Anonymous Posts

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Again, the Capt. would be able to see all the posts of a particular member and if they are deliberately violating TOS under anonymity they should be flat out banned...period. If some of us here are that deviant that we'd do that if given the chance, then we shouldn't be here in the first place, IMO.

What if it's not so clear whether it's a deliberate violation or a violation at all? What if it's just baiting, or making a snide remark? We have enough posters who do that already. Allowing people to do it anonymously will only exacerbate the problem.

Right now, the Capt. is allowing for members to create fake accounts if they want to remain anonymous because of an embarrassing situation. With anonymous posts, we would know that it is a regular member, even though we don't know who it specifically is.

Before this fairly recent change of exception to the rule (members creating fake accounts), most of us would discount any fantastical posts made by someone just joining the site, but now we're back to being in the dark and told to either give them support or shut up. Unintentionally, it has created this shield around anyone who creates a new account.

[smoke20 0]

Again, the Capt. would be able to see all the posts of a particular member and if they are deliberately violating TOS under anonymity they should be flat out banned...period. If some of us here are that deviant that we'd do that if given the chance, then we shouldn't be here in the first place, IMO.

steven we have both gotten into sparring matches before. and both blew the TOS. if it became a black & white TOS is the law period & we have no room for interpretation thing VJ would suck. ewok & the mods couldn't let the illegal immigration & political threads etc. go past 2-3 post. its a good idea but the possible problems it could create aren't worth it. VJ isn't broken, we don't need to fix it. besides: who really pays attention to a flamer w/ a join date on the day they're throwing fire? noone.

Actually, lot's of folks do...see the "troll" thread. And those become the most read threads for the day. Not saying VJ should be changed, just sayin' that flame threads see a lot of action.

yah, but, i'm not talking about a troll w/ an extremely out there story fishing for a reactions. i'm talking about someone creating an account to insult & flame someone.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Again, the Capt. would be able to see all the posts of a particular member and if they are deliberately violating TOS under anonymity they should be flat out banned...period. If some of us here are that deviant that we'd do that if given the chance, then we shouldn't be here in the first place, IMO.

steven we have both gotten into sparring matches before. and both blew the TOS. if it became a black & white TOS is the law period & we have no room for interpretation thing VJ would suck. ewok & the mods couldn't let the illegal immigration & political threads etc. go past 2-3 post. its a good idea but the possible problems it could create aren't worth it. VJ isn't broken, we don't need to fix it. besides: who really pays attention to a flamer w/ a join date on the day they're throwing fire? noone.

Actually, lot's of folks do...see the "troll" thread. And those become the most read threads for the day. Not saying VJ should be changed, just sayin' that flame threads see a lot of action.

yah, but, i'm not talking about a troll w/ an extremely out there story fishing for a reactions. i'm talking about someone creating an account to insult & flame someone.

There is a difference between banter and vitriolic insults between regular members. If they post an insult anonymously, ban them. It's that simple.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Hmmm!!! One of these day, you will come up with a winner. However, this one is not it either... Keep the ideas coming though because that's how breakthroughs are made!

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

[Jaseball 0]

I feel pretty anonymous already. Yes my IP is logged and you can ban me based off the IP range, however it's not like anyone knows my identifiers and is trying to steal my identity or anything. If I spend the next few months here posting and updating my progress and some horrific situation happens to me I'd probably post under my well known username because then everyone knows I am either really desperate for attention to pretend for 6+ months or I really had the posted situation happen and need help/advice.

I never even saw this section where the mods moved that post until today. That section with family changes or whatever. That place has a ton of horror stories and strange events that I was searching for, but never really found in one place. The title of the section is pretty evasive and vague, so I would guess many people don't know it contains the worst case scenarios, which I feel is pretty important to be informed about.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I feel pretty anonymous already. Yes my IP is logged and you can ban me based off the IP range, however it's not like anyone knows my identifiers and is trying to steal my identity or anything. If I spend the next few months here posting and updating my progress and some horrific situation happens to me I'd probably post under my well known username because then everyone knows I am either really desperate for attention to pretend for 6+ months or I really had the posted situation happen and need help/advice.

I never even saw this section where the mods moved that post until today. That section with family changes or whatever. That place has a ton of horror stories and strange events that I was searching for, but never really found in one place. The title of the section is pretty evasive and vague, so I would guess many people don't know it contains the worst case scenarios, which I feel is pretty important to be informed about.

The problem for members that have been regulars here is that other members have to come to know them and their personal visa journey, so it makes it difficult should a regular who is well known to post something that may cause them or their spouse great embarrassment. Allowing members to make fake accounts isn't doing this community much good either because it open this place up for outside abuse, IMO.

[Fandango 1,440]

Just in case you missed this S,

There's many reasons why someone might want to remain anonymous when they post -

Like what?

What else could be a legitimate reason? You said there's many....like what?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If Ewok knows who you are, it ain't anonymous.

And I don't know about the rest of you, but if there's something I want to say anonymously, it'll be serious enough where I will trust no one on VJ - not even Ewok - to keep my secret.

[Perseverance 1]

Just in case you missed this S,

There's many reasons why someone might want to remain anonymous when they post -

Like what?

