Why restrict access to profile?

redhed17 said:
I like the anonymity of the internet. :) So much so, that when someone does use my real name occasionally online, because they may know me in the 'real world' or it is on a site where I have used my real name for some reason, it seems weird. :confused: I put as much information out as I'm comfortable with. If someone feels that is not enough information, and it somehow negates what I am posting, or have posted. Meh! Whatever. :rolleyes:

I don't think I go round insulting, trolling or causing trouble, but if anyone ever thinks that of me, or anyone else, whether they are using their real name or we know everything about them, report it to a Moderator. I come to learn, be entertained and engaged in subjects that interest me. I like trying to help people, and sometimes make (imho anyway ;)) humorous comments. I don't feel anyone needs to know everything about me to do that. If anyone feels different, put me on your ignore list. :)
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But you have let everyone know, you're male, from Liverpool and your name (assuming these are all real of course, I'm not saying yours aren't, but some people might lie). That's hardly secretive or your life story. Just an overview of you. Which for a forum community (because that's how I see this forum, a community), is all you would ever need to know. :)
 
KIPAX said:
If you see someone name as name + surname .... how do you know its real? could be just as fake as a made up silly name ?
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It could. But seeing as I said 'On a purely personal note' I would guess that means its my opinion and up to me. Simples really.
 
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My avatar photo I took a while back and my name is short for what rank (unit) I was in the army and the numbers are my last two army numbers
 
boyfalldown said:
Yet one click in your signature reveals as much about you as clicking in mine does me....
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But if someone didn't have any information about them I wouldn't care. And I doubt I would be looking anyway. I'd rather go by what people post rather than check them out first. People have a right to share as much, or as little, as they want. And not be called in some way dodgy because they don't share enough in someone else's opinion. The only people on this site who need to know certain info are the site owners, and if they are comfortable with the info people have registered with, that is all that matters. What over and above that people share is up to the individual imho. Yvmv. ;)
 
redhed17 said:
But if someone didn't have any information about them I wouldn't care. And I doubt I would be looking anyway. I'd rather go by what people post rather than check them out first. People have a right to share as much, or as little, as they want. And not be called in some way dodgy because they don't share enough in someone else's opinion. The only people on this site who need to know certain info are the site owners, and if they are comfortable with the info people have registered with, that is all that matters. What over and above that people share is up to the individual imho. Yvmv. ;)
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And My Millage Does Vary ;) I'll trust what the bloke called Ian from Liverpool does post over what some keyboard warrior who hides behind an avatar and being completely anonymous just cause experience has shown me its the later who is far more likely to be a troll ;) Nowhere have I said thats the ONLY thing I'll base that decision on. But like you say YMMV
 
KIPAX said:
If you see someone name as name + surname .... how do you know its real? could be just as fake as a made up silly name ?
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You don't.

But you seem to be missing the point on purpose Tony.

We're discussing people who hide everything and then insult and trouble cause.

Of course it's perfectly simple to create a perfectly believable on line presence, so how small minded does a person have to be to hide all details so they can behave that way? How insecure to completely anonymise just so they can insult and trouble cause?
 
Nostromo said:
But you have let everyone know, you're male, from Liverpool and your name (assuming these are all real of course, I'm not saying yours aren't, but some people might lie). That's hardly secretive or your life story. Just an overview of you. Which for a forum community (because that's how I see this forum, a community), is all you would ever need to know. :)
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Is my real name there? It shouldn't be. ;) :LOL:

Yes, all the info about me may be real or not, just like everyone else's, and I don't care. :) Unless I am buying something off them, and even then I trust that the site owners have been diligent about who can join, and who has been allowed to sell stuff. ;)
 
I haven't read all of this thread as I'm tired so sorry if this has been said before...

Isn't it best to be at least a bit vague on line? We may be (mostly) nice boys and girls but there are so I'm told some right rotters on the internet who do nasty things like burgle your house when your on holiday and drive your car away without permission and other such naughtiness.

If we're all open and honest about everything it'll be quite easy should these rotters take an interest to work out who we are and where we live and as people here often talk about expensive purchases and holidays the opportunity for naughtiness is there.

It's sad that we can't be all open and all... such is life, sadly.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
I am just trying to understand why anyone would want to hide
— in a public place — behind avatar, pseudonym and restrict-
ted access to profile?
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I think that was the original idea for the thread. Tell me if I'm wrong. But has turned into this.
Phil V said:
We're discussing people who hide everything and then insult and trouble cause.
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Which after what some people have said makes anyone sound like if they who are not giving out enough, or indeed access to their information, they may be doing it for negative reasons, and they are somehow doing something wrong unless they do.

