General Discussion

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

38. What I got from this article ...

Tue Mar 25, 2014, 02:38 PM

Mar 2014

is that they can even see what your Google searches have been (and see to whom you've been emailing things). That means, essentially, you're hacked. So I would suppose they could trace what has been posted to DU from your computer.

But I'm a complete idiot about this stuff, so anyone, feel free to disabuse me of my notions. To me, this is way more worrisome than the NSA data gathering. It has immediate, real-world consequences--like not getting into a college or being rejected from a job--as opposed to theoretical consequences that would obtain only if and when a heinous despot would decide to use the metadata to some nefarious end. And I've figured, if we get a heinous despot in power, we're screwed anyway. They don't need metadata to wreak havoc and evil.

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What Is Posted on DU Doesn't Stay on DU. [View all] MineralMan Mar 2014 OP

Its not just DU. dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #1

"Its words strings which are linked to." Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2014 #84

I thought only NSA did that. nt kelliekat44 Mar 2014 #184

interestingly, back in the early days of DU googling "mike_c"... mike_c Mar 2014 #2

If you include democraticunderground.com after your screen name, MineralMan Mar 2014 #6

Paul Ryan is an absolute Poopy-Head MineralMan Mar 2014 #3

It's already on Google. I just checked. MineralMan Mar 2014 #11

Don't know why I'm laughing so hard, Mineral Man.... llmart Mar 2014 #176

freerepublic took my post from over a year ago about my fiance leaving me blueamy66 Mar 2014 #4

Yes, that happens a lot. MineralMan Mar 2014 #9

Can't they stick with political issues and not personal ones? blueamy66 Mar 2014 #15

They could, but they don't. MineralMan Mar 2014 #18

I would say its like the moral of the parable of the scorpion and the frog. "It's their nature." stevenleser Mar 2014 #56

i guess that you are right. blueamy66 Mar 2014 #75

They don't have lives. They let their hate destroy them and eat their insides. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2014 #122

I've made fun of their politics, never their personal issues. I've even sent condolences to someone stevenleser Mar 2014 #129

Who takes joy in other people's misfortune? Jesus Malverde Mar 2014 #154

really? reddread Mar 2014 #172

That was nice of them. blueamy66 Mar 2014 #190

shoulda been there reddread Mar 2014 #193

So check this out. I posted last Friday about my Mom having a stroke and after Maraya1969 Mar 2014 #188

Karma is a bitch. blueamy66 Mar 2014 #191

I hope your mom is doing okay lululu Apr 2014 #231

My Mom is doing so much better. We think she will be able to come home from the rehab Maraya1969 Apr 2014 #232

damn. ITS EVERYWHERE. bunnies Mar 2014 #5

My own posts get spread around a lot MrScorpio Mar 2014 #7

It's the cost of fame, MrScorpio. MineralMan Mar 2014 #22

I get directed to the wiki on Gloria Swanson's "Sunset Boulevard," closeupready Mar 2014 #8

And if you're applying to colleges (or for jobs), watch out frazzled Mar 2014 #10

Wouldn't they have to know my user name on DU to search for me? blueamy66 Mar 2014 #19

What I got from this article ... frazzled Mar 2014 #38

That should be illegal. cui bono Mar 2014 #67

It's not illegal, though. MineralMan Mar 2014 #100

not only that but they might as well say "we want an incurious student body" Iris Mar 2014 #210

Places of employ and future employ would be interested to know what kind of person you are Whisp Mar 2014 #77

The article implies they go beyond "real names" frazzled Mar 2014 #117

It's a good reason to guard your personal details closely. MADem Mar 2014 #153

Meh, I don't care quinnox Mar 2014 #12

I'm so glad we have volunteer net nannies reminding us to Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #13

It might not matter to you, Warren. MineralMan Mar 2014 #16

my also be overrun with hfojvt Mar 2014 #37

Net Nanny says not to worry. OnyxCollie Mar 2014 #134

That made me laugh pintobean Mar 2014 #137

I'e been occasionally ridiculed elsewhere for some of my posts here n2doc Mar 2014 #14

That's very true. If you are a public figure, it's even more important MineralMan Mar 2014 #17

That's likely to give us a really crappy set of politicians 20-30 years from now starroute Mar 2014 #34

Unfortunately you are right n2doc Mar 2014 #41

All the stupidity on Twitter customerserviceguy Mar 2014 #138

This message was self-deleted by its author Cali_Democrat Mar 2014 #25

we used to have a book club hfojvt Mar 2014 #52

Huff Po also follows DU. Many times things that are posted here first, immediately mfcorey1 Mar 2014 #20