What else could be a legitimate reason? You said there's many....like what?

perhaps someone may want advice about a situation at home...but maybe does not want everyone to know that life is not roses for them...

there are people who really care what others think and may not want to cast any shadow upon them selves...

maybe the SO checks up on thier posts and they are trying to get answers without "getting caught"

I mean really who knows the thoughts of others that may want them to post anonymous...

[Ban Hammer 14,651]

Just in case you missed this S,

There's many reasons why someone might want to remain anonymous when they post -

Like what?

What else could be a legitimate reason? You said there's many....like what?

maybe steven wants to post in the swinging poll

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Just in case you missed this S,

There's many reasons why someone might want to remain anonymous when they post -

Like what?

What else could be a legitimate reason? You said there's many....like what?

maybe steven wants to post in the swinging poll

Zactly! ...not.

Seriously though, the idea that people are allowed to create fake accounts and then immediately start posting anonymously seems haphazard at best. It creates this sort of 'father knows best' approach in that regular members here are admonished or outrightly told to shut up if they dare to ask pointed questions or second guess anything the 'new' member is saying.

If we know that an anonymous poster is in fact a regular member, it makes it easier to know what advice or response we give and how we say it. For example, if a regular member, under a fake account posts about how he thinks his wife might be cheating on him, we could be more direct in finding out how he's come to that conclusion. Right now, it appears that we're only allowed to show them pity and support. As it was pointed out in a thread yesterday, there are two sides to every story, and the best advice anyone can give a poster in a situation like that is for them see it from another perspective.

There are some things about my life that I'd like to remain private. Common sense, along with my learning experience of posting here has kept me in check about holding my tongue, so to speak. It would be nice to post something anonymously from time to time about more personal matters to get other's perspective without my life becoming an open book.

[Fandango 1,440]

Zactly! ...not.

Seriously though, the idea that people are allowed to create fake accounts and then immediately start posting anonymously seems haphazard at best. It creates this sort of 'father knows best' approach in that regular members here are admonished or outrightly told to shut up if they dare to ask pointed questions or second guess anything the 'new' member is saying.

If we know that an anonymous poster is in fact a regular member, it makes it easier to know what advice or response we give and how we say it. For example, if a regular member, under a fake account posts about how he thinks his wife might be cheating on him, we could be more direct in finding out how he's come to that conclusion. Right now, it appears that we're only allowed to show them pity and support. As it was pointed out in a thread yesterday, there are two sides to every story, and the best advice anyone can give a poster in a situation like that is for them see it from another perspective.

There are some things about my life that I'd like to remain private. Common sense, along with my learning experience of posting here has kept me in check about holding my tongue, so to speak. It would be nice to post something anonymously from time to time about more personal matters to get other's perspective without my life becoming an open book.

So the advice would vary depending on whether you knew the person or not? But how would you even KNOW it's a 'regular member' if the flippin post is done anonymously??????????????????

As to your second paragraph, you can most certainly create a secondary acct and say what you want....which has already been covered by the original 'shy' pass E will give for making a second acct. I'd call it 'privacy issues' but I think we all know what that covers....and that's pretty much every reason for needing an anon post to begin with....unless you can think of others from the 'many' that you say there are....

Edited August 24, 2007 by LisaD

[chri'stina 190]

I can see good parts of the idea but I think the bad parts may outweigh the good parts. If anyone could post anything anonymously, it also means people who just joined could do the same. So how would we really know if they were usual members or brand new members still just wanting to vent or ask advice.

If someone's join date is recent, it doesn't mean they haven't been reading for awhile and finally decided to post. I read VJ for a couple months before adding myself as a member and wanting to participate. It looked overwhelming to me at the time, so many different forums, which one to go to, etc. I never participated in a message board before that. I never even got the info off of here to send in my K1 petition, I used other sources, because I didn't feel like reading through so much stuff. I should say that was a long time ago before things were updated and changed, yet there were a lot less members then too.

But the problem I see is if we aren't sure if the anon person was a member already here or a new one still posting anon, would we have to ask Ewok about every single one to decide if it's real or worth answering? I doubt he has the time to be checking every anon post with everything else the admin does.

I'd rather treat everyone who posts as a real person, and their story as real, unless it's very obvious it's not(which is hard to prove), and then they will make the fool of themselves if they are just here to troll, not me.

[Jaseball 0]

If you post on here anonymously or under a known user name I feel it becomes public knowledge and is inviting comments. If I am not directly insulting someone or insinuating insults, but raise up real issues and bring into questions the information they chose to post and question the logic I have had people jump on me for not being supportive.

Well sorry, but I'm not supportive of actions and situations that are obviously problematic. I like to point out the flaws, argue for the other side that isn't in the thread, bring up issues and ideas that no one else has raised.

What's the use if someone airs out dirty laundry or an issue and the only posts they get are, "Oh that's so horrible. You're in my thoughts and everything will be ok."

[tmma 467]

There are some things about my life that I'd like to remain private. .........

............... It would be nice to post something anonymously from time to time about more personal matters to get other's perspective without my life becoming an open book.

If you'd like it all to remain private, why would you like to post at all?

You seem to be pushing this issue alot....c'mon what's on your mind, Steven? We won't tell.....