Why restrict access to profile?

K

Kodiak Qc

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French Canadian living in Europe since 1989!
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•


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?
 
The use of a 'Nickname' ('Handle', 'Pseudonym') when online is a well established practice.

If you have a common name (I'm Jonathan, for example), then a pseudonym provides individuality without using your full name (I suspect there are quite a lot of folks here who are Jon / John / Jonathan, but very few 'Faldrax' :))

Some may do so to try and allow them to behave in a way they would not if their identity were public, but equally others might wish to protect against those that might behave badly towards someone - by using a pseudonym you make it harder for an 'online bully' to continue an 'attack' from one site to another.

Restricted access to profile - just a measure of how happy you are to share information - again, I'm happy to say I'm in Hampshire, UK - which tells anyone who wants to know where I am in the world, but still keeps my actual address private.
 
Can be issues of professional politics of course. For example, someone might be reluctant to discuss a business problem openly. I suspect that is not the reason most people do it, but none the less.
 
It baffles me too. It's not like you are forced to put anything revealing in your profile. I usually check profiles if I want to find someone's previous posts.

Some people must be either paranoid :cautious: or have things to hide... :shifty:
 
Faldrax said:
If you have a common name (I'm Jonathan, for example), then a pseudonym provides individuality without using your full name (I suspect there are quite a lot of folks here who are Jon / John / Jonathan, but very few 'Faldrax')
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This is clear and that's why I'm Kodiak… pleased to meet you, btw! :cool:
Faldrax said:
by using a pseudonym you make it harder for an 'online bully' to continue an 'attack' from one site to another.
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That makes sense too!
But why the bullying? What are moderators for?
Faldrax said:
Restricted access to profile
Click to expand...
Yes, location in the world is cool but I'm thinking "at what level is the poster?"
I would not address a beginner the same way I would an advanced member…


I appreciate your reply very much, Jonathan, very cool! (y)
 
Peter Drought said:
someone might be reluctant to discuss a business problem openly.
Click to expand...

Yes, there are aspects of the… my business
I would not want to spread here.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
...
But why the bullying? What are moderators for?
...
Click to expand...

The mods can (and do) stop 'bullying' from continuing on this forum - suspending or banning anyone who behaves badly.
However, if a 'bully' can simply search for their victim on another site (because their name and profile details give enough information to do so), there is nothing to stop a 'bully' from simply continuing their behaviour elsewhere.
By providing limited information, you make it harder for someone to 'stalk' you from site to site.


Kodiak Qc said:
Yes, location in the world is cool but I'm thinking "at what level is the poster?"
I would not address a beginner the same way I would an advanced member…
Click to expand...

The best guide on here is the number of posts - generally a high post count indicates a measure of how long someone has been active in photography, but not always (when an experienced photographer first joins, their post count will obviously not reflect their knowledge).
 
Faldrax said:
By providing limited information, you make it harder for someone to 'stalk' you from site to site.
Click to expand...


Stalking? Some have so much time on their hands?
I admit the internet is not my world but that is CRAZY!

PS. not my world in terms of social média though I do
lots of research and contacts with that tool!
 
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Faldrax said:
The best guide on here is the number of posts - generally a high post count indicates a measure of how long someone has been active in photography, but not always (when an experienced photographer first joins, their post count will obviously not reflect their knowledge).
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Unfortunately, that's totally false.

It would be good if it was a decent indicator but for a couple of examples (which I'm sure they don't mind me using them as an example, as they both seem down to earth guys) :

@Kodiak Qc - Is active on every part of the forum and got his post count up in a very short space of time

and

@Orangecroc - For the same reasons as above (has only just started out in photography but, again, is active on each section, which helps bump your post count up quickly :)
 
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?
Click to expand...

As others have said the use of a nickname is a well established practice on forums, and I have used the same nickname on all the forums I have joined for over 20 years now, just out of habit, but its really me in the avatar. The first forum type "thing" I joined, there wasn't an option to use your real name. I didn't know you could restrict access to your profile.

