Privacy Concerns

I'm not paranoid, but I am troubled by the change that occurred in the spring/summer which added the username to the profile page without a user-configurable setting to remove it.  This happens to make me Google-able, which I'd prefer not to be (usernames weren't automatically put on the profile until recently). I contacted customer service, which told me that there was a setting to remove the username (wrong) or that I could restrict my profile access.  This strikes me as broken behavior.  What's the point of having the username on the profile without being able to remove it?  Why are my options to restrict access to my profile or have anyone be able to google me? Anyone else concerned about this type of privacy issue?  I restricted access to my profile, but it feels very unfriendly.  I mean, there isn't even a setting to restrict access to anyone logged into OH!  That's all the privacy I'd really need, for now. Anyone?

I understand privacy concerns, which is why I don't use my real name on this board.  It's not the people here I don't trust, or that I really have anything to hide, it's there are vast swaths of Googlers who may or may not have my best interests at heart.  Just like I wouldn't want to let everyone flitter through my email or look at the envelopes in my mailbox.  And given my career field, it's inevitable that adversaries will be googling me, and some of them might use something like WLS as an attempt to bad mouth me.  I think they'd come out worse in that exchange than I would, but I don't want to get dragged into in the first place. As for your profile, I'm sad to see it go offline.  Even though we don't really know each other, your profile was one of those I ran across and latched onto early as being similar to mine, and so I've been checking in on it every few weeks or so to see how you're progressing.  Selfishly, I think it's a shame that I and others will lose that window.

Real name:  Well, I have set my preferences to show first name, last initial, so I feel ok about the name thing.  But my username is googleable, as I chose my email address back when the username didn't appear on the profile page automatically.  I totally agree with your motivations about being googleable. I don't want to restrict access to my profile, but I don't really see it as a choice any more.  I've been holding off all summer, and the other option given to my by support was to delete my account and start over with a new one! How can these people start a support community around a medical issue and not understand privacy concerns?!

Hi John:

"How can these people start a support community around a medical issue and not understand privacy concerns?!"

It's really a site that promotes a particular industry (set of industries). That's how it "perpetuates" itself so well.

Dave

John, If at all possible, please continue to share your profile. You never know how many people may be helped By reading your account of your experience. Still, a "solution?" Under my Username it reads- Member Since: 06/19/04 I was actually a member prior to that. Even though my face and full name is used In local Mississippi and Tennessee ads for WLS I had similar issue. My solution back in ’04, was to copy my profile, Delete old account, and set up new account. Paste back in profile info that I wished to share. It’s a hassle, but one that is self-actualized. Waiting for OH to offer a quick fix for you Is probably wasted time. That’s my only suggestion. I have over the last year seen many instances Of long-term members being of NO VALUE To the ObesityHelp Corporation. Even though this is an open message board, Claiming to be simply for "Support" of it’s "Members," This is a "For-Profit" Organization, interested in the bottom line. If OH viewed you as an asset, rather than just another number, You can be assured a solution would be quickly administered. (Sorry to sound so cynical, but this site has made some major changes over the last year That have clearly revealed that the individuals here don’t matter, Just the clicks, numbers, and advertiser revenue.)

Best Wishes- Dx

I don't understand what the problem is that your having.  We've know for years that this is an open forum and that your username can be Googled.  Therefore, we've advised people to make up user names.  I looked up my profile.  Sure, my user name can be Googled.  But, other than living in Willingboro, NJ, most people who would Google my user name have no idea who I am.  Luckily, my real name is buried in many pages on Google.

The advice to make up user names is great for people who haven't already signed up.  I've signed up already.  That option isn't available to me.  I chose a username which matched my email address, so now people who google my email address get my OH profile.  That wasn't always the case.  It only happened -after- OH changed the profile page to include the user name. I've changed my forum profile to just show my first name, last initial.  That's not google-able.

I decided to create my account with an alias rather than using my real name.  All of my information is accurate except my name.  My username is of no real value and has no reference to my actual identity.  It's sad that there are people who will misuse information that is posted but there seems to be no shortage of those types.  I don't mind sharing real information with real friends privately via e-mail or telephone, however. Mike

Facebook is much more sensitive to it's users.  They're opening up their profile to search engines, but they're including user settings to restrict the searching and indexing.  Thanks for nothing, Obesity Help.

I understand your concerns, and they are reasonable. However, (I hate to be Orwellian), but privacy, just like security, is a myth. I really think it just doesn't exist anymore. Hasn't for several years, at least. Hang in there. JP