is posting pictures really safe here? advice?

[ginapoodle]

All, and Admin:

Is it really safe and secure to post pictures on this forum. As I understand it, the picture posting and viewing only happens after a new person has some vetting, correct?

I am considering posting some of my best images. Any advice is welcome. I do not want the pictures to be open to general public viewing for privacy reasons.


Thank you!

[jennifer0918]

This is a good question, I wonder the same thing, is it safe?

[Joni T]

It's really quite simple: If you're that worried about it, don't post any thing. It ain't rocket science.
Jon

[Dr.Susan]

If you post photos on the web, they can show up almost anywhere. Once one of mine, from another site, showed up on someone's else's blog. They did not ask to use it. I do post many anymore.

[IamWren]

In the short time I've been on the forum I've seen this topic come up once or twice during that time.

It seems as though the consensus is, that although precautions are taken to ensure a safe place for CDers to discuss related topics and to post images for sharing, once you place an image on the internet, regardless of how safe you believe it to be, you lose control of that image. You no longer have the ability to control who sees it, downloads it or shares it on other platforms.

There are a handful of the gals here on this site who hit the CDing genetic lottery. I have seen their pictures on other places on the net. And it looks like they were NOT placed there by the original owner of the image. I'm convinced of the nearly 30,000 members of this site, there are many who joined for the sole purpose of picture collecting.

I'm not saying this to scare you or prevent you from sharing your photos but i think it is the reality of the internet, even this very well administered and safe forum.

[Jaylyn]

Gina there's. No place safe on the Internet to post a picture that's 100% safe. I sometimes share pictures with other members but very rarely post on any site. If you read some site little bitty wording at the bottom you'll find they have permission by you posting to use that picture for advertising and to even sell. I think Facebook and several group sites are really not safe. I can't for the life of me figure why any one would want my ugly mg an how, but who knows... Lol

[michelleddg]

In my personal experience, I've been posting photos of myself, including boudoir, here and on Facebook for years. When I google myself I never see any photos or even references to me. I think the key is to keep your boy and girl selves completely separate on the internet, as opposed to keeping your girl self isolated. Hugs, Michelle

[Georgia_Maine]

I'm afraid that all of the photos on this forum or any other can be copied if you're a member. This even includes sections that otherwise aren't viewable by non-members, like profile pics and the photo section. Here is my profile photo (modified) that should only be viewable by members:

276129

It was an easy "copy & paste" operation. So if you absolutely don't want anyone copying your photos definitely don't put them on the internet!

[sara.rafaela]

I am more concerned about something like Facebook. Don't they use facial recognition software? Wouldn't it then be possible to be tagged based on the size and separation of eyes, length of nose, etc...; and for these photos to be sent out as, "check out new photos of xyz?" The only photo posted of me is this profile. I would appreciate other's comments . I don't know if my concerns are real.

[Clodagh]

Honestly, I think it depends on what you are trying to keep them safe from. The internet is massive and it is filling with more and more junk each day. If you are worried about being recognised, for example, unless you are posting pictures in male mode, this is very unlikely. We are each here adopting different personas, with vastly different appearances. unless you are making clear links back to your male online persona, there is miniscule chance of somebody you know seeing your picture and making the link back to you.

As Michelle said, keep your boy self and girl self separate online. Yes there are possible ways that people could track links between the two, but unless it is obvious, then there is no reason for them to do so.

[DIANEF]

I tried googling my name,that is Dianef, nothing came up. I added crossdresser, a previously used single avatar appeared, along with many familiar avatars of members on this forum.

[docrobbysherry]

Think of it this way, Gina. If u believe your vanilla friends and family r going to prowl a CD/trans site, recognize u from your fake name and in a female disguise? Don't post pics here!:thumbsdn:

However, if u r like me and think there's better chance of the earth being destroyed by a meteor than that happening? Post your pics!:thumbsup:

[Meghan4now]

Really depends on what you mean by "safe". I have never severed a limb or put my eye out. (Maybe burned some body else's), and I have not seen myself on any non intended site. Nor has anyone come back to me saying, "Hey isn't that you? IN DRAG?!?!"

That being said, sure there are limitations to the security of this site. Locks are for keeping honest people honest. If Kim Jung Un really wants a copy of your photo to display across from the John while he sts there, then he will find a way to get it.

