Safety Discussion - Offsite Contact

@AuRewolf yay the discussion is here! :3

@AuRewolf

1. What steps can be taken by you to protect yourself online (including 7 Cups)?

not share information about my real identity (full name, location, address, credit card details)

2. What would you do if a member or a listener starts asking for your contact details?
   i would kindly let them know that the site does not allow offsite contact.

3. If you spotted a forum post containing a link to a group on a social media/messaging site, what could you do about the forum post?

   i would report the forum post or also let the leader of the community in which the forum post is located at to perhaps edit out the social media info.

@KateDoskocilova

Yay, thanks for sharing your thoughts! 😊

Yes, letting the other person know about the no-offsite contact policy is a good approach! It also helps to share the link to the helpdesk page about offsite contact (at the end of the original post) with them too!

Yas on reporting the forum post and letting the community leaders know about it so that they can edit out the contact details!

• Not using a name or image that can be traced to any other channel,
• protecting anonymity as much as possible
• using a separate email address for 7cups (because security doesn't seem to be their strong suit),
• being vague about events you attend, places where you live/are going, groups outside 7cups that you take part in
• not using any Google form where you need to log in with your real-world Google user name
• limiting use of any other shared outside-7cups-site to an absolute minimum, even if that means that you miss out on some of the events - at least until 7cups understands that forms outside cups put their users in danger, and provides their own forms and document sharing website (which is, frankly, pretty easy to setup and maintain).

1. What would you do if a member or a listener starts asking for your contact details?

   I'd tell them no, and depending upon the intention behind it, I'd block and report them, or just tell them why not.
   

2. If you spotted a forum post containing a link to a group on a social media/messaging site, what could you do about the forum post?

   I'd report it ASAP.
   

3. Do you have any ideas about minimizing the risk of offsite contact on 7 Cups?

   Don't. For the rest, see my first reply.
   

@cloudySummer

Thanks for sharing your insights!

I agree with you on using a separate email address for 7 Cups, as well as not sharing much about the life outside of 7 Cups while interacting with other users.

It looks like you feel that minimizing the use of outside websites (like google forms and google docs) is a safe move towards protecting the outside identity of 7 Cups users. It makes sense, given that this is an anonymous platform.

Also, excellent ways to respond to the user asking for contact details, as well as reporting the forum post for removing the link :)

@AuRewolf It doesn't just 'look like I feel' - I don't 'feel' that, I know it, thanks to some education in cybersecurity.

@AuRewolf @kristynsmama @DreamTouch @BearListens @Dreamicicle8467

🚧What steps can you take in order to protect yourself online (including 7 Cups)?

🐱 Don't give out personal information (no numbers, no social media, no legal name, no address) or the whereabouts of where you live….. don't say the precise city or state

🚧 What would you do if a member or listener starts asking for your contact details?

🐱 We cannot give out personal contact information because it can put us in danger. We can still chat here. 

🚧 If you spotted a forum post containing a link to a group on a social media/messaging site, what could you do about the forum post?

🐱 I would flag the post because it's sharing off-site contact. Then the rightful leaders will take care of it.

🚧 Do you have any ideas about minimizing the risk of offsite contact on 7 Cups? 

🐱 If there is off-site contact we can use the 3 warnings and then ban the listener or both people…..

Scares me

The number one prevention to requests and encouragement to move communications away from the site would be to provide all the alternative sites have to offer.

how this site, or any could do so upholding anonymity consistently is difficult.

Saying that, I ask what are the reasons (in the mind of the undesirable with bad intentions) used to justify leaving the site primarily?

Listener banned when a true connection built that’s help providing gone without (perceived) good reason?

A solution to such a issue is involving and asking the member before harsh intervention that’s behind the smokescreen. A uncertain member could then ask for observation, admin to step in, or best for the site fault is not there responsibility. From my knowledge of law.

knowing that if such actions are caught for what they are a ban is all they face as a deterrent.

unhappy humans , in distress, in need for support who will not or don’t have the opportunity to talk or reach out to someone. Have a dedicated completely void of repercussions active and timely means of simple concerns being a source of guidance in a place that’s difficult to navigate even in the best mindset.

I have these answers and questions from a very experienced perspective, I’m actually not thinking about what happened and what would have prevented it. Every day or close to I deeply miss and think about my ex from 7cups. My account years ago saved me due to her, nobody on earth knows me and was willing to be there for me like she was. Was she wrong in her actions?

it’s a question I ask myself while also asking, on the planned dates, would my answered desire for company have changed anything? I know immediately no! I done what I intended on a few even knowing she’s a willing yet not supportive in my actions company I desired.

when you unexpectedly survive a continuation in apparently day ending actions, company very much needed and only available here with someone who cares more than anyone in your life, was the following years later in person much missed relationships bad or good?

id love a clear answer as I can’t find one. Safety is extremely important but then I’m not about to attribute or even attempt to decide one’s wellbeing and potential outcomes as morality is a complex subject.

sorry for the over shared information, I only mentioned it as even what may be considered a easy choice, so many reasons for the outcome . 7cups IM0 could be so much better