Why photoshop out your license plate?

[mgwashburn]

This may be an odd question, but why do people black out their license plates in the photos they post? Its not like we are going to stalk them. Heck, I can creatively find out where you live simply by your e-mail, so why spend the time blanking out your license plate unless its a photo of you smoking something illegal in your car?Am I missing something here?In fact, here is my personal info, feel free to send me money, gifts, a new LCD TV, or how about a new Supercharger or CAI?Send ICO:Marc Washburn124 East Lake DriveTarpon Springs, FL 34688Link to Google Map Satellite picture of my home and the beautiful and blue Gulf of Mexico: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=...om=1 or e-mail me at marcwashburn@yahoo.com

[Moon_wagon]

lolI was looking for a new Yakima rack system for my Vibe. Too bad the drive is a bit long from Montreal.

[WaveAction]

i blank mine out cause anyone can access these forums and see and either use this site as a shopping list of who to hit..such as stereo systems and stuff..it's happened before to a few friends of mine

[VforVIBE]

I block it out so the cops can't find me and charge me with all the crimes that I've admitted to on GenVibe...

[blue_can]

I think you certainly will be receiving lots of free stuff by posting your info - you will be getting lots of junk email by posting your email address. It's only a matter of time before the robots find it. I viewed the HTML source and the email address is there as readable text.

[mgwashburn]

I am not so worried about spam, I am pres of an ISP/design firm and I run all my e-mail through a graylist filter and then the cloudmark antispam filter. So feel free to fire away at it. But hey all!!! keep that free stuff coming. I will post pics of all the free stuff that gets sent to me.

[Merzbow]

I don't black mine out because I don't care. I highly doubt anyone would look me up out of all the cars in the world and steal a Vibe. Also like you said, there are a million other ways to find someone's identity online. For two it is custom so I want to show it off. I normally only black out the plates of a select few of my friends cars just out of respect for them and added security. My one friend had his car stolen once already so he would be one of them lol.

[joholste]

i'm the same way as merzbow..i don't do it just cuz i don't care. and if someone is gonna go out of there way just to look me up through the DMV and come steal my car via that....well then it was meant to happen

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by WaveAction »i blank mine out cause anyone can access these forums and see and either use this site as a shopping list of who to hit..such as stereo systems and stuff..it's happened before to a few friends of mineYeah, you never know when some douche is going to steal your pictures and use them for their own personal gain when they go to peddle their wares. ahem, BLINGLIGHTS anyone? ANd like we saw with Cragislist recently, somebody could be scamming and put up a pic of your car with your license plate in view and pretend to be selling it... I wouldn't want that coming back on me when somebody gets taken for thousands of dollars thinking that they've just bought a car with a license plate that can be traced back to ME. Blurring out is a pretty good idea IMHO, as is watermarking your pics (I need to start doing that.) A bunch of savages out there who will steal your crap. And posting your real info in plain view for spammers, scammers, robots, and the ordinary psychopath that may be lurking isn't something I'd ever do... The internets is not a safe place.

[NUBlackshirts]

Sorry, but I'm paranoid. In fact, it used to be my job to be paranoid (still is to a point). Guess old habits die hard.For you military folks out there...."Think OPSEC."

[Toasted7]

I do it for the same reason that ColonelPanic does... actually the car he is refering to that was on Craigslist just not long ago... WAS MINE! Someone snagged my pic off the web and posted it as if they were selling it. They had a Vibe for sale, at least I think they did, and they were too lazy to take a pic of their own. They had to steal mine and use it for theirs. If I was the person that bought their car and it wasn't the car pictured, then I would be highly upset. My Vibe is nowhere close to a standard/stock Vibe... as was the write-up on Craigslist... so who knows what would have happened if some caring members on GVC didn't bring that to my attention.Not that I'm scared of anyone getting my info or anything like that... there are plenty of ways for them to get whatever they want... I just don't want to make it so easy for them.

[burkeyro]

I do it for the LADIES. I don't want to Get stalked cause I'm So HOT and my Wife would *****. ROFLMAO J/K

[Merzbow]

(removed) best answer so far

[Katscan]

I blanked mine out because I thought it was a good idea, no need to make it easy for people who would use such knowledge for malicious purposes. Same reason I lock my doors when I drive, better be safe than sorry.That and I rather not get caught up in someones insurance scam by making such knowledge so easily available to them.