Anonymity on the forum

[B. Dudley]

Actual name is required and shown on your profile. But there is also an option to have a “display name” or “handle” that shows on posts.

Requiring your actual name as part of registration is by design and helps maintain a level of civility on this board.

[MrBojangles]

I don't know...and I'm VERY disappointed!

When I search my name on the internet, references to my posts on this forum can be found. My understanding was that ONLY PGCA members or at least only members of this forum would be able to see my real name.

Administrators: Out of privacy concerns, I want ALL references to my real name removed from this forum! I find it unfathomable that this breach of privacy would occur in this day and age.

[John Knobelsdorf II]

Interesting. Two (2) things from personal experience:

1.) it was not until the third page of Google that I observe this for myself. Anything after the first page is almost dead space and does not matter to most people.

2.) a similar experience about another board was observed several years ago. Google changed its search patterns, and this stopped happening and has not happened again (I check periodically out of curiosity).

Not a problem as far as I am concerned.

[mobirdhunter]

Just don”t submit anything you don”t want someone else to see. There really is no anonymity on the internet.

[John D.]

Ian - allow me to be right up front.

First - "Search Bots" can not log into the forum - what THEY see are "MrBojangles". Just like "Unregistered users" - they "see" no real names if a screen name is used (as you do), nor is any information parsed to any web bots. Don't believe me? Try this....

Log OUT of this forum - and then take a look. What YOU see is what any Google, Go Daddy, MSN, Dig, - name that search bot - sees.... Yep - even the list of folks "On-Line" at that time isn't displayed....

If that is unacceptable - I'd suggest NOT visiting any existing website. The "personal data" isn't "here" in this forum - it's kept in your Cookie Data retained in your browser - not here. Your browser retains ALL the sites you visit, how often, how long you stay on that site, whatever... That's what Google, Amazon, and all the rest track you with.

I'd be more than happy to delete your account and make all your posts disappear - that's easy. But - I'd suggest the problem isn't here.

John D.

[stumpstalker]

Mr. Bojangles:

My experience with website Forums where anonymity is preserved is that the discourse eventually takes on the character of a public rest-room wall, and does so irrespective of how strict the published Forum rules might be.

This applies to some websites where the subject is dear to me, the participants are knowledgeable and helpful on technical matters, but there is little chance of a sustained adult discussion on a controversial topic, or of fostering camaraderie – an objective of a Members’ forum.

There is too little accountability where there is anonymity.

[MrBojangles]

Originally Posted by John Dunkle

Ian - allow me to be right up front.

First - "Search Bots" can not log into the forum - what THEY see are "MrBojangles". Just like "Unregistered users" - they "see" no real names if a screen name is used (as you do), nor is any information parsed to any web bots. Don't believe me? Try this....

Log OUT of this forum - and then take a look. What YOU see is what any Google, Go Daddy, MSN, Dig, - name that search bot - sees.... Yep - even the list of folks "On-Line" at that time isn't displayed....

If that is unacceptable - I'd suggest NOT visiting any existing website. The "personal data" isn't "here" in this forum - it's kept in your Cookie Data retained in your browser - not here. Your browser retains ALL the sites you visit, how often, how long you stay on that site, whatever... That's what Google, Amazon, and all the rest track you with.

I'd be more than happy to delete your account and make all your posts disappear - that's easy. But - I'd suggest the problem isn't here.

John D.

Let's discuss further, but if one searches my name on the internet, references to the Parker forum appear a few pages in. NOT the case with any other forums I belong to.

It may come down to deleting my account and all my posts but also what has to happen is my name needs to disappear from where it appears when I am quoted by others.

On other forums anonymity is maintained to a point. Some posters know who I am, and, likewise, I know who they are. But any member of the forum and no outsiders cannot see individual names--except on the private side of the forum. Internet searches do not identify my name with that site.

So, please inform as to the removal of my name when it appears as quoted and I will decide how to proceed.

I'm sorry it might come to this.

BTW, on other sites where anonymity is mostly maintained it's still kept civil. Administrators will penalize if it is not.

[MrBojangles]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Requiring your actual name as part of registration is by design and helps maintain a level of civility on this board.

And that is the case with all other sites I belong to. Name required initially so administrators know who you are. But real name never revealed, with exception of the paid membership of one site. Screen name still displayed there, but real name in upper right hand corner. Again, searches do not associate my name with the site.

[John D.]

Hi Ian,

I'm a really patient person, but, as you refuse to understand, and I'm all done explaining, you've got your wish. Seriously. You are set! You are absolutely anonymous... In fact...

When you log into your account, you are part of this community. You are able to post, reply to posts, even start new threads. But - you don't exist... Threads you start only you and I and Jeff will see (like this thread). If you reply to posts, folks will get an e-mail notice that you posted - but, your post "won't exist" to them, but you'll see it. And no, you certainly are not banned - BUT - you have total and complete anonymity. It's sort of, no actually - EXACTLY like "It's a Wonderful Life" and you are Jimmy Stewart who was granted his wish...

But one thing to keep in mind - where you are adamant that "other sites" don't know who you are? You are living under a false impression, my friend. They know exactly who you are, which sites you come from, what you read, what you clicked on, etc. That's how they serve up targeted banner ads which monetize that site. You'll find no banner ads here, no tracking cookies, no selling of data, no Adsense. But - what you will find in this community - is - well - "community"....

By the way, for those who are "Subscribed" to this thread, you will get the notice I posted this - BUT - when you click on the link to "take you to it" - this thread doesn't exist, as Ian originally authored this thread - and well, as of now - he is completely anonymous in this community.

Have a great day!

John D.

[MrBojangles]

I just see references to me on this forum when I search for my name on the internet. Given I have a casual interest in Parkers, and may visit this site from time to time, but am not serious about collecting them at this time, let's go ahead and suspend my account and remove all posts I created, as well as OTHERS where I was quoted by others and my name shows up.

Best for all at this time. Given that I don't have the passion nor the money to pursue Parkers as others might on this forum, and I have little to add that others might not already know, it is best for all at this time.

Thanks, and I DO enjoy reading posts on the forum, nonetheless.