Yes, it does. MineralMan Mar 2014 #24

Google searches tend to produce results from sites you visit regularly Spider Jerusalem Mar 2014 #21

Exactly right. Sheldon Cooper Mar 2014 #53

Yes, they tailor their searched based on other sites you visit as well. cui bono Mar 2014 #74

LOL if you type in 'DU rex' in google it thinks I am durex the company! Rex Mar 2014 #23

I deleted the account there the next day. MineralMan Mar 2014 #26

I liked your introduction. Rex Mar 2014 #30

Something to think about for sure.... /nt think Mar 2014 #27

A little experiment, Mineral Man: bvar22 Mar 2014 #28

I run NoScript for Firefox. Maedhros Mar 2014 #36

I actually don't mind. bvar22 Mar 2014 #45

I just have a general policy against corporations collecting data on my activities. Maedhros Mar 2014 #76

We need an online privacy act for both the government and the corporations to get off us. TheKentuckian Mar 2014 #131

It all hinges on the the question "who owns information about ME?" Maedhros Mar 2014 #136

Weird. Bing gave me "Leann Rimes Naked" as a related topic. hunter Mar 2014 #39

OK. I googled "Bare Naked Working Girls"... Whiskeytide Mar 2014 #42

I found the exact same pages you found. MineralMan Mar 2014 #49

Do you believe that anybody at any computer would get those hits? bvar22 Mar 2014 #61

Yup. They'd find your posts. MineralMan Mar 2014 #64

Run incognito mode. joshcryer Mar 2014 #96

And the second hit is now this thread. And the third hit is also from DU. winter is coming Mar 2014 #208

I would pick a screen name that is in no way similar to your actual name. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2014 #29

That depends jeff47 Mar 2014 #35

You did not sleep with Teresa D'Agostino? FrodosPet Mar 2014 #43

Shit! Dammit! Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #73

''Watch what you say.'' Octafish Mar 2014 #31

Google says no results found for "Ari Fleischer blows weasels". hunter Mar 2014 #44

Google will find it now, though. MineralMan Mar 2014 #51

Indeed Oilwellian Mar 2014 #62

I nearly passed out when I saw one of my DU posts at the top of a Google search rocktivity Mar 2014 #32

You mean, if I post, "Eric Cantor has sex with sheep" Hoppy Mar 2014 #33

If you make "Eric Cantor has sex with sheep" an OP... TygrBright Mar 2014 #81

But that would be Google Bombing of the phrase Eric Cantor has sex with sheep. MineralMan Mar 2014 #109

Absolutely and I would never advocate Google Bombing Eric Cantor has sex with sheep. TygrBright Mar 2014 #120

What a horrible thing to say about Eric Cantor, having sex with sheep! Ikonoklast Mar 2014 #123

Goodness... druidity33 Mar 2014 #157

I have also heard that "Eric Cantor has sex with sheep". 11 Bravo Mar 2014 #195

I googled my screen name Motown_Johnny Mar 2014 #40

The first 5 pages contained nothing I posted Kaleva Mar 2014 #155

Use DU to get your message out. Boudica the Lyoness Mar 2014 #46

Absolutely. It can be used to good effect. MineralMan Mar 2014 #54

Every moment the members of Conservative Cave are here, they are not fucking goats. msanthrope Mar 2014 #58

People on Conservative Cave are fucking goats? MineralMan Mar 2014 #92

Now Google does. nt msanthrope Mar 2014 #145

Posters on the Conservative Cave are having sex with goats and sheep Gothmog Mar 2014 #151

Poor goatfuckers. nt msanthrope Mar 2014 #159

I am feeling sorry for the goats Gothmog Mar 2014 #160

I shall think of the poor goats. Boudica the Lyoness Mar 2014 #113

speaking of goats... steve2470 Mar 2014 #119

My daughter and I just watched this and laughed until we cried!!! Thank you! nt msanthrope Mar 2014 #146

my pleasure, there's tons of these on Youtube steve2470 Mar 2014 #147

The posters on the conservative cave are really going nuts Gothmog Mar 2014 #197

You mean the goatfuckers at Conservative Cave are hurt? "Goatfucker" is such a unique msanthrope Mar 2014 #203

It's just goats now? NuclearDem Mar 2014 #212

thanks for raising awareness, sincerely steve2470 Mar 2014 #47

Googleing my screen name gets a bunch of John Lennon hits. PowerToThePeople Mar 2014 #48

