Why do people hide their profiles?

[Booberdawg]

I find myself wanting to check someone’s profile in about 1 out of about every 15 or 20 post I read. So when I come across the one that refuse to allow their profile (which only means you can’t know their sex or number of posts they have) I find that very frustrating.

And do you know what? HALF of the time it is because when they signed up on DU they just set it up that way not realizing what it meant! Even if they DID indicate whether they were male or female, they didn’t realize that would be hidden if they blocked out PROFILE.

I don’t know about you, but I would like to know how many posts people have, or whether they declared themselves males, female, undecided, or undeclared. (heh – I just threw the undecided in there for a little joke)

SO! Why do people hide their profiles?

Why do YOU hide YOUR profile?

[La_Serpiente]

1. because they are freepers

:-)

[kirkr]

21. Maybe they just don't wanna be stalked

or something...

[JVS]

2. I don't

And always feel free to PM me if you want more info

[Booberdawg]

15. I feel the need to know more about you JVS

:D

[kmla]

3. Why do you want to know? Who are you? What do you want?

There's nobody home! Go away! We don't want any!

Just a little paranoia for your mornin'.

Have a nice day.

[NicoleM]

4. I just realized the other day

that I had my profile set to "hidden," unintentionally. If it's not fixed now, let me know. :)

[Booberdawg]

28. That's what I mean!

I think it is an accident half the time!

[liberalhistorian]

5. Well, what about that current moderator

with LESS than 300 posts, who not only has his/her profile hidden, they also have blocked PM messages??????? WTF is THAT all about??????

[Melsky]

7. Do you mean "moderator" the moderator?

because I understand they have a generic moderator profile now, that can be used by all moderators to post anonymously.

[liberalhistorian]

9. Yes, that's who I mean,

but why do they have a generic profile, why should the moderators be permitted to post anonymously?

[Booberdawg]

16. I don't know. Ask Skinner in ATA

I have not seen what you are referring to.

[pistoff democrat]

6. Same as # 2 here as well, but

remember one can still check gender undeclared for a non-hidden profile!

[JitterbugPerfume]

10. about the current Moderator

sometimes people who have been here a long time change user names

I know of DUers who have been here as long or longer than I have with a very low post count

I also know of Duers who have been her a lot Less time than I have with a lot higher post count than mine

You can not always jusdge by post count!!!!

[Bossy Monkey]

22. No it's a moderator (has the little grey weeble symbol)

The only time I find it alarming is when Moderator locks posts under that username. It's better for the moderator to use his/her own username so in case there's some snafu Admins will know who did it.

Anybody curious (with a star) can search by author with keyword Moderator to find Moderator posts.

[Padraig18]

8. Mine's there.

It puzzles me, too, frankly... :shrug:

[DUreader]

11. I never did like the post count.

[Booberdawg]

17. So, why DO you hide your profile?? Tell us

I'm not asking you to show it. Just explain why you hide it, if you please?

[PinkTiger]

12. I didn't realize mine was hidden.

But I took care of it. Now it is there for all to see!

Thanks for the heads up.

[Booberdawg]

18. That's what I mean!

I don't think half the people who hide it realize they are or why they are hiding it!

[Kamika]

13. How can I check if i hide my profile?

Just wondering

[Booberdawg]

19. Yours is not hidden because the face is showing

But you would go to OPTIONS on the home page to check.

[BiggJawn]

14. To make you curious.

Yep, my REAL identity is "Senor Misterioso"



don't ask how I glow in the dark or wound up in Indiana.
Now you know everything that's in my profile.

[JM]

20. Perhaps they are hypersensitive? B-)

On a more serious note, because I don't like giving my info out to people I don't know. A few here know my real name. I am not as concerned about the DUers as I am about the freepers though.

JM

[Booberdawg]

23. But wait a minute! Your profile is exposed!

So, that's what I mean. I don't think people understand what "profile" means when they choose it in their options.

Showing your profile would not reveal your real name.

AND! You DO show your profile in DU. But, it does not reveal your real name. *sigh* (Nor is it supposed to.)

[JM]

29. Booberdawg, I di that...

...just for you. Actually, for me. I didn't want you thinking I am hypersensitive...

Now I can turn off the profile...

JM

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Just Because

I used to not worry about it. But, after a couple of years on the CSPAN forum, i published one of economics papers and the supporting models that i claim proves Reaganomics was an utter failure.

I got over 500 hate emails.

That's enough of that.
The Professor

[Booberdawg]

26. ROTFL!

Thanks Professor :thumbsup:

[_NorCal_D_]

25. I don't think that mine is hidden,

:shrug: is it? B-)

[Booberdawg]

27. Nope

Love your website, BTW. :D

[Booberdawg]

30. C'mon, I still want to hear more

My theory is that it is usually an accident or not knowing how to use the profile feature in DU

[Booberdawg]

31. kick

[Piperay]

32. I don't get it either

you can disclose as much or as little as you want, it doesn't seem like it would be such a big deal to at least let the rest of us know whether you are a guy or gal. :argh: :shrug:

[tigereye]

33. Since I am very new to this

and to these types of forums in general ( only ever posted on the Old House Web previously, where the only battles are about wood siding vs vinyl), I am trying to tread lightly and being a bit cautious. Privacy perhaps? A bit of paranoia, perchance? :)

[Piperay]

34. I'm that way too

and the longer you are on the internet the more you realize the dangers of disclosing to much. I always go with the barest amount of info that I can give out, just gender and general location.

[Booberdawg]

36. That's fair enough

I can understand it for a newbie and why they might feel skeptical.

Paranoia is also a good excuse. Hey! Paranoia is not always unreasonable!

[Spirochete]

35. I don't think mine's hidden

but it doesn't say much about me. Just my hometown, and number of posts and testicles.

[Booberdawg]

37. Your profile says you have 1298 testicles.

Congratulations! I think that is a DU record, but I'd have to check with GD to make sure.

:toast:

[Spirochete]

38. That explains it...

no wonder I can't put anything into my pockets anymore.

[Booberdawg]

39. Is that why Confucius say

man with hand in pocket not alway counting change?

[Spirochete]

42. I thought it was

man with hand in pocket not crazy - just feeling nuts.

[Overkil]

40. I don't think mine's hidden either

[Booberdawg]

41. Yes! Your profile is hidden!

You knew that. :D

[Booberdawg]

43. kick

for life in the Lounge