If a n*b is being a n*b, report them.
 
Phil V said:
You don't.

But you seem to be missing the point on purpose Tony.

We're discussing people who hide everything and then insult and trouble cause.

Of course it's perfectly simple to create a perfectly believable on line presence, so how small minded does a person have to be to hide all details so they can behave that way? How insecure to completely anonymise just so they can insult and trouble cause?
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Not sure this is what the OP meant?
 
Archie747 said:
Not sure this is what the OP meant?
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This is how I read it...
Kodiak Qc said:
•


This is the part I am not comfortable with : anonymity.
Like if there was something to fear being oneself on a forum.

I fear more the venomous, toxic or just plain irritant interven-
tions that may take a thread off course.

I am just trying to understand why anyone would want to hide
— in a public place — behind avatar, pseudonym and restrict-
ted access to profile?
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I understood the issue to be people who hide behind a locked down anonymous profile and then behave as above.
 
redhed17 said:
If a n*b is being a n*b, report them.
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Oh I do, and so do others ;)

I think there should be a minimum amount of info available about every member (not a great deal, but enough to ensure parity), I think it would lead to better behaviour , but I'm not sure how it could be implemented retrospectively.
 
Phil V said:
Except bizarrely...

The people with the most anonymous profiles are the ones with the most threatening behaviour.

Think of the biggest nobs you've encountered here, then check their profile.

I'm willing to bet you'll see what I mean.
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Correlation =/= Causation though
 
Furtim said:
Correlation =/= Causation though
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A lifetime of studying human nature leads me to think that some people believe anonymity is a useful cloak from behind which they can behave in ways they wouldn't otherwise.

It's very rare for a troll when confronted face to face will stand by their violent threats, their usual reaction is to be apologetic.

See also the EDL protesters in their balaclavas.

I'm not suggesting it's a universal truth, but it'd be an interesting experiment.
 
Phil V said:
A lifetime of studying human nature leads me to think that some people believe anonymity is a useful cloak from behind which they can behave in ways they wouldn't otherwise.

It's very rare for a troll when confronted face to face will stand by their violent threats, their usual reaction is to be apologetic.

See also the EDL protesters in their balaclavas.

I'm not suggesting it's a universal truth, but it'd be an interesting experiment.
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The counter is also true - some seek notoriety (eg. Katie Hopkins), while others seek anonymity for selfless actions.

There are several posts on this thread that overtly state that people who choose to maintain a degree of privacy are less trustworthy and a bit of a cock wobbler. I'm just saying that choosing to remain relatively anonymous does not cause that to be the case!
 
its a big world.. we are all different.. some prefer to be anon and some prefer to be open.. to suggest the anon are up to no good is a bit high handed IMHO ... We are all different.. lets not attack people for what could be an innocent decision..

Keep in mind that even the open honest looking profiles could be a load of old tosh someone made up....

personally i read each post in this forum for what it is.. unless its in the buy/sell then i have absoloutly no interest in someones private life and have no need to know anyhting other than what they are posting...


sorry this thread seems to be a witch hunt against people who prefer to keep things private :(
 
Phil V said:
I understood the issue to be…
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I really meant that it would be useful to know the level
of the member one addresses to: beginner, advanced;
and some idea of the gear at his/her disposal… like a
limited version of a "personal exif". I don't see why fear
any danger to privacy.

I did not mean in terms of hiding bad behaviour— I did not
think of that aspect — but making known location and gear.

*****************************
The point of bullying and other bad behaviours interests me too.

I do get PMs and emails from members who can't cope with ag-
gression — even written — telling not to get involved with this or
that member being venomous, toxic or just plain irritant.
  • …just had to ask what is XXX's problem
  • …does seem to like stirring things up on post you make
  • …has hidden agendas"
  • …Kodiak a word of advice, Do not get involved with XXX
    he/she is empty headed…
And these people often come together… like to support one
another in some kind of collective aggression.

Face to face, it would't go without consequence… but behind an
avatar and so far away…
​
 
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KIPAX said:
sorry this thread seems to be a witch hunt against people who prefer to keep things private :(
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It seemed to me to start to turn into that sadly, which is not what the OP had in mind from his earlier reply to my query. And this below.

