Cindeea, if you Google say that tomatoe it would probley have a GW site to click on. That is how most people know about GW.
I found GW through my search for frangipani years ago.
Just be aware of what you write and don't use your address or phone number on any site.

Cindeea, sad to say but there are a few unscrupulous types out there who always keep an eye out. This is the only site where I've mentioned my upcoming move to Cape Coral, but I'm already receiving spam mail from "singles" trying to b.s. me that they "have never used a computer before but saw that I was moving there and wanted to write, see if I'd like to chat and hook up sometime," yadda-yadda-yadda.

Caution is the operative word here. Not paranoia, but just a bit of caution. (After all, we already know that we gardeners are a good group!)

~J.

catman,I think I'm getting paranoid. This is the only
forum that I use my real name,I feel comfortable here.
But yesterday I was posting on another forum in GW as
countrynest and an individual identified me as Felix
and knows stuff that I have share with you guys. I started thinking,They know all that and can remember it and make the connection. Is not like I'm somebody special,like a celebrity. What made them remember specifics? It is kind of scary. Puts me on the defensive.
What do you guys think about this that happened to me?
Jacob (lol)

Felix, shall I say Jacob? lol
Be careful with the pictures, no pictures taking of my face (at least not for me).
Garden pictures are okay since everybody have the same flowers or vegetables. Roasted pig is okay too.
No phone numbers, addresses on the web.
Remember that song long time ago? Somebody is watching me?lol
Willy

There are many people who cross forums and if you are an active poster on several forums, even if you use several names, it might not be so hard for someone to figure out you are the same person just by reading lots. Now on the other hand, it is also possible that some one might be a moderator or administrator on several boards and therefore able to see additional info. Remember that if you surf from the same location most of the time, your IP address can easily be known. Lots of info is tracked by web sites so they can understand the traffic and where it is comming from. Most of this is used to help them earn money on their advertising but is often used to track and ban spam posters and inappropriate posters.

Posting on open forums on the internet is really broadcasting what you post out to the world. Avoid giving details you don't want generally known.

And about paranoia, just because your are paranoid, doesn't mean they are not out to get you. I mean that as a joke but... on the internet, there is always some one out to advertise at you and try to get your money or at least your attention.

Cindeea,

I have only two things to say to you:

1. We know who you are.

2. We saw what you did.

Just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean there is no one out to get you.

OK, that was three things. So sue me.

Jerry

Yes, the search engines obviously spider this forum, because that is how I found this forum myself.

Cindeea: There are these little scripts out there that "spider" websites. They go through every page of the website and log everything, so that when people want to do a search on Google or some other search engine for something, "results" will be found and they will be led to websites that contain the information that they are looking for. They create a "log" of sorts that may then be searched when people do a "search" for some topic.

Now a webmaster can choose to make pages not be seen by the "spiders", so that they are not found by the search engines. But this forum is obviously open to the spiders.

Just keep in mind that once something is put out on the web, it's there FOREVER. Even if you have a personal website and remove information from that website, there is a good chance that it was already cached by some other site out there and isn't really "gone". I've included a link to some of the archives out there.

Heather

Here is a link that might be useful: Website Archives

Felix, don't panic about this, mi amigo! The truth is that if you use the internet at ALL, and post anywhere at any time, you are "out there." Nothing is completely secure, and any time anyone googles a subject, a post might come up with your name on it. With the technology out there today, anyone who wants to find you can. Whether you deliberately post info or not. So your choices are to hide in a hole somewhere and miss out on all the fun, or take a few reasonable precautions and enjoy yourself.

For me, I don't deliberately post my home address or my telephone number, but both are easily traced by anyone determined to find them. As they would be, even if I never posted a thing anywhere, any time. I don't care if I post a picture of myself. No one is going to look at it and determine that I'm someone they need to find. And having run an online business for years, my email addy is already out there. So I don't worry about that.

Just know that there are many, many other places that the bad guys go first when hunting for victims of any type. All things considered, GW is fairly safe.

BTW, I see posts from people on other GW forums that I recognize every day. That's all that happened to you, Felix. Someone recognized "countrynest" because they had read your posts here. And even if they were strangers to you, they may have been lurking here for a long time, and would recognize any of us.

