OT - Why the aversion to filling out profile info

KellyinTN wrote:That's the first thing I did just now. I'm new. This is my first post. Hello!

I just noticed it isn't listing the correct machine on my profile though.

And it's in Monkey Icon form instead of text, so many don't care if it's wrong. Welcome anyway! Jim

Thanks. I think I've figured it out. I edited it.

I lurked for several months because I was intimidated by the user control panel.

I don't even belong to facebook........waaay to much info out there on that site. This is the only site I am on..and there's a good reason I'm here, and hopefully I haven't given out too much info...except to those I have traded stuff with, you know who, what and where I am, but then I know who, what and where you are too
Cheers
Me

I don't know if I really understand some of the security stuff, but realistically - I have a user name that has nothing to do with my real name; my age, gender, and location do nothing to really identify me. The email I used to sign up is an active email account, but not one that I use for any personal "sensative" data. So how is providing ther general informaiton asked on the profile page going to hurt me?

That's true, however on googling your forum name, I've learned you are a member of a dog forum and also that you are a city planner - unless there are others with your handle.

I didn't dig - that was in the first search not from cpaptalk.com

Cheers,
xena

WOW! I just googled it and did not get many results that related to me, but enough for me to better understand. The weird thing is - there is someone else out there using 2flamingos!

Or the "good guys" could come after you!
Break a window to toss in a flash bang grenade, break down your OPEN screen door to get in your house, throw another flash bang grenade, handcuff you and drag you outside to get you off the couch and away from the food network..... because someone in the neighboorhood used your unsecured internet connection.
http://www.14news.com/story/18854572/ep ... d-families

2flamingos wrote: The email I used to sign up is an active email account, but not one that I use for any personal "sensative" data.

I am aware of no basis for worries about the hosts at cpaptalk.com mishandling any personal information--to the best of my knowledge, Johnny's reputation, as well as that of his tech people, is impeccable in that regard.

I think, though, that some who participate here have a simple personal preference for not making certain personal information PUBLIC. The providing of profile info for fellow cpaptalk users is OPTIONAL, after all. We are not asked, or even directly encouraged by the owners, as far as I know, to provide any of that information to the board at large; there are simply entry boxes provided in the profile section IN CASE someone chooses to make certain information known publicly. Everyone has his own opinion on what he wants to be personal or private online.

And when it comes to profile information, it can, much as you said earlier, sometimes be used as a "context" for opinions or statements. You may consider that a good thing, whereas others here may not want their opinions or statements judged by where they are from, what their gender is, how old they are, etc.

Especially when it comes to a forum for giving mutual support on medical conditions, it is good for people to be allowed to be as anonymous and faceless as possible as they get and receive help, if that encourages them to do so, in my opinion.

Didn't you once post a picture of yourself as your avatar, 2flamingos? Or is my memory failing me?

And I hope I didn't offend you with my comments about something being "a Southern thang," in another thread. Although I live near the DUMBO area of Brooklyn now, I was raised in Kentucky, mostly in the Eastern hill country, which makes me almost Southern, depending on whom you ask.

There have been a number of OT (off-topic) threads in the past about where participants are from and other personal matters not directly related to PAP therapy, such as hobbies. If you are curious, feel free to resurrect some of those threads or to start a new one--they can be a lot of fun.

JNK -

You have an great memory! I had a pic of myself as my avatar shortly after I joined. I had forgotten that until you just reminded me. And, no, you did not offend me! I am proud of my southern heritage, as I am also proud of my scandinavian heritage and my native american heritage. (yup, I'm a mutt)