• merc@sh.itjust.works
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    6 hours ago
    • Use a nick (handle, username) that doesn’t give anything away

    The people who came after me didn’t know that one and started putting their birth year, hometown, etc. into their usernames.

    • toynbee@piefed.social
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      5 hours ago

      One time I was chatting with a woman who told me she was single. I’m still not quite sure if she was, but she had a kid with the claimed ex. However, the ex - or whatever he was - found out I was talking to her and left a voicemail threatening me.

      I don’t remember what he said exactly, but I do remember one detail. She and I had only talked online and over the phone. I never gave any really location specific information to her, just my first and last name and phone number. In his voicemail, he said “I will find you. I will Google your ass!”

      Even now, if you Google my first and last name, you get results about some CEO, not me. I’ve never tried googling my phone number.

      • Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 hours ago

        I’ve never tried googling my phone number.

        Send me your phone number and I’ll Google it for you.

      • merc@sh.itjust.works
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        3 hours ago

        Yeah, there are people who search for themselves and want an ego boost. I search for myself and hope to find nothing.

        • toynbee@piefed.social
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          58 minutes ago

          Indeed. I know roughly what’s going on because back before I cared about privacy I set up a “Google Alert” for my name. Since my tastes developed, I’m glad he’s there to distract from anything notable about me.