Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Cyber Safety

 Meg over at Shabby Blogs posted this heads up on internet safety, and I think it's something worth passing on.  I know there have been a few times that I've posted innocent pictures of Elora, and Corinnea has kindly sent me a private message with the reminder that there are people who would view them with something other than innocence.  I think I've learned to consider that before I post, now.  I've also learned to be careful not to post my travel plans until after we've returned home.  But I've wondered too, should I set up a PO Box for my Etsy shop, to protect my home address?  After all, it isn't just my home anymore, it's my children's home, and I'm not sure I like using it for my public shop. 

Thoughts??

7 comments:

  1. Who sees your address for your Etsy shop? Is it public? If so I think it makes sense to make it a PO box.

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  2. It's on my return address, for items that are shipped.

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  3. PO Box for sure. There are a bunch of crazies out there!

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  4. I thought about getting a PO box but our Post office is SO FAR AWAY. I would never check it. Glad you are being careful and that you took my meddling with the love I sent along too! Your family is gorgeous and lovely and I don't want anyone messing with you!

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  5. Funny you mention this because I just put up my first "baby butt" picture the other day. Sure it was a low-quality, poor lit, cellphone picture (on facebook for friends-only). I still felt a little weird about it because this is the interwebs... Even before reading this, I contemplated taking it down. What do you think?

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  6. I don't know, Rachel. Most people will look at a sweet picture of your baby, and think it's adorable. But what if it's seen by some pervert who would get his jollies from from a picture of your child? Or photoshop him (her)self into the picture with him? I've decided I'm not ok with that. If you feel uncomfortable about it, then I would take it down. Or, if you want to share it with family, then post it to a password protected album, so that you can control who sees it. (That's what I've done with some of mine.)

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  7. First of all if it's something you feel is necessary or if it makes you feel more at ease then I would say go for it... though you will have to absorb that cost into your pricing which stinks.

    This is not something that worries me. I don't know if I am naive because yes I guess a crazy stalker could decided to go to your etsy store and have you mail them something to get your address... but I've never had a sale locally where I didn't know the person... I am not even sure that I have ever sold anything in Florida.

    I'm not sure it would work for you but could you use your husbands work address? I've also never had returned mail for an order so it really should never be needed.

    As far as the kid thing goes I am super aware of this I try not to even take pictures that show anything and I never text, email or post them anywhere, even to family because unfortunately once it's out there or on someone else's computer or device you have no control over it. I have added leafs or blurred images so there are ok ways to share something but remove things you don't want people to see - and please if you ever see one on my site let me know!

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