But in general, unless someone is really actively looking, the probability of a spill over is very low. Don't know what to tell you about security clearance searches. Good chance it ends up under the rug anyway. So are you going for a TS clearance? (Pun totally intended) ;)

[Alice B]

I agree with Doc Sherry. Notgibg to worry about

[Taylor186]

As I understand it, the picture posting and viewing only happens after a new person has some vetting, correct?

As I understand it, when you join you can view any picture. No real vetting required.

[SometimesKairi]

Once its on the net anyone can download, save and share anything.
That obviously includes photos.

So if someone I know sees me on here, the first retort is, why are you on a crossdressing site?

S

[Clodagh]

That's exactly right Kairi

[Stephanie47]

This subject has come up numerous times. It is known that something put on the Internet remains forever. It may take some deep digging, but, it will be there. I've "Goggled" names of this site, and, some general crossdressing searches and the women on this site do appear. Not just photos but also postings. Give it a try. However, log off the computer and comes back on so your last Internet searches have been erased. Put in names on this site. See what comes up.

If you want to post a picture it may show up anywhere. There's nothing to stop anyone, even girls on this site, from grabbing the photo and posting elsewhere. Some of the avatars I see here are obviously not their own pictures. I would suggest, if you're really concerned, post pictures with your head turned so it is more of a profile. Maybe wear a pair of stylish sunglasses.

[Georgette_USA]

Don't know what to tell you about security clearance searches. Good chance it ends up under the rug anyway. So are you going for a TS clearance?


This was way before any on-line stuff.

When they check stuff for a TS clearance, they are looking to see if you can be blackmailed. When in the Navy, in 1972/73, I got outed by accident. I openly talked about it and said that the fact the Navy knows now as it was never asked about it prior, they had no problem with it. Plus my family or mother knew about it from when I was young. I maintained my TS or Secret clearances till I retired in 2011, even keep up with them as I transitioned.

Whatever you do DON'T lie about it or you can forget about TS.

If you want to keep all this totally secret nowadays NEVER post your real name and any pics that might be found in any on-line places.

Not much is really secret anymore.

[NicoleScott]

I've been posting and sharing my photos for 15 years. My privacy concerns are alleviated by my belief that my true identity won't be determined because the before and after transformation photos are so different. It doesn't concern me, and I would wonder why someone would go to so much trouble to figure it out.

[AllieSF]

All the above is true and possible. If you want to have limited viewing of your pictures, maybe pot them in the GM only section, where you need special approval to join, read posts and view any pictures posted there, said approval is quite simple once the Mods/Admins confirm who and what you are. There is also the Risky Business section for obviously, more risque pictures that meet that sections rules. It is also a members only section.

[Stephanie Julianna]

I feel very comfortable posting here and even if they somehow got out there is no way to tie them to my male self in the world since my real name and address are not here. The other part is that most of us look nothing like our male selves when dressed even when you see the side by sides that people do post on Boy mode vs. Girl mode at the top of the page in the photo forum. I do draw the line there and do not show my male image.

[Teresa]

Gina,

As far as I'm aware this section is totally open to anyone that includes everything we say and any pictures we choose to submit. Which means they are fair game to anyone.
Submitting my first avatar was scary at the time, I was paranoid for a couple of weeks, as far as I'm aware nothing appears to have happened . If you eventually want to come out anyway long term it may not do any harm , that's how I feel about it now.

The picture section again as far as I'm aware is only open to members , OK that means we put total trust in them, but the pictures can be copied and used elsewhere , if someone chooses to do so we may not realise before finding out and by then who knows how many have seen them and what use they have been put to .

The bottom line is your pictures aren't exclusive so they aren't safe, you do submit at your own risk, I haven't read up on the forum guidelines recently but I'm sure they will have that disclaimer .

Personally I enjoy posting pictures, the feedback can be fun, useful and helps with accepting yourself , I couldn't have moved forward and go out socially without partly building my confidence on the forum.

