If it's on the forums, it's on Google

IndyInk
IndyInk Posts: 212
in Chit-Chat
I just put in a request that comments made on the forums be hidden from Google searches.

If your screen name even remotely identifies you in real life (same as your email handle, etc.), a simple Google search pulls up what you've said in the forums, even if your profile is privatized. (This is vaguely outlined in section 18 of the Terms of Use.)

I asked that: (1) we have the option to hide all of our personal forum comments from search engines, OR (2) we be allowed to change our usernames more than once, or (3) we be allowed to delete things we've posted in the forums, OR that (4) all forum content be hidden from search engines.

Most people understand that the internet is forever, but I'm not sure most MFP users realize forum content is as quite public as it is. Post carefully.
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Replies

  • lildoggielover
    lildoggielover Posts: 72 Member
    Good to know, thanks for putting this out there for us.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    If anyone at work reads my blogs, I will probably get fired. Oh well.
  • ScatteredThoughts
    ScatteredThoughts Posts: 3,562 Member
    That is part of why I hesitate in responding to some of the poll/survey type questions in the forums.


    1010opart.jpg
  • IndyInk
    IndyInk Posts: 212
    A while ago, there was a topic "list your hobby" I pasted some computer code that i coded. Almost a year later I got an email from the instructor. His current students found my code online. It was their current project. The email stated that I can get in trouble for academic dishonesty(since the other students can use my code to cheat).

    Yes I agree, a lot of people have their usernames to resemble their first and last name. Not a good decision. It can be used for identity fraud, and things of that sort.

    I think a certain amount of privacy also only benefits a fitness site. Fitness has to do with the human anatomy... and if you want to discuss the human anatomy openly with other people who are getting fit, you may not want your boss or a prospective employer Googling your name and finding some of the stuff that's discussed on here.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    If your screen name even remotely identifies you in real life (same as their email handle, etc.)...
    That's how we identified the creepy mortician dude. Ha! Good times...
  • cannonsky
    cannonsky Posts: 850 Member
    this is why I do my best to never post anything that would be detrimental later in life... and if it is detrimental and I post it anyway... it's mostly because I have the means to justify myself... and quite honestly hold the ability to speak my mind freely in high regard. But yea... peeps should be more careful
  • JWmovin4ward
    JWmovin4ward Posts: 179 Member
    so much for private settings... thanks for the heads up
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    Anyone who posts anything on the internet ANYWHERE should be fully aware that it's out there in the webz forever and ever, amen.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    I agree 100% and have posted that as a suggestion to MFP that even though IT IS the internet, as far as I am concerned MFP is a private group and things should be kept out of the mainstream.

    Don't think it will happen though. :ohwell:
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Normally this is considered a feature, because it makes the forum easy to search.

    But given the signal-to-noise ratio on this forum, maybe it's better if they do block it from getting indexed.

    Only half kidding.
  • Louise1247
    Louise1247 Posts: 670 Member
    everything under my tag name Bluemorpho1247 shows up in google- including all this!N
  • sheri02r
    sheri02r Posts: 486 Member
    Hmmm good to know! Thanks for posting this!
  • lickmybaconcakes
    lickmybaconcakes Posts: 1,063 Member
    The reason why my face is not shown...
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    I agree 100% and have posted that as a suggestion to MFP that even though IT IS the internet, as far as I am concerned MFP is a private group and things should be kept out of the mainstream.

    Don't think it will happen though. :ohwell:
    Not likely no. The privacy settings in place now are the results of members in the past (a couple years ago) bringing this up. Diary privacy settings, profile privacy settings. etc. You'll find more in the Search function on what Mike changed and shared about the boards and privacy, Google etc.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=if+it's+on+the+forums+it's+on+google
    :smile:
  • IndyInk
    IndyInk Posts: 212
    https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=if+it's+on+the+forums+it's+on+google
    :smile:

    Yep.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=if+it's+on+the+forums+it's+on+google
    :smile:
    mind-blown.gif
  • muddyventures
    muddyventures Posts: 360 Member
    I always assume it will be available and try my best to keep my comments the same as I would in face to face conversation. I can tell you this, if I'm googled for job applicant search and the job requires me to proof read, spell, and or type... I may not get the job... lol.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    Even funner? Reverse image searches with MFP images. Oh, good times.
  • sweetchildomine
    sweetchildomine Posts: 872 Member
    That's why I make a point not to post anything that would be problem. Yea, some of my before and after pictures are a little embarrassing but it wouldn't be the end of the world if someone found it.
  • impyimpyaj
    impyimpyaj Posts: 1,073 Member
    That's why I make a point not to post anything that would be problem. Yea, some of my before and after pictures are a little embarrassing but it wouldn't be the end of the world if someone found it.

    This.

    The internet is open. It's not private. I mean, did you have to go through a background check to join? Did you have to wait for an invitation? No? Then it's open to everybody on the planet. As such, it's fair game for Google. It wouldn't make sense for MFP to try to opt out of Google searches (if they even can, which I don't think is possible) because a lot of times that's how people find the site in the first place. They go searching for "can I eat more and still lose weight if I exercise?" and up pops a forum thread from MFP. Bingo, new user.

    Bottom line: if you don't want to be found on the internet, don't use the internet. Or only go by an alias, and don't put identifying information about yourself on the internet. That includes Facebook.
  • TheBraveryLover
    TheBraveryLover Posts: 1,217 Member
    It's the main reason I refuse to post face pics on my profile and my location. I don't like being linked here. I treat this site completely separate from my life and I like it that way. :-)
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    It's the main reason I refuse to post face pics on my profile and my location. I don't like being linked here. I treat this site completely separate from my life and I like it that way. :-)
    Nothing wrong with that! You're here for you.:flowerforyou: I'm a very private person myself. Many Employers, Universities etc. etc. now use social media sites to see a persons behavior and outside activities to see what the person is like before hand.
  • DrKittyCat
    DrKittyCat Posts: 108
    The easiest way to anonymize forum posts so no one gets identified on google, would be to make usernames not show up unless someone is registered and logged into the forum. Many large forum sites do this.
  • spade117
    spade117 Posts: 2,466 Member
    IJDGAF
  • donald149
    donald149 Posts: 211 Member
    Thanks for the post!
  • Motivation
    Motivation Posts: 64 Member
    Even funner? Reverse image searches with MFP images. Oh, good times.
    ^this
  • LeggyKettleBabe
    LeggyKettleBabe Posts: 300 Member
    That is why i will never post me undressed in progress pictures on the internet, employers and such can look it up. just like facebook.

    I kinda like my professional job :P
  • moran1917
    moran1917 Posts: 1,133 Member
    i am who i am online, offline, upsidedown, sideways....all me. if i say it i mean it, if i change my mind i admitt it. if you don't like it too bad. i feel no reason to hide who i am. but the kind of work i am in allows me this freedom. so it doesn't matter to me if i can be googled. that being said i tend not to throw personal hissy fits about people online, i'd rather do it to the person's face, and i do not believe in talking through personal issues online, again to the person's face. so my personal drama's are not online, but that is because online is not where you solve these things.

    ta da my internet philosophy as it came out my head!!
  • theladyy
    theladyy Posts: 176
    Even funner? Reverse image searches with MFP images. Oh, good times.

    I LOVE reverse image search...ever since I learned how, I do it all the time!

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