[aquario]

Strolling through Bing yesterday to see how it compares with Google, I came across an excerpt from one of the threads in Neurotalk. It listed the names of the thread's authors and the health condition. This seems a rather flagrant invasion of privacy, and I'm surprised that NeuroTalk doesn't have a filter in place to prevent this.

Jon

[chasmo]

Originally Posted by aquario

Strolling through Bing yesterday to see how it compares with Google, I came across an excerpt from one of the threads in Neurotalk. It listed the names of the thread's authors and the health condition. This seems a rather flagrant invasion of privacy, and I'm surprised that NeuroTalk doesn't have a filter in place to prevent this.

Jon

I have never seen this. Specifically where was this, so we can look and perhaps allay your concerns.


Charlie

[Chemar]

could this have been the Neurology Now Magazine article that some NeuroTalk members voluntarily were interviewed for some years back? I see it indexed on Bing.

[DocJohn]

Hi Jon,

When you sign your full name to a post, there's no way we can "filter" such a thing out (since we never ask for your full name upon registration). So although I understand your angst and upset, I think your expectation that we can take care of this automatically in some manner is not possible for us.

Having said that, though, we are happy to go back and edit posts -- assuming we're not talking about hundreds of posts -- where you've signed your full name to the post and remove that piece of information. This will eventually be re-indexed by search engines, removing that information from their database. You just need to PM me with the links to the posts where this information appears, and I will edit out your name from the posts.

I always encourage people to understand their privacy choices online, especially when it comes to their own personal health information. You are ultimately responsible for that information and controlling how and when you release it. We've never suggested these forums aren't indexed by search engines (as are most forums online).

DocJohn

[aquario]

Thanks for the clarification. In the future I'll leave my last name at home with the cat. It didn't seem to matter within the inclusive kitchen setting of this forum, but at least for a while longer I'm keeping up my cloaking shields to the outside world. Saves me from having to be asked, "and now tell me, how are you doing?" Jon

Originally Posted by DocJohn

Hi Jon,

When you sign your full name to a post, there's no way we can "filter" such a thing out (since we never ask for your full name upon registration). So although I understand your angst and upset, I think your expectation that we can take care of this automatically in some manner is not possible for us.

Having said that, though, we are happy to go back and edit posts -- assuming we're not talking about hundreds of posts -- where you've signed your full name to the post and remove that piece of information. This will eventually be re-indexed by search engines, removing that information from their database. You just need to PM me with the links to the posts where this information appears, and I will edit out your name from the posts.

I always encourage people to understand their privacy choices online, especially when it comes to their own personal health information. You are ultimately responsible for that information and controlling how and when you release it. We've never suggested these forums aren't indexed by search engines (as are most forums online).

DocJohn

[DiMarie]

Another heads up is use of Facebook and twitter. These are often used as an investigative means to retrive personal information. even if the pages are private, often enough information is linked to friends, or hobbies to trace activities.

If you were in a car crash it is not to bright to put on face book you got anther car and plan to race it that weekend....
But it happens,