[Tracii G]

If you are so worried then don't post pics.
I used to save my girl pics on photobucket and when posting a guitar pic to a guitar building web site a guy plucked out a girl pic of me and posted it in their forum trying to out me.
I said yeah thats me in the pic whats your problem?
Several members razzed me calling me names and I just went along with them acting like it didn't bother me, a couple of days later 3 of the guys were banned from the site, 3 were given suspensions and some of the women on the site sent me friend requests and became close online friends.
I have seen my pics on other sites and I could care less to be honest.
If you have a friend sees your pic just act like they are crazy and say I didn't know you hung out on crossdressing websites.
Say that part loud enough so others hear it and I'll bet he will shut up and let it go.
I will also say if you post pics where you are in a bra with a hairy chest,a fright wig and no make up you will be recognized easier.

[ellbee]

Depends. Honestly, how recognizable are you when you're in girl-mode?

Do you look like your guy-self with some make-up & a wig? Or do you legitimately look like your sister/mother/cousin? Or do you look like someone else, completely?



All my pics from my femme days are long gone. None survived the rounds of purging. :sad:

Or at least those in my possession. Perhaps former friends of mine from years ago still have a few? And I know at one time there were pics of me on at least one club's website, which I believe has since closed their doors.

I used to post pics all the time, at various places, over the years. Could someone, somewhere, still have them saved on their hard drive? :strugglin


I've also made a few attempts on sifting through the "deep web," but could never find anything.


Just as well, I guess...

[Princess zelia prime]

Just think logically for a second. Think about how big the internet is. Then think about how many people you know. Think about all those people and really ask yoursefl are they really going to go online trying to find out if people they know cross dress? Are they really out there on the internet looking up crossdressing? If they are they probably are crossdressers. Then theres the internet and how big it is. Are people really going to find you hiding in this web forum. And of ALL the websites and ALL the threads/posts/pictures/users here they are really going to find you in here? And if someone does know about your crossdressing or heard rumors about you do you really think they care that much or are obssesed with finding out the truth or finding pictures of you on the internet. You really think someones going to take THAT much time and effort into finding you. Like i said if someone does find you then they probably are a cross dresser themselfs to find them selfs this deep in the web searching for someone they know. Your odds of someone finding out are like 1 in 1 million. And like that one girl said if someone does find you ask what the hell they were doing digging around on a crossdresser forum

[Tracii G]

Zelia its that some people are scared of their own shadow and make up reasons for not doing things to justify their lack ability to accept themselves.

[ellbee]

Think about how big the internet is.

And yet, at the same time, it's made the world a much smaller place.


You'd be surprised at what kind of stuff & how much of it one can find out about a person, should they have the desire, the know-how, and the experience. It's kind of creepy, really.


Regardless, what someone does or doesn't do when it comes to all this, is totally up to the individual.

[Gillian Gigs]

Once it is on the world wide web, it is not possible to take it back! You can do a headless post, or something like that, but if you are fearful, then don't post.

[ginapoodle]

All,

Much great advice, just what I was seeking. Likely I will post some carefully selected pictures in the future. I feel I need to share who I am here, at least a bit, visually...

[Tracii G]

Once you get over your fear it will be no big deal to post a pic.

[Jane G]

For sure once you share an image on the internet, you have little control over who sees it. But two things to note for me. I don't look like a film star and I don't look like I do in drab. So I figure why would any one wish to re post my images and if they do, no one but my immediate family would ever know who it was behind the make up.

[Heather J]

I'm sure this forum is safer then most... But just remember the golden rules. 1. Once on the net it's always on the somewhere 2. Don't post any thing you wouldn't want your grand mother to see. :)

[Amy Lynn3]

My adult granddaughter and her Mother use my computer all the time. They look at the pictures I have stored in the picture section of my PC often. My Avatar you see here and others are there also. I see them looking at my pictures and neither one has ask me who Amy is. I admit it is a mixture of pictures and the pictures of me are mixed in. I hide my pictures in plain view, so all can see.
I said that to say....if you are dressed as a woman and they have never saw you dressed, or have no outstanding features then nobody will ever know who you are, so post your pictures. This is not to say your picture can't be copied, but it would be a stretch to think someone would know who you are.