Yup, hence fake names. nt Deep13 Mar 2014 #50

Screen names help with Internet anonymity, MineralMan Mar 2014 #55

don't piss off 4chan, they will truly hunt you down...... steve2470 Mar 2014 #80

Oh, they're not the only ones. MineralMan Mar 2014 #83

yes steve2470 Mar 2014 #87

Right, that's true. nt Deep13 Mar 2014 #93

We all know who you really are, you evil genius. Ikonoklast Mar 2014 #133

Guess again. Deep13 Mar 2014 #140

Didn't you hear about that guy whose racist, homophobic history on FR was Bluenorthwest Mar 2014 #57

I was wondering if you would show up. pintobean Mar 2014 #60

so you don't believe in forgiveness or that people can learn from their mistakes? Whisp Mar 2014 #79

There is a lot of advice in the OP pintobean Mar 2014 #88

No, not really. MineralMan Mar 2014 #121

You knew it would be hurtful pintobean Mar 2014 #124

That wasn't my intention. My intention was to inform. MineralMan Mar 2014 #127

Yes, stating the obvious pintobean Mar 2014 #128

You advocate hiding facts from people? Thor_MN Mar 2014 #163

I don't know what you're talking about pintobean Mar 2014 #166

You are probably correct as there in nothing offensive in the OP. Thor_MN Mar 2014 #168

It's obvious that MM knows. pintobean Mar 2014 #169

So you have your undies in a bunch about something you can't explain. Thor_MN Mar 2014 #170

It can be explained. pintobean Mar 2014 #171

Ahh, so this is a grudge you hold from some other site that no longer exists? Thor_MN Mar 2014 #173

No. DU's Meta forum. pintobean Mar 2014 #174

I don't think that word means what you think it means. Thor_MN Mar 2014 #175

Maybe you could learn something from context pintobean Mar 2014 #177

What facts were those? bvar22 Jun 2015 #233

Sorry, not going to analyse a thread from over a year ago to figure out what the poster I responded Thor_MN Jun 2015 #235

this is what I keep trying to tell people.... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #59

A couple conservative groups monitor our board closely including this thread Gothmog Mar 2014 #63

That's true. They spend their days mocking DU and DUers. MineralMan Mar 2014 #66

Yes but their posts are so ignorant that they are funny Gothmog Mar 2014 #69

It would be amusing, except that they MineralMan Mar 2014 #71

The posters on that board are asking for their own board on DU Gothmog Mar 2014 #161

Their feelings aren't hurt. They simply stared into the cold, grey dawn bluestate10 Mar 2014 #182

You are being kind Gothmog Mar 2014 #185

Pardon me, pecwae Mar 2014 #206

I spend some time over there because it is funny Gothmog Mar 2014 #220

Ha - good one! n/t pengillian101 Apr 2014 #230

The freakout on the conservative cave is up to 9 pages now Gothmog Mar 2014 #224

Is it? MineralMan Mar 2014 #226

They are really funny Gothmog Mar 2014 #227

Like I posted above, they made fun of my break up. blueamy66 Mar 2014 #78

you really can't get too vulnerable on DU or anywhere on the internet.... steve2470 Mar 2014 #99

I'm learning. blueamy66 Mar 2014 #101

And these idiots found the death of my dog to be amusing Gothmog Mar 2014 #198

I know. I saw that. blueamy66 Mar 2014 #216

Yeah, that's really amusing... blueamy66 Mar 2014 #217

The posters on the conservative cave lack class and are not self-aware Gothmog Mar 2014 #221

This message was self-deleted by its author blueamy66 Mar 2014 #213

When I google my screen name stage left Mar 2014 #65

Yes. Your screen name will find lots and lots of pages, and MineralMan Mar 2014 #68

I'm so lost in google pages stage left Mar 2014 #103

Maybe that's a good thing. MineralMan Mar 2014 #105

Oh yes! fleabiscuit Mar 2014 #70

I am hoping that some of these WILL go viral hfojvt Mar 2014 #72

Paul Ryan isn't an absolute Poopy-Head? Enthusiast Mar 2014 #82

Why, of course he is. I'm just the only person MineralMan Mar 2014 #86

Paul Ryan is an overrated Poopy Head Gothmog Mar 2014 #130

I'm with you on that. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #142

Maybe it's something YOU don't think about but many of Cleita Mar 2014 #85

Oh, I think about it. MineralMan Mar 2014 #89

It's pretty obvious to whom you are directing this. cui bono Mar 2014 #90

Actually, I'm directing this at all DUers, MineralMan Mar 2014 #97

I'm well aware of this - Ms. Toad Mar 2014 #91

Watch out for those photo hosting accounts. MineralMan Mar 2014 #95

That's why the one I use for DU Ms. Toad Mar 2014 #98

Well said! +++ 1,000 +++ n/t RKP5637 Mar 2014 #108

Thanks, Mineral Man! mountain grammy Mar 2014 #94

I'd imagine that Will is aware of this LanternWaste Mar 2014 #102

Yes. I'd be surprised if he isn't. MineralMan Mar 2014 #106

Dude, I just Tweeted and posted YOUR thread to Facebook using the nifty buttons... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Mar 2014 #104

