Hexbear started during the 2020 BLM protests, where cops were using social media and internet presence to track down activists. They are still doing this, but with less vigor than when police stations were burning down.
This included things like using tattoos on naked bodies, etsy store receipts etc.
Just before the r/cth ban, there was also a problem with chasers and general, um… Pervy men. The space was generally masc, and steps were taken to reduce thirst-posting and the like.
These things combined means that people don’t post selfies or direct identifying information. People post their pets and artwork, but I know I have to make a decision about where and when I post things to make things non-trivial for cops or random chuds. I feel like a unique pet name, breed, and rough region could be enough to track someone down.
Even so, I think I’m bad at it. I feel like if someone knew me and read everything on hexbear they could ID me pretty easily (and I know multiple people in person on hexbear, but we’ve never exchanged usernames).
Idk if there are any hard and fast rules beyond the selfies and direct ID though. I should burn this account.
“here random boss of some company i have no connection to: here’s an unrelated username to your employee and an IP addresses proving it’s them. maybe some unhinged shit trying to convince you their writing style is the same.”
but yeah it is a legit threat that’s why don’t put anything solid that can connect you to RL. no address, workplace name, etc. nothing that could be placed on a single page in an email and have the connection be instantly made. no HR department is going to read paragraph after paragraph of DIY OSINT that reads like one of those conspiracy walls with red string
(unless you work in a high security industry of some sort obviously)
It’s good to practice opsec for sure, but I don’t think posting on Hexbear will ever get you in any sort of real trouble.
Even if anti-communism is in full swing, you’re more likely to get popped by someone at your local bar while you’re drunkenly rambling about Karl Marx than you are for posting to an obscure semi-anonymous forum.
Just remember that if you do end up in court and your posts here are linkable to you, you’ll have them read aloud to a jury.