For me, if I have to worry every second about all the ways the Bad Guys can reach me, I'd just have to lock myself indoors and never go out. I couldn't go to a mall without looking over my shoulder, or the movies, or the grocery store. I couldn't shop online or order a book from the library. I couldn't visit nurseries or zoos. I can't live like that, and I won't. If I let them scare me away from all the things I love to do, then they win. That's not how I want to live.

Be reasonable, be careful, but enjoy your your online friends, your neighborhood, and your life.

Just my thoughts, for what they're worth...nada mas, most of the time.

Marcia

I agree with you,mi amiga. we can even find peoples
houses from satellites even look into the house through their windows,find out the diagram of inside their homes,
the value of the home,how much taxes they pay. You can see the signatures. It is all public information.
I have done all of the above and I'm not even close to being a pro.
We can even see Cindee gardening in her yard by satellites.
A brave new world!
Jacob

Yep, it's a New World, all right, and I see you have a new name to go with it. (I want one, too...how about Daphne? I've always fancied that one.) And if we want to take part in the good things the New World has to offer, I guess we just have to accept that there will be bad things out there as well, and do our best to avoid them. It's the price we pay for having wonderful places like this forum to visit, and frankly, it's worth it to me. I have made friends here I will treasure forever, and learned more about gardening in Florida than I could have learned by reading every book in the library.

Marcia (ooops...I mean, Daphne, of course!)

It's spooky to do a google search for something and come up with MY OWN POSTS here on GW. I can only hope that what we're talking about is SO BORING that no one would be remotely interested in looking me up in person.

Of course my pitbull Killer loves uninvited guests, lol.

BTW I didn't change my GW name for any reason except wanting to lose the "naples" connection. But Jacob and Daphne may have the right idea.

When I started following threads here it took me FOREVER to get in my head who was who. But I can adjust.

jerryattreezoo
ROFLMAO. hahahahaha.And the third thing (out of 2) agree completely.

Julia (as in Child, my alter ego)

I had not signed my real name for a long time and then someone here posted that those who don't use their real name make them feel like we who didn't were being unfriendly.In fact it seemed if I didn't use my name often I got no response.
On Garden junk they actually had a post called What is your REAL name.
Being in biz I'm out there anyway.
About the posters recognizing one another. I think we all have a favorite person or one that we feel a kindred spirit to and want to read every post they have.
What I dislike is when a Forum(not this one but several others) seems preoccupied with one or two posters and often others go by the wayside. It is like they make them the King or Queen of that forum always addressing every post and question to THAT person.
We should try to make everyone feel comfortable especially the newbies.
This forum is kind of unique because we have lots and lots of kings and queens or specialist of things(fruit, roses, nature, worms, soil, trees etc.) and that is great just so we include some new ones now and then.

And what is your name? LOL
Jacob

GP, I have always signed my real name, mostly because I made up my mind I would never post something I would be ashamed to put my name on, and because I already knew anyone can find our real names if they want to. And because I had a business for many years where it was desirable to have name recognition. But I think it should be up to the person posting whether they are comfortable with revealing their name or not. Some feel that they are too exposed that way, and if it makes them feel safer to skip their real names, it doesn't matter what I think. It's up to them.

I like being open about who I am, but that's just me. Not everyone will feel that way.

And I like to think that everyone on this forum is a King or Queen in their own right, since everyone has something special they add to the mix. Even newbie Florida gardeners still have interesting ideas and things they are good at.

I say long live ALL the Kings, and ALL the Queens!!

Marcia (tired of being Daphne already!)

Don't worry too much about this, unless you post something dangerous/illegal.

I have been writing articles about Mastiffs for nearly 30 years. I still get a kick out of getting emails from folks who found my articles online. The most popular one is about building a whelping box. I wrote that at least 15 years ago, and still get inquiries/thanks/comments nearly every week.

I have chuckled after looking up unusual fruiting plants, just to be bounced to my own GW posts about them! Those old posts can be quite amusing!

Remember to be nice, and have big dogs and lots of guns when posting on the Internet!(VBG) ***JOKE****

Seriously, no one has bothered me, and I use my real name.

If I ever am harrased, I have enough brave GW pals to protect me!!!

