status-monitor Adding Local Directories of Top Members on NamePros

While people from emerging markets probably know this anyway, I would strongly advise anyone from a country with low level of economic development and high degree of corruption, never to seek any local friends online.

NEVER!

Keep your privacy. Keep your domains private. Keep your earnings private. Don't brag about your success, whether real or imaginary. Unless you need cash asap, keep your money in cryptocurrency or other remote form like Epik balance or try to get a foreign bank account in a safer jurisdiction.

Otherwise sooner or later you are very likely to end up meeting a group of friendly orcs, kindly asking you to donate to their Friendly Orcs Association, an offer you won't be able to reject. And then you'll become their regular sponsor.

Don Gondon said:

While people from emerging markets probably know this anyway, I would strongly advise anyone from a country with low level of economic development and high degree of corruption, never to seek any local friends online.

NEVER!

Keep your privacy. Keep your domains private. Keep your earnings private. Don't brag about your success, whether real or imaginary. Unless you need cash asap, keep your money in cryptocurrency or other remote form like Epik balance or try to get a foreign bank account in a safer jurisdiction.

Otherwise sooner or later you are very likely to end up meeting a group of friendly orcs, kindly asking you to donate to their Friendly Orcs Association, an offer you won't be able to reject. And then you'll become their regular sponsor.

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That is a fascinating thesis. I had not really considered the orc scenario, quite frankly. There are a TON of folks using fake names on this board. I think it greatly weakens the impact of the community.

In fact, I view it rather the opposite. I am apparently a public figure -- that was news to me when someone mentioned it to me last year. I had always considered myself to be rather an introvert.

Here is the big upside. If someone screws me or they screw someone who I trust to be in the right, I can relentlessly seek justice. My ability to do that is a direct result of choosing to not be in the shadows.

For those who value privacy, sure, don't show your age, your location, or your real name. Use a really good VPN, and you can live in relative obscurity and get paid in cryptos without too much concern about orcs.

On the other hand, you can choose to live boldly and leave a legacy of contributions for all eternity. That has rather been my choice. And admittedly, when it comes to that choice, it surely helps to have faith.