(no subject)

[rhienelleth]

So, every once in awhile, when I'm feeling especially bored, I google my own name. Well, "yahoo" would be more precise, but you get the idea. (By 'my own name', I am of course referring to my nom de plume, Rhien Elleth. My actual name pulls up like three things, none of which have anything to do with me.)

So, yeah. A year ago when I did this, there were maybe three things, all of which had to do with fic archives. Cool, because then I could see how many Alias and/or Sark/Syd sites were archiving my fic. (I'm fairly certain everyone who's archived it has asked, and don't think I'd care much if they hadn't, so long as nothing in story or author was changed, obviously.) Then, after several months, my blog suddenly started popping up. Hmm. Ok. Not sure how I feel about that, but...*shrugs*. Not like I post much there anymore, anyway.

Then today, my LJ popped up! Is that normal?? When you sign up for an LJ, does it automatically come up on searches that have the LJ name in them? I mean, no one in RL that I know knows I'm Rhien, and so it seems impossible that they could stumble across it that way, but...it hit a scary nerve, I guess. I mean, I've just sort of labored under this impression that only the people on my f-list or on the f-list of one of my friends ever reads this thing, or would even care to. If someone stumbles across my fic, and that eventually leads them to my LJ, that's fine too. I just...think it odd that anyone who might for whatever reason pop the word "Rhien" into yahoo could pull up my LJ. Not that anyone would. It's kind of obscure unless you're a Tolkien fan familiar with Elven. But still.

The upshot is, for the first time I find myself considering friends-locking my journal. Am I just wigging out because I'm overly emotional today, or what?

Thoughts?

Comments

[ashism.livejournal.com]

My brother and Dad once Googled my e-mail address, which of course is the same as my 'net name, they found my LJ, my sites, everything. It freaked me out and I friends-locked my journal that same night. But if no-one in real life links you to Rhien then I wouldn't worry much.

[ms-pie.livejournal.com]

You can actually go into your LJ options and click a box that then hides your LJ from any bots or other website compilation services. That would keep it off the search engines.

[ashism.livejournal.com]

Yeah I clicked it when I first signed up on LJ nearly two years ago, but it doesn't stop the bots searching journals that I've posted in that haven't clicked that option, and some of the bots just ignore the command anyway. I put it down to my own stupidity though, using the same name for an e-mail address my family know and send to ;)

[ms-pie.livejournal.com]

Ahhh - yes, the whole 'find me through other people' problem... Good point.

And Rhien -- This is why most of my personal stuff is locked. My friends all know about my LJ, so instead of friends-locking the entire thing, I just lock certain personal posts.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

I just went and found that little option about the 'bots. I never knew that existed. Guess I didn't read carefully enough when I signed up with this. And yeah, I think I'll go through and make any highly personal entried friends only. Just in case. :)

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Wow! You know, I've considered changing my e-mail from 'suliabryon' to 'rhienelleth'. You've just given me a very good reason not to. I never even thought of that.

Yeah, I don't share my fic with RL friends...the ones who watch Alias are far more conventional and would never (to my knowledge) go looking for any Sarkney stuff, so I've assumed I'm safe. In fact, I'd be shocked if they read any kind of fic. And the friends I have who would are not computer savvy.

I guess it wouldn't be a big deal, anyway. Just kind of embarrassing to explain how or why I came to write NC-17 stuff. Or try to explain it. Heh. I'm not sure I know why.

[ashism.livejournal.com]

I never even thought of that.

Me neither until they did it, I suppose I should thank them for saving me from future embarassment.

Just kind of embarrassing to explain how or why I came to write NC-17 stuff. Or try to explain it. Heh. I'm not sure I know why.

My friends don't even understand the meaning of the word fandom, I don't know where I would start explaining NC-17 fanfic ;)

[annebelle-ca.livejournal.com]

I 'googled' myself too and there is a link directly to my lj! That's disturbing! I have the 'hide me' optin checked but it clearly is ineffective. I don't think anyone I know would look for me anyway so whatever. The only people that know about my lj are the people who know me through fic so I don't worry much. Except that, well, now I am.

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

LOL. Sorry! My paranoia is now contagious.

See, my lj is all through people who know my fic, too, so I shouldn't really be worried. I guess it just occured to me that I don't really have any idea of who might or might not be reading my journal, beyond the f-list of course, and I'd never really thought about it before.

[sorcha-feanor.livejournal.com]

I just tried searching my name and your journal came up (specifically your user info......I guess cause I am on your flist.....same with minion_mel........that is odd.....even more odd is that mine did not show up

[vilandra25.livejournal.com]

heh...I don't think you're being overly paranoid. My roommate knew I had a blog early in the year (before I knew her very well), told me point-blank that she had no interest in intruding in my personal space, but was curious as to what company I blogged with. Months later, when I looked over at her screen and saw the oh-so-familiar 'Update Your Jornal' page, I freaked out and went friends-only. She hasn't updated hers in ages, so I doubt she uses it, but still, I feel much more comfortable. I think she might know my username, which I suppose is okay...nobody in RL would be able to get to much. :) And I doubt she'd ever think to go looking for my fic, but I dunno. I guess stuff like that happens, huh?

[snowdrifted.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're paranoid, and definitely not irrational. ;) I think all the things you just said are all the reasons why people I know have friends-locked their LJs, and I'm probably the same. For ages I never thought I'd do it, but as more people I knew in RL found out about it, the more skittish I felt. It feels more relaxed, for me.

[stephdub.livejournal.com]

I had practically the same thing happen a few months ago. http://www.livejournal.com/users/stephdub/35122.html if you're at all interested.

I thought about going friends only, in fact I went back and friends locked about 3 months worth of posts. But it took absolutely FOREVER to do. Now I just make sure to lock anything personal. If I'm just blabbing about music and tv shows I don't bother.