Why Do So Many Folks Omit Where They are From?

[Coluber42]

I think it's worth pointing out that there are lots of reasons to want privacy on the internet beyond the fear that someone will randomly decide to hunt you down and attack your family. In cases where you haven't become more personally involved first (like, having extended arguments or conversations, online flirting, etc) it's pretty rare for someone to say, "Hey, that person contradicted my husbandry advice, I will find where they live and stalk them".

One reason is for the sake of simple "digital hygiene" - make it hard for potential identity thieves to track you down and find out things like your mother's maiden name, your high school mascot, your email address, and other common answers to security questions that could let them break into your email, credit card, phone, shopping, and social media accounts, reset your passwords, and go on a shopping spree while asking your friends to wire them money in the Philippines.

Another reason is just for the sake of keeping your private life private, and it doesn't have to be because you have things to hide or might face discrimination in the workplace, either. School teachers in particular have every reason to keep their personal lives separate, and it doesn't have to be because they do inappropriate things in their personal lives; it's just because they want to have a personal life that doesn't involve being The Teacher 100% of the time. Not that your city and state will necessarily give anyone that much information, but it might - especially if you've ever mentioned other details about your personal life on the forum.

Heck, maybe it's just because you called in sick at work so you could take your animal to the vet and you don't want your boss to find out through the grapevine.

Personally, I sort of have two careers in two different fields. No one would be offended by that or anything, but I do sometimes feel the need to be a little careful about how I present myself in each one, because sometimes talking too much about the other job can make people think you're a dilettante or a hobbyist, not serious, not a "real" professional, etc. Posting on a snake forum has nothing to do with any of that for me, but for someone else it might.