[Leslie Mary S]

As a photographer, Restoration specialist, and Artist. There isn't any image here on the web that I can't copy. But why do that? If I want to put head 'A' on body 'B'? sure I can do that. I just don't see a reason to do it.
If I want your photo, I will ask that you send it to me by E-mail or snail mail. Frequently what is on the web is in such a low grade, they are near useless.
Look at the size requirement of our avatars, 150 x 150 max or just 22,500 dots. The size requirement of a photo submission is 500 x 500 or 250,000 dots. ridiculously small.
When I am working on a photo it is normally in the range of 10 to 20 Megabytes or even larger. over 6,000 x 6,000 dots per side or over 36,000,000 dots. For quality work you MUST have those sizes. Reducing a photo is easy. Enlarging is a pain. Specially if it is a ".JPG" file with greater than 2% compression. I no longer store in".JPG" format. Each time you re-save the photo the artifacts get worse. I now use a "lossless" format.

Foil people from using your photos incress the compression.

[Lana Mae]

I really do not care! As was said, why were they on a crossdresser site to start with! Hugs Lana Mae

[TrishaTX]

you get to a point where you just stop worrying.....

[Pumped]

I have gotten a hard time about not posting pics. I will not do it. I might consider posting a headless shot, but nothing identifiable. No one wants to see my old, fat body haphazardly dressed anyway!

I posted some pictures on another site, totally unrelated. The sight requires you to log on to see pics. The other day I was telling a friend about what the subject of the pics, and decided just to use Google and show him some random pictures. The first 3-4 pictures that showed up on Google were mine, copied from where I posted them to Pinterest.

[reinasblack]

Some one gotta a hold of photos I posted here before and had Ill will towards me. I removed the face photos and only post body or eye blocked out photos.
There is a way to find out who it is that post here but it requires special knowledge.just don't post what you will regret.
The person was banned here but not for that as I never mentioned it.i have not heard from them.there in the military and I worked with them as a civilian.

[Lacy PJs]

Inquiring minds want to know...

So I went to Google and searched on "Lacy PJs". Sure enough, on page 5 (ranked 45) of the results was a post I made back in March. This, of course, was complete with avatar. While that particular post didn't have any photos, had there been, I'm reasonably sure that those would have been displayed too.

The experiment will be retried later this AM after I log out... stand by, results to follow...

Lacy PJs

[Princess zelia prime]

Lacy Pjs i just did the same thing and i popped up on google images. Lol thats awsome. Im on google images now hahahahahahah. But im not worried about it i had to search "princess zelia prime" just zelia or princess zelia, or zelia prime nothing came up. Nobody knows my screen name so im pretty sure i would never be found and if i did i really wouldnt care. I like people knowing i cross dress. I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. Im just being me.

[Lacy PJs]

OK, so after I made my post above, I completely shut down my PC, waited a couple of minutes then restarted. About an hour later, here I am again. Without logging in, I was able to see the post.

So to answer the original question, it depends... this particular section (Male to Female Crossdressing) of the site apparently allows one to view posts w/o being logged on. It appears that other sections of the forum are more secure in that at least you must be a forum member to access those areas.

If you posted a picture in this section, it is apparently open to public viewing.

Lacy PJs

[Leslie Mary S]

Google went into the "Guest" area. An area open to the general public. Maybe our programers need to deactivate the 'display avatar' piece of the program and just put a 'Restricted - Access to members only " picture there.

[crossdlalam]

Dont worry dear

[Lorileah]

remember when you signed up for the forum and you read all those rules and stuff and you agreed to them? Good times huh? There were things like sections that you needed a certain number of posts to view (10) members only areas and there were areas that you had to be a member of to see and get permission (even as a "super mod" I can't read). Layers of privacy. Rule 1, you don't want people to see it, don't post it. There are geeks out there who can, with time and software, see anything you post ANYWHERE. 2-if you don't mind some people seeing it, post in a members only area. 3- if anyone copies and posts photos from this site of someone else they will be banned.

Risk Awareness

[CynthiaD]

Posting pictures here is just as safe as walking down a crowded street in full daylight fully en femme.

I've done both. Nothing has ever happened.

But if you're going to fret about it, don't do it. Life is to short to worry about things.

[LaurenDeHart]

Yes, I guess this is a valid concern for me IF someone can positively identify my male persona from my en femme pictures. It all boils down to being personally identifiable. The average image thief cannot make such a match nor are they interested in doing so.

