And don't ask me for my last name, because I'm not that dumb! :lol: Well, maybe sometimes, but that's beyond my point.

My name's 80skid! :) No, seriously, I don't like giving out my name or anything like that. I'll just say I'm a person... leave it ambigous for ya!

I tell everyone my first name and what state I live in... I wouldnt care to say what city either but no one really knows where it is at so it wouldnt really matter. It's in my AOL profile sooo anyone could find that out I guess. My close online friends know my last name.. but the only reason they know it is because they've sent me stuff. And I've told one person my phone number... I'd have to really know them before I'd talk to them on the phone though.

How do you think so many people are running a business, buying and selling anything and everything, putting up web sites, dateing, on and on? People put their names on the web all the time. Those people aren't worried and they must have a track record of no problems occuring to maintain that confidence. I don't know anyone who has had a problem due having their name on the web.

I give out my name, middle name, and to people I trust, my last name, phone number and to two people, address. HAHAHA one of the two is Delta Burke :lol:
I also give out my parents names, my family's names.... basically everything about everyone except me :lol: :joke:

I give out my name and city/state on these boards. To the people I REALLY know well, my phone # and address because they send me stuff. But I gotta know yall really well before I do that

Originally posted by kittflynn
How do you think so many people are running a business, buying and selling anything and everything, putting up web sites, dateing, on and on? People put their names on the web all the time. Those people aren't worried and they must have a track record of no problems occuring to maintain that confidence. I don't know anyone who has had a problem due having their name on the web.

Thats true. I guess giving out your name really isnt that big of a deal. TV shows like Oprah and Montel will have shows that make the Internet sound soooo bad. They make it seem as if everyone online is porn obsessed stalkers and thats not true. It's so annoying because my parents watch those shows and then freak out and are like "you have no idea who you're talking to!" "For all you know those people could be middle aged perverts." Maybe I'm just not as cautious as them but I'd like to think that everyone I talk to online is who they say they are and are nice people. :)

Originally posted by tootieismyfav
It's so annoying because my parents watch those shows and then freak out and are like "you have no idea who you're talking to!" "For all you know those people could be middle aged perverts." Maybe I'm just not as cautious as them but I'd like to think that everyone I talk to online is who they say they are and are nice people. :)

Yeah same here!! That's why I like to see a pic of people before I give any info out, you know to see if they aren't old guys trying to stalk me. But they get REALLY annoyed when I give my phone number out. I don't know why, but... *shrugs*

Originally posted by Lisa Whelchel Forever


Yeah same here!! That's why I like to see a pic of people before I give any info out, you know to see if they aren't old guys trying to stalk me. But they get REALLY annoyed when I give my phone number out. I don't know why, but... *shrugs*

Sometimes, even I can't trust pictures, because for all you know, it could be some 45 year old perv looking for girls to talk to and they can send out some picture of their hot 17 year old nephew from California who surfs and is blonde and etc. So basically there IS a risk in talking to anyone, except if you like met them already or they are as concerned as you are.
No offense to you Karli, you just brought up that picture thing and just got me thinking. :idea:

Originally posted by Lisa Whelchel Forever


I like to see a pic of people before I give any info out, you know to see if they aren't old guys trying to stalk me.
But Karli, How do you know the "old guys" aren't sending you a pic of a very handsome young guy and passing it off as them?

Originally posted by kittflynn

But Karli, How do you know the "old guys" aren't sending you a pic of a very handsome young guy and passing it off as them?

Because all of the people I gave my info out to are... girls? :D

i give out my name and state to people i dont really no. cept w/ people i know i give my pic n stuff.

First,middle,last names,state,town,age,E-mail

Generally, I reveal as little as possible, at least in one setting. For example, even though I don't think I have ever explicity stated what state I live in, I have dropped enough clues along the way that people with good memories would be able to figure it out. Hell, they could probably even figure out what University I go to. Generally I'm not too concerned about giving out my first name, but I try not to give out my last name when it can be avoided. The only time I give out my address is when I am making a purchase and need something shipped, or if I feel confident the person I am corresponding with is at least not a total raving whacko :lol: I never give out my phone number, and if it is required, sometimes I'll just switch a few numbers. That's more because I don't want to be bothered by telemarketers though. And of course I would never ever give out my social security number to anyone over the Internet.

Originally posted by Sitcomwriter
First,middle,last names,state,town,age,E-mail

Reavealing stuff like that can get you kidnapped. You need to keep things like that private.

I always go as 'Mossopp' - not cos I'm scared of people online tracking me down, but because I hate my real name!! :lol: I don't give out my surname though. Not that it would matter if I did cos it's a pretty common name and I don't think there's much chance of anyone finding me with it.
I'd never give out my phone number or full address though - that's just daft!

Originally posted by kittflynn
How do you think so many people are running a business, buying and selling anything and everything, putting up web sites, dateing, on and on? People put their names on the web all the time. Those people aren't worried and they must have a track record of no problems occuring to maintain that confidence. I don't know anyone who has had a problem due having their name on the web.

People with buisnesses and such are not the sort of people who internet predators track. They track children with low self esteem. People have been raped, killed, etc. because they gave out too much info.

Originally posted by Sitcomwriter
First,middle,last names,state,town,age,E-mail


me too exept for my last name. they cant come thro the comp and get u lol

First and middle name, e-mail, pix, state, sometimes city...or a city nearby. I have only given out my phone number, last name, and address out to one person online...b/c she is like my bestest best friend in the entire world!!!

Originally posted by MJFfan
People with buisnesses and such are not the sort of people who internet predators track. They track children with low self esteem. People have been raped, killed, etc. because they gave out too much info.

Actually I worry alot more about Identity theft than about someone hunting me down and killing me. I did a research paper about identity theft for my criminology class. It's like the fastest growing crime and has been for a few years now. It can be devastating if your identity is stolen, though steps have been taken to lessen the blow to victims. It is ridiculously easy to steal someone's identity, really all you need in most cases is a name and a birthdate. The way I see, I don't need to go around making it any easier than it already is by revealing personal information.

I usually just give out my first name, my state, and my city. Most poeple kno that I'm Sean from my screen name, but I don't reveal my state and city unless they bring it up. I've only sent my picture to four people via email, Karli, Joyce, Courtney, & Justin.