That's fine with me. MineralMan Mar 2014 #107

No shit! William769 Mar 2014 #110

they need help steve2470 Mar 2014 #112

I put it as kindly as I could also. William769 Mar 2014 #114

they are on the losing side of history steve2470 Mar 2014 #116

No argument from me. William769 Mar 2014 #118

aw consider it a badge of honor, William769 Skittles Mar 2014 #148

How I of all people could be controversial is beyond me. William769 Mar 2014 #150

to them, your sexual orientation is the controversy steve2470 Mar 2014 #152

Donald Rumsfeld is a shaved ape MFM008 Mar 2014 #111

Give it five minutes or so. MineralMan Mar 2014 #115

I agree that Rumsfeld is shaved ape Gothmog Mar 2014 #204

Great cartoon Gothmog Mar 2014 #218

Yes, a lot of what is posted has been reposted on google polynomial Mar 2014 #125

MineralMan is an absolute Poopy-Head pinboy3niner Mar 2014 #126

. pintobean Mar 2014 #149

For extra fun Flying Squirrel Mar 2014 #132

... pinboy3niner Mar 2014 #143

So, are you saying that all those ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2014 #135

Has the news gotten around that we were squabbling on DU about Pitts rant against Obama? lumpy Mar 2014 #139

Oh yesh. ~eom fleabiscuit Mar 2014 #141

Imma tweet this on TWITTER kay? yuiyoshida Mar 2014 #144

I'm an app and a Serbian phrase on Google IDemo Mar 2014 #156

DU posts ohnoyoudidnt Mar 2014 #158

Oh no you didn't! Rex Mar 2014 #196

Yikes! When I looked myself up... MannyGoldstein Mar 2014 #162

Conservative Cave is our stalker, it seems. Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #164

There's also the Independent Women's forum. eom Cleita Mar 2014 #180

The idiots on the conservative cave are upset because we hurt their and their goats' feelings Gothmog Mar 2014 #186

They are utterly hilarious ProudToBeBlueInRhody Mar 2014 #200

Right now these idiots are conducting an internal poll as to how to deal with DU Gothmog Mar 2014 #201

"How to deal with DU"? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Mar 2014 #202

The meltdown on the conservative cave is really funny Gothmog Mar 2014 #205

There's not much you can do with people who still think Benghazi is a winning issue. ProudToBeBlueInRhody Mar 2014 #211

Evidently I was invited to join their board Gothmog Mar 2014 #222

These idiots are still freaking out Gothmog Mar 2014 #225

I thought most people knew this. Texasgal Mar 2014 #165

probably at least one person did not know this steve2470 Mar 2014 #207

Based on the comments in this thread and the number of recs MineralMan Mar 2014 #209

Post removed Post removed Mar 2014 #167

Thank you for this reminder. nilesobek Mar 2014 #178

So why doesn't DU use a robots.txt file FarCenter Mar 2014 #179

Do you think that's what folks and the admins want? DU comments to be shut off from search engines? stevenleser Mar 2014 #189

Why would DU do that? MineralMan Mar 2014 #192

I don't care where my posts end up. I won't swim into the bluestate10 Mar 2014 #181

Wow...I had no idea KauaiK Mar 2014 #183

Sad, pitiful, shriveled people. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2014 #187

Touche'! kickysnana Mar 2014 #194

Good warning, MineralMan. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2014 #199

Fuck Bush ...testing Google. L0oniX Mar 2014 #214

Well, if you search for the whole post title, MineralMan Mar 2014 #215

Duh deaniac21 Mar 2014 #219

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. nt MineralMan Mar 2014 #223

My one infamous comment will be there forever, I guess Generic Other Apr 2014 #228

Hahaha I just looked up another DUer Generic Other Apr 2014 #229

AS long as you have time to Howl at the Moon, bvar22 Jun 2015 #234

I posted this a year ago last April Generic Other Jun 2015 #236

MineralMan posted an old thread from 2014 that had a line to your thread. bvar22 Jun 2015 #237