Who can say what direction some threads can go in though. :rolleyes:

Kodiak Qc said:
I really meant that it would be useful to know the level
of the member one addresses to: beginner, advanced;
and some idea of the gear at his/her disposal… like a
limited version of a "personal exif". I don't see why fear
any danger to privacy.

I did not mean in terms of hiding bad behaviour— I did not
think of that aspect — but making known location and gear.
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Someone may consider themselves to be a beginner, or even beyond being a beginner towards being an expert in something, but it may not mean they are open to Critique, which I think is what this thread was inspired by. Though I could be wrong this time about that one.

As for a list of gear, nice to have, but people can make assumptions about people from the gear they have. As I always say to people in classes, the only thing you know about someone for sure with loads of expensive high end gear, is that they have had the money to pay for it. Or they have good credit scores. ;) Odds on they may know more than a total beginner, but.....:rolleyes: The phrase "all the gear no idea" is sometimes true. :LOL:
 
I may be wrong ..... but I think what Daniel, (Kodiak QC), is looking for is a profile of the "poster" so that he can tailor his Critique in an appropriate way

I do not think that this is easily achieved
 
redhed17 said:
it may not mean they are open to Critique, which I think is what this thread was inspired by. Though I could be wrong this time about that one.
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Open to critique or not is not in the scope of this thread
redhed17 said:
people can make assumptions about people from the gear they have.
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I am thinking to suggest a tweak in the setup of a camera
but that model does not have that option.

The previous post is right…


 
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BillN_33 said:
I may be wrong ..... but I think what Daniel, (Kodiak QC), is looking for is a profile of the "poster" so that he can tailor his Critique in an appropriate way
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Re reading his original post. No it looks more like an attack on people who like there privacy..

Maybe somehting got lost in translation ?

certainly a hot topic :)
 
BillN_33 said:
I may be wrong ..... but I think what Daniel, (Kodiak QC), is looking for is a profile of the "poster" so that he can tailor his Critique in an appropriate way
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Bingo! You're very good, Bill… and the word "tailor" I
would have never thought of — and it is perfect
 
KIPAX said:
it looks more like an attack on people who like there privacy
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Really??? :confused:

I have no desire, drive or motivation to attack anyone!
How did you come to that conclusion? There could be
something not right in your translator maybe.
 
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Kodiak Qc said:
Really??? :confused:

I have no desire, drive or motivation to attack anyone!
How did you come to that conclusion? There could be
something not right in your translator maybe.
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I think Kipax was talking of others implying that those that want some form of anonymity are somehow doing something wrong.
 
redhed17 said:
I think Kipax was talking…
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If so, then I am confused, sorry…
and there could be something very wrong with my translator!
 
My opinion on privacy has changed somewhat over the last few years. I used to fill out all the fields on websites with my info, because I didn't really mind people knowing. I also used to think that people that wanted a lot of privacy usually had something to hide.

Now I'm a bit older, I'm the other way. I don't give out my details unless people have a genuine need for it. If I get asked for my email address or phone number online or in shops, I don't give it out, and I tend to fill out only the required fields on forms with the least amount of info I can get away with. I value my privacy a lot more now, not really sure why though.

I think if I was only just signing up to this forum now, I wouldn't use my real name, not my whole name at least.
 
Hi Im Soeren (apart from english spelling it's actually my name) and Im an apugger (the first forum i joined) ;)
It's me on my avatar, i use my name the same way on all english spoken fora Ive joined.
 
Nostromo said:
That's fair enough, but wouldn't you expect to know the names of the people at that meeting and them to know yours?
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Sometimes they do, depends on what the meeting is and how involved I am, doesn't mean they need to know about my personal life etc.
 
the thing i dislike is not being able to see when someone was last online if i am trading with them. in fact i have only sold to one person who hides this as far as i am aware and would be more inclined to proceed with someone who shows this info in their profile
 
FWIW
My username/handle would have been geejay (initials for my given names) as per a number of other forums I frequent from time to time, but that had already been taken. So just added 57 (my birth year).
 
One of the forums I am a member of only allows real names. If you join and post under an obvious non real name, your post gets blocked and no one can answer it until you change your name.

The other thing I think is silly are the occasional things I have seen on Facebook which claim that you can see who has been looking through the pictures in your albums. Who cares? If you don't want anyone looking at them, don't put them on social media!


Steve.
 
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