I wondered the same thing.

Me too!

My journey on Daily Strength began on the infidelity group. I dont want every person who signs onto the group to read my journals. There is a lot of personal stuff on there that isnt for everyone. End of story

I think some people are also cautious about cyber stalkers and having a private profile controls who you can be contacted by. I just send a friend request and have had no problems with people accepting once the verify I belong to a support group.
julie

I can understand,, some people use this site as they only personal journal and I wouldn't want everyone seeing all my business.. those who have the private status still encourage a whole bunch just by the wonderful posts they write, and advice they give.

I write my personal journal on paper so I don't mind shareing what I put on here!

Thanks to everyone private or not for share your stories, advice, successes and congrats to us who need them !!!!!

God Bless

I would like to answer this question, but I would not like the responses I would receive. You are not wrong and neither are those who are private. rd

If your profile is not private, absolutely ANYONE - member of the group or not, can see it. While I am open to sharing with those who are active members of this group, but don't want my weight loss journey to be available to stalkers.

JJ

I don't know about you ladies and why the profiles are private. I do know for myself, I locked my profile after repeatedly being sexually harassed, and then when I didn't respond to those sexual comments and come on's it just turned into harassment by another well known member. That's when I locked my profile and had to ignore a member. Apparently there is one gay man in this group that thinks that every man that goes through WLS must be gay as well and uses this as his 'WLS gay dating/chatting" website. The same member has also caused many to leave this group, and offended many with his postings. Apparently he has had 2 screen names on here before but both accounts were deleted by the administrators.

And to the original poster, you can still give someone a hug, even if their profile is private. Just scroll over their photo in the postings and a small bio will pop up, You can give them a hug from that small screen and not have to go to their profile. Many on here have sent me friend requests, I guess based on what they read in my messages. So trust your instinct and just send them a friend request if you think they are someone you'd enjoy being friends. If something turns out badly or not to your liking, you can always remove them as friends.

learn something new everyday :)

Gee, I don't know if my profile is private or not. I know that I have many wonderful friends and anybody who wants to add me is free to do so. The only thing I am private about is my photo. I have never liked having my picture taken and would never put my picture online.
Fatman, I am sorry for all the trouble you have been through on this site. You were wise to lock your profile.

I really appreciate the clarification! There are a lot of perspectives and I didn't think of them until you guys explained. And fatmans, thanks for the hug tip!

Fatman makes a good point as to why many people make their profile private, Coming to a support group gives some people the impression that we are weak and vulnerable. This is where the trolls sneak in and try to take advantage. Sorry you had a bad experience fatman, but you handled it the right way. I am pretty open to adding new friends but I will go to their profile first and make sure we are there for the same reasons. Just use good judgement and you should be fine. If they dont turn out to be what they represented, just delete, and you are free of them.

This old broad has been friended and chated up by a "member" from a foreign country and had to freeze him out. d

I stopped writing and tried to shut mine to private and change things when i learned it was for all to see. Nope i like to be open but...


I think i insulted one gal when i asked her if she could have a pic in pink someday soon. She put a new pic on every day. I am not sure if i unfreinded her or she me. Now i don't see her ever on. Sorry if i scared her away.

surely i want the support and to share back but frankly i do not want people to know my very priavate moments.

well, if your not freinds with me go ahead! :)