How many DUers DO NOT FEEL FREE to,...

[Just Me]

How many DUers DO NOT FEEL FREE to expose personal information for FEAR of being oppressed/suppressed/punished/dismissed/etc.

*hand raised*

Personally, I have a greater certainty than not that I would be subjected to some form of retribution. I am not immoral or unethical or "selfish" or "perfect" or an expert *LOL*. But, I have certainty that, if I provided sufficient personal information about myself on this cyber-board, I'd be buried, quickly.

[lavenderdiva]

1. yup! I try not to divulge tooo much info for that very reason...

sad situation when you constantly have to think about such things. So much for freedom of speech, huh?

[Chicago Democrat]

2. You have the right to free speech!

as long as you're not actually dumb enough to try it!


Know your rights!

[whistle]

6. Not true, look what happened to Dan Rather, we are not at all...

...to criticize or change anything in this country that doesn't fit with the power base's objectives which is greater concentration of wealth in the hands of the few and greater power to do whatever it is they wish to do.

[Mnemosyne]

15. I won't clash with that statement! n/t

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Honestly? Yes. I trust all of you DU'ers. It's the freepers and

the congressional and White House staffs who go trolling here for information that worry me. I don't want to help them with my file.

[Just Me]

8. This really has nothing to do with "DU" and everything to do with,...

,...those freepers/neoCONs/greedycontrolfreaks who would take your personal info and dump it into their databases.

[bamademo]

4. I'm *Extremely* careful

I have a security clearance and I work as DOD contractor. Ironically, when I was unemployed I was more free with my opinions on the Internet. When Clinton was president I was free with my opinions and didn't worry about being spied upon.

[ChiciB1]

20. Love Your Afterthought!

I always got a laugh when the commercial said that about erections!! I always chuckled to my husband and said, puuulleeezze keep THAT guy away from THIS house!

[autorank]

5. OK, so what do I have to be afraid of? Still wondering...

If I'm a Republican operative and posting slams against the Republicans or a corporate executive with a heavy duty defense contractor, or some other obvious examples, I'm sure I would have something to worry about. I'm not.

Are you suggesting that the rest of us should somehow be worried that our personal identities become known; that those on picture threads or in the gallery are in danger? Hate to throw this out there but there isn't much on the internet that's secure in the strictest sense of the word. If "they" want to know who "we" are, "they" will find out regardless of any tidbits left here and there.

[Just Me]

9. *LOL* I am not suggesting "paranoia" but rather a healthy,...

,...self preservation which is NOT selfish and certainly the opposite of "GREEDY".

Don't be scared.

[autorank]

29. I'm not scared, not at all, at least with regard to posting on DU.

It was just these words

"FEAR of being oppressed/suppressed/punished/dismissed/etc."

that made me think that you thought "the man" was trying to find out who we are. I guess you're talking about other DUers taking snipes at you because of some identifying informaiton. You know what I say:
"BRING IT ON, GET SOME!"

:hi: to "the man" (in what form he or she may appear)

[KaliTracy]

7. I've written so many LTTEs to so many places that require my address

and full name (via Media Blaster), that I don't particularly think the things I post here are "private" -- I mean I wouldn't post my phone number, but I'm sure, with enough information, someone could find it. The Internet is not really anonymous.

Actually, I am more quiet in my place of employment (they know I'm a liberal -- among all the rest Republicans -- many evangelical, too), and we don't talk politics -- though I've went off a couple of times on issues such as gay marriage (I had been writing congresspeople and LTTEs during that, my arguments were right on the tip of my tongue, and I said how I felt), and education. My neighborhood is almost entirely Republican -- there were Three Kerry signs among 50+ houses.... I have refrained from getting Bumper stickers because of where I work and live -- though I'm still considering a couple.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. I know how you all feel

I'm mainly careful with what I say and all that around people I know who are pro-Bush. I think people at my church know I'm a democrat since I had a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker on my car. ;) But on the internet I don't give out my phone number and only my address and Email address in a petition if it's necessary. In my Email profiles I don't have my real name or anything like that. I try to stay as annonomoys as possible.

