Will the mystery guests sign in please?

[Borderstone]

Okay,I have an idea that I feel needs serious consideration. I think with having had 2 incidents of unregistered persons posting messages to get people angry,I feel it should be mandatory for anyone coming to this board to register and most of all leave their E-Mail address to show their serious. It really should be that way before this goes too far. I used to post on a M*A*S*H board and it was fun like this is but eventually it became nothing but messages of name-calling and dirty language. I know none of us wants that to happen. Of course,those already registered could stay. Good idea?..or should we just leave it be? S'been me and I'll catch ya on the flipside of Sundown!

------------------
Borderstone

I don't much object to the concept of people registering. But what does it matter if they do? How would that help any perceived problems? Email addys are a dime a dozen; go to yahoo or hotmail and create one in under thirty seconds. Addys tell you nothing about a person. And in some cases, they tell too much. Which is why my addy is not on my profile. Someone here thought it would be hilarious to follow my email addy to my webpage and use the info there to have a jolly good time with themselves. Abuse will happen no matter what you do or don't do.

quote:Originally posted by Borderstone:
Okay,I have an idea that I feel needs serious consideration. I think with having had 2 incidents of unregistered persons posting messages to get people angry,I feel it should be mandatory for anyone coming to this board to register and most of all leave their E-Mail address to show their serious. It really should be that way before this goes too far. I used to post on a M*A*S*H board and it was fun like this is but eventually it became nothing but messages of name-calling and dirty language. I know none of us wants that to happen. Of course,those already registered could stay. Good idea?..or should we just leave it be? S'been me and I'll catch ya on the flipside of Sundown!





------------------
Born once - Got it right the first time. )O(

[TheWatchman]

Good point Borderstone. I have done the same thing with my message forum. Here is what can be done with the forum software that this site uses.

You can activate the security feature that people must use a valid email address because the software will create a password for them and will automatically email it to them. If they use a fake email address, they will not get the password to post. Is it foolproof? No, but it does help. If somebody is hell bent on causing trouble, they will do it. It's just part of the risk when you have an open, public forum as a means to communicate. You can have hundreds of email accounts with Hotmail, Yahoo etc. Perhaps it will discourage the people flying by from posting to only never return. Many sites on the internet are using security features like this.

By the way, you notice that little yellow "logged" link in each thread? It gives the IP address of the poster, which will change often. With the correct software, you can trace the computer to the street block that they posted from. I still believe that people on many forums post under several different names. This may actually be the case on this site as well.

It's best just to ignore stupid posts and delete them as they surface.

[This message has been edited by TheWatchman (edited May 13, 2003).]

Perhaps I could've bin wrong about all those "busdrivers" being the same person. Maybe someone wanted to start a topic that had never bin discussed before and he decided to just put in any name( maybe that's the bus# he rides or drives), and anyway some other pranksters out there decided to enter themselves as busdrivers and try to cause trouble. Especially the 92-2 one who said he hated "all of em". I'm not taking up for anybody but it might be true. Then again, it was the same person all along.

I understand your feelings, Borderstone, to try to block the trolls. It's only natural when we are so involved in a common subject to get frustrated when one of them drops by just to stir things up. But the reason I have for choosing not to register is not to "drop a bomb" and run, but because I think these boards are meant for the exchange of ideas without the risk of personal harrassment. Don't email me if you disagree with what I think...post your reply on this board. That's what it's for.

Let's face it. This is the internet. It's public. How many of us have stumbled across this website while surfing for info on Gord and have become valued posters? Close the doors and who knows what you will miss out on. There are many websites that require registration to post and you know what? They get trolls there too. But once one starts a thread or responds in the middle of one, the serious members of the group ignore it or stop using that thread and move on. Nothing stops a discussion in a thread like a troll post on some of those sites. Like Watchman says, it's possible to set up any number of valid addys through yahoo or hotmail, so the best thing is to just to ignore the trolls when they post. You're never gonna stop them completely.

Although I must say that the tip about the little yellow "logged" link concerns me. Why would I want to know where that will take me? Why would I care, if the reason I am here is to read and post ideas on Gord and his music? Who cares if the IP address changes for the same poster? Many people access this site from where ever they can. It doesn't necessarily mean for a no good reason. Man, such suspicion. I hate to think what you would do if you had my email addy. Yikes! I would say that your handle of "The Watchman" has more meaning than just a reference to Gord. LOL. (just kidding)

[TheWatchman]

Jack,

Here we go again. What a shame. I am only pointing out functions on forums and why those who developed the software gave the options to view such a thing. Sometimes I wonder who I am really responding to here...

