Hello, with a number of local guides increasing world wide, most of the time local guides are looking to meet other local guides from the same country or city, but getting to connect with someone who has all his personal details hidden might be a bit scary such as photos, real names and others. I know that it happen that others do not know how to change user name.
As local guides we are all protected by the local guides rules and policies such as privacy and security. This is one of them which explain in details Local Guides Program Terms and Conditions I would like to focus on what we see from a local guide’s profile here on Connect which help us to trust each other even if we never met before. How easy it is to trust someone with:
- Name that appear as a link(ggk123/?)
- Profile photo as a logo
- No traceable signature on his/her posts
Here might all have met other people during meetups, and it makes everyone comfortable meeting someone who uses his real profile photo and actual real names, I know that we have rights to not share our identities in public especially here on Connect, but at the same time how do you expect us to trust you if you hidden your details, we end up sharing our details with people who hide theirs, I suggest we all start to use our own real names and actual profile photos, unless you are not here to connect with others.
Our safety as local guides is more important than anything else, make sure that you trust the people who you will be meeting during your meetup, know where they are from, know how they look, at-least make sure that they really exist, make a research before, Invite someone you trust to take you to where the meetup will be hosted.
While you keep your names private and photos, keep in mind that local guides want to connect with you here, do not be over protective and also do not loosen your guards be alert and happy guiding!!!
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Hi @Raphael-Mahumane thank you for trying to be helpful, but it is strongly preferred to not repost official material in your own name.
Paul
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Thank you for tipping me @PaulPavlinovich , how can I correct this now, or which part of the post can I edit to remove the official material?
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@PaulPavlinovich I have removed some of the text which I quoted, I hope you will be able to assist if there is something else that needs to be removed, thank you once again.
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@Raphael-Mahumane I’ve changed my real name from most Google profiles as I have received emails with spam. There are people on this platform whose sole purpose is to scam others.
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@TheEagleEye that is true and possible, I have been receiving Facebook request too, since I included my Facebook profile link bellow as signature, they are requesting me to like some of their business pages which is not relevant to local guide, even if there are things like this, but still we need to trust each other by not hiding our selves since we want others to trust us with their lives.
If I may ask, would you like to meet someone for the first time who uses a funny nickname, not having his actual profile photo here, how do we know if you are not here to abduct or rob us our belongings such as cellphones and money? You do not have to answer this question. We have to satisfy both sides, as long as you want to connect with others here.
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@Raphael-Mahumane I wouldn’t meet someone away from a public area. I would probably meet in a central city or town area during the midday. I wouldn’t meet someone at night. I wouldn’t have valuables with me.
During a meetup I would also have caution of where a group are going.
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Those are great tips to keep in mind @TheEagleEye , but still if you do not know the face of the person hosting it will not be easy.
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No @Raphael-Mahumane , caution always.
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@TheEagleEye are you saying no because you are the one who does not use actual real names or even if you were using real names you will still say no as a victim?
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Hi @Raphael-Mahumane ,
This is an interesting point !
Though my profile picture is a real one, I still hesitate to use my real name for the reasons given by @TheEagleEye .
If someone really wants to find my real identity, I guess it won’t be difficult to trace me back (like you my Facebook is in my signature, so… lol).
However, for now I just want it not too visible at 1st sight.
But on the other hand, in order to facilitate the connection between each Local Guide, one must do the 1st step as well.
Well, I’m not sure, will I change to my real name ?
I need to think about it again…
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@Raphael-Mahumane I’m not using my actual name and I would always be cautious.
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That is good @TheEagleEye and I hope others will do what is right, safe for them and also for others.
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Hi @BernardTran thanks for sharing your side of story, I am not pushing anyone to change how they do things here but it will be great if we all become aware of what this looks like on the other hand, how this can affect how we connect here and the trust between us as local guides. For social media, not using your real names and profile photo that is even worse, I do not accept friend requests from anyone who does not have these qualities.
If somoene feels that they must hide their identity here and outside on social media, then they must do so, but I am not encouraging that, due to the mentioned points. Thanks.
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@Raphael-Mahumane
Well I changed my mind and decided to use my real name : Bernard Tran, instead of the previous nickname Silversky888.
Finally, I think you’re right and that will help each other get closer…
Thanks ! 
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Thank you for thinking ahead, as a local guide @BernardTran , this will help others too!!!
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