How do group owners feel about... Private vs. Non Private Groups?

Right now all our groups are open (non private). However with the TTC, DTD, and general personal socializing threads with in groups; do you feel that you would have more of a conversation if your group was set in private? By private I mean that "members only" can view the topics?

I know I have referenced the neighborhood I live in on my local board (maybe even cross streets), but I try not on the main threads. I always try to go back and edit out that stuff, b/c the topics with in the groups are still very "google-able". I have a personal tenancy not to post too much personal info without some type of password protection. Anywho....

There are times that I would like to share more info about myself... however I prefer that the WHOLE PW WORLD didn't see my post, kwim?

thoughts?

Interesting idea.  That might also resolve some concerns about sensitive topics showing up in the Group topic module.

My question as the Community Manager is (and I apologize for the pessimism, lol) how might this be abused? 

I assume that you mean that for these Groups, anyone could join freely but without joining, you can't see the topics -- right? 

If we got into an area where the Group Owner controlled who could or could not join the Group, that could get tricky and I could see where that might result in some hurt feelings here.

I assume that you mean that for these Groups, anyone could join freely but without joining, you can't see the topics -- right? 

Yes... this is all I'm requesting! Not all groups would be private, it would be to the GO's discretion. Or maybe if their was a way for group members to set their own thread to private (kinda like the facebook status update settings). So if you looked at the group as a non member you would see a sampling of threads, but a member would see them all.

For example in the finance group... I'm fine sharing my personal $$, to like a small group of ladies.... but not the PW World. If the group grows too big, I can always go back and edit the response.

If we got into an area where the Group Owner controlled who could or could not join the Group, that could get tricky and I could see where that might result in some hurt feelings here.

As a GO, I don't see the benefit to control the members list in that way... however some might. But I pretty open.... as I said if the group gets to big, there is always the edit function

I like that idea...

I actually really like the idea. There are definitely things I avoid sharing in certain groups because I don't really want 1) the entire board to know and 2) for privacy and security reasons over the internet in general.

I think it would be a great thing!

I think it would be great also. I have the Addiction and Alcoholic group and it is a sensitive subject to talk about. I think more people would open up and be able to talk about their feelings about this.