Has Private Messaging Service reached it's use by date?

Explorer · Guru

Has Private Messaging Service reached it's use by date?

Baz421 · Guru

Agree with the thrust of what you are saying but you can copy and paste the offensive post into a new post now so what is the advantage?

Name and shame em I think.

aussie_paul · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
Agree with the thrust of what you are saying but you can copy and paste the offensive post into a new post now so what is the advantage?
Name and shame em I think.

"Name and shame em I think." I agree..

Aussie Paul. smile

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I would like a $ for every time Cindy has told the forum that if there is ANYTHING that occurs that is untoward - either a post or a PM - then to let her know and she will take action. I reckon I would almost have enough for a year's fuel by now.

So if ANYONE has an offensive post directed at them - either abusing them or being threatening - then PM Webmaster.

If ANYONE receives a PM that is either abusing them or threatening - then PM Webmaster.

Seems pretty straightforward to me - certainly better than letting some simple-minded, vindictive, thoughtless, mindless 2% moron get their way.

Mike, your suggestions have merit. I don't think you (or any member) needs to canvas support from other members to provide feedback to the Webmaster for improvements/changes to the forum.

I reckon you should simply PM Cindy and see if your suggestions are able to be incorporated.

Cheers - John

Brenda and Alan · Guru

Explorer is not talking about abusive posts that everyone can see and comment upon, but about private messages where no-one else can see it. Either way it's not good. Brenda.

Baz421 · Guru

I just wrote this as Cindy closed the other thread...

Fair call Cindy I think most of us agree with the moderation overall.

The risk is that we will lose another X% of the regular contributors like the last time, and they are sorely missed for quality and quantity of contributions.

IMHO there are some good suggestions coming forward for you to consider. I hope you do consider them.

I am a firm believer in free speech and personally try not to "play the man" so to speak, but is this forum the forum to police everything that happens.

An example (as I love examples): a few years ago if you said the f word in public it was an offence,,, now it's a part of life whether we agree or not and you don't get arrested for it,,, look at the police shows on TV the f word comes up and nothing is done. So does this forum need it's own police to nab others??? I think not.

My 2 cents worth again.

Baz421 · Guru

I was just thinking about this thread and maybe we need to insist that full names are listed in our profiles and a genuine email to authenticate who each person is.

I am not ashamed to put my real name up.

There could be an "opt out" for those that give details in private to webmaster.

Any thoughts??????

Webmaster · Guru

Hi everybody,
If anybody feels they are being bullied or that the private messaging system is being misused I urge them to contact me immediately. I will take quick and decisive action. The private messaging system is a really important way for members to be able to communicate with each other away from the main forum pages. I know that a huge number of friendships have been cultivated that way and I would be very, very reluctant to scrap it. The system only works however if people are using it properly and for the purpose it is intended. The forum rules make that very clear, and any member who misuses the system will be banned from the forum … without exception. The private messaging system is just that and so I only know if people are misusing it if I am told about it. So, any problems, please let me know about them and I will sort the matter out.

KFT · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
I was just thinking about this thread and maybe we need to insist that full names are listed in our profiles and a genuine email to authenticate who each person is.
I am not ashamed to put my real name up.
There could be an "opt out" for those that give details in private to webmaster.
Any thoughts??????

Anonymity is one of the things that make the interweb the roughhouse that it is today. I think if EVERYONE had to positively identify themselves then much of the bullying and harassment might be mitigated somewhat.

I have identified myself in my profile and have nothing to hide whatsoever. I am of the opinion that anyone who is not prepared to do the same appears to be hiding something for some purpose or another and is therefore someone that should perhaps not be taken at their word.

frank

aussie_paul · Guru

KFT wrote:
Baz421 wrote:
I was just thinking about this thread and maybe we need to insist that full names are listed in our profiles and a genuine email to authenticate who each person is.
I am not ashamed to put my real name up.
There could be an "opt out" for those that give details in private to webmaster.
Any thoughts??????
Anonymity is one of the things that make the interweb the roughhouse that it is today. I think if EVERYONE had to positively identify themselves then much of the bullying and harassment might be mitigated somewhat.
I have identified myself in my profile and have nothing to hide whatsoever. I am of the opinion that anyone who is not prepared to do the same appears to be hiding something for some purpose or another and is therefore someone that should perhaps not be taken at their word.
frank

I agree with Barry and Frank..

Aussie Paul. smile

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I agree with Cindy - the private messaging system is how some of us keep in touch, and generate new friendships - well in my case anyway. It is also the place to put your phone number if you are making arrangements with another member. I don't think we need to identify ourselves fully on the forum - but I do think people should at least put the state they are from - if they are relatively new posters, and they put it that they want to go from here (their home) to somewhere else, how can you help them with free camps etc., if you don't know where their starting point is?

As for bullying - I think I may have missed something.

brickies · Guru

How can you send an Anonymous PM

jules47 · The Happy Helper

There are some who don't even put their names on their bio, brickies - so I suppose they would be sending an anonymous PM ??????

brickies · Guru

Jules Cindy would be able to track where they would have been sent from and would remove them if it was warranted

03_Troopy · Guru

Putting real names in full on your profile page is a bad idea. The same with phone numbers, addresses and even email addresses. Put as little of your private information as possible out into the WWW, cos there are some nasty types out there that can, and will collect such information for their own nefarious purposes.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I understand what you say , brickies.

