by Cortney R.
Member since:
August 28, 2006

Something I Didn't Know

January 22, 2008 04:10 AM EST
views: 122 | rating: 10/10 (39 votes) | comments: 47
Today I googled my user name that I use on Gather and as soon as I did all of my contacts came up and any articles that I have written showed up, as well as the coments I had made on peoples content.  I also Googled my first name and last initial and came up with the same thing.  I wasn't aware of this, but apparently if anybody has your username or first name and last initial they can see anything that you have posted on a number of sites.  I just figured that other people should know that their information is not private in any way.  This goes for a number of websites, but at the same time I feel like some of this information should not be so search friendly.
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Comments: 47

Beverly T. Jan 22, 2008, 4:17am EST
If you really want to, you can go to your profile and change who sees your content. I think you can restrict by taking it off the "everyone" option and making stuff available only to your contacts or your family or even only to yourself. You start out by going all the way up to the top of the page and clicking on "my account."

But yes, Google can search all your content. I noticed that lately, too. Somewhere along the way, when I started here, I read a couple of "getting started" type of articles that mentioned that as a warning. Once you've written an article, it is copyrighted automatically and can be included in Google searches by content. Scary, huh?

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Chuck M. Jan 22, 2008, 5:06am EST
That goes for anywhere on the internet...not just gather. :)
Karen M. Jan 22, 2008, 5:16am EST
That is the Internet at its best and its worst....
Jennifer N. Jan 22, 2008, 5:16am EST
I knew that a while ago. That's why I don't post anything that I'd be upset with seeing splashed across the internet.
I have been googling my name at least once a month for about 4 years. It is a good way to find of anyone has assumed your identity. This is the first line of defense against criminals and was suggested by security experts on CNN. So look at the positive side of this. I can be a valuable tool.
Corina Carrasco Jan 22, 2008, 6:01am EST
This is also an excellent reason for not posting personal photographs or those of our children. It is VERY public.
Susan R. Jan 22, 2008, 6:06am EST
Who *didnt* know this?? If you dont want everyone to see what you've been writing, restrict the content. Isnt that the point of a site where you kinda blog though? Dont you *want* everyone to read what you've written? If not, I dont understand why you *wouldnt* restrict the content. It's pretty simple, if you dont want anyone to know anything about you, dont make it public.
Bert Van Essen Jan 22, 2008, 8:28am EST
On Christmas day my son googled my name and sure enough there it was with my Gather material. My first words were, "On no! With appropriate body language (No curses issued forth). My worst fear was did I write anything that I wanted only Gather to read. And my ex-wife still writes others in my name or just spreads lies about me. Did I give her ammunition? But I am not stopping Gather it is too valuable to me.
John Philipp Jan 22, 2008, 8:53am EST
I'm afraid it comes with the territory.

However, I hadn't thought of googling my usernames. I'll check that out as well.
Michele Scercy Jan 22, 2008, 10:24am EST
Most any search engine will pick it up. And other site's stuff as well, not just gather. That's how search engines work.
Lisa J Jan 22, 2008, 11:09am EST
Google your phone number, if you think Gather is scary...

Yeah, that's why I go through sometimes and remove a large chunk of my stuff. As far as the comments, that doesn't bug me.
CyberGwen ! Jan 22, 2008, 12:35pm EST
You know, I have googled my name, but never my user name. That is freaking scary!
vickey w Jan 22, 2008, 1:37pm EST
THis is interesting. I didnt know this. I know you can do your name and articles will appear that you wrote on gather.
Col. George W. Jan 22, 2008, 2:18pm EST
"This is the first line of defense against criminals and was suggested by security experts on CNN."