Some forums demand you use your real name.
 
Although I don't have a particularly common name (Dominic), I don't use it on forums. I use something more unique to me, it makes me more Identifiable at a quick glance. I think all of my details are in my profile page. I have nothing to hide :)
 
myotis said:
I have used the same nickname on all the forums I have joined for over 20 years now, just out of habit, but its really me in the avatar.
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Right, but I know you are Graham, what you look like
— cool hat btw! — and that you are on the dark side,
like me.

Though I would like to know everyone, for the purpose
of the forum, this is already useful information to me.

Thanks for the reply, Graham!
 
Nostromo said:
I have nothing to hide
Click to expand...


…you're sure? :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::wacky:

In you case, the amount of info gives me enough to create
a "mental reference" to Dominic or Nostromo.

The way a member communicates and interact with the others
plus the said references is quite enough to understand something.
 
Orangecroc has been my screen name for about 25 years on everything online with a few exceptions where professionalism is more relevant. However, I have no issue with people using my name.
And I have a high post count because I have too much time on my hands at work and I have grown up with chat rooms and forums.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
— cool hat btw!
Click to expand...

Ah yes, my Canada connection, I've had Tilley hats a lot longer than my nickname.

Much easier to get now a days since they became available in the UK, which has also made it easy to twice take advantage of the life time guarantee. First one grew some mildew, and was replaced, the second one developed some corrosion on the brass eyelets. Both times walked into a Tilley retailer to ask if it was covered by the guarantee, and both times walked out with a new hat.
 
KIPAX said:
wow :(

So if you don't understand soemhting then they must be doing somehtign wrong ?
Click to expand...

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, or even close, but in my experience if someone comes across as a complete cockwomble, they'll almost certainly have their profile locked down.

My opinion is that is actually self perpetuating, the more 'open' someone is, the less likely they are to be purposefully antagonistic.

Some of us can be quite open and still be opinionated (present company ;) ), but we tend to draw the line well before 'trolling', sticking to strongly held opinions rather than personal insults.

Edit to add:
These individuals also fly into a rage if anyone makes an assumption or educated guess about something they haven't shared. I genuinely think their paranoia drives erratic behaviour, reactions to which drive more paranoia etc. etc
 
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GreenNinja67 said:
I'm not green, I'm not and never have been a ninja, and I'm nowhere near 67!
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Right. You may change avatar often (legitimate!) but I
know your name, profile and sense of humour! :cool:
 
I must admit, sometimes I am curious as to why someone has picked the user name and avatar they use. That's probably just me being nosey though :)
 
Funnily enough, I thought it might have something to do with the iconic kawasaki ninja. I remember really wanting one, more than the fireblade.
 
Nostromo said:
I must admit, sometimes I am curious as to why someone has picked the user name and avatar they use. That's probably just me being nosey though :)
Click to expand...
myotis is a genus of bats.

When I opened my very first internet account, I was asked for a nickname along with instructions on what was required of one. I had no idea what a nickname was, and at the time the bulk of my work was consultancy in bat ecology: myotis was the first word that came to mind that seemed to meet the stated "nickname" requirements.

The avatar choice I explained earlier. I only seem to have three photographs, and I couldn't find the other two.
 
I feel I should explain why I use nostromo then.
It comes from the film Alien, it was the name of the spaceship that the crew were on. It is relevant to me because my mum worked on that film (she was a sculptor) and made parts of the interior of the spaceship, Alien parts and many other sculpture/model things.
My avatar is obviously from Star Wars, again a film she worked on and my dad worked on (well all three of the original films).
 
Nostromo said:
I must admit, sometimes I am curious as to why someone has picked the user name and avatar they use. That's probably just me being nosey though :)
Click to expand...
I have ginger hair and at one point during university I lost a bet and had to dye it green, and someone pointed out as it was growing out that my hair was the colour of a crocodile but I had orange roots. Not once did they realise that my hair finally really did look like carrot tops.
 
