One can't used the search bar unless they're a member, that's actually why I joined, to get search access. Maybe that's changed?
I wonder if they're doing an internet search with the site name and your username.
Oh I meant members themselves have harassed me using the search function, sorry for the confusion. Even though I have my profile set to only the people I follow.
Basically in the past if I have said something or reacted to something that didn't agree with someone, they would go back through my post history and link it in their own post as if to slaughter me and pick me apart, or they have been a bit pettier and just angry emoji'd a bunch of my past posts in rapid succession.
You see, I was under the impression that making my profile private would prevent this as I thought that was how they were getting such quick access to my entire existence on this site, but it doesn't help because of the search function loophole. So for me personally, making my profile private has done nothing for me.
But yea I hope you're right about guests not being able to use it, that would be worse for other reasons. Thanks for responding to me, I hope I cleared up what I meant this time. I'm going to try the internet search with username and site after I sign out just to test what you said, because that's probably a concern for some people too.