Christian Forums

Well all ours listed was the city and state since we have a PO box, and we live 5 miles outside of the city, in a different county . . .

Of course, once someone found the city, they could just ask at the grocery store, or city hall, or the police station, and someone would tell them where we live.  It's doubtful that anyone would go to so much trouble to find us just to perpetrate dastardly deeds.  There is much easier prey...

Neat story Janine.

I forget sometimes that we miss out on some local "inside" jokes here because we aren't carrying the same luggage and only worship together in spirit on Sundays. (sometimes I feel like we are all together but that's another thread)

In my little part of the world it is still pretty common for high schools to not have a senior prom because the school board won't risk the ire of the local Baptist pastors and cofC ministers by sanctioning dancing.

It's not uncommon when you have one of those awkward moments where you and another person cross paths and then end up blocking each other each time you try to go around the other to remark "Thank goodness there was no music or people would think we were dancing." :0

Sometime back one of those dear congregations that is devoted to insuring everyone else gets it just as right as they do, found us to be lacking because of our worship minister's dancing while leading songs. Honestly its not holy dancing, holy fidgeting maybe. I've even checked, he always keeps on foot on the floor   :wave:

Spurly said:

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]I am searchable, and I want to leave it that way.  

[/quote]

That's fine, but let me point out, Kevin, that you're single.  Your vulnerability (for lack of a better word) isn't as critical as it is to those of us with kids.   I really liked your story about finding the person you first led to Christ and I have done the same thing on the Internet trying to search out old high school buddies, etc.

However, our experience in providing foster care and subsequently adopting children has led my wife and I to be much more selective about who knows where we live and what our phone number is. We've had an unlisted phone number for several years now for this very reason.  Once, after a supervised visit, my wife was followed by a natural parent... it was pretty scary.

I emailed several friends (mostly families with children) whose phone number I searched via Google and which returned accurate current addresses.  Sorry, folks, there are just too many nut cases out there for my family to be searchable.

I had a friend forward a email "alert" to me today and Janine's thread about SPAM inspired me to share this with you all.  

On at least the Google search engine, if you type in a phone number, with hyphens between the area code, exchange and final four numbers (555-555-5555) and do a search, it is entirely possible that the home address of this phone number, complete with mapping capability, is returned.  Obviously this has huge implications if you're interested in protecting your or your children's privacy.

Thankfully, there is also a way to get Google to de-list you.  Click on the phone and further down the resultant page is a link to perform this de-listing.

Be wise as serpents, innocent as doves!!

I tried mine, and got the name/number/address of a poor young lady whose "wrong number" calls I always get.

It happened by coincidence I met her out in the community once while doing some church work.  She doesn't even live there any more, much less me.

So I guess we're both safe! :thumbs-up:

I am searchable, and I want to leave it that way.  

Here's an interesting story.  A few weeks ago I was trying to find the first person that I ever led to Christ.  I thought I knew where he was living, so I typed in his name and the state at whitepages.com, and I got the information I needed.

I'm glad information like that is out there.

Kevin

You sure it wasn't simply that holy dance so many of my Black brothers and sisters remember sweetly from their childhoods, and continue to perpetuate when the chance arises?  Totally Godly, I assure you, not a hint of either Saturday Night Fever or Soul Train in it!

I have a picture of my sister 'Berta, who was inspired to draw us into that dancing, handkerchief in her hand and all.  Of course, it wasn't "in church", it was in the parking lot after we'd shared a fellowship meal, all us women, on the way home after our most recent luxury resort retreat together...

We were so full of love for the Lord, love for each other, and good fried chicken, how could we not dance, praise God?

Like even married couples had to do in the old movies.

Heaven help us if we get carried away...

Isn't it interesting what comes up when one searches on his/her name.  I search on my name and derivatives every so often to see what will turn up.  On Yahoo, my web site comes up at either the of the list or next to the top, plus a number of other items.  My grandfather even comes up with an online biography.

I tried the phone number on google to wee what would happen.  It came up showing me in a commercial building I sold a few years ago and having an address of 1 route, WS.  I've been in my house for 25 years (same location) and the address has been changed three times--and it comes up to my old business building about 3 miles away.  Don't guess anyone will find me based on that map  :D

We don't pay for an unlisted phone number, we simply list in my maiden name.  Then when someone calls and addresses my husband by my name, he asks, "What are you selling?"

It's nice, I'm sure, to make an attempt at security, Jeff, but it wouldn't take long for someone with at least a little bit of brain to find you if he wanted to.  Too many ways to do it.

Following you from a place you're known to frequent, from your work, from your church; addressing mail to you under whatever that system is which allows businesses to get a report of your changed address; a Polk community directory; Census information (admittedly, only the very old info is public domain, but it might lead to your grandpa or daddy); a "buddy" in the police department, revenue office, Dept. of Motor Vehicles, State Social Services; all sorts of ways.

I'm not saying don't try to be safe; I'm just saying, any nut determined to find you will.  Secure your security from other things, man!

This alert (and I got it via email also) is much ado about nothing.

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/google.htm

Any reasonably computer-hip 10-yr-old could putter around online a few minutes and find any one of us. :eek:

Ever search for people's names? I found a couple photos of Trois about a year ago, though it looked like he might have been {GASP} dancing.

Searches on your name can be interesting, but since our last name is Bachelor, such a search can turn up some very undesirable web sites, to say the least!

:computertrouble: