How much of your personal life do you reveal on the internet?

1. 69

   cindyvineposted 14 years ago

   I know I reveal way way too much.  Everybody knows I make sausages.

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      A.M. Gwynnposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      This is an interesting question and one I sometimes worry over.
      Did I say too much? Could this come back to take a chunk out of me? Enough horror stories exist that should be cautionary tales to everyone who writes online. Having webpages, hubpages, even those seemingly insignificant comments we make can have repurcussions.
      
      Many employers, existing or potential, also admit now that they "Google" employees names to get a better idea of who they may or may not employ.
      
      It certainly makes one stop to think before they start typing. Which isn't such a bad thing really. :0)

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   2. 72

      alekhouseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Very funny! Do you really? Haven't been on here long enough to know. But writing is a very personal thing and sometimes we reveal stuff about ourselves without even realizing it. Of course, If you're in business (especially on line) or want to publish, then building a brand is important and so having your name. etc. out there becomes important.

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   3. 59

      countrywomenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Cindy- I actually started a similar thread: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/13143
      
      My husband and my brother both are aware of my profile hence I try to be a bit careful. Besides that I work in a large company and a bit concerned about any fall out I may have if I ever reveal any inappropriate information.

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2. 68

   blondepoetposted 14 years ago

   Yes I am guilty too am like an open book,I figure it this way if I ever forget part of what happened in my life I can look it up on Hubpages

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3. 0

   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   I have left my ass hang out too.

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      blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Haha yes C.C you certainly have let it all hang out, no-one is complaining though ROFL (hugs)

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4. 62

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   I think, in spite of writing a lot of words that would seem to indicate I'm fairly open about my personal life, I reveal far less than it seems.
   
   On the one hand, I'm pretty free to share ancient-history emotional experiences that are now old and have no more impact on me than, say, my eye color does.  I share that I have three grown kids because that's my way of letting people know roughly how old I am.  I share that I've adopted one child because adoption is kind of a "cause" for me.  I share where I live and then a bunch of small stuff that doesn't mean much (although, of course, someone could put together a picture if they wanted to bother).  In spite of all that apparent sharing, though, I realize that there's a whole person and life I just don't share on the Internet.  I also use an altered name that people in my community or my kids' friends wouldn't recognize.  I'm often kind of teetering between feeling free to share what I think experiences have taught me and Internet-shyness.   (Oops - I just realized there was no "other hand"     )

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      brad4lposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      This is my take on it as well, as I try to not give away too much information that could be used to track me down, while still sharing my experiences and being myself.
      
      I think my biggest security breach, or fo-paw(sic) as it were, is that this is infact a real picture of my dog.
      
      Definition: fo-paw - dog for Fopaux

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5. 69

   cindyvineposted 14 years ago

   I am trying to make Cindy Vine a brand as that's the name I write my books under, so you have to put it out there on the net.

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6. 62

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   I've kind of aimed for the "brand thing" too; although for me a lot of my stuff online is not my most professional stuff (and yet some stuff I would want associated with the name).  I guess I more branded my hobby writing after the fact - or something like that.

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7. 0

   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   Well, I too am branded. Nicely so. hehe

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8. 76

   Lissieposted 14 years ago

   It wouldn't take a genius to find me-my name is my name and I share it with my blog which I promote here. If someone can't find a person with my surname in a town of 1 million they are pretty hopeless LOL

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      ralwusposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Your surname is certainly unique. LOL I was shocked!

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      1. 76

         Lissieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Shocked? Its extremely common in some very small village in Lancashire

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            ralwusposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            hahaah Well that may be true, but I bet ya had fun in school. In any case you would have here in the States. hehe I reckon there's worse tho'. LOL Can't recall one now ye got me laughin' so. hehe

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9. 63

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   I guess almost all of it, except for my exact address, phone number, SSN, and credit card numbers

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10. 56

    Lgaliposted 14 years ago

    I think full name should be avoided all the time

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    1. 61

       Pete Maidaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yeah you're proabably right I guess I'm risking it some throwing it all out there.

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          countrywomenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Pete in your case it is ok. If someone is a serious/professional writer then hub pages can work like a portfolio. One would need as much popularity as possible and if hubpages is increasing that then it should work out for you. Anyway I have seen the older a person gets the more comfortable one becomes with discussing/revealing everything in life.
          
          I tend to err on the side of caution and have revealed my name/photo/real profile only to a few selected hubbers with whom I feel safe/comfortable. I guess each person has a right to determine what level of privacy he/she wants to have(ultimately if anything negative happens then it is that individual who is affected and responsible to begin with). Just my two cents.
          