The "logged" function on this site has been activated by Florian, I assume when he created the site. It is an option not available to those who post here. Only the forum administrator and moderators have access to the IP address when someone posts. Everyime you visit any site on the internet, your IP address is logged on the server. This is done for a reason. Forums such as this one, gives the administrator and moderators the option to view the IP address of those who post. I highly doubt that Florian or Char have ever even looked, or know why it is there. It is there for protection as well as to gain info. to learn what the part of the world people are accessing your site from. Unless you know what to do with the IP address, it is meaningless to just simply view it.

IP addresses are logged because they can be evidence for those people who have become victims of computer viruses, hacking etc. It's a security function that to be quite frank, in this day and age is almost a must when having people from all over the world accessing a website.

Your IP address does change, but not that often. For example, if someone was posting all sorts of foul language etc. on this forum, what can you do about it? If you say nothing, your wrong. By knowing the IP address, You can find out who provides that person with internet service and possibly what neighborhood they live in to narrow down the troublemaker (note-you cannot get personal info., addresses, names etc. from the IP address). You simply contact their ISP, they investigate where they have been on the internet and if guilty, their ISP will ban them from the internet. This happens everyday.

Thank you, Watchman, for clarifying your earlier post. The way I read it was that this capability to chase IP addresses was available to anyone who had the correct software, not just the owners of the site. My misread, I apologize. I am not that computer savy beyond email and posting on websites. My ignorance shined through bright and clear on that, I guess. LOL. Thanks for setting me (and others too, I have no doubt) straight on that.

Also, I apologize if I offended with my last comment. The verbage of your opening paragraph sounds a little defensive and it was not my intention to cause that. I was just having a little dry humour fun. That bad habit has caused me more than once to eat the proverbial sole sandwich. Sorry.

Who are you responding too? My name is Jack. Plain and simple. I am not some troll in disguise trying to start something here. If you look at my other postings, I think you will see that I am a somewhat knowledgeable Gord fan. I have been for over 30 years, starting when IYCRMM got it's radio play in the States in 1969/70. I've been to many of his concerts and have had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times. And hope to again. Get Well Gord.

Jack

[Borderstone]

Your right Watchman,I guess I'll just deal with it the best I can. .....(Let's see,internet white pages-check!/Private detective hired-check!/Bloodhounds-Check!/Gordon Lightfoot mask-Check and double check! Later!)

------------------
Borderstone

[brink]

Jack I love the term Troll, how great is that? Can I use it for future needs? It is a great term and so fitting!
Brink

brink,

Yes, you certainly may use that term. It's not mine to give anyway. I picked it up from another public discussion board I visit.

It is a perfect description, isn't it? Trolls being the mythological "troublemaking for amusement" creatures.

Jack

[christinefrommichigan]

Hi everyone

Sorry it has been so long since I was last in the forum. Morning sickness can be a real big bummer. (Due around Halloween YIKES!)

I agree with blocking those that are not registered that using fowl language and saying bad things about others in the forum. But, please don't block me out. I would get myself a free e-mail adress through Yahoo or some of the others but since I am using my husbands computer that his company gave him I am not able to do that without getting firewalled.

You guys are all great in here and when I am having a bad day you guys are great at making it better.

[Borderstone]

Michigan! I said in my 1st post that anyone already registered should be allowed to stay. I know the operator of the site wouldn't block you. That would not be very nice! I think you have nothing to worry about. I don't either,I....wait,what's happening? The screen's acting up,I..I..Uh*OH! ah..Heeeellll------

[gwen snyder]

Congratulations Christine,
Halloween, huh? My youngest was born October 17th and he just gravitates around Halloween everything.
Keep us posted about how things are going.
GSS

[SomewhereupinMichigan]

Christine: Are you the one from Owosso? If so, congratulations neighbor!

[brink]

Christine,
My "baby" will be 25 on Halloween. Congrats! Is this the first?

[christinefrommichigan]

Somewhere,

I live in Howell which isn't to far from Owosso about a 1/2 an hour away.

Brink,

This will be baby number two for me. No more after this one. Whew!

[christinefrommichigan]

Somewhere,

I live in Howell which isn't to far from Owosso about a 1/2 an hour away.

Brink,

This will be baby number two for me. No more after this one. Whew!

[christinefrommichigan]

WHOOPS!!!

[Borderstone]

WHOOPS!-A-Baby!!!!!!

------------------
Borderstone (Also known as,"The B!")