Nostromo said:
I feel I should explain why I use nostromo then.
It comes from the film Alien, it was the name of the spaceship that the crew were on. It is relevant to me because my mum worked on that film (she was a sculptor) and made parts of the interior of the spaceship, Alien parts and many other sculpture/model things.
My avatar is obviously from Star Wars, again a film she worked on and my dad worked on (well all three of the original films).
Click to expand...
Very cool heritage!
 
Someone will need to explain to me why believing I'm a 60 year old Northern bloke with a liking for whippets, or a 30 year old lass from the West Country with a penchant for scrumpy, would make any difference to anyone.
 
Interesting thread.

...unlike my username with a number so I can hopefully use the same on different forums (so the anti stalker strategy won't work for me). I do only partly populate/make public my profile as my birthday, address etc isn't relevant to anyone else.

I usually sign my posts too.

John.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
This is the part I am not comfortable with : anonymity.
Click to expand...
I find this post curious, TBH QC I'm guessing is Quebec, ( which would tie in with the French / Canadian comments) your real name is not on your profile.
However, as others have said that when chat boards etc were in their infancy, most people chose a "handle" much like from the CB days.
Nothing sinister, rather like nick-names at school.


Kodiak Qc said:
But why the bullying? What are moderators for?
Click to expand...
Yep, leave the bullying to us :thumbs:
:D

Kodiak Qc said:
Stalking? Some have so much time on their hands?
Click to expand...
Believe me, it happens, I've had a few over the years I've been here( and I know a few others that have had also) I find it funny TBH.

Nostromo said:
my mum worked on that film (she was a sculptor)
Click to expand...
How cool is that? :thumbs:

Orangecroc said:
I lost a bet and had to dye it green, and someone pointed out as it was growing out that my hair was the colour of a crocodile
Click to expand...
PMSL, brilliant :thumbs:

No profiles are invisible to the site staff BTW we can read what ever is filled in...

FYI its no big secret, Hi, My name is Chris and I'm an alcoh....
b****r! wrong form ..
:D

Yes I'm pink and and some people think that I'm a snake ;)
Or it just could be my fascination for dangerous reptiles, sadly they all went when the kids were born though ...
( some years ago now though ! )
 
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?
Click to expand...

because right to privacy?
 
Why do people feel the need to pry into others lives.
I could tell a whole pack of lies in my profile, what difference would it make.
It's down to sheer nosiness, I don't go round handing out bits of paper at meetings I attend with my life history
if you want to know something PM me if I might tell you, but I can't see what difference someone
being able to see what is or isn't in another's profile makes any difference to what you think of their
photography, perhaps someone could explain that ?
In real life my home phone is ex-directory, people that need to know it do, is that a problem ?
 
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?
Click to expand...

Most people don't have any negative intentions by hiding their identity. It's just that some are more cautious when it comes to displaying info on the internet, where weirdos and and those who make a living out of criminal activity exist. I think we've all had that warning when it comes to how much we reveal online.

As well as that, I just don't feel all that confident showing my face. I hate photos of myself on my private Facebook page :P
 
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Rebecca Holden said:
Most people don't have any negative intentions by hiding their identity. It's just that some are more cautious when it comes to displaying info on the internet, where weirdos and and those who make a living out of criminal activity exist. I think we've all had that warning when it comes to how much we reveal online.

As well as that, I just don't feel all that confident showing my face. I hate photos of myself on my private Facebook page :p
Click to expand...
Those people exist everywhere, not just the internet.
 
Orangecroc said:
Those people exist everywhere, not just the internet.
Click to expand...

I don't recall saying they didn't. Still, there's nothing wrong with being cautious...I would've thought you could tell that, despite not showing my face, I'm most certainly not a troll.
 
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