Question…Why are some of you sitters, that prefers not to link their profile and stay hidden- anonymous ?
I always thought that sitters and homeowners linked their profiles on the community forum to receive feedback as to what others on the forum thought about their profile/listing. I’ve seen numerous posts where homeowners are having a difficult time finding sitters and want feedback from other members on this forum and then link their profile on here. I’m sure you’ll receive other feedback on this.
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Oh! I get it. My profile is there without that type of need.
I thought for exemple it was interesting to know where people are from and exchange about the knowledge and experience of the region . 
I wondered the same thing a while ago. Here’s a link to that:
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This is a totally public forum online. I prefer to not share my personal data to the world, as personal data can be misused for a lot of purposes, many of them exploiting and/ or scamming the owner of the data.
Actually, I think it is a shame, and it is a worry for me - and might at some point be (a part of) the reason for leaving THS - that my sitter profile is available to non-members. At the least I should be able to choose to hide it for non-members.
Another reason is that I would like to be able to discuss with fellow members about my experiences without outing a fellow member (for instance a host) or myself.
Those are my reasons. 
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I originally linked my profile, but got some weird msgs. For instance, another sitter asked me to help get their grown son a job where I work. It wasn’t even anyone I’d previously exchanged comments with. Just some random person. So I removed the link.
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Great question @Brigitte
Since this is an international public forum (not just THS members) I prefer to keep a measure of privacy with my personal data.
Our profiles contain our names , ages , current location and of course photos.
Early days I had a big issue on a sit and I posted seeking advice . I had no way of knowing if the owner was on the forum.
I didn’t link my profile so that I wouldn’t identify myself or the host . I did this so that I could get unbiased advice ( which I did ) and also so that I wouldn’t get a retaliatory review. (If host had seen the discussion and realised I was discussing them.)
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I am a private person, I don’t subscribe to social media or the like, nor do I feel the need to put my life ‘out there’ for validation/ criticism. I wouldn’t put a link to my profile unless it was absolutely necessary. That’s the long and short of it for me.
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Same here @anon6309382 - no social media presence for me either.
This is the only forum I contribute to and if anyone wants more information they can send me a direct message.
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My response is the same as @anon6309382 and @Twitcher
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When I first joined I thought I’d stay anonymous in case I had any big problems or ‘stupid’ questions, but apart from the first few weeks, I haven’t had any problems/questions anyway.
1.5 yrs later and I still haven’t added it, because the only reason I can think of adding it now, would be if I wanted to subtly self-promote on here, which I don’t need to. Also it’s a security measure, it’s a totally open forum. I discuss our personal situation if I feel it will help answer a question on here, and if our profile was attached here it could potentially be misused by badies.
If anyone messages me directly on here, I happily give them my link anyway so they know exactly who I am. That’s totally different.
I have to say, some link their profile on here, but then ask a really awkward question about their current sit/sitter, whereby the other party can read what they are saying if they are a member here. I find that baffling that they don’t remove their link firstly.
For those owners who we have sat for that are on the forum, they will know exactly who I am by what I say, because I refer to the two regions where we sit, and our particular situation, and there’s a clue in our forum name anyway. So all of them will know who I am, without needing to ask.
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For me remaining anonymous on the forum gives me a measure of protection and privacy and allows me to be more open in discussing issues that arise on sits without either side being too easily idenitified by anyone.
The only useful reason, that I can see, for adding a profile link is for new members, especially hosts, to receive feedback and help on their profile. As an experienced sitter, 6 years in, I have no need for that kind of help. And I don’t want my forum membership to become so open like my Facebook profile or my THS profile. That’s already enough social media presence for me! If someone wants to contact me directly there is always the ptivate messaging option. A few members have used that but there are only 2 fellow sitters I’ve given my real name to- but even then not my direct profile link.
In my earlier days on the forum my comments were frequently monitored or removed by THS ‘police’ e g if I was too outspoken or giving away too much identifiable info about a sit gone wrong etc! I’ve toned it down now so that hasn’t happened in a long time!
But basically I just don’t feel the need to allow everyone, on or off the platform, to scrutinise my profile any more than is already done in random searches!
I know Big Brother is already watching …no need to give him any extra help!
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To me, transparency and accountability for what we post matter. Unfortunately, there are trade-offs and risks that can prompt folks like me to make concessions on that front.
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We should all just do what we are comfortable with.
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Don’t know if you’d want to lock down your Facebook profile, but you can. Like mine is limited to about 40 people. I routinely refuse requests to add folks. You don’t have to make your profile public at all. Mine has always been set to private.
Funny tangent on that front: I was switching careers about a decade ago and almost missed a life-changing opportunity, because the company was checking for candidates’ social media accounts and I was nowhere to be found. The CEO thought I wasn’t legit because of that. 
Luckily, his chief of staff convinced him to interview me anyway.
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Hi ! You are right. I should have made a research among the to pics.
Thanks for your answer. I did not realized this forum was not private among us.
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Interestingly, I had an issue with my laptop a few months back and had to have the whole thing restored right back to factory settings.
Previously, I always had my Facebook constantly logged in. Once restored to factory settings, it got locked and I cannot for the life of me remember my password and even the ancient email address that I used to set it up with.
I decided to just move on and I’ve adapted to a Facebook-free life. I was never really a huge fan of that particular platform and losing access to my account really shone a spotlight on how it doesn’t particularly enhance my life in anyway.
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Makes sense if it doesn’t work for you. I use it a lot, because for instance I belong to professional groups where people share know-how. Like I’ve helped folks get major raises, promotions and new jobs, get career inspiration and such. I’ve even hired some folks from one of the groups. Two of them recently joined a new team I’m building.
I also belong to many groups for fun — groups about RVs and van life, travel, decorating, pets, recipes (I don’t cook, so I pick them for my husband), etc. I’m also enjoying a group about a city that we recently moved to — people post about community events and businesses, which is useful for getting acquainted. There’s also this amazingly cute mother-son duo who go around eating at various restaurants, so I’m picking up loads of recommendations across the region.
Right now, I’m tapping a couple of groups for info about Christmas markets in Europe. I love that folks have so many obsessions that they’ll share info and photos about. They even have spreadsheets and polls about the best markets, etc.
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I can see that there are a myriad of wonderful opportunities on Facebook that I am potentially missing out on. It’s great that you’ve managed to gain all of that from Facebook. You’re really leveraging it to your advantage and I say kudos to you, Maggie!
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