Be careful what you divulge

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was chatting with a coworker who looked at me and said, "Are you on AllNurses.com?"

I replied, somewhat noncommittally, "Yeah, why do you ask?"

She said, "Are you ♪♫ in my ♥ ?"

I smiled and said, "Yep."

This is someone with whom I get on very well and with whom there's respect and camaraderie in both directions - and I don't think I've posted anything which I'd prefer not to be ascribed to me but it does drive home the point:

Be mindful of what you post... you may end up owning it and the internet is forever and ever.

I'm pretty sure that anybody who's read a lot of my posts and who works with me could ID me without too much trouble - and I'm mostly OK with that but in >4,000 posts over the last 6 years, I've probably said some things that I wouldn't necessarily say for attribution...

When I first started here in 2001, I was new to the internet. I used my real name and a real photo.

Very dumb.

I don't share with folks where I work anything about allnurses. Sometimes I vent here. :whistling:

You can change your username any time you want.

Even if you change your name, if the user looks at your history, you old name is viewable in responses. There is nowhere to hide. :cool:

Specializes in SICU.
When I first started here in 2001, I was new to the internet. I used my real name and a real photo.

Very dumb.

I don't share with folks where I work anything about allnurses. Sometimes I vent here. :whistling:

Well duh. All I have to do is follow Spidey home to know your identity. The real secret is... who's Spiderman!?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

That's why I post as though my full name is printed next to picture of Shaun the Sheep...because I'm sure if someone wanted to put the time and effort into it, they could make a pretty good guess as to who I am. Therefore, I post nothing that I wouldn't mind ever being connected to me.

I've figured out a few people's RL identities from this place. I'd never say anything to them, though.

Specializes in pediatric.

I tell my kids all the time, "don't say anything about anybody that you wouldn't say to their face." In light of this thread, I deleted my real picture ;)

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I've been a member of Allnurses.com for nearly 9 years. Although I've never posted pictures of myself or the names of previous workplaces, I've had a couple of former coworkers and classmates 'recognize' me through my posts.

When they sent private messages asking me if my name was ____, I fessed up and confirmed my identity because I am not ashamed of anything I've posted so far.

I am very careful about what I post. HOWEVER, I am not dumb enough to think I couldn't be tracked.

I tell my kids all the time, "don't say anything about anybody that you wouldn't say to their face." In light of this thread, I deleted my real picture ;)

Reminder: At the time of this writing, the link to your Facebook page (with your real name) is still visible..... just in case you want to change that. :-)

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

What's funny is most people I ask in real life haven't heard of AN

Well duh. All I have to do is follow Spidey home to know your identity. The real secret is... who's Spiderman!?

:wideyed: Whoops!

;)

What's funny is most people I ask in real life haven't heard of AN

I've found that to be true as well. When I was in the RN-BSN program, I suggested starting a thread about nursing theorists/theory here and no one knew about AN.

A few signed up but I notice none of those post anymore.

Specializes in geriatrics.

I'm sure people could ID me as well. I have no shame in my comments, and people know I'm direct in real life. However, the internet is public domain, so don't post ANYTHING on any site that you can't own up to. Definitely be mindful of what you share.

+ Add a Comment