One of the LBT moderators contacted me about the following issue one of our LBT users is having with our web site:

"A bandster just discovered that you can do a "google search" using your screen name and all of your LBT posts will pull up. It's one thing if someone logs into LBT and reads the post. But it seems like a major violation of privacy when someone can just do a "google search" for that same info.

Is there anything that can be done to block that from happening?

Bandsters have posted their pictures, a lot of personal information, a lot of heart to heart talks back and forth, and they feel "safe" at LBT. Now this has members afraid."

This is a really good point but I'm not sure what to do about this problem. If LBT is not indexed by Google how will new LB users find our web site ? We receive most of our new visitors and users through Google.

It is possible for me to block Google from indexing LBT but I'm not sure this is really the answer to the problem.

I'd love to hear what the LBT community has to say about this issue please.

Please vote in our poll since your opinions will weight heavily on my decision to allow or to ban Google from indexing LBT.

I personally don't care for how the poll was worded.

A) I do care that new people can find out about LBT, very much so

I do care about my privacy & am a closet bandster to be

C) I do not mind if Google lists the main address for LBT BUT do mind that each of our indivdual post are listed along with the links.

LBT is not only an extreme tool for all to be able to use it is also in some cases the users' only refuge & privacy needs to be taken into consideration. These are my personal feelings.

Okay, I have noticed that every once in a while this gets bumped to the New Post list, but there is nothing new!!! What's up with that?

probably someone votes but doesnt comment?

I always knew you were smart.

Well I better be cause I wouldnt be getting any dates otherwise! I gotta have somethin to offer right?!

did you know you can google your pone number or someone else's and nine times out of ten it will give you the name and ADDRESS of the person!!!

Yep. if you are listed in any public phone directory - that information is available to everyone, world wide.

I just figure that anybody who really wants to "get me" is going to find a way. No sense living in fear.

I found this site on Google. I hope many others continue to find us the same way.

I realize this thread is quite old now, but I just found it so thought I'd add my two cents lol.

I too, found LBT through Google. It has been an invaluable tool for me throughout this journey. I'd hate to think of other new bandsters not having the same support system available to them.

While I don't really list anything personal in my profile, its just because of years of internet use lol. But I love this place and I'm extremely happy for what the band has done for me. If seeing before and during (hopefully sometime, after heh) pictures gives someone else a little hope, mine will still be there.

I have deleted my picture and all personal information.

In this great country and information age, people can go online and pull up your public tax records and find out down near everything you'd never want them to know. Phone numbers (unless you're carelful), full names, tax ID, and more.

So in other words...if you're a nervous nelly, you can crawl under a rock, and never turn your computer back on...then you should be safe until somebody calls you during dinner sell you timeshares and chimney cleaning. Or you can gaurd your Soc Sec, watch your credit card statements, and be careful with your persoanl information. If you cared about people seeing your weight, you probably never posted it to begin with.

It's OK, gang...we're not telling 'em anything they didn't already know!

Jon (...or IS IT JON?...OOOooooo)

Interesting topic! Lapbandtalk.com is the reason I had a lapband and not gastric bypass. I'd hate to put up obstacles or block anybody else from the same info I enjoyed. Privacy was - is - critical for me, as I have chosen to not tell anybody about my lapband. When I joined the group, I did not use my real name nor did I post my picture.

I encourage anybody who feels threatened by Google to simply use an alias and remove your picture. Privacy is just an illusion, anyway, since anybody who finds us via Google can find us 100 other ways as well...

Interesting topic! Lapbandtalk.com is the reason I had a lapband and not gastric bypass. I'd hate to put up obstacles or block anybody else from the same info I enjoyed. Privacy was - is - critical for me, as I have chosen to not tell anybody about my lapband. When I joined the group, I did not use my real name nor did I post my picture.

I encourage anybody who feels threatened by Google to simply use an alias and remove your picture. Privacy is just an illusion, anyway, since anybody who finds us via Google can find us 100 other ways as well...

Allie Lee (if that's even your name lol) very well said. I agree with you 100%!

This is the primary reason I have never posted a picture with my face on it, and I would never use my real name or family member names. I was on another site, (the yahoo bandster site) and googled my name, and it came up. I tried to do everything I could to get the site to delete the posts (they don't have the delete feature of this site) and they refused. I instantly terminated my account to the site, in order to avoid further damage. Its too bad there is no privacy available on this wonderful facilitator and exchange of ideas that we call the internet.

I think the steps needed to make the forum private would outway the benefits of a lucky google hit. Lets face it, even if they made the whole thing tight as a drum, a person could still sign up and see everything.

Its a simple equation. If you post information about yourself on the Internet, it can (and will be) seen by someone else.

As for your IP or ISP Address being included in a post, to translate that address to you would require an exceptionally skilled hacker. Most (if not all) of you will be on a DHCP Server and the best someone could 'easily' do is defect what city you are from (which most everyone reveals anyway).

My final summary:

We need a very grown up approach to the Internet. It's designed to share information, good or bad - thats what it does.

Periodically, Google trying to find yourself. If you can't find yourself - you are as secure as you probably can be.

I think we all stand infinately more risk from someone breaking into our homes, or stealing from our garbage to get your SSN than from any data we post here.

I agree with Dawg. The 'net is as secure as you want to make it. Just assume you have an audience of millions when you do something, and all will be fine. You cannot do anything private.

Be careful which message boards you use - and be selective about which you trust and what you do there. Most are fine. Several work under unknown premises.

If someone who knows how really wants to find out more about you, there's not much you'll be able to do to stop it. Someone posting a pic for example - under the right circumstances, I could go down a trail that would tell me their home number, address, employer... Completely legal. BUT - don't be paranoid about it. In the big scheme of things, none of us are anything special. Like any other media, just be smart about what you share.

OT - that's a bit of a complaint I tubled around with the OH staff. They ask you your first & last name, never indicating that will become your user name (or at least they didn't when I signed up). I kept waiting for the place to specify a username and it never came... then *poof* there I was.