I understand the fear of identity theft, it is a real problem, I neither want nor need specific information that would endanger that in any way. It is helpful in discussing and debating issues to have information about the others in the discussion, in order to use cultural icons, analogies, examples to explain myself, that are familiar to them , so that we have common definitions and reference points. If this is a place to engage in an exchange of ideas, even opposing ones , in a rational manner that is fine. If I have inadvertently blundered into some one's, or some group's personal paranoid support group, I will apologize and go elsewhere. I do not come to these forums for the politics, and most of the people I have met are excellent. It takes a certain leap of faith to send a check for hundreds of dollars to a complete stranger, which I have done several times here without one single glitch or reason to complain. That says a lot for the quality of the inhabitants. But... business is business, and politics is war by other means.
Looks like we are mostly pretty close in age, race, cultural background demographics, at least this group of posters. There is a great deal more age spread with the shooters, I have seen. Despite what one poster said, I do believe it makes a difference, a big difference, in your personal story and what you believe, what age you are, your roots and surroundings. If you live in or near a metropolitan area you have different concerns than I in a rural area, regarding taxes,crime, services etc. If you are young and healthy you probably view retirement planning, pension benefits and medical care differently than I , whose situation is largely already carved in stone. If you are devoutly religious, you have different priorities than I whom am not.
The point is, if I can understand your situation, needs, and what is important to you, and you -I, then we can agree on areas of overlap and consensus points. There may be many things we can agree on, possibly for wildly different reasons. The other option is to simply say that you are a bad and evil person because you do not see things as I do. Once we do that, the only thing to do is watch the obituary notices to see when to schedule the party.