May 17, 2009 12:06 AM BST
I follow one basic rule regarding the internet and also, incidentally, any computer not under my direct control, such as at work.
Anything I put anywhere can and may be read by someone else, and may be used for nefarious purposes.
And despite all the security in the world, someone somewhere could access my PC at home, so there is nothing there either I wouldn't want anyone to see.
Yes, I get my fair share of idiots and spam and all the other downsides of being online, but the benefits outweigh them. After all, where would we be without it - no TW for a start!
I'm on Plurk and haven't had any issues there, in fact the people who have 'friended' me have been great. Including another trans-woman from Canada whom I probably would never have had any sort of communication with otherwise.
I agree one has to be careful about what one posts online. The Internet never forgets. Archive.org has sites dating back 10+ years.
Talia.