On a recent podcast interview, I was asked if there was a way for people to add themselves to the site without a location. Before answering, I wanted to know a little bit more about why someone would want to do that. What I learned was important — and has spurred a new feature in the site.
Why location-less profiles matter
Location-less does not meant lost. There are a couple of reasons why someone would want to join the community, but omit an address – even at the city level.
Safety — While I feel generally pretty safe because of my inherent privilege (honestly, more than one), the same can’t be said for everyone. In some cases, political and cultural turmoil could lead to an unsafe outcome if someone can be found via an online directory. Sometimes it’s as simple as feeling vulnerable because you are from a particularly targeted demographic. Whatever the safety concern, it’s important enough to stay off the radar.
The nomad life — Some folks just aren’t in the same place for too long. You could always update your profile if you wanted to, but that can be tedious and brings its own level of safety concerns. If you’re frequently on the go, certainly it may be better (definitely easier) to omit your location.
What’s changed?
Well, to accommodate for those reasons — or any others that you may have — to leave your location blank, you can now choose not to share your location when you sign up. If you’re already signed up, you can also go back and check this option in your profile settings.
What then?
Well, you won’t show up in other folks’ “nearby Pressers” lists or any proximity searches. You won’t show up on the main Presser map on the home page. Your address won’t show on your profile or on any listings where you’ve marked yourself as having attended an event. Your Presser profile will not include a map with the people that are nearest to you.
Basically, you’ll have a profile on the site with no way of knowing your location. And with all of that, we’re happy to have you as part of the community!