Lisa

Welcome to the 21st Century! Some thoughts on everyone's comments...
1. Real Names? That is just silly...usernames have to be unique...as soon as the 2nd John or Mary tried to use those as usernames there was a problem. And if they did allow it...there would be endless "Which John are you?" or "Which Mary said that?"
2. Creepy factor...yes at first it may be creepy to be able to Google yourself...but just how many people ACTUALLY GOOGLE YOU? Probably just you.
3. Protect yourself in all things techy AND NOT TECHY TOO... identity theft happens more when somebody goes through your trashcan than from the Internet. Or from people clicking on SPAM emails telling them about discount Viagra, their lottery winnings in Liberia, and how much girls in some third world country want to "meet you". FLorida actually has a site that will help you learn more about protecting yourself online: http://www.safeflorida.net/safesurf
4. Photos - be careful. Make sure there are no identifiers about where you live...house numbers, car license plates, etc. And no pics of minor children unless site is secure. And monitor your children too.
5 A. It's called Web 2.0 and YOU WERE TIME MAGAZINE; Person of the Year for 2006 ( http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20061225,00.html) This wonderful year allows ALL OF US to participate and share our learning and opinions with the world. The world gets smaller every day because of it.
5 B. I graduated HS in 1981 and yesterday, my HS Principal became one of my FaceBook friends...what a wonderful world where that can happen...that I can tell him and others how they influenced the person I have become.

As with anything...be safe AND enjoy!

Tam the Nerd

Here is a link that might be useful: SafeFlorida.Net

OK from Now on I am NOT going to garden by Moonlight in my bikini, I don't care how humid the weather is and as far as my real name?? Just call me CindeeB Ok yeah and Dennis is really my very jealous pet LION! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Tam, the Real Name part isn't meaning you should make your USER name your real name. Just that many of us sign our real names to our posts, as I always do. Naturally you have to make up a username that is one of a kind in a given group. Sorry for the confusion on that.

Thanks for the link. It's always good to learn new tips.

Cindee, too late. I googled you and zoomed in, and I saw you in your bikini, waltzing around your garden in the moonlight!! I waved at you, but you were too busy singing to yourself to see me. I never knew you had a secret tattoo! Interesting!

Love,
Daphne

Denise
Remember Julia Child was a "Secret Agent" besides being a great cook!

Lisa
With your experience you should be "The Dog and Fruit tree whisperer".

Cindee
Too bad for you, I already saw you in your "Yellow polka dot bikini" LOL

Willy

Shhh Mar....er..um..Daphne, that tatoo is TOP SECRET! Oh Willy, everyone knows I wear only RED polka dots so I can hide among my tomatoes!

I am with Marcia on this one...I use my real FIRST name, and since I am not reveling any compromising info on myself (besides liking orchids and helping homeless cats), I am not too worried
Things like email, actual address, etc, however, should not be "advertised" in plain view...Lots of weird people and trolls around, even here, who are looking to stir up trouble

As for other forums, I would not worry, Felix. I saw your post on Hot Topics, and if I were to respond, I would, by the nature of habit, address you as Felix, not countrynest ...
(I chose not to respond, as our opinions on things besides gardening are very different ;-) )

Olya

I hope none of you watch the movie "Eagle Eye" or else you'll really be paranoid!lol

Tam, thanks for the link!

Julie (not changing to Metfan)

Gosh, y'all talk about interesting stuff besides gardening!
As a newbie and a prior lurker for about a year, I can tell you that I had a similar but slightly different concern. It's what's kept me from authoring a blog: the copyright issue. For the most part, I believe, on sites like this we consent to give up our copyrights to what we post.
I have some sort of issue with that. Credit where credit is due and all that. What's mine is mine,etc. But no, I believe my thoughts belong to "them" upon submission.
Chris

Chris-hi and welcome to the forum. We're a buncha nuts with some interesting ideas at times and great gardening helps! lol this conversation side lets our hair down, so to speak without the W police coming after us.
I have a friend over on the Amaryllis forum that takes absolutely awesome photos of her Amaryllis. People have been stealing her photos and using them on E-Bay to sell their own bulbs! I agree that once submitted, it seems you give up the ownership...ah well I hope to see you over on the gardening side too.