[Closed] Types of forum user

They can't *all* be breaking the law in whatever domains they're hosted?

Posts if they remain must be anonymous.

So sounds like STW can comply with your request by deleting any personal user details (email etc) they have for you and renaming your account to "Anon1"

Would that be enough?

It's nothing to do with libel, chakaping, it's about what people have stored on their computers. The European convention gives you a right to access, modification and deletion of personal data, including a nick name or pseudo.

how the "reports and warning signals" would be applied to normal posters.

As far as I'm concerned I'm not bothered if you've been around a while and made a few dozen posts. We maintain records of posts, IP addresses, warnings sent, and bans, the usual stuff which the moderators already regularly consult. I have previously looked at employing an index to help identify potential traders exploiting the forum against its rules, and I run various checks for problem banned users. I have a particular interest in geolocating the country or regional level as I mainly deal with the real problems like bots and spammers, rather than the more political forum issues, but if you are relatively normal it will be of no importance. You will be marked as 'normal', perhaps.

Again I point to the fact that the forum is full of stuff you have knowingly posted on a popular worldwide forum on the Internet.

That wouldn't be good enough GrahamS. Anon 1, 2, 3 etc would allow a reader to identify posts belonging to one anon and thus work out who the anon was, a bit like how the B samples were linked to Lance.

I'm going to change my username to Anon1 and beat the rush.

Reckon the only 'tag' that i would want to know, is who is posting whilst in 'work'-- just out of interest

So, as long as at least two posters requested removal then STW could apply the login "Unknown" to every thread in which they (plus every subsequent removed member) posted and the removed members would have their publishings saved for posterity but their identities blanked safely.

Thread Hi-jack

Alex! Hi! Yes, it was a long time back. Sorry to hear of your loss at Les Gets, hopefully you've found a new one since?! Bit busy with the Atheists at the mo.... 🙄

Hope you're well chap.

Thread hijack ends. Thank you. 😀

Edukator - it doesn't go that far actually. If you post in the public domain you don't have a right to then go back at some point in the future and demand that what you said be changed to something else or even deleted.

. Traffic and subscribers are not the same thing. With that in mind I can't for the life of me see any contradiction.

Semantacally, you are correct. However, you appeared to demonstrate how the business was growing, and how impervious this growth was to the effects of any one or a group of users. But then you seemed to go to great lengths to demonstrate why it was important for business that said users stop. Which I'm sure you'll agree is a tad contradictory...

Zokes, you seem to be confused here so let me try and help. Traffic increases and subs are cancelled - these are not mutually exclusive happenings and it does happen. Traffic is people coming to our website, which they can for free. Subscriptions can be cancelled by people who don't like what certain elements of the traffic are doing as they quite rationally associate the behaviour of those individuals with the brand they have bought into.

Incidentally, our unique user figures from Google Analytics have increased almost 10% since the beginning of this month. The majority of that traffic is here in the forum. Our forum has become busier in the last 3 weeks than it has ever been in our history. I am aware that this fact will not sit well with the egos of some of the people who have not been able to post in that period but regardless, it is the reality.

By looking at the numbers that we have in front of us it is really quite logical and rational to perhaps assume there is just possibly a link between the moderation actions in the last few weeks and the data we are now seeing. It is early days though, and we do usually expect a bit of a traffic spike at this time of year, so I'm not drawing conclusions just yet. We certainly aren't going backwards in traffic terms though and this forum is not shrinking.

When I look back at the analytics data over the past year and try to pinpoint the exact time any individual was banned I find I simply can't do it.

Alex! Hi! Yes, it was a long time back. Sorry to hear of your loss at Les Gets, hopefully you've found a new one since?!

snoorrfffff!!!

😆

Tom , thanks for the answer.

Well, Tom. Can you completely delete me or can't you?

I don't have the pressure on me of some forum poster threatening to lose my wife her job this time so I'm not going to threaten legal action now but I would like to know.

Having checked the legislation and cases for the BM incident I'm sure you'll find that forum providers now need to provide a Facebook style delete function. I can think of at least four recently banned members who would probably appreciate it as an option here even if they don't feel strongly enough to take legal action.

Edukator - are you asking for your account to be suspended and 'anonimised' (sp?) or just if it's possible?

Thanks mark, that does explain it much more clearly. One more question though: whilst I guess unique page views are on the surface free, such figures presumably help increase advertising? So ultimately what I'm trying to get at is of moderating / banning doesn't seem to make much difference, then perhaps a lighter tough might improve the feeling for all round these parts?

Of course what google analyitics can't tell you is whether the forum is full of interesting discussions, or just lots of people asking what tyres are best for CyB.

our unique user figures from Google Analytics have increased almost 10%

Without wanting to urinate on any potato-based snacks, does Google Analytics know which STW account people are logged into?

