First, not everyone is using a separate, dedicated email. I've heard hushmail is pretty good for that, however. Many of us who do not have a significant other don't have the need for it. Same for a hobby phone. Google voice would work, but a prepaid cheap burner phone with reloadable minutes would probably be simpler. Downside to that is you need to have a secure place to hide from the SO. With GV, you can use your personal phone, and not have to worry about hiding it. Just be very careful. To get GV, you have to have a Google email account, but it's free, so no biggie.
If you have not read the self help center, please do so. If you have private questions, you can PM me, I'm the host of the newbie board. SwimHi all, total newbie here. I've been doing my research, but I have some questions that are more on the practical end of things, concerning privacy, security, and the like for the active (and discreet) hobbyist.
I think it's safe to assume that everyone's using a separate, dedicated email account, under the name of your hobbyist alias. Does this complicate the screening/verification process at all, when a provider has to look up "John Doe" under the name of "Jim Smith" or whatever, or is this common practice? Or do the reference services handle this all internally?
Second, cell phones. Again, I think it's safe to assume that hobbyists aren't using their personal cell phone numbers. So what's the best practice here? My first thought would be some sort of IP phone -- Google Voice, Skype, Vonage, etc. -- but it seems like at least some of those might not pass screening. Or is a burner phone the way to go?
Thanks in advance...
but on the second, you are correct. Get a phone with reloadable minutes like you can get at a Walgreens. Some places want name and address, but you can just put Joe Doe at 123 Fake Street and it will be fine. No one checks up on it.
Use cash for the transaction, of course.
First, not everyone is using a separate, dedicated email. I've heard hushmail is pretty good for that, however. Many of us who do not have a significant other don't have the need for it. Same for a hobby phone. Google voice would work, but a prepaid cheap burner phone with reloadable minutes would probably be simpler. Downside to that is you need to have a secure place to hide from the SO. With GV, you can use your personal phone, and not have to worry about hiding it. Just be very careful. To get GV, you have to have a Google email account, but it's free, so no biggie.
If you have not read the self help center, please do so. If you have private questions, you can PM me, I'm the host of the newbie board.
Swim
mrfisher and Swim, thanks for the info.
So I guess the only question I have, then, is about using a "hobby name" -- is this standard practice? Is it something providers don't bat an eye at? What about verification services?
A verification service will normally require your real name and some personal information to confirm that you are who you say you are. There are those ladies who will require your real name but many understand your need for privacy and will be fine with a hobby name once you get a few OKs or references. The choice is yours as to how much personal information you're comfortable giving out. Always remember that you can never take back the information once you've given it out.
...that you can never take back the information once you've given it out."
That sounds ominous...