1 (edited by Dirk B. 2019-07-07 23:17:22)

Topic: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Sol (or anyone), is there a way to configure an existing group or thread so that it doesn't show up on Google? Right now, anyone can read my two running threads, which I want to prevent. The threads are full of spoilers, and I'm sure I've said things over the years that would offend my target audience if taken out of context.

Thanks
Dirk

2 (edited by Marilyn Johnson 2018-10-19 04:50:37)

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Dirk,
Pull down the tab for your profile.  Edit profile.  Half-way down there is a box that reads:  Make my profile page visible to  ... you have choices.  Choose the one that says only logged-in members that are not blocked.

I had that same problem once upon a time, and changing that setting cured it for me.  Someone else may know a different way to go about it, but I was flabbergasted to learn that even my forum posts could be seen by anyone who pulled up my name with a Google search.  These forum posts I consider for consumption only by members of this site.  After I changed it, I didn't find my posts online under google anymore.

Hope this helps.
MJ

3 (edited by Temple Wang 2018-10-19 04:58:03)

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Dirk B. wrote:

Sol (or anyone), is there a way to configure an existing group or thread so that it doesn't show up on Google? Right now, anyone can read my two running threads, which I want to prevent. The threads are full of spoilers, and I'm sure I've said things over the years that would offend my target audience if taken out of context.

Thanks
Dirk

Closing the Barn Door After the Cows Have Gotten Out (aka Anthony Weiner)

You’re kidding, right?  What rock have you been under the last decade?
It’s there forever, man ... welcome to the internet and the Twenty-First Century ...

It’s been said ... many times, many ways ...

The one I’d like to discuss briefly today is the so-called “Front Page of the Newspaper” test, or sometimes “The New York Times Rule.” In one of its standard versions, it gets stated this way: “never do anything you wouldn’t want to see reported on the front page of the New York Times.”

“the old adage that one should never write in an email what you would never want to see published on the front page of your local newspaper.”

“26. Never electronically send ANYTHING you wouldnt want printed on the front page on the newspaper. Even if you delete it, it can still be found.”

“Never send an electronic message or digital photo you’d be ashamed for your mother to see.”

Take heart in this: you can always hope your life will be like mine —not interesting enough for anybody to care what you ever said online ...

Sorry to break the news to you.
LOL

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Temple Wang wrote:

Dear Closing the Barn Door After the Cows Have Gotten Out,

You’re kidding, right?  What rock have you been under the last decade?
It’s there forever, man ... welcome to the internet and the Twenty-First Century ...

It’s been said ... many times, many ways ...

The one I’d like to discuss briefly today is the so-called “Front Page of the Newspaper” test, or sometimes “The New York Times Rule.” In one of its standard versions, it gets stated this way: “never do anything you wouldn’t want to see reported on the front page of the New York Times.”

“the old adage that one should never write in an email what you would never want to see published on the front page of your local newspaper.”

“26. Never electronically send ANYTHING you wouldnt want printed on the front page on the newspaper. Even if you delete it, it can still be found.”

Take heart in this: you can always hope your life will be like mine —not interesting enough for anybody to care what you ever said online ...

Sorry to break the news to you.
LOL

OMG!  You made me laugh with those, Temple!  (Sorry, Dirk, but 'tis true what she said!)

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Why do you think I use an alias on here anyway?  My real name is Moheeldey Juvawandereichering IV.  But that can easily be found on Google.  So I shortened it to just MJ.

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Marilyn Johnson wrote:
Temple Wang wrote:

Dear Closing the Barn Door After the Cows Have Gotten Out,

You’re kidding, right?  What rock have you been under the last decade?
It’s there forever, man ... welcome to the internet and the Twenty-First Century ...

It’s been said ... many times, many ways ...

The one I’d like to discuss briefly today is the so-called “Front Page of the Newspaper” test, or sometimes “The New York Times Rule.” In one of its standard versions, it gets stated this way: “never do anything you wouldn’t want to see reported on the front page of the New York Times.”

“the old adage that one should never write in an email what you would never want to see published on the front page of your local newspaper.”

“26. Never electronically send ANYTHING you wouldnt want printed on the front page on the newspaper. Even if you delete it, it can still be found.”

Take heart in this: you can always hope your life will be like mine —not interesting enough for anybody to care what you ever said online ...

Sorry to break the news to you.
LOL

OMG!  You made me laugh with those, Temple!  (Sorry, Dirk, but 'tis true what she said!)

I read this book recently and just decided to say #*$*&-it and give up on privacy altogether.  It’ll scare the hell outta you ...

The Art of Invisibility: The World's Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Invisibility … B01GZY28CW

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Just in case it wasn’t obvious, Dirk.  I was just taking the piss ...

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

I'm fully aware there's no way to delete every word I've written on this site, but that doesn't mean I should make it easy for potential readers to find all of the spoilers. When someone Googles my book's name, I don't want my thread to be the first thing they find. Removing the thread from Google indexing would address that. If a book I write ever takes off, I'm sure those who know how will find all of it online, including in the internet archives.

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

MJ, I checked my settings and it's already set as you suggested, yet my forum threads still show up on Google. You don't even need to be logged into the site to read them.

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Dirk B. wrote:

MJ, I checked my settings and it's already set as you suggested, yet my forum threads still show up on Google. You don't even need to be logged into the site to read them.

Hey Sol, here's an interesting note: If you log off the site and browse the forum threads, it exposes the poster's IP address. This is hidden from logged in users.

Should Dirk become an NYT bestseller and move to some remote 200-person town, any further posts will reveal his approximate coordinates. All those lovely fans will geo-track him there and hunt him down.

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Simple always seems to work best: If you don't want folks looking it up, use a different author name and title on site -- or out there. Hard to google something which doesn't exist. Take care. Vern

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

vern wrote:

Simple always seems to work best: If you don't want folks looking it up, use a different author name and title on site -- or out there. Hard to google something which doesn't exist. Take care. Vern

Damn straight, Vern
I’d never use my real identity ... leastways not without some photoshop ...
https://spiritedthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/toothless.jpg

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Hi Dirk,

The forum you are posting in has to be set to private. Private forums aren't indexed by Google.

Sol

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Sol:
How is that done?
Kiss
Gacela

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Thank you, Sol. Is a private group still accessible to others on TNBW?

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

This article provides a bit more info about Groups. The moderator can update the group's visibility any time. If you are in a public group, anyone can join and the forum threads are visible. The opposite is true of private groups.

https://www.thenextbigwriter.com/postin … nual-20504

Re: How to hide my forum threads from Google? - Site Usage

Temple Wang wrote:
vern wrote:

Simple always seems to work best: If you don't want folks looking it up, use a different author name and title on site -- or out there. Hard to google something which doesn't exist. Take care. Vern

Damn straight, Vern
I’d never use my real identity ... leastways not without some photoshop ...
https://spiritedthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/toothless.jpg

Whoa, that looks like a good hook-up for Trump. I mean he pays big bucks to go out with what he considers a horse face woman, so image what he'd pay for this darling. He'll be in love. No politics, just E-Harmony at work. Take care. Vern