[applegrove]

10. Some guy who had a blog or something told where he worked.

And he worked for a corporation. That is just plain stupid. You cannot publicly speak for a company or a family or a person without first getting permission.

As long as you do not say where you work you are fine. But that goes without saying... if you trash your workplace at a party you may find yourself without a job too.

IMHO

[Just Me]

14. So, he wasn't FREE to speak his mind,...was he.

What's "freedom" *LOL*.

[applegrove]

17. Well it is something to consider. I do not think that people's

private lives should be the property of corporations but if you mention the name of the place where you work - that is not keeping things private is it?

So just do not say where you work. If you are afraid of identity theft then do not post any personal information. That is all.

[Just Me]

21. It depends upon who you aim to protect.

Tough stuff,...tough choices, huh.

[applegrove]

23. I am just saying that the internet is a public place. If you would not

go to the town square and say: "I work for yahoo and blah, blah, blah" you are in trouble. If you say blah blah blah in a town square and they do not know where you work - you may be fine.. for a while.

The internet is public. Keep your name private. Duh!

[Just Me]

25. You're right. Of course we separate such "things".

I'm sorry if I accidently pushed your button. I didn't mean to.

[Dave Reynolds]

12. I'm too stupid

to be afraid. My user name is my real name, my town is in my profile. If they want me, they can have me. It won't be that easy, though.

[burn the bush]

13. I'm in that group

[BushIsBurning]

16. What's Your Name ?

[Just Me]

26. *LOL* my "name" could be,.....

,...the rise or fall of humanity,...if you wanted it to be *LOL*

Geez,...imagine that. Desperation run amok.

How sad.

[skids]

18. There's an escape velocity.

Once your activism exceeds a certain point, you don't get hassled nearly as much. The reason being that by this time, you have an excellent grasp of your rights, are able to convey very quickly to people that are harrassing you that they will face retaliation, and you have contacts with a lot of lawyers that really like you and what you do to back those threats up.

That doesn't really help against physical threat, but it sure works when the principal threat is legal/police/civil harrassment.

And of course your still a small fish in a big pond when it comes to the "major leagues," but a small dose of healthy paranoia (read: extra caution) and a reputation as a serious activist is ample protection for maintaining a mid-level public profile.

[Mnemosyne]

19. Bags packed, I'm not going to camp. They know where to find me.

Kiss my ass US government. Bite me.

That is all.

[Just Me]

27. Well, You are far more "selfish" than me seeking to protect my son,...

,...and my brother, neither of whom have any control over the neoCON greed-machines that spend humanity at their evil will. :puke:

[Mnemosyne]

31. Sorry to appear "selfish", I'm not. I have just had it.

I've been having my mail read ( how much of your mail has been taped shut when you receive it?? NO one I know or have asked) and my phone tapped for at least 6 months, no I am NOT paranoid, I have witnesses AND proof. And someone managed to take almost all the brake fluid OUT of the reservoir in my car, there is no leak and it is checked regularly, my mechanic is puzzled. If you had been going through the strange things I have, you might feel "selfish" too.

Maybe I have taken your comment the wrong way and overreacted, if so, please excuse me, if not, go judge someone else.

Due to my attempts to make the government take responsibility for the poisoning of my family and myself, I have been rattling cages and am NOT well liked by this government.

I hope you are never very ill and desperate to get help to keep from dying a slow and very painful death, then have people accuse you of being "selfish". My 6 month old nephew has multiple birth defects due to the mercury his mother was exposed to, she developed anorexia. Another nephew has genetic defects that have caused him to be in danger of having strokes at any time, at age 7!! I have done 100's of hours of research since the doctors finally figured out what is wrong with my family a nd me, and if that is "selfish" then hey, I'll be "selfish".

Thanks a lot, you made my evening.

[TreasonousBastard]

22. My real name is...

all over a dozen maillists and even more usenet froups and web forums.
Not all of them are poltical, but I've googled myself, and ho-leee-shit!

Best one was when my name came up in a thread called "Dumbest Motherfucker on Usenet."

I do know people who have been stalked, yes-- even here on DU, but moreso on other forums. I know about forged postings and other nasty stuff. I know of police investigations and firings over postings.

