A suggested improvement for this forum

[audio ergo sum]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

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[resound]

I'm rather against not having the option for privacy for all the very good reasons given. Any Personally Identifiable Information out on the Web is easily correlated and aggregated. Even if a criminal does not target you directly, collecting this sort of information makes for a more convincing social engineering/phishing attempt upon someone else. Those who do not come to actively or tacitly advertise some service should have the right to choose how much information they disclose. As many have pointed out, a civil and private exchange between members here is just a PM away and is a very different sort of venue where most regulars would feel comfortable being more forthcoming.

I'm not sure what brought apart the sudden clamor for change on this forum, but considering the familiarity and general good-will that occurs in this part of GS, it strikes me as a bit strange.

I used to be known around here as "Vuk". I got a PM from Jules a short while ago citing complaints about my handle offending others. I found this a bit shocking as this is the only part of GS I frequent and the general tenor of this area has been polite and upfront. I am neither so juvenile nor so clever to create a handle alluding to fornication: interpreting "Vuk" with the "v" sounding like "f" as in "Frank" not as "v" like in "virtuoso".

Certainly, had any member privately or publicly inquired as to my intent, I would have stated what I am stating now. If my phonetic knowledge is lacking, I would have hoped to clarify the misunderstanding and reassure whomever took offense that none was ever intended: no scatological, sophomoric humor, no promotion of the ill-side of our cultures, etc.. I had no problem changing the handle to resolve the matter, but feeling "shanghaied" into this has left me tasting some sour grapes.

While this may be off-topic, I have felt the need to simply express my thoughts here to whomever took offense with my old handle. As for whatever the zeitgeist is here in Remote land currently, I'm watching it with some reservation. I hope what has made this such an exceptional corner of the net does not go away.

[NorseHorse]

Seriously. People were offended? And no one emailed you?

Weak sauce.

I hate that type of thing.

[Jim vanBergen]

I dunno guys, I've spent less and less time on this forum and GS in general because of the immense amount of trolls who lurk and waste time. the Remote forum is among the top forums on GS and has the least BS...but we still have problems here, no doubt.

I feel the mandatory name is a GOOD thing. Yes, we have to deal with problems with employers and clients...just like we do every day. I am a fan of the proposal, and think it will only raise the level of quality. My $0.02.

JvB -Jim van Bergen is my real name, and as you can see in my picture, I am 5-10 with orange hair. Deal with it.

[d_fu]

Originally Posted by resound

I used to be known around here as "Vuk". I got a PM from Jules a short while ago citing complaints about my handle offending others.

Odd indeed. Maybe you could at least put a "formerly known as..." in your signature...


Daniel

[resound]

Yup. I'm a reasonably intelligent adult who considers most everyone here one as well. No PM, no "hey, did you realize", or any other communique. Note my join date. I wasn't exactly a newbie here, either.

Whether my handle is my name or not is irregardless: I always try to be up-front with others and welcome a healthy exchange. From this experience of mine, I don't necessarily see how compulsory real names will create a better atmosphere here. If this comes to pass, I'm more apt to leave GS than not for many reasons.

[videoteque]

Originally Posted by d_fu

Odd indeed. Maybe you could at least put a "formerly known as..." in your signature...

If he does, someone may complain!!!

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by resound

I used to be known around here as "Vuk". I got a PM from Jules a short while ago citing complaints about my handle offending others.

Was it VukOnCrack ?Or is it someone else ? ))

[Ozpeter]

Perhaps my attitude is influenced by my membership of another forum where a member was a bit careless with identity info, then offended another member, who then came after them with a gun - right across the USA.

In the real world, you get some chance to assess the kind of person you are dealing with face to face using clues which evolution has equipped us well to pick up on. But here on the internet, not everything and everyone is as they seem - whether you know their real name or not - you just have bald print to deal with.

However, I can vouch for David's good character, having had the pleasure of briefly entertaining him at my home a few years back. And no, he didn't have a gun!

[resound]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Was it VukOnCrack ?Or is it someone else ? ))

You may have outed me, Ivo. Just don't tip anyone off to my new secret identity, lest someone get offended by the prefix "re" or my subversive call for action in using a verb as a handle.

[Jules]

Originally Posted by David Spearritt

Probably because of this rule.

Many thanks for a good summary of the problem Jules. Thinking up an anonymous name now ...

It is forbidden to run multiple ID's so if you want to change your user name, send me or a moderator a PM.

If anyone is interested, since the forum has been running, I get equal numbers of people wanting to move over to using their real names as people, that for privacy issues, decide to remove their real name.

It's an issue that seems to polarize opinion. (As I think is evidenced clearly in this thread)

Anyhow, thanks for the input, Steve, the forums moderator and I will discuss it later this coming week. We will then decide if any changes need to be made.