Personal Safety Issues

[KickChick]

I've started this thread to include known and little known tips that, our family & friends... can use to increase personal safety.

Did you know that any person wishing to discover the physical location of a phone number, be it a home or business address can do so, and then easily receive explicit directions on how to get there from anywhere in the country?

Go to http://www.google.com
Type a telephone number into Google's search bar, click the search button, and the name and address associated with that phone number will come up.

.... Now type in your phone number or any phone number. If you have an unlisted number you are not at risk, but you should pass it on to your family and friends.

Google has made available an option that will allow anyone to remove their telephone number from the database that is linked to the mapping feature.

You will first need to check if your number is listed in this manner by attempting a search - entering your full telephone number separated by dashes (e.g., 555-123-4567). If the number appears in the mapping database, an icon resembling a telephone will appear next to the first or second entry on the results page. Clicking on this icon will take you to a page containing a description of the service, and a link to request your number be removed from the database.

[SmilingBear]

Good post,

However, there are any number of sites that offer similar tools. It's on eof the reasons I'm not a big fan of sites that require a "real name" in order to post. There are too many information tendrils floating around out there that allow a nutcase to track you down because they took offense to something you said on a forum.

--Bear

[KickChick]

Which is why our forum is moderated so in keeping with our TOS.

To maintain your privacy and safety (as well as others), you should always exercise caution when posting personal information about yourself or others on the net.

Which is why it is against MAP's TOS to post information or details by which you or another user could be easily identified or located. Under no circumstances should telephone numbers or addresses be posted on forums.

I believe we here at MAP take personal safety and privacy very seriously. If and when any instances of cyber stalking should arise they are treated with the utmost concern and proper steps taken to protect the member under threat.

[shotokanwarrior]

Good thread, KC:)

It's on eof the reasons I'm not a big fan of sites that require a "real name" in order to post.

Yeah, that's lousy. But you could just invent a name, surely they won't know.

[Brad Ellin]

Here's a safety tip for your home. Have small children or elderly living with you, or very frequent visitors? Get a phone with large number pads for your main phone. It's very hard for a small child or an elderly person to dial 911 with those small pads. Also, put 911 (or whatever emergency number for your area) in the speed dial and make sure everyone knows it.

[Brad Ellin]

When going to your car or front door, or anyplace you need keys to get in, carry the keys in your hand. Not in your pocket or purse, you don't want to have to fumble around to get at them. IF needed, keys are an effective weapon. Stronger than finger nails.

[Punchy]

I tried the phone number but could not get it to work. I am in Australia, does this mean Australian numbers are not available like this?

[reikislapper]

If you happen to have a baseball bat near the front door (for protection), make sure that you also have a ball as well then if the police come knocking at your door then you can easilly say the bat's just there to play rounders and nothing else.
lisa :Angel:

[KickChick]

I tried the phone number but could not get it to work. I am in Australia, does this mean Australian numbers are not available like this?

... could possibly be only for US.

Maybe someone here knows of such an internet mapping site for their prospective country.
Remember Google is not used specifically for the purpose of entering a phone number and finding a map... there are other sites as well as Smiling Bear mentioned.


If, for some reason, you do not wish for your information to be available through Google, you can as I posted, click the telephone icon next to your information and they will remove you from their database, but that means very little.
Mind you, the reason the information is there is because it's public and removing it from Google doesn't prevent anyone from having it. They can go to the telephone book, directory assistance, or any of the other pages on the Internet that have name, address, and telephone information. If you don't want the information to be public, contact your telephone provider and ask about an unlisted number or a number that does not list your address.

More on Internet Mapping here .....
http://www.ipadventures.com/blog/archives/000392.html

[Jasonds23]

Kickchick, is this part of my supervisory privledges?

Hee hee, ho, ho, ha ha, just kidding :D

[cheesypeas]

If you happen to have a baseball bat near the front door (for protection), make sure that you also have a ball as well then if the police come knocking at your door then you can easilly say the bat's just there to play rounders and nothing else.
lisa :Angel:

I once chased an intruder off my property wielding a very heavy frying pan.
May sound like Laurel and Hardy, but it got the job done and was perfectly legal to own. I do, however, keep a couple of *ahem* items near my bed - just in case I need to defend myself. :D

[reikislapper]

I once chased an intruder off my property wielding a very heavy frying pan.
May sound like Laurel and Hardy, but it got the job done and was perfectly legal to own. I do, however, keep a couple of *ahem* items near my bed - just in case I need to defend myself. :D

As long as your not naked at the time then it's ok you can chase anyone down the street. ;) :eek:

[cheesypeas]

As long as your not naked at the time then it's ok you can chase anyone down the street. ;) :eek:

Nuts to that Toa! lol

If I was ejecting an intruder I wouldn't care if I was naked or not. In fact, it would probably work in my favour :eek: :eek:

[reikislapper]

Nuts to that Toa! lol

If I was ejecting an intruder I wouldn't care if I was naked or not. In fact, it would probably work in my favour :eek: :eek:

So you sleep bare then as well lol :rolleyes: :eek: :eek:

I wouldn't blame you at all. Like yourself I do have a few items near the front door just in case anyone tries it on lol. I've had a warning from the police though as they've said if they see a certain sharpened weapon near the door again I'm going to need help from a lawyer lol. It's still there and it's staying, what's the worst they can do to me :woo: :woo: .
lisa xx

[gimgamgommetje]

Take some time in your home, in each room and investigate the options for self defense use. weapons as well as shielding opjects, throwing objects etc.
There are soo many options.

You could even make a plan and buy some innocent looking stuff to put them on some tactical places.

Don't keep knifes etc in sight too much. If you have a standard on the kitchen with steak knifes etc witch is visable for everyone it is very easy for the intruder to see it as well.
Better keep it out of sight, but still easy to get to.

If you are willing to invest seriously in safety , create a safe room .
Make sure there is a working phone there , flashlight etc. and children etc. know how everything works.

Learn how to drive your car defensively and offensively.
For ecample, if you stand still waiting for a trafficlight don't park to close up the first car to avoid getting boxed in. Keep enough room for escape if possible.

[oldshadow]

If you want and can have a firearm for home defense make it a shotgun. A pump is the best one. Pull the plug and load it with 6 or 8 shot. This is plenty to take someone down with out over penetration into walls. An 18-inch modified to full choke is best. Don’t try to hunt someone down in your home unless your are very well trained at it. It’s a lot harder to do this with out getting in over your head then most people think. Get a cell phone and the kids into a safe room and lock the door. Rack a round and yell I have a gun and I’m calling the police, as you call the police. Stay in the room until the police tell you to come out. Leave the shotgun in the room when you are told you can come out. If the intruder tries to brake down the door yell again you have a gun and make sure you are behind some cover like the bed. If they still try to force the door put the first round through/into the door. Learn how to use and practice with your shotgun. Take a course in shotgun self-defense.

By the way when burglars were asked what they feared most they said the sound of a shotgun racking and a scared female voice.

I’m sorry but I guess our friends in the U.K. can’t follow this advice but it sounds like you have adapted as best as you can to the situation.