I'm not terribly worried, mainly because although it happens, it is rare. And you can't live a life worth living without any risk at all, can you?

I'm even less worried about the cybernazis getting me in their sights. What, with all the bazillions of electrons foating around out there, they might pick up mine randomly as much as by design.

I've suggested that we all include something to make the NSA's computers hiccup, like:

His valet asked, "Are you ready to SHOOT, sir?" The birds were flushed, but GEORGE Washington shot low into the BUSH.

[onehandle]

24. Too many Republicans like Timothy McVeigh out there.

I don't need a u-haul full of fertilizer backed up to my front door.

Bad enough that Freepers try to run me and my wife off the highway for our bumper stickers.

[Just Me]

28. No. It's just "healthy" to be self-sustaining while taking advantage of,.

,...every opportunity to be impactful and make a difference in spite of circumstances.

My OP PUSHED the fact that,...no matter our "position",...we still make a difference.

[mikelewis]

30. Fuck em, until they rip up the constitution on live TV, I'm saying any god

damn thing I want to. Did you people suddenly forget which country you live in? Jesus, no wonder they're taking over. Where the hell are the Patrick Henry's of our age crying out "Give me liberty or give me death." If they're going to come after me for speaking my mind, then they'll just have to come after me.

My name is Michael Lewis. I'm an American!

[kiraboo]

32. I'm not exactly afraid.

I've taken many paths to get where I am today. Some were through some pretty seedy neighborhoods. But although I love it here! the feeling of being all in this together, etc., I'd leave if you'all lost your charm! I'm excruciatingly honest and it can offend. Oh well.

[peacetalksforall]

33. Know something? The right wing is not afraid to talk. Who do they have

to be afraid of? We are in a downward spiral - our rights are quite a bit messed up. I wish we had someone from an opressed society who could parallel their experience here and tell us what stage we're at.

So just when did our takeover start...with the original rail, oil, and coal barons?

[Still_Loves_John]

34. well, I don't give out personal information out on the internet

for the same reason I don't write my address on public bathroom walls. It has nothing to do with being associated with a left leaning site, just the idea of putting personal information where anyone can see it doesn't exactly sit well with me.

[Generic Guy]

35. Very much so

I try to keep a real low profile so if/when the bush misadministration declares martial law I will not be noticed.

[Paladin]

36. Me, Sad To Say

I live in an ultra-conservative state (Texas) and I work in an ultra-conservative business (oil and gas), and divulging my political viewpoints might very well cost me my career. If that sounds self-serving and mercenary, so be it. I've got kids in grad school, a mortgage on my home, and it's nice to have food on the table.

Any thoughts I had of putting a Kerry For President sticker on my car went away after the third or fourth report of windows with such stickers being bashed in, here in my ultra-conservative little community. Sure is nice these days, living in the land of the brave and free....

[donatella]

37. I'm new here...

Why are you afraid of that HERE (aren't we all among friends? I mean, when I joined, those rules said Pubbies weren't ALLOWED to post here...)

???

[brainshrub]

38. I used to not worry, until I Googled my screen name a few months ago.

Conservatives actually keep track of specific DUers!

There was one site where a con decided that I should have turned in a student to Homeland Security. Thank God he didn't know what school I was working for at the time!

[City Lights]

39. Me.

When I lived in the Chicago area I wrote letters to the editor of the Tribune, Sun-Times and Daily Herald all the time. Many of my letters were printed. I also had letters appear in the NYTimes, Time, Newsweek and USNews. I often had neighbors or acquaintances from school cheer me on to keep writing. Since moving to this shit hole known as Phoenix I've submitted only a handful of LTTE, and when I did I submitted them using a fake name. Too many kooks with guns running 'round these parts.

[lojasmo]

40. I suffered retribution by my local democratic party

And I didn't post ANY personal information. I was discovered because my username is the same as my e-mail tag.

[Joey Liberal]

41. The Bush Gestapo is watching

Trust me, the republican thugs are keeping an eye on this and other boards. That's what we get when we (the Red States) put the repugs in control of the Congress and the White House.