Another Labour Gimp Doesn't Git It!

[geeks]

The Black Flash said:

There appear to be only 3 Dan Colletts in Buckinghamshire. Wouldn't take long to narrow down which one you are, and from there work out your address and various other information. People leave big trails without realising it...

Wow so you clicked on my username and found my real name and then you looked a little further down the page and discovered i live in Bucks? You then cross checked my name against any number of available online databases, I am in awe of your detective work bravo Andrew of Lancashire!!

I am all to aware of my online footprint, its my job to be aware of such things, i am also certain that i could remove most of it should the need ever arise and i am certain that i could go completely anonymous should i need to, the point is, i don't need to! I do my best to behave like a human being when online..

hornet said:

Certain irony to posting that comment on a forum under the name "geeks", no? I'm guessing that's not your real name?

Its my nickname and my old handle from the CB and as has been pointed out to you, my real name is readily available from my profile! My comment was made in the context of Facebook more than anything. People sign up to forums with online "handles" this has been accepted etiquette on the internet for years. What shouldn't be acceptable etiquette on the internet is behaving like a nob, bullying people, trolling the victims of crimes etc there is a line where banter becomes harassment and that is wrong as far as i am concerned. There is no such thing as Anonymity on the internet anymore, nor should there be!

[The Black Flash]

geeks said:

The Black Flash said:

There appear to be only 3 Dan Colletts in Buckinghamshire. Wouldn't take long to narrow down which one you are, and from there work out your address and various other information. People leave big trails without realising it...

Wow so you clicked on my username and found my real name and then you looked a little further down the page and discovered i live in Bucks? You then cross checked my name against any number of available online databases, I am in awe of your detective work bravo Andrew of Lancashire!!

It wasn't meant to start a willy waving contest, not at all. But there are a lot more Andrews in lancashire than 3. If you're happy being that exposed, then it's your choice.

geeks said:

I am all to aware of my online footprint, its my job to be aware of such things, i am also certain that i could remove most of it should the need ever arise and i am certain that i could go completely anonymous should i need to, the point is, i don't need to! I do my best to behave like a human being when online..

As do I. But I don't want my details leaking into the wrong hands, it's about protecting myself, not a way to attack others.
And it's your job to be aware of your online footprint, but you think you can remove it? From the internet? Good luck with that.

geeks said:

There is no such thing as Anonymity on the internet anymore, nor should there be!

So you can go completely anonymous by "removing" your information from the internet, but there is no such thing as anonymity on the internet. Riiiiiiiight.

[geeks]

The Black Flash said:

geeks said:

The Black Flash said:

There appear to be only 3 Dan Colletts in Buckinghamshire. Wouldn't take long to narrow down which one you are, and from there work out your address and various other information. People leave big trails without realising it...

Wow so you clicked on my username and found my real name and then you looked a little further down the page and discovered i live in Bucks? You then cross checked my name against any number of available online databases, I am in awe of your detective work bravo Andrew of Lancashire!!

It wasn't meant to start a willy waving contest, not at all. But there are a lot more Andrews in lancashire than 3. If you're happy being that exposed, then it's your choice.

Ok fair enough i am grumpy in the mornings, however there are probably less Andrew E******'s than there are Dan Colletts

It is my choice you are right and one i reserve the right make.

The Black Flash said:

geeks said:

I am all to aware of my online footprint, its my job to be aware of such things, i am also certain that i could remove most of it should the need ever arise and i am certain that i could go completely anonymous should i need to, the point is, i don't need to! I do my best to behave like a human being when online..

As do I. But I don't want my details leaking into the wrong hands, it's about protecting myself, not a way to attack others.
And it's your job to be aware of your online footprint, but you think you can remove it? From the internet? Good luck with that.

And thats fair enough it wasnt directed specifically at you but I object to the fact that behaving like an ass on the net has become acceptable. Removing your online footprint can be done, i didnt say it was easy but that doesnt meant that it isnt possible just difficult, i doubt i could totally remove it all but i could do enough to make it very difficult.

The Black Flash said:

geeks said:

There is no such thing as Anonymity on the internet anymore, nor should there be!

So you can go completely anonymous by "removing" your information from the internet, but there is no such thing as anonymity on the internet. Riiiiiiiight.

I think you have taken my comment out of context, i simply meant rather than using my common forum name of geeks i could create a new online identity that would be almost impossible to trace back to me, that said given enough time, determination and processor power even that could be stripped back but i could certainly make it difficult to do with little effort. However i cant think of a reason that i would need to do this unless i was involved in something very nefarious in which case my anonymity should NOT be assured.

I understand the need for privacy but i also understand the need for people to be more open and honest and not hide behind a screen and keyboard and think they are untouchable.. Society (and the law for that matter) was and still is in many ways unprepared for the internet and the information revolution it spawned. Having been left unchecked for so long it has bred acceptance of behavior that in normal everyday situations is unacceptable.

Sorry i will get off my soapbox i just think there is more that needs to be done to ensure peoples physical and mental safety on the internet.

Edited by geeks on Friday 26th October 13:47

[The Black Flash]

geeks said:

I think you have taken my comment out of context, i simply meant rather than using my common forum name of geeks i could create a new online identity that would be almost impossible to trace back to me, that said given enough time, determination and processor power even that could be stripped back but i could certainly make it difficult to do with little effort. However i cant think of a reason that i would need to do this unless i was involved in something very nefarious in which case my anonymity should NOT be assured.

I understand the need for privacy but i also understand the need for people to be more open and honest and not hide behind a screen and keyboard and think they are untouchable.. Society (and the law for that matter) was and still is in many ways unprepared for the internet and the information revolution it spawned. Having been left unchecked for so long it has bred acceptance of behavior that in normal everyday situations is unacceptable.

Sorry i will get off my soapbox i just think there is more that needs to be done to ensure peoples physical and mental safety on the internet.

Edited by geeks on Friday 26th October 13:47

Fair enough. I take the view that the downside of trying to prevent people misusing their anonymity is greater than the benefits. And that it is, ultimately, impossible to do anyway.
I suspect that with facebook et al, the upcomming generations will not care anyway, and will happily splurge all of their personal information everywhere, so it will become a moot point.