Fandom Discussion -- Online Safety

[themostepotente]

This is going to be radically different, I think, from anything I post here.

Some of you may have noticed I have a stalker. This clown I don't perceive as a threat, but there are a lot of scary people out there that would take sending an IM a step further.

Nobody should have to live in fear. Nobody should have to feel like they need to keep their identity hidden to feel safe. It should be a choice 'not' a requirement.

This isn't just about fandom, folks -- this is about keeping safe, so I'm opening up a discussion and encouraging those in fandom to speak up or out, whichever :-)

How much information about yourself is too much to share? When is it okay to trust?

If you have any advice about keeping safe, please come and share it.

If you have a story to tell about being stalked, please, come and share that too.

The holidays are upon us, and some people are especially vulnerable this time of year. And yeah, I know this kinda sounds like a public service announcement, but somebody's advice might save another's life.

Thank you,

--Penny

Comments

[maruchina.livejournal.com]

All personal information I'll give to a stranger (and that includes the things that are on my user info) are my sex, age and the country I'm from. Apart from that, I don't share anything with anyone unless I'm somewhat comfortable. I never give anyone a last name until I'm completely sure I trust them, let alone an address. I try to keep anything that might give away my identity out of my public LJ posts - as soon as I write about something particular about where I live or what I do in daily life, it goes under a friend cut. It's not because I've got anything to hide; I'm just very careful.

I think you're more prone to get a stalker if you're interesting to them at first sight, and if they have a way of contacting you. Keeping any info that might lure them off your profile and public entries, and keeping your e-mail address and IM info safe seems like a good way to protect yourself.

You're right, no one should have to hide their identity. However, the harsh reality is that this world is fucked up, and there are many fucked up people in it. It's better to keep yourself safe than to trust people who possibly don't deserve your trust.