Cos I access this forum from my work laptop, my iphone, my ipad, my home laptop and my home PC. So if it doesn't know about STW accounts and is just looking at IP address plus some unique browser cookie, then I'm appearing as, at least, five "unique users".

And if that is the case, any increase in "unique users" [i]could[/i] be down to increasing numbers of people getting smartphones, tablets etc. No?

A pertinent question might be: has the number of [i]registered[/i] users seen an equivalent 10% increase?

A pertinent question might be: has your number of registered users seen an equivalent 10% increase?

Not if you're trying to emphasise increased engagement of existing users in the absence of, shall we say, discouraging elements.

Graham - Unique users is one of the primary metrics that sites can use to sell advertising, your distinction would be irrelevant in that process.

Edukator - I was trying to gently insult you, must try harder obviously.

🙂

Unique users is one of the primary metrics that sites can use to sell advertising, your distinction would be irrelevant in that process.

Yeah I realise that. I'm just pointing out that citing unique users data to say that recent moderation efforts are working [i]may[/i] be slightly misleading as the unique user count [i]may[/i] have been going up anyway and [i]may[/i] have little to do with actual new faces.

Whereas new [i]registered[/i] users would be a lot more compelling.

I reckon you're wrong, Mark. Since January of this year I can ask you to not make public my name, adress, pseudo and other stuff. I can also request that you delete it. You have to comply with my requests.

[url= http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31995L0046:en:NOT ]Some Euro laws on data protection[/url]

Euro law is always stronger than national law which has to be rewritten to comply with Euro law when Euro law changes.

Thank you Mark, just a thought... Might the increased 'spike' have anything to do with our resounding thumping of the rest of the world in the TdF and Olyimpic cycling?

As opposed to moderation?

it's possibel slackalice - good moderation would encourage those new visitors to return, though?

I'm trying to work out what the STW brand is and all I can find is this.
[url= http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=singletrackworld ]singletrackworld[/url]
[img] [/img]

good moderation would encourage those new visitors to return, though?

I guess so, if that information about whether the visitors are new, returning, dormant etc can be reviewed.

Euro law is always stronger than national law which has to be rewritten to comply with Euro law when Euro law changes.

This overstates the case a directive puts down essentially a framework and timetable for countries to implement legislation, thus countries have some leeway on how they implement it and providing their implementation falls within the ambit of the directive then it can not be challenged. A litigant can try and get direct effect of a directive only if a country is shown not to have implemented it at all or properly. Alternatively the Commission can take out infraction proceedings against the country. Therefore STW simply have to comply with UK law unless it can be shown that this is deficient.

I'm not as well-read on British law but the British 1998 data protection act says " You have the right to have data about you removed." So if I request STW removes my name, address, e-mail and pseudo from its files they have to comply.

But that doesn't include everything you've ever posted.

Not a long as what I've posted becomes entirely anonymous.

I reckon this thread is like that episode of the Simpsons where they get all the losers onto a rocket ship leaving the earth for "safety" but actually their rocket is heading straight for the heart of the sun.

The mods will be deleting the accounts of everyone sad enough to post on this forum-disappears-up-its-own-anus thread, leaving the way clear for the rest of us to.. wait a minute.. oh damn.

Nope.. that is not our understanding and we've been on courses and everything! Apart from the fact that our terms of use grant us (the publisher) to a none exclusive right to reproduce your your posts in print or online. In much the same way as we could be held liable for your posts as the publisher of them if you said anything libelous, we also have the none exclusive publishing right to use what you post. As such, we choose to use your posts as a record of what you have contributed to the forum over the years. Removing your name and posts from the forum record would devalue the worth of the forum as our published work.

The "B Ark" thread?

Mleh!

The "B Ark" thread?

I was thinking the same thing. (-:

So can we still post pictures of Kylie in her snappers or what?

"you have the right to have data about you removed"

Does the Act actually say that, though?

Not a long as what I've posted becomes entirely anonymous.

It sounds as though you might regret something you've said on here?

if I request STW removes my name, address, e-mail and pseudo from its files they have to comply

As I'm sure you're aware it is not that simple as it may still be necessary to process the data further. We treat name and address separately as these data are often entered for different purposes than normal forum users. We can remove these from live systems where appropriate. You are welcome to ask for your profile/email to be changed/removed from various purposes if the account/user is truly not active, but I'm sure you're aware we have this data elsewhere in our records. You can do much of this yourself. Then there are the data you have taken deliberate steps to make public, as well as release under licence (what Mark said), and the purpose of the data in the first place.

