h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Recently, I've got a few odd 'followers' on Twitter. I got an email saying xyz is now following my tweets on Twitter. I thought it was a little odd, as I hardly ever post there, and when I clicked on the link provided in those emails, I got to some - err - dodgy accounts, asking me to click on an even more dodgy link and entering a password.
Now I couldn't explain how these people found me, so I googled for my nickname - and the result was quite scary. Various photos (from my PS, from my public picasa albums) - even photos fro a couple of my guide entries were on the first two pages of hits. I've now shortened my name to Bel, and I hope by and by the google search results will vanish.
I don't mind people who know me here to find me elsewhere on the web, or to see the photos, but *I* want to choose who can do that. I don't want google to make that decision for me. As a result, I've locked the picasa albums (now people will need the link to them), and I've changed my name from B'Elana to bel. Most people (including myself) call me Bel anyway, so no big deal there, I guess.

I understand. It's a big world out there. They're collecting data. (Use different usernames.)

But why Bel and not B'el?

anyway.

I think the problem is that I had chosen the name of a very famous Star Trek character, so everybody googling for her would by default find me - and not on page 20 if at all, but high up on the list. I think this is because we don't have the no-follow tags on h2g2 any more.
As much as I appreciate that for Guide Entries (be they edited or not), as much it troubles me for other things, like conversations.

Sorry to hear that you've run into this dip in the road,Bel..I shall have to really train meself to use the new name,so be patient..

I do hope this doesn't mean that we'll be seeing less of you..

I've always wrote B'Elmanners say a capital for a person's name

Oh, it is hardly possible to see less of me, seeing as I've put on a stone withing the last few months.

That's creepy. I've been hearing lots of these stories about people having one-cent transactions on their accounts lately - this sounds just as privacy-invading. Hope your ruse works.

A cuddlier you...maybe a nice thing!!!

I wouldn't be making light of weight gain right now..if you have questions, ask Lil or Prof...

On their bank accounts, TC?

Yes, I thought the whole thing was somehow scary and seemed to have gone out of control.


MS, will do.

Be prepared to ..Lil did. I can only imagine she must have broken ribs or hiccups or summat...

I love a good laugh.

You'll get your worth,believe me...

I'm always to sad to laughpoor poor me!!!

Sorry to hear you feel you have to change your name, Bel.

I think I may be responsible for one of the photos of you on the Interweb - the one of you and the dark purple flowers. I'll take it down if you like.

Flippin' 'eck, Bel. You certainly find 'em!

<smooch.

I didn't find that photo, Gnomon.

I found all those I had published myself. I've just changed my name to Bel everywhere, but I have to admit that it looks decidedly unfamiliar in my tag line.

lil, have you ever searched for your name?

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&safe=off&q=prof+animal+chaos&meta=&fp=f333c8d35a8c5b3d

who's at the top

Unstoppable.

See, it can happen to everybody.