There is NO online privacy. Change the Names!

In response to a fellow student's blog question, I thought I'd broadcast this ASAP:

Do not upload anything you don't want someone anywhere to read!! Not at all, not anywhere!! Not here, not now not because it's a class, never!! Actually, don't print it if you don't want it read, either, even under an assumed name. Exactly the wrong person will order it from Amazon 20 years later, for some other reason, looking for something completely different.

Change the person's name. Change the hair color, distinguishing characteristics, state of origin, name of local city and streets. If the people are recognizable, make them at least deniable: "No, I didn't write it." Or "No, it wasn't about you. The story's set in Squalidelphia."

If the story would be undeniable if recognized, change all identifying information, all proper names.

ESPECIALLY, don't include anyone's name, not even the name of someone else who's treated in a complimentary and non-threatening fashion in the story. Once one character becomes identifiable, some person who knows the family (and that's who we're worried about, right?) will be able to deduce the rest of the identities almost immediately. Then EVERYONE will get ALL the implications wrong.

Protect yourself. Tell all the truth or tell the story truthishly (??) but as you tell it slant, slant the names and places right on out of it. The punch of very few stories depends on readers knowing precise locale or historical time.