I had an email from a member who didn't much like that his name is searchable by Google going back to his user account here. This is not the first complaint I have had and I am sure there are many who are hesitant to have their full name visible to the world.

So my question to the membership is: Should we only show full name information in the forums or on member profile pages to those users that are logged in? This will mean search engines won't index/save that info.

I could potentially also allow this to be an option in your user configuration area; ie: allow my full name to be seen by public vs. only logged in users.

For the purposes of allowing people to find review or feature content by a particular author, I think I will have to stick to those types of things displaying the name to search engines though.

Let me know your feedback.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim

I must confess that my knowledge of the internut is that of a user only. If it is possible as you say to have our names only show to logged in users and then not come up on search engines then I say go for it.

I also have concerns about some of my "customers" searching my details online. That is why I like this site - I can use a nickname, Maybe my "customers" don't think the so & so who sent them to jail could be interested in making models.

Brian

In my opinion an optional choose between showing full name to all vs. only logged in users would be the best option.

I too, would prefer access by logged in members only. I'm a pessimist when it comes to security though. There are probably 6 ways to get around any given block.
Rick

Not having your name searchable by the web at large is advantageous - many (most?) employers now do web searches on potential employees before hiring. Having the real names of members searchable by google or other search engines pretty much assures that members will keep things as vanilla as possible so as to not potentially disturb the most sensitive of human resources people at potential future work sites.

Excellent point Vance. I'm not sure the HR people at my work place would appreciate the humor in my running a campaign dedicated to killing zombies....or even building military aircraft/vehicles for that matter.

Hermon

Although some staff members know who I am, I do not have my full name on the site anywhere. I have a particualr reason for this which is not important to anybody else.

But still, I am amazed how easily some people broadcast their personal details on the internet. a burglar can, with a simple visit to facebook, know exactly when an "interesting house" will be empty.