Over the years I have been sexually harassed, had my life threatened, and been stalked on DU.

[LoZoccolo]

I would urge everyone here: keep yourself safe and secure as possible when participating here. There are a lot of normal people who post a lot of good things, but a lot of social cues that you would use in real life to determine if someone is mentally disturbed do not come through over the Internet, and these people tend to blend in better than in real life so you are less sure of who to avoid.

I think I'll be taking a vacation from DU for a while, things have gotten a little weird here and I'm a little freaked out. As always, I urge people who want the Democrats to win to get involved in the real-life task of getting candidates elected, and promoting important issues; it does so much to get out there and work together.

On to 2008!

[NoPasaran]

1. Don't stay away too long!

[wake.up.america]

2. I've been called stupid - but never threatened. Oh well

[kerry-is-my-prez]

40. Yeah that's been the extent for me too.....

n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. Good advice for any message board

Not everyone is good, nor do they have good intentions.

I hope you contacted the Admins, they should know about this.

Take care and I hope all is well in your world.

[AZBlue]

56. Or any other kind of online interaction.

I tried the online dating thing - I've had friends who actually got married from it. So, I gave it a try - and a bigger group of psychos and dysfunctional morons I've never met. I played it safe from the beginning so none know my personal info, but it's still scary.

[omega minimo]

4. That Sentiment Is Asburd On So Many Very Levels That I Must Pronounce It Silliness Itself!!1

Oh-- sorry. What were you saying?

Sorry to hear that. Take care, LoZoccolo. The times are very weird. A break can be good. :hi:

[greenbriar]

5. you should know that there are disruptors who are not DUers that lurk here

all the time

then use any info to disrupt personal lives

[Demobrat]

6. It's very important not to post any identifying info.

I used to be a lot more casual about it, but there are too many nuts out there.

[karlrschneider]

8. So I guess posting my real email address would be dangerous...hmmm

[e-mail]

oops...

:D

[Demobrat]

13. I have a couple of email addresses.

One is my full name@whatever. That one's for trusted friends and only a few people have it. The other I use for everything else, including a spam magnet.

[karlrschneider]

21. I have (or did, it might be defunct) a yahoo email but don't use it.

I get almost no spam...use "Mailwasher Pro" that catches 99% of it. I hope you understand, I'm not criticizing anyone for how they operate online...everyone should do what they think is prudent. I just never was much for anonymity...but that's me. :D

[juno jones]

38. Great idea!

...so do I! :)
On edit: a reply to demobrat...(13)

[Zookeeper]

60. Yes, I have a Hotmail account to use for anything...

that could end up generating spam (including well-intentioned, politically-correct spam that I just don't need to receive every @!%# day!).

And that's my address for Internet friends, too.

[Richard Steele]

51. Karl, take it from yer old pal Dick: only fools use their real names on internet boards!

[UTUSN]

12. Bingo!!1 Yet flamers frequently accuse those who do this of being freepers and trolls!!1 n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. Exactly

There's some freaky people in the world and there's no reason to leave them a trail of bread crumbs to your front door.

[Xithras]

20. Never never never ever.

I posted my email address ONCE many years ago, and promptly received a dozen messages calling me everything from a "DUmmie" and a traitor, to a commie who should be deported. I also started receiving tons of porn spam, so I suspect that someone signed me up for a mailing list. It wasn't a big deal since I hadn't been using that address long anyway (I tossed it without really harming anything) but it taught me an important lesson. Since then, I've probably been asked for my personal info a half-dozen times. I've refused every request. People who want to contact me can do so through the board. Even for personal meet-ups for local political gatherings, I tell people to use the DU messaging system. I don't even participate in those dumb "post your first name" threads that pop up in the Lounge from time to time, specifically because I don't want ANY personal info on this board.

It goes the other way too. I occasionally participate in discussions here and divulge things that I'd rather not have my RL acquaintances know about me. The lack of personal info makes it hard for people to connect my discussions here back to me. The admins know who I am since I'm a paying donor, but beyond that I prefer to keep my anonymity.

[alittlelark]

27. I sometimes IM people about their posts or pictures.

There are freaky folks out there.

[Demobrat]

30. You mean to warn them

that they're giving out TMI? That's very cool of you.

[karlrschneider]

7. Do what you have to. But don't get goofy on us. :-)

Hey, I use my real name all over the internets, I've been threatened too. Nothing ever happens. I'm not saying it never could but anybody wants to mess with me in a serious way will find himself on the business end of a .357 magnum.
Just sayin', ya know. Peace. :-)

[walldude]

11. Nothing ever happens? I lost my job thanks to a freeper

when I posted too much information. Of course the freep lied and my employer bought it but it doesn't change the fact. It turned out for the best, but still....

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[walldude]

22. Thanks man.. I'm now self-employed and that won't happen

to me again either. Wanna hear something funny, the freeper said I threatened to blow something up, and my employer who was holding a copy of my post in his hand wanted to know why. Mind you, the post said nothing of the sort but because this was a few years ago when the majority was still pro war, having the truth right in front of his face wasn't good enough. The freeper won and I had been at that job 16 years. It was bizarre...

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cboy4]

28. A .357 magnum?

yawn.

I let you borrow my AR-15 if you need it. ;)

edit spelling

[karlrschneider]

43. That's just the handiest one. We have lots of backups.

:D
And know how to use 'em.

[bonito]

9. Make sure to report it to the mods

Maybe if they get clued in they can do something about this, but I wouldn't worry, no one can come through your computer after you, I have in the past given more info than would be prudent but thats me. stay well change your user name.