I do want to mention that the moderators are occasionally sensitive to requests where too much information has been disclosed or there is some great danger. I even proper-vanished a whole user once. Or was it two? But otherwise the advice is to think before posting in a public place.

How long ago were those courses, Mark? If they were prior to January this year then you need a refresher.

You can write any terms and conditions you want. They have no value whatsoever in law unless they respect the law.

Removing your name and posts from the forum record would devalue the worth of the forum as our published work.

Good grief!

<sighs>

I'm going on holiday next week. No Internet. I really really can't wait.

I do think before posting, Tom. There's nothing that I've posted myself that would make me want to disappear. However I would like to know whether I can make myself disappear should I ever get a lifetime ban. Not that I have any intention of posting anything that would merit such a ban.

Anyhow, enough of the hypotheticals that only a court case or three would resolve.

Re.privacy.I think the point edukator makes is interesting,more so than the original thread,esp as quite a few people have posted some quite intimate stuff,companies are already looking at social media to research candidates,I don't think it's impossible to imagine someone tracking Ip codes and coming up with aliases used-but then,I don't know much about IT).

anyway

I remember reading this on types of forum user.
[url= http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/ ]flame warriors[/url]

I'm going on holiday next week. No Internet. I really really can't wait.

It's a massive relief, itchy fingers for a day or so then utter peace.

companies are already looking at social media to research candidates

In the US it is apparently common for interviewers to ask candidates for their Facebook name and password!

companies are already looking at social media to research candidates

How little some people know...

😈

How little some people know...

Some people from here stalk others from here on twitter...or so I've heard. And then they have the gall to trash it on here too.

Some people from here stalk others from here on twitter...or so I've heard. And then they have the gall to trash it on here too.

How awful, that sounds a little unhealthy DD and quite possibly hypocritical too. I've also heard that some people construct a persona that differs from the reality of who they are. How indelicate.

And here we go.

I've also heard that some people construct a persona that differs from the reality of who they are. How indelicate.

Noooooooo

You don't say yosser, you don't say!!

I'm afraid so. Worse still I'm beginning to suspect that this forum [i]isn't being run for our benefit[/i]!

You've got to stop. You're breakin' my freakin' heart here man.

[b]"<sighs>

I'm going on holiday next week. No Internet. I really really can't wait. "[/b]

😉

[img] [/img]

He'll find out, then you'll be in trouble.

And here we go.

?

Alex! Hi! Yes, it was a long time back. Sorry to hear of your loss at Les Gets, hopefully you've found a new one since?!
snoorrfffff!!!

Harsh. But fair. Well this thread has all the good (amusing) and bad (self righteous priggary) that makes STW the Internet Smogsboard it's come to be. Whoever said 'don't read the bottom of the Internet' was clearly onto something.

*as you were people who are visually examining their small intestine. sorry to have interrupted such important work*

...things had calmed down so I no longer feared for my life or spouse's job...

This had me in stitches. I suspect that it was all just a figment of your paranoiac mind, John. After all, you did go off the rails a tad back then. Today's effort reads very similar to me...

Lost the will to read all 9 pages, but for what its worth i would rather not have public tags. its difficult not to judge a book by its cover when the tag is saying 'this person is fab, well they must be cos they've posted 5million times!'.

A newbie can have just as much as a valid comment to make as a serial poster, but i'd rather not know who's what thanks. It becomes just like any other forum otherwise.

Just out of interest, what's the format of a warning?. I've had two separate emails telling me I'm on a ban (or something of that nature), they both appeared to be generic emails perhaps handed out to everyone on that thread (my assumption), but I'm not sure. There was no actual ban on me personally on both occasions. On both occasions the whole thread had been pulled, but my post wasn't that bad, maybe a bit naughty/risky perhaps. Just wondering how the warning/ban system works?. Is there a generic email sent out to everyone on a pulled thread, then individuals are weeded out?, or something?

Worse still I'm beginning to suspect that this forum isn't being run for our benefit!

If STW is selling something to somebody, then given we're not paying, we're not the somebody...

If they were prior to January this year then you need a refresher.

Except that as mefty points out, the change you're referring to hasn't yet made it into UK law (I don't believe - I'm far from the expert on this, but it would be unlikely for such a Euro change in January to have made it here yet). Quoting a 1988 UK law is irrelevant, as that clearly doesn't contain the new clauses you're so bothered about.

In any case, as I think you've realised you'd have to take STW to court if you think they're not doing it right, and I don't think you really want to go there. All of a bit of a pointless argument really - most of us were happy to have the acknowledgement that STW aren't holding any secret data on normal users (that is what they said isn't it? otherwise I'm still wondering about that DP request).

Interestingly, those hit with the ban hammer recently were mostly due to excessive pointless arguing.