          PS: I don't think hubpages is like a dating site where real profile like name/photo/marital status and all those other personal details need to be provided compulsorily.

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11. 61

    Pete Maidaposted 14 years ago

    I put a lot of myself in my writing.  I relate issues to personal experiences almost by instinct.  I also like to write about things in my life both good and bad.  I probably dump a whole lot of me here at HubPages and I appreciate how it has been accepted.

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12. 0

    nazishnasimposted 14 years ago

    Question : Does hubpages allow you to change your username? I'll let you know why I am interested once I et the answer!

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    1. 59

       countrywomenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       No, it doesn't. http://hubpages.com/faq/#changeusername

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13. 60

    Mireille Gposted 14 years ago

    I think we can tell right away who reveals more or less although it can be fake, I think most of the people who put their own photo will tend to reveal more.
    Funny coming from someone who has not yet filled in her profile. It is my name, my photo and like Lissie I can be found all over with that name. But this time I thought I would wait and see how much I wanted to tell. I would find it hard to write something that is not "me". I am not well suited to adopt other persona.

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    1. 59

       countrywomenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Actually I feel safer in revealing more since now nobody can track me and only relate to those experiences I am talking about. If I had my own name/picture then since I am working for a large company then it is certainly possible to be recognized.
       
       PS: I tend to discuss a lot about my family, friends and work.

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14. 79

    Sally's Troveposted 14 years ago

    How much to reveal on the Internet, or in any other public venue, is always a dilemma for a writer.  (God forbid Aunt Jane should REALLY know what I think of her!...maybe I should wait until she dies to tell THAT one.)
    
    Beyond the challenges associated with maintaining personal safety or creating a focused brand are those challenges that could have a negative impact on others who are close to us.
    
    Anyone who cares to follow me around on HP knows that I have a daughter and a best friend who are also Hubbers. The last thing in the world I would do would be to reveal anything personal about myself regarding them that would cast a negative light on them, or worse, cause them humiliation, hurt, or doubt about either me or themselves.
    
    This fence we all must balance upon is not a rigid, safe place.  To write, we must be true to ourselves, but at the same time, those who don't deserve to be hurt should not be the vehicles for our need to reveal.

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    1. 70

       AEvansposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I have learned hence I continue to have a stalker and I wrote about how to be safe on the internet due to my circumstance and hard lesson. I revealed me until yesterday, when I thought my sicko just may very well be enjoying the pic and that made me ill to my stomach. My name is not exact but most know what my true first name is and that is all that counts.

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       1. 0

          A.M. Gwynnposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I am wondering about the stalker issue here on hubpages. Is there any recourse, or does hubpages have something in place to deal with those people?

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15. 60

    sheenarobinsposted 14 years ago

    I reveal way too much. I cannot be otherwise but truthful. This is what I am made of. My past, who I am, what I want to be is the only authentic thing I can share to the world.
    
    I remember one night when I read my hubs again knowing that I will be deleting them soon. I had tears in my eyes, I'm gonna miss my hubs. My first venture into the world of writing. I have wrote every piece with love in the hope to contribute, learn and let other people see my light.
    
    I am getting emotional, I know. Blame it with the hormones.

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16. 0

    girly_girl09posted 14 years ago

    I never use my name because once something is on the internet, it's there forever. I've paid to have stuff removed from when I was younger via reputation defender (nothing crazy just my name on pet game profiles and what not lol...not very professional).
    
    The only stuff found on me when googling my name are items that I want future employers and associates to see.
    
    There are some derogatory blog entries by political bloggers about me, but that is out of my control! The other side can get pretty nasty. lol Luckily, people understand this.
    
    I don't want certain articles and opinion pieces to be attached to my name because of the line of work I do. For example, I cringe at the thought of a future employer or associate discovering that I wrote an article about hello kitty credit cards! lol
    
    If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't mind using my name and saying where I was from.

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17. 77

    cashmereposted 14 years ago

    I used to be very guarded initially, now i share as much as i would with my off line friends. At times I consider getting a secret id online to just vent and go crazy. Then i think its just not worth the effort!

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18. 60

    raiderfanposted 14 years ago

    I try to be honest wid evryone.

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19. 67

    lumberjackposted 14 years ago

    i share experiences cause they make me seem badass

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20. 76

    soni2006posted 14 years ago

    not much..... I have learned a lesson.

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