Your input requested on User names & Full names - proposed change to board

[malthumb]

Do it and I'll sue.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Just kiddin'.  Go for it.
 
Peace,
 
James Martin

[ajdover]

OK by me.  We call each other by our names in our posts most of the time anyway, so no biggie.
 
Alan

[wayne]

Hmmmm, I'm trying to think if this'll be a problem for me.......
 
 
C-Ya.........wayne

[midnight_sun]

Good idea. While you're at it, why not include the state-Area or in my case, country where the member is registered. This way it makes it interesting to know where the contributors are from.  
 
Marlon Sy from Finland in Scandinavia

[phil]

I'm fine with it

[rogertvr]

Sorry to spoil the party.
 
But unless it's possible to 100% guarantee that an ID with the poster's real name listed below it cannot be associated by a web spider, then I am not happy about this at all.  I have no objection to people finding my name by actually clicking on the ID link, as spiders are unable to do this.
 
I use various forums and newsgroups for other subjects which interest me or are related to my business - none of them display true names although they may be required for registration purposes, which is fine by me.
 
I really do not see the benefit of doing this other than convenience and looking at the value of the instruments hanging around, associating real name and ID makes it one step easier for the not-so-nice people living on the planet to get a step closer without having to click on the ID link to find that information.
 
If the truck ain't broke - don't fix it.
 
I wish to make it known that if this change takes place, then I would like my registration to be deleted from the Alembic Club.
 
Dave / Mica - I will be e-mailing you to draw to your attention my opinion.
 
Roger
 
(Message edited by rogertvr on May 27, 2005)

[bob]

My, my... While I share your concerns in general Roger, unless I'm mistaken you can type whatever you please in the name field of your profile. I encourage you to give that a try, prior to resigning from the group.

[mica]

You won't need to notify us otherwise - it's right here on this thread.  
 
Spiders actually do click on every link on the website, even the edit post link. I watch them as the logs scroll by everyday. Especially MSN, they love to click on everything, it really slows the site down. Even if your configuration doesn't invite spiders, many (most!) do not respect the settings.  
 
The benefit is to not have to refer to the profile in discussions where people are naturally addressing themselves by first name instead of user name.
 
I completely understand if you wish to either change your profile information or delete your account. This is expressly why we are discussing the matter before any change to the original configuration would take place.  
 
You may want to edit your profile so you receive emails when the announcement page is updated, if it isn't already. That is where any announcement for changes to the Alembic Club will be posted, and always with notice so that any individual will have time to make any changes the see fit.

[ctjim]

Hi all, time for my inaugaral post. That done, my  vote is for the change.

[jlpicard]

I'm all for it. Wish it never changed. Mike

[richbass939]

First of all, I like the proposed change.
Secondly, my opinion is that the people who don?t want to give very much personal information are not necessarily being paranoid buttheads.  I haven?t been in the club for very long but I feel very comfortable with all of you.  However, my wife doesn?t know much about the club and wants to be cautious.  Anyone who has internet access can read the posts, look at the profiles, see the pictures of our instrument collections and any of our other possessions that happen to be in the background.  Out of respect for my wife?s wishes I have left my profile somewhat vague.  
If people are uncomfortable giving complete info then they can give a partial answer or skip a field altogether.  The club design can be changed to make it more convenient for the members without compromising our ability to make our lives and property secure.  
Rich
 
(Message edited by richbass939 on May 29, 2005)

[rogertvr]

I respect Bob's point - however, to change my personal details in my profile would surely be a backward step?  At present, I feel no need to hide my identity, as it is available to members who wish to click on my profile.
 
I hate to do this but I'm going to - a personal e-mail conversation between myself and Mica...
...do be aware that the spiders will crawl on
EVERY link, invited or not. This is true web-wide. And while I too wish for technology to be respectful of configurations, the spider operators do not seem to be like-minded.
 
Ok, fine.  As I replied to Mica...
 I know what spiders are capable of - I'm a web programmer!
 
I do not see, however, the point of making their job a step easier. Especially in the name of convenience.
 
I really do implore that you leave the Club as it is!
 
From Mica - At this point Roger, it's somethign we're exploring, and it's to _restore_
it to the original way (names are preserved on old posts). As a web
programmer, I'm sure you're aware that the spiders are already doing what
you fear.
 
I also sent to Mica this comment -
I have to ask that, as spiders are crawling every link, why do I not get spam e-mail from my Alembic Club registration when my e-mail address is there for all spiders to see who bother to look?  E-mail addresses are a ripe target for spam as I know you are well aware!
 
The e-mail address that is registered to this Club receives zero spam e-mail because it is registered with companies that I trust - and if the spiders were trawling the profiles here, surely I would be receiving spam e-mail?
 
This truck is not broken - do not fix it.

[mica]

Roger - perhaps you are misunderstanding something. We are not propsing to put your email address in the left hand column of the posts, simply your first and last name. This is the way the Club operated when you registered in January 2003. It wasn't until April or May 2003 that I removed the real names from the left hand column.  
 
I can assure you that the spiders are looking at _every_ link on this website, it is silly to suggest otherwise since I personally watch the log files. I would also suggest that not all spiders are for the sole purpose of spamming.
 
I appreciate if emails are publicized that they are in full context. The rest of the message I sent to Roger was:
I am leaning to restoring full names on posts, but have not made a decision on this matter yet. Since we made the Club for  
use by humans, usability for humans should be paramount.  
Anything on a public website is publicly available, and putting a user's name on a post is not putting the email address, geographic details or bass collection inventory on a post.
 
I will take everyone's opinions in consideration, and I appreciate your input.
 
Any changes to the Club will be posted in the Announcement section with adequate notice for anyone to make any changes they see fit. I will be taking everyone's opinion under consideration before deciding this matter. So please, keep the opinions coming.

[mica]

For those concerned about possible spammers, there is a checkbox in the profile editor to allow your real email address to be hidden. Check the box next to:
 
Do not display my real e-mail address with my profile
 
and your email will only be available to the moderators of the Alembic Club.

[811952]

-Or you can always list your email address as something like johnATindstateDOTedu if you like.  That way, we get the email address (after some editing) and it is meaningless to a bot.
John