Oh no they weren't!
____________________________________

Hi GW - * waves *

No Nana.. IME banning/warning Emails are usually pretty personal and so badly written they couldn't be generic.

Harmless threads of mine (and others I've posted on) have been pulled with no explanation by Email.
Have the generic Emails you've had been recently? (wondering if they're a new thing.)

Oh no they weren't

Tru dat.

[quote=deadlydarcy ]> Oh no they weren't
Tru dat.
Tsk! You're supposed to retort with "oh yes they were!". What a spoilsport.
____________________________________

Hi GW - * waves *

D'oh. I'm so slow sometimes. 😳

I was actually agreeing seeing as TSY wasn't banned for excessive arguing.

Why was TSY banned? He always seemed amusing enough!

This

Why was TSY banned? He always seemed amusing enough!

seems to be one of the problems - name and shame!

I also thought that was a strange one as well
the others i could see some sort of reason , though not necessarily agree. He was fairly obviously just daft and harmless.
Never really went on the politics or any arguolmypic thread

This

Why was [[i]insert name[/i]] banned? He always seemed amusing enough!
seems to be one of the problems - name and shame!

Sorry this was more my point nothing about TSY or anyone else.

Part of [s]policing[/s] modding effectively is to make sure the [s]scrotes[/s] users know whats coming to them if they overstep the line (and where the line is)

Tsk! You're supposed to retort with "oh yes they were!". What a spoilsport.

Behind you.

I don't really want a ban, which giving the reasons for TSY's banning would get me. However, I do feel they're pertinent for anyone who discusses STW on other social networks. So email is in profile if you [i]really[/i] want to know.

In the US it is apparently common for interviewers to ask candidates for their Facebook name and password!

I hope they immediately discounted from a post anyone who actually proffered that information.

Why was TSY banned? He always seemed amusing enough!

Indeed. If the reason was valid, then Paul Chambers would be in prison.

It seems you are better of crying to the mods every time someone dares to affront your sensibilities, than occasionally take it on the chin, realise it takes two to tango or that life is too short to run to the powers that be over every little thing.

I've been using this forum for a while although I don't post much but find it a wonderful resource of information on a wide range of topics from bikes to babies to what tyres I need 😉

I do read some of the argumentative threads but once they go past page 4 tend to find it's just the same voices spouting their opinion again & again and don't bother reading any further, although I've read all of this one. I therefore don't see any need to tag usernames as you'll find them all on any thread with 5 pages or more, unless it's the superb photography one of course.

I was another who thought TSY was a rather funny but harmless character but have no idea why he was banned. Maybe some sort of reason on the thread that caused offence rather than users just disappearing would be a good idea so everybody knows the limits.

Not sure about tags really. Cycle club I am a member of used Cat 4 up to Cat 1 and elite based on number of posts. So Fun, Sport, Elite, Pro Elite or similar might work here if considered necessary.

The 'member' since date has probably been corrupted by the great hack so I for instance who has been a member since the Go-Far days(12 years now?) but that would not be picked up by the current systems (guessing here). How long someone has been here should not be indicative of the importance attached to there response or question though.

Had not realised TSY had been banned. Must say I am on here a bit less since I retired, too much to do I suppose.

One thing for the mods or His Grumpiness to consider is number of posts to a thread. Set an arbitrary limit, say 50 posts, and when it reaches this number the thread is auto locked (assuming this can be done) until a mod has a look at the content. If the 'Big Hitters' are having a go or bullying then the thread is closed. If it is a good-natured thread such as the bivvy, pictures, Olympic threads then unlock the thread and let it run. Might save a few bannings, TJ for instance who I generally agreed with - he just wouldn't let it lie!

This can be a great place, I was after a knob for an mfi in-house cooker but did not know how to source one after mfi went bust as I did not know the manufacturer. Someone on here knew the maker and I got one. Plus what tyres for CyB.

first rule of banhammer is don't talk about banhammer
second rule of banhammer...

Wonder if it'll get called into service from this thread?

It seems you are better off crying to the mods every time someone dares to affront your sensibilities, than occasionally take it on the chin, realise it takes two to tango or that life is too short to run to the powers that be over every little thing.

This can be a great place, I was after a knob for an mfi in-house cooker but did not know how to source one after mfi went bust as I did not know the manufacturer. Someone on here knew the maker and I got one.

New forum tagline:

[i]"STW: We Know a Thing or Two about Knobs Here"[/i] 😉

Given that the mods are actively trying to mould the forum into a friendlier, more respectful and good-humoured place to hang out, I should think that they [i]welcome[/i] "reportings" of abusive posters. I've had no hesitation in helping them achieve their objective...

That's very good of you. I think some of us will miss you though.