I'd be more worried about any pictures on my mobile devices. You should read the fine print the next time you install that app from an airline or wherever. You've just given them permission to access your contact list and your mail box. Not only do they know who you are but your friends too. Your geographic location and it's history? That too. Where you shop? Bingo.

Just saying because, well, I have some experience on the matter from a law enforcement perspective. I'm not a hacker. I work in the world of the technology. For those where being outed is catastrophic (not just for themselves but to family, shareholders, etc) please think about this risk as well.

Lauren

[lingerieLiz]

I don't post pictures. i'm not a cute young thing and who wants to see an ugly old woman. With face recognition it is true that poor quality avatars probably won't match up well. Face recognition is always getting better and use measurements that are getting better. The other thing is that now your carrier/cable company can sell your information what you do will be more available. Advertisers will have more information about you. Sharing data with Facebook/Google or any other purveyor of information will match you better. Even an avatar has a unique footprint on the web. So someday with artificial intelligence (Bob) your boss gets a Facebook "do you know" friend suggestion showing Sue with your name attached. Big data using AI is ramping up at a tremendous rate. Everyone that deals with the public and wants to sell you something is jumping on the bandwagon. I looked at panties a couple weeks ago (and bought) I'm still getting popups from the same company that I purchased from. It doesn't bother me my wife told me about the sale. But, it could be embarrassing for some. It will get worse folks.

[sarahNZ]

Hi Gina

Like so many before me, I have posted many photos both here and the dreaded FB (both me and fem-me).
While I have to admit that I don't really care who sees me being me, I was curious to see what would come up on a google search... the answer... not a thing! I checked my name, my fem name and my FB name, then added crossdresser to all for good measure; all of which led me to scrolling through google listings, images and videos for about half an hour but still not a single mention or image of me.

Maybe I got lucky and am just to average to stand out? But I think it's just the luck of the draw.

[Amanda Katharine]

Or you could approach it from the perspective of the high functioning sociopath and realize that if someone sees anything here and calls you out on it, then you have ammunition against them as well. It also helps if you care absolutely nothing about what anyone besides your SO thinks if you have one.

[Cheryl T]

The web is an open book.
Someone, somehow can get most anything that's posted anywhere on it and repost it somewhere you don't want it to be.

Just remember that commercial where the girl introduces this guy and says he's a French model. It said so on the web so it must be true, right??

If you wish to stay anonymous don't post. If you don't feel it will happen or you just don't worry about such things then proceed.
The keystrokes you make are your choice...

[DIANEF]

As you can see my current avatar is a full on face picture, anyone with the skills to analyse it with facial recognition technology could probably identify me. But, I can't think of a single reason why anyone would want to.

[Leslie Mary S]

Just because they can?

[Lisa85]

It is foolish to think anything on the "cloud", i.e. someone else's disks will not be discovered. Databases today are normally running with terrabytes of data, and that is just one. Usually there will be a LUN with 300 to 1000 separate disk drives and the mount will be set up in TB pools, and then clustered, i.e. mirrored, to give at least double the space. Facial recognition software can easily find matches and it does not take very long to search TB of disk data. Scott McNealy said long ago, "there is no privacy on the web, get over it". That is even more true today.

So what are you to do: 1- either don't post images if don't want to be discovered, or 2- adjust thinking and be ready and comfortable discussing what someone discovered. Safest photo sharing method today is to use something like snapchat, where the model is that photos disappear after a short time.

[Sissy_Michelle]

Ginapoodle,

I tell everyone this, so please don't take offense. Once you post a picture it is no longer yours or yours to control. In addition our govermment uses the facial recognition feature on Facebook to identify people a lot of the time.

So if you're not totally "out" to everyone... Just something to be aware of.

@--}-----
Michelle

[jennifer0918]

This is a delicate situation, thanks for the heads up ladies.

[Lacy PJs]

Currently, there are 146 people "viewing the MTF Crossdressing segment of this forum. There are 5 viewing the Clothing, Beauty & Shopping segment. This just reinforces my belief that one can view the MTF section w/o logging on... ore even being a member.

Lacy PJs

[Teresa]

Lacy,
That's always been the case, I also thought the TS section was for members only but that is also an open forum. OK the rest are open to members with more than 10 posts apart from approval only sections.

If you have no problems with being out then pictures aren't a problem , it may come back and bite me !