Last updated: 16 October 2026
1. About this website
Quietly, Otherwise is a personal, non-commercial essay blog written and managed by Nina Vossschulte in the United Kingdom.
I respect your privacy and want to be transparent about what happens to your information when you visit this website, leave a comment, subscribe to new essays, or get in touch.
Website: https://quietlyotherwise.com
Website owner and data controller: Nina Vossschulte
Contact: quietlyotherwise@gmail.com
2. Website hosting
Quietly, Otherwise is hosted by WordPress.com, a service operated by Automattic.
When you visit the website, technical information may be processed to deliver pages, maintain security, prevent misuse, and keep the website functioning. This may include your IP address, browser and device information, and the pages you request.
This processing is necessary to operate and protect the website and is based on my legitimate interest in providing a reliable and secure online space.
You can read more about Automattic’s data practices at https://automattic.com/privacy/.
3. Website statistics
Quietly, Otherwise uses Jetpack Stats, the built-in statistics service provided by WordPress.com.
Jetpack Stats helps me understand which essays are being read and how visitors find the website. It processes technical information, including IP addresses, browser and device information, referring URLs, visited pages, timestamps, browser language, and country information.
I can only access aggregated statistics, such as page views and visitor numbers. I cannot identify individual readers from these reports.
According to WordPress.com, the underlying Jetpack Stats logs are retained for 28 days.
WordPress.com states that Jetpack Stats respects the Do Not Track (DNT) setting in visitors’ browsers. The Personal hosting plan does not currently provide a separate website-level analytics opt-out.
For more information about the provider’s data practices, please visit: https://automattic.com/privacy-notice/
If you have questions or concerns about the processing of your data when visiting this website, you can contact me at quietlyotherwise@gmail.com.
4. Comments
If you leave a comment, the information you enter, such as your name, email address, website (if provided), and comment, will be processed.
Technical information, including your IP address and browser details, may also be collected to help protect the website against spam and misuse.
Your name and comment may become publicly visible if your comment is approved. Your email address will not be displayed publicly.
Comments are moderated before publication.
I use this information to manage conversations and protect the website. The lawful basis is my legitimate interest in maintaining a safe and welcoming discussion space.
Comments may remain published for as long as the relevant essay is available, unless there is a reason to remove them. You can contact me to request removal of your personal information.
WordPress.com may use automated spam-detection services, including Akismet, to help identify unwanted comments.
5. Email subscriptions
You can choose to receive new essays from Quietly, Otherwise by email.
When you subscribe, your email address and subscription information are processed through WordPress.com’s subscription service.
Your email address is used to send you updates about new essays, not unrelated marketing.
The lawful basis for these emails is your consent.
You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in a subscription email or by contacting me.
Subscription information is retained while your subscription is active, subject to any additional records WordPress.com needs to maintain for technical or legal reasons.
6. Contact form and email enquiries
If you contact me through the website’s contact form or by email, I receive the information you choose to share.
The contact form asks for your name, email address, and message. WordPress.com may also process technical information, including your IP address, for security and spam prevention.
Contact form submissions are stored in WordPress.com’s Jetpack Forms and sent to my email inbox at quietlyotherwise@gmail.com, provided through Google.
I use this information only to read and respond to your message and manage any necessary follow-up. My lawful basis is my legitimate interest in handling correspondence you initiate.
Resolved enquiries are normally deleted within six months of the last relevant correspondence. This applies to both saved form responses and corresponding emails.
Some information may need to be retained for longer where there is a legitimate reason or legal obligation to do so.
7. Cookies and similar technologies
Quietly, Otherwise is hosted by WordPress.com, which uses cookies and other technologies to operate and protect websites and provide certain features.
These technologies may support essential website functions, security, comments, subscriptions, and visitor statistics.
I do not use Google Analytics, advertising trackers, or additional marketing cookies on this website.
WordPress.com provides information about the cookies and technologies used across its services here: https://automattic.com/cookies/
You can manage or block certain cookies and tracking technologies through your browser settings. Please note that blocking some technologies may affect how parts of the website function.
For privacy-related questions, please contact quietlyotherwise@gmail.com.8. Third-party services and international data transfers
This website uses services provided by WordPress.com and Automattic, as well as Google for email correspondence.
These providers may process information using systems or service providers located outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, applicable data protection requirements and appropriate safeguards must be considered.
Further information is available in the providers’ privacy policies:
- Automattic: https://automattic.com/privacy/
- Google: https://policies.google.com/privacy
9. Your privacy rights
Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law gives you rights concerning your personal information. These may include the right to:
- Request access to your personal data.
- Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.
- Request deletion of your information.
- Object to certain types of processing.
- Request restrictions on how your information is used.
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
Not all rights apply in every situation.
If you have a question or wish to exercise your rights, please contact me at quietlyotherwise@gmail.com.
You also have the right to raise a concern with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): https://ico.org.uk
10. External websites
My essays may contain links to other websites.
I am not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. I encourage you to review their privacy information if you choose to visit them.
11. Changes to this policy
I may update this Privacy Policy if the website changes, new features are introduced, or relevant privacy requirements change.
The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last updated.
