Internet Anonymity: Is It a Myth?

[MineralMan]

Pretty much. Unless you're very careful, you're almost certainly not anonymous at all on the Internet as you post on DU and other places. Far too many people use the same screen names on multiple websites, often unaware that who they are is pretty much open information.

Google your DU screen name, surrounded by quotation marks. You might be surprised to learn what you find.

[DanTex]

1. Wow! I'm the the largest distributor in Europe of letterpress and flexo plates!

I've been serving the needs of the packaging industry for over 40 years. Who knew?

[MineralMan]

2. LOL!

Impressive! If you need a new website, I'm your guy for content. Just saying...

[leftofcool]

4. Wow!

[Oubaas]

3. There's No Anonymity

What you say is very true, and it runs even deeper. It's not hard to pull up someone's information if you know where to look and are inclined to do that sort of thing. I'm not inclined, because I desire privacy and feel that others deserve theirs as well. I guess I'm old fashioned. But there are plenty of people out there who don't seem to even grasp the concept of privacy anymore. It's scary, really.

[MineralMan]

5. Not everyone wants privacy.

And that's just fine. I gave up years ago on trying to remain anonymous on the Internet. And that lack of anonymity hasn't led to any serious problems, either.

However, some people proceed as though they're anonymous and sometimes are embarrassed or worse. That's why it's a good idea to check once in a while to see if your anonymity is real or just imagined.

So, every so often, I post something like this, just to make people more alert about the issue.

[ret5hd]

8. Thanks Grandpa.

[MineralMan]

9. My pleasure.

[leftofcool]

6. I'm having a sad!

I typed in my DU screen name and all I got was Bela Fleck and the Flecktones music. Nothing as grand as DanTex. On a more amusing note, there was a link to Amazon to purchase a left of cool but I didn't click on it. Was afraid it might be a sex toy or something.

[Saboburns]

7. I have never supposed that I was ever anonymous

And indeed I want my words to be associated with who I am.

I have never shied away from my words and deeds.

[RKP5637]

10. I searched "cat." My avatar was shocked, ran across the room and hid! n/t

[MineralMan]

11. When my kitty is bothering me as I work,

I call up a video of a dog barking angrily. Kitty goes somewhere else. Works every time.

[RKP5637]

13. LOL!

[JoeOtterbein]

12. I googled my DU name and got the same boring stuff about myself that I get with my real name!

[unblock]

14. if your email or username is blocked, people seem to think i can help them with that.

[Wounded Bear]

15. Can't imagine why...

[guillaumeb]

16. I just did that.

And found some much younger guillaumeb's listed on twitter and other social networks. Very interesting.

[herding cats]

17. Apparently there's an entire day dedicated to me!

Cat Herders Day is December 15th!




https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cat-herders-day/

[Mosby]

18. I'm good thanks to marilyn

And how I met your mother.

[crazycatlady]

19. Mine gets you a character on The Simpsons

[MineralMan]

20. Very clever!

Yes, creating a screen name that leads to bogus results is a good idea.