[TahitiNut]

16. DU's Boot Hill has several residents who were moderators at one time.

So far, two freaks on DU have had me checking my stove for boiling rabbit. One's in Boot Hill.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

10. Please come back when you can.

:hi:

[BlackVelvet04]

14. It's a terrible feeling to be stalked....

I know because it's happened to me on message boards.

I try to be careful what I share.

[LoZoccolo]

17. Fortunately the current situation hasn't involved anything outside of DU.

Nor has it involved PMs. Still I do not like being followed around by someone bent on harassing me on some made-up charge, and claiming that because I get upset at this disturbing behavior, they must be right.

[BlackVelvet04]

41. Mine involved someone

checking the site where I had a photo hosted and from there they managed to find out my name and the city where I live. They let me know they knew in a way that implied a threat. It was a conservative of course.

[Laurier]

42. Even worse to be stalked in real life.

Take care, LoZoccolo, but don't let the ******s get the best of you.

[Bitwit1234]

19. Your real identity is unknown ...so who cares what they say

Tell the people to get lost. The cast of DU won't give out your personal info...I tell you what..go join the Frey at Slate. The stuff they call you and the stuff they say you'll be up to anything. The republicans on that list are nutso from the get go. Then when you come back here you will see that they are all pussy cats.

[Richard Steele]

50. Never assume that. I've seen DUers unintentionally reveal their identities in many, many ways.

And I'm not TRYING to discover anything about anyone,
I've just noticed stuff in the course of reading DU.

Anyone actually TRYING to discover things about DUers
would have thousands of our names and addresses by now.

I assume that anyone who really WANTS to find me is
going to do so. That's why I make no real effort to
conceal my identity, and my location is in my profile.

[Joe for Clark]

23. I guess there could be people that look for you.

To mess with you.

But I don't think there are very many - not for this.

I used to think there were. My system got crashed - hard two times in about six months.I was sure it was from me - for a long time I thought so. I only went to the Clark site, got my email and checked stock quotes. You what I found out later - that was all I did on the internet - but one of my kids was using my computer when I didn't know. And I think he did piss people off enough to crash the system - you know?

So I don't worry about it. Even if there were, what are they gonna do - screw up my email??

Not worth worrying about to me. But do what you think is right. I hope all is well with you colo.


Joe

[cboy4]

25. What an awesome public service announcement for

Democratic Underground.

Hurry back. :eyes:

[WorldResident]

26. If anybody threatens you, get the administrators and go to the authorities

n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

29. good luck! have you ever talked to Carolyn Kay?

I imagine she's still active around town.

http://makethemaccountable.com/

I appreciate your activism, btw

[lonestarnot]

31. Damn freaks!

x(

[Jonathan50]

32. I've been threatened online before...

"We know where you live"..


Well, if you know where I live then you know it's a very redneck community and that we are all armed to the teeth with everything from hunting bows to pump shotguns (*the* most effective anti personnel weapon for the civilian). My neighbors like me and look out for me, just like I look out for them.

Come on down if you have the huevos..

Shuts 'em up every time..

[Joe for Clark]

35. It really should occur to people - -

I always thought it was kinda funny - if someone really was out to "get you" - you think they are gonna warn you first - on the internet??

Joe

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LoZoccolo]

34. Whatever, I'm gone. See you next Tuesday.

:hi:

[lonestarnot]

36. And sometimes you reap what you didn't intend to sow.

[BlooInBloo]

37. Wow. I've had a few 13-year-old-style threats in 20 years of internetting, but that's it....

... (shrug) I guess the ONLY POSSIBLE conclusion is that some people are just RADICALLY unlucky. In the EXTREME. To BIBLICAL proportions.

[kineneb]

39. wow. and folks here just tend to ignore me

oh, well. The joys of living out in the boonies. Hell, the SoCal telephone information people don't think the county even exists.
Wackos don't bother me, I'm a musician and artist; I am already crazy!:crazy:

Have a good time on your break.:hi:

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zhade]

48. You seem to labor under the impression that I care what you think of me.

You couldn't BE more wrong.

Yawn.

[cboy4]

54. OMG....and you wonder why you can't get along with people with

this embarrassing outburst.

Please, for the safety of everyone, get the help you need during your little vacation.

[LoZoccolo]

55. So when did you start playing this game?

I can't recall ever getting into any sort of tiff with you, and yet you're all over the place in this thread. Did it just look like a fun thing to do or something?

[cboy4]

57. Oh believe me, you're well known.

If indeed these things are occurring to you, you contact administration and report the offending parties.

You don't start a thread and start shouting, "terra, terra" all over the place.

If you're leaving, then leave.

Don't start worrying people who might believe you that DU is a potentially dangerous place to interact.

And then you fly off the handle toward Zhade, one of the most relaxed members here.

Come on dude, you're not fooling everyone.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cboy4]

47. Oh snap!

:rofl:

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

58. Yes. The foregoing is pretty,...gross. *frown* n/t

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bigmack]

45. I feel unwanted....

When I was an altar boy, none of the priests ever made a pass at me.

When I was a kid, none of the slutty girls put out for me.

When the sexual revolution hit.... I was a non-combatant.

Nobody has ever harassed me or threatened me at DU.... and I'm hurt!

[Forkboy]

49. And that's just in the Lounge!

[Zhade]

52. LOL!

Nice.

[crispini]

62. Ah, LoZo, I'll miss you.

You *are* somewhat cantankerous, I will say that, but you always struck me as a true Dem fighter and activist, albeit one with an acerbic wit. ;) Happy trails, lil' camper.

[The empressof all]

63. Locking

Just a reminder to contact the admins with questions and or concerns about DU.