First line of defence? NO first line for criminals to get information. First line for government watch-dogs. First line for anyone to find out anything they want to know.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Jan 22, 2008, 7:08pm EST
Yes, this is true. Anything you put on the web is searchable.
**AngelEyez** a. Jan 22, 2008, 7:29pm EST
crazy aint it
Jo C. Jan 22, 2008, 10:39pm EST
I just use the rule that I don't put anything on the internet that I would mind my mother seeing -or any of my grade school teachers or anyone that could say "Young lady...you should be ashamed...." Not that I'd put anything like that up anyway.
Jo C. Jan 22, 2008, 10:40pm EST
And I'm probably engaged in wishful thinking with the "young lady" part. I think I'm past that stage and on to some other age group.
Sassy ... the calm and cool Cat Jan 22, 2008, 11:21pm EST
With the option that says "everyone" can view an item posted, I assumed that meant everyone on gather, not everyone in the whole wide world!
Cortney R. Jan 22, 2008, 11:31pm EST
I agree with Patricia. And Susan's "who didn't know this" comment could have been put a little nicer, I sensed a rudeness in your comment. I mean when it said everyone it's posted to I assumed that meant everyone on Gather. Oh well, just was trying to be helpful.
Baiden F. Jan 23, 2008, 1:14am EST
Yeah, that does stink
Jerri H. Jan 24, 2008, 10:22pm EST
Yep....I knew this.
Susan R. Jan 25, 2008, 8:33am EST
if you put ANY time of restriction on your content, it wont show up....
Mariana T. Jan 25, 2008, 1:27pm EST
Google is wonderful but yes, it picks up everything! Salud.
Terry S. Jan 25, 2008, 5:14pm EST
its a wondeful and scary world
Pauline W. Jan 26, 2008, 10:07am EST
Very interesting...
samantha b. Jan 26, 2008, 10:52am EST
thanks for the info
necee t. Jan 26, 2008, 8:51pm EST
wow, i did not know that... thanks for this... i'll try it... maybe its a little too much information for the whole world to know, huh... darn...
Blessings to you...
carolyn m. Jan 27, 2008, 10:31pm EST
wow i did not know all that now
N A Jan 29, 2008, 8:00am EST
Good to point that out.
Sarah (I want points) Jan 29, 2008, 1:59pm EST
I didn't know that either. Thanks for telling us.
Donna Besso Jan 31, 2008, 4:37pm EST
I Googled myself too, and that's what came up. I changed to just my last initial, and hardley anything at all showed up. It's good to know what's there.
El Toro Bravo de Amor Feb 17, 2008, 11:08am EST
Privacy is for your spiral bound notebook. I thought everyone online was kind of an extrovert at heart. :)
Clare Stella Feb 18, 2008, 5:53pm EST
I don't mind being known to the world but if you do not want to be googled easily, you might consider deleting all your articles and starting to write again with a pseudonym. I have written online and been paid so I knew that I was out there in cyberspace for all the world to see a very long time ago.
Nyota *Star* Feb 21, 2008, 5:00pm EST
After I figured it out, I thought why didn't I already know that?
TanTrum Napolde Feb 28, 2008, 12:57am EST
I googled my real name and came up with a doctor in Ny. Thought that was interesting.
Like ceena said....
I had a piece on here a while back..
it can be that bad....
karls said it best though..

" I'd not write or say anything I'd not wish to see on the front page of the New York Times.
Oh I did find out there are a lot of Randee L. s out there...
Regina L. Mar 13, 2008, 9:25am EDT
Thanks for sharing, but I guess I have to agree with Clare, thats why I got on here in the first place, so every one could see my content. If I had any thing ( I mean anything ) that I didn't want anyone to see... I would never ever put it in or on a computer.
DIANE D. Mar 16, 2008, 11:40am EDT
DId you try changing your settings?
Randall C. Jul 20, 2008, 9:01pm EDT
yep that kind of scares me that's probaly why I keep getting all of those junk emails
Rae M. Oct 7, 2008, 10:47pm EDT
Oh yes, I am well aware, I write for a lot of sites so I am all over the internet.
Bryan "That 80's Dude" B. Oct 11, 2008, 11:41pm EDT
I am glad they do it. It brings more people to Gather and more potential readers of my articles. As far as private posts. Those i keep offline. Just easier that way.
Becca J. Jan 5, 2009, 11:59am EST
wow interesting!
Sandra L. Jan 12, 2009, 11:01pm EST
Scary isn't it?
wiaka's just ... curious Feb 5, 2009, 1:03am EST
Geez ... maybe we'll get called to be on the late nighth show. Just kidding.

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