It has come to my attention that there have been numerous posts on the board asking posters personal questions like:
- where do you live?
- are you male or female?
- do you know people from a certain congregation?
- do you know a certain district overseer or circuit overseer?
- do you know of certain conflicts in your congregation?
- post some pictures of where you live
- if you are an active or fading JW ...?
- if you are an active elder ...?
There are plenty of other personal type questions that can be used to narrow down who you are. Some may seem quite innocent like the post pictures of where you live but if I post a picture of Ottawa but don't want anyone to know I live in Ottawa I have just told the internet world where I live. That isn't a problem for me but it might be a real problem for some of you.
As mods we often get requests to remove some identifying info they have inadvertently posted. Sometimes we can do it. Other times we have to delete the post or remove the thread.
Please be careful about what you post especially if you are fading or are still in. People have been identified by what they post and then turned in to their local elders. It has happened. We don't want you to be the next one outted.
If you are posting these questions please consider that people deserve their privacy. I know we want to get to know people but there are people who monitor the board looking for clues regarding the identity of certain posters. I can only imagine the interest a post like "If you are an elder ...? would generate.
Also be aware that anything posted in the Members only and Private discussion is still open to anyone with a membership. Anyone who has registered can read it all and figure out who you are if you post enough info about yourself.
Be cautious.