How Much Should We Share When Asking for CP Advice Online?

This week, we celebrated World Cerebral Palsy Day. It led to a thoughtful conversation about how much personal information we should share when asking an online community for advice. Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently, so context can help people understand the question. But details such as age, location, school, family circumstances, and other conditions may identify someone when combined. Leaving everything out can make a question difficult to answer. Sharing too much may reveal information the person never agreed to make public. I think it helps to include only what directly relates to the question and generalize everything else. When possible, asking the person what they feel comfortable sharing can also protect their dignity and trust. How do you balance getting useful advice with protecting someone’s privacy? What details do you usually leave out?