Fake online information a sin?

[BobP123]

im talking about sites that just require registration to use stuff. like nfl.com requires registration for fantasy football. or game sites to get online newsletters.

It’s all part of the advertise, bait, and hook process. If they don’t require a fee, there’s no obligation. You’ve expanded their market. They already know how to reach you, fake info or otherwise.

 

[Jay2]

One thing that I have done (and fortunately can do) is alter the spelling of my last name.

On anything legal, or “legitmate” it is spelled correctly. For on-line “stuff” or things like forums I’ll spell it phoenetically, adding an extra consonent or vowel here and there.

(It’s actually interesting to track - the so-called “we’ll not sell your info to anyone”… and then my mailbox is littered with junk mail with the incorrect spelling.)

I’ll also leave one digit of my address off, or instead of my actual town’s name, I’ll put the nearest metropolitan area as my town. Amazingly the junk still finds it way to me!

I’ve also used “Date & Time”, or “Directory Asst.” (800-555-1212) as my phone number as well.

I don’t know if you could consider this lying or not. If “they” really needed to contact you they will & can… via this same medium we’re using now - the Internet.

Unless you’re doing a business transaction that is legally binding, there’s no reason for anyone to know private or semi-private information… unless you want them to know.

 

[m134e5]

These sites??? These days everysite requires somesort of registration to do anything besides read the main page! I still want to know if ive commited a sin by (name removed by moderator)uting false information. My intent is not to decieve just to protect myself.

No, it is not a sin.

 

[AndyF]

No.

Online security is a valid concern, unless it is to receive something that is due the receiving party, ie: a debt, even then one should be cautious.

AndyF

 

[Blackbog]

It is a sin only if you intend to deceive someone. If your fake name is “Bob Smith,” that might be more a sin than if your fake name is “Super Man.” But regardless, it’d most likely be a venial sin and not something you should fret too much over. It would only be a mortal sin if by deceiving the web site or people online, you were doing grave harm to them.

 

[iwannabesomeone]

Maybe it would be a good idea to put this question in the Ask an Apologist forum.

 

[AaronsStaff]

i didnt think i should clog that forum with this, because most of the questions there seem to be of serious concern. And quite frankly id be somewhat embarassed to have to waste their time with this. A friend just told me today that even without any information, someone can find out your personal info quite easily(wont say it here …obviously) and that go me worried. My intent had never been to decieve anyone, just protect myself. Anyways im not doing this anymore, its amazing how the little things rip me apart.

 

[Zooey]

Personally, I use my cat’s name for anything like this. (This requires of course, that your cat have a believable name for a human).And, I use her birthdate (with my year of birth).
I would not dream of giving out the amount of info that seems to be required on most sites.
Also, if someone steals Miss Lily’s identity, they are going to get a really, really, big surprise when they try to charge up bills in her name…
But I’m not lying; I give them her real, actual name, just the way it is on her veterinary records.

I tell people, she is so a person; she purrs all the time.

 

[James_Miller]

No I do not think it is a sin. It is like an actor using a stage name or an author having a pen name.