And Troopy03, slightly paranoid words from you there. I have nothing, so would be pointless gathering info about me, but I do know what you mean.

Take care one and all, and let's just chillax and enjoy life, using the forum for what it was meant - sharing info and good fun with like minded people.
😃😃😃

Happywanderer · The Master

The private messaging system has been used for bullying but with their full names in view so it's not the P M system that is wrong but the people using it.

As Cindy has always said report anything like that to her. She will deal with it.

As for not putting full details up here, I find it ironic we all use usernames but still call each other by our given name, and with places like facebook there is far more info there for one to gather if one desired. We probably would have been better to just put our first name up in our details instead of a username.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I did use my first name as my user name Marj smile Even when I meet someone for the first time that is not on the forum I introduce myself as Dougwe.

Then I have to explain it all biggrin

There are so many names out there the same it could end up a real mess if you think about it.

I am on the side of preferring not to put too much info out there. Just last night on the local news here in down town Townsville someone was in court for identiry theft.

If the forum owner want's full name, address etc, I have no problem but not for all to see. First name and area lived is OK.

Just my feeling on it all.

Baz421 · Guru

Just to clarify my posts yesterday, I was advocating open forum ie name but not your other details in view, BUT for each to provide a name and valid email address to join and post.

Sorry I didn't make myself clear enough, but I also offered the suggestion of a pseudonym AFTER the webmaster accepts your membership.

Many other websites and companies insist you positively identify yourself before accessing services/websites so it is an established "norm".

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Baz, it's been a while since I joined up but for memory you give your name and email address when requesting membership. I am relying on my memory for that info mate and Uncle Al got up first today.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I reckon you are right Dougwe.

brickies · Guru

That why you cant be anonymous Cindy has a check on you and so she should.

Muzzlehatch · Senior Member

I endorse 03 Troopy 's view on this issue. Back in the very early days of MUDS and MOOS and the beginning of the interweb thingy many chat rooms (remember them?) used to have real names. For reasons that are too boring to go into those days are over. Dont publish your details anywhere you dont have direct control over access.

aussie_paul · Guru

03_Troopy wrote:
Putting real names in full on your profile page is a bad idea. The same with phone numbers, addresses and even email addresses. Put as little of your private information as possible out into the WWW, cos there are some nasty types out there that can, and will collect such information for their own nefarious purposes.

Probably very true Troopy.

Aussie Paul. smile

PeterD · Guru

jules47 wrote:
There are some who don't even put their names on their bio, brickies - so I suppose they would be sending an anonymous PM ??????

If you are required to put full names up when joining, would correct information be provided. The only forum I know of that insisted that correct names be provided was Geezer David's private forum (the old hands will remember him.) He insisted on complete disclosure of name, address and phone numbers and he contacted you off line to verify before he allowed access to even read the forum. That sort of checking is out of the question for most forums.

Full disclosure is not required for forum control. Moderators have access to the IP addresses used by posters and blocks can be put on these (we used to do this on another forum where I was a moderator.) Where funny carrying on activity goes on these addresses can be used to identify characters using multiple accounts

Cindy can easily get rid of pests. However she can not act if she does not know what is going on. She needs quick and full notification of what is bugging you before she can act.

If you don't act she can't react for you.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I agree that PM's are a great way to maintain contact with people and discuss things which others will have no interest in - it might be arranging to meet up somewhere, or the merits of a beer or anything.

Ive only been "attacked" in public posts here - never by PM. If I did get such a message, I wouldn't bother to descend to their bottom of the pond life and reply to them. I would either ignore it or copy and paste it in a PM to Cindy.

But I think ALL members should have their names on their profile and home State. It hardly likely to be stolen and used - your name and address is already in the public domain anyway - the electoral rolls being one of them. I have noticed that the few nasty people who upset others here with comments usually have no name on their profiles......cowards, I guess

Desert Dweller · Guru

The PM system is an essential part of any Forum. If you're being bullied by anyone via the PM system report it to the Moderator. That is the norm on any Forum.

Our main forum ( nature photography ) requires full christian & surnames, nothing wrong with that IMO.

Felicia · Guru

I agree with the last 3 posts. The PM is useful and reporting to Cindy is all that is needed, she has my email address as I think I had to supply it to belong to the forum.

Lynda

03_Troopy · Guru

jules47 wrote:
I understand what you say , brickies.

And Troopy03, slightly paranoid words from you there. I have nothing, so would be pointless gathering info about me, but I do know what you mean.

Take care one and all, and let's just chillax and enjoy life, using the forum for what it was meant - sharing info and good fun with like minded people.
😃😃😃

Not really paranoid, just common sense. You'd be surprised what info can be gathered about a person with just a little digging around.

Nomes · Senior Member

I will vouch for Cindy's swiftness in dealing with the horrid PMs I received a few weeks ago.

I copied and pasted the PMs into the contact email and I received a return email from Cindy within 30 minutes stating the member had been removed from the site.

Cindy can only deal with problems if she is informed because she has no access to personal PMs.