Anonymous Posters

[Burnham Lad]

We seem to have had an attack of Anons sticking on controversial statements lately, getting the old debate about should we allow them, if they give no clue as to their identity, (Chris S and Dave being exceptions - at least we know who they are!)

 

On the other hand, banning them altogether stops the occasional genuine unregistered poster, who are unlikely to be members of these Forums coming on and asking questions, like Walsall Fans asking questions about the game and the area, or sending good luck messages, and we would not want to to ignore them.

 

So how about if one of these stirrers posts comes up, we just post "say who you are or register" - and if they do neither we just ignore the post. As Decorum said on the Windsor Forum, nothing irritates the stirrers more than a big fat zero on the responses.

 

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

[GarySTFC]

I think at the moment, it is being made worse by the fact you do not have to even leave a name to go by on the forum, you can simply leave it blank. This is currently being worked on though, but I must admit to being tempted to reverting onto registered only until it is sorted.

 

Whilst the postings have been 'controversial', it has created discussion, which is what this forum is all about, so is it really that bad a thing?

[mal316]

Gary, as you know we recently had a very serious problem with an anon poster on the Windsor forum.

 

I appreciate the problem with there being genuine anon posters but one other way is to turn on the viewable IP addresses again so at least we have something to check these people out with when their posts get out of hand.

 

It will also highlight those people having conversations with themselves!!

[BFR]

Quote:

It will also highlight those people having conversations with themselves!!

On the Windsor forum, this means Woody

[GarySTFC]

Mal/BFR, can you no longer see the IP addresses of your respective forums then? This should be in place for moderators that they can see IP addresses of posters on their forums. If this isn't the case, I'll address it with Ian_W if I can get hold of him.

[Radders]

The problem is Gary that even when you have to leave a name people can still just type in Anon or any other random name so that will hardly help the situation. I know there are arguments either way but personally I think reverting to a fully registration forum would be best. It wasn't too much of a problem for people like Marcus, Charlie or Yousef to sign up recently so why can't others do the same.

[GarySTFC]

Well considering how many posts Marcus puts in when not logged in, it might solve that problem for him as well!

[BFR]

I've not seen IP addresses since the last major upgrade

[GarySTFC]

OK, it's only us site admins then. Thanks for the notification.

[Guest]

hi there its dave here im having a little trouble getting onto posts already and would not be able to log on easily if attal if you make it regersted only maybe there could be an easy cituation to get amembers only password with one or too easy clicks say. my memery of paaswords at college is already differcault and to have to find more would be totaly comfusing so if you could have a sulotion for me i would be grateful. i thought that the agreement to make it as is now again was perminat but i feel some nasty areas need to be automaticly baned from here somehow and have someone take the nastey things off. i want a happy new year with not to many unnesercary problems on top. sorry to be so long but i could do with some extra help in this matter.

 

dave programes till my subject to comununicaion and or frozen out problems come

 

dave programes

[Guest]

hi there its dave here again. dom marcus gary im conserned about a lot of things in life at the momment and need some help with the situation i posted earlyer.

anyway thak you for being friends and having lots of chats on here with me dom and all but will say this could be my last post i don't know

this could be my last post

goodbye slough on the post foram possibly

i know my time is going

for all of knowing

god bless rebels and all and hope we get the right results for the rest of the year

and shead a tear for no longer being on here

to the forum and all that sailed in her and sadley lay any future posts of mine to rest until i sort myself out in the new year. this could be the toughed goodbye until i can get on a course that can get me regersted and say e mail and passwords could be a thing in the past and made easyer by useing new technecues ext ext.

 

sad poss diserpearing of of here soon but not to be forgoton and will hope people understand my words. i will still be around to talk to at all the slough matches as usual as i will never give up on the main volentry job unless forced to step down if the club wer ever to fold or merge. whatever hapens to the foram up the rebels and lets start if we can with are fairly long trip to salisbury on new years day saturday god bless you all. all the suppoters and trust members have done all they can to get me through the bad patches as it should be in football. i feel we have had many more great times to come and a great past up the rebels.

 

dave programes

[Dominic]

Dave,

 

Gary is not making the forum 'all registration', dont panic you are still gonna be here! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Nathan]

Even if he does you can alwaysd use mine (link below in signature)

[Martin]

But making it registration only does not stop Anonymous posting.

 

I don't know anyone whose name is BFR, Gary-STFC, Morning Minge Muncher or the King of Crap. Nobody puts their full name on here (with the exception of David Holden) and unless you know the poster and their registered name all posters are anonymous. Given the fact the majority of Slough posters stand behind the goal we all know who we are but if a Slough fan who normally stands on the sidelines was to view or post would he necessarily know who is writing and does it really matter?

 

Anyway, I think we all know where I stand on this one.

[BFR]

We do, though I always thought your name was Martin. Should I start calling you Mildred now??? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Martin]

My name is Martin but that does not make any less anonymous to those that don't know me. Which is my point - sort of. I am not sure this post makes sense.

[Yousef]

Dave why is it difficult for you to have a username and a password? is your memory the problem? come on mate do it!

[DECORUM]

The problem really is that registered and unregistered users post both useful and interesting information as well as inflammatory and provocative rubbish designed to ilicit responses and propagate unpleasantness. I have sometimes been disgusted by posts from registered users, and also glad to participate in sensible dialogue with anonymous users who have something relevant to say. The best policy surely is for regular users of this and other forums (I post on WEFC too) to use their own intellectual filters and ignore those people who are here to cause trouble or wish to be abusive. They want a response, so in denying them this, we are irritating them more than if we give in to temptation. This is surely a better way of dealing with the problem than changing access to, or censoring what should be an open public forum.

 

The only other suggestion I have is for regular contributors to post a first response to unpleasant posts stating that 'this post is unworthy of response and regular STFC forum members are encouraged to ignore it'. Other users could then choose to leave this as the last comment if they wanted to, and the post quickly drifts down the board and out of sight. This does not prevent anyone posting, but might create an ongoing disincentive to registered and unregistered users making the type of posts that the majority here would like to see eliminated.

[Tom]

Whats the possiblilty of introducing a filter for Anonymous posters. That way people can choose to turn them on or off depending on whether they wish to view their posts.

[Ian]

Surely that exists now? If you see a post with the name 'anonymous' just don't read it. Or, like I do with most of what Woody posts, read it and just ignore it.