British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Having been a work all night I have been thinking about the last few days on this site.

Do we actually know who we are talking too on this forum. I am a little concerned that some members have responded to a post show yourself. and up loaded pictures.

Having worked in the computer industry I know how easy it is to take everything you see on face value. Who are we really talking too, We see this in the press often with people that have groomed children on line. This can be the same for adults as in the post show yourselves.

For example I can now take you facebook and u-tube and you will see me.



Mac

Facebook and Bebo are far more dangerous places than this site.
It never stops to amaze me how much information people post on Facebook etc!
ID theft can be a real danger from sites like the above. Having said that they can also be a place where you can find long lost mates and school friends and class mates, but some of the things people post!

It's important to remember that cyberspace has as many dangers as real life. It seems very unwise to respond to a request for photos, and an irresponsible idea to ask for them in the first place.

Alsa



With Cyberspace wie have a vison of what people look like and we build in our heads what people look like.

With the internet you really need the persons real name to track them down unless they use there nick name on a regular basis.

With information we post al round the internet we can piece together a persons profile.

As sleep to snore has suggested



I would disagree if I was to use my real name on this site it would take you to Facebook or example where to can find my family, kids, friends, grand children and my dogs.

Every bit of information is part of the puzzle for identity theft and other things which is why we use our members names. Just happens to be that Mac is my nick name and has been for years.

I would be easy to find in Worcester from information I have given on this site. Just look for the red van, it is always about somewhere delivering parcels. Not so much as I now have a job after being made redundant back in January.



Mac

I speak as one who has had her fingers burned through meeting people from the internet, a falling out about something and nothing and cyberbullying as a result.

Be sensible folks.

NM37

What have you learnt about internet safety????

Now you have given out my facebook page

pat

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Postman-Pat-The-Movie/7537571287?v=info

NM37 turned internet detective and found some interesting pictures a certain member when he was just 7yrs old....



A fifty year olds birthday cake ....



And the best way a forum member likes to travel ...



What have you learnt about internet safety Mac

I've been on line for more than 15 years and have experienced the very best, the medicore, the weird and some of the wonderful. Fortunately while I've had a few negative experiences they haven't been diabolical.

I do tend to start from a position of 'cautious trust' mostly because that's the way I'd deal with meeting someone in real life.

Sensible caution is the way to go I think. Sites like this allow people to be as anonymous as they like which is fine (if you've been really burned I can understand complete caution / or if you have a job that makes you vulnerable / or if you just like to keep things really private). I respect everyone's right to pitch things as they like.

I've always had my avatar pic up, and yep it is me, I can't really be bothered trying to 'be' someone else - and to be honest I quite like who I am so don't feel the need to fake it. I do feel quite sorry for those people who do have to create a new identy for themselves within cyberspace, that's very far removed from who or what they really are....

However this has made me think again and I have subsequently removed my picture in the 'show me' thread from this site but only because it's properties did list my facebook - which is not particularly secret but it is mine and though others can't view it I tend to prefer to be more cautious in that respect.

All of that being said I am now in a situation where about half of my 'real life' friends are people that I originally met through the internet in one form or another over the years. It can be a fantastic tool for getting in touch with people that are right on your wave length but you might never have touched base with in the real world due to distance or lack of common social circles.

There's good and bad in everything!

Suse & NM

I agree with what you said and by the way NM37 I did look good at 7!!

Mac

Before I go off on my holidays for a while I thought I would let you know a little more about internet safety.

The original picture I posted



This Picture is not me

I just wonder how many of you thought is was ???

I took it off face book, Sorry Suse I am still a fantasty

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sleep-apnea/109492002410712

Mac