Where are members located...?

[AlanHo]

WE get quite a few new members posting spam or other suspicious threads who are anonymous. These people are always totally anonymous and we have no idea where they are based.

Sometimes, knowing where they are based, would be helpful in constructing a suitable response. There is little point in recommending a UK supplyer if the OP is based in China.

It is clear that our mods have the means to determine where people are based - presumably from their IP address. it would be helpful if this info could be added to members profiles by the mods - for the reasons given. A new thread started yesterday is a classic example - we now know the OP is based in Taiwan which suggests the post has an agenda and I have wasted my time in responding to it.

[Irene]

There is a location field in the profile, but I think it is only populated if the member enters the information.

[-pops-]

It is true that mods can see IP addresses and locate them.

I'm not sure it would be a good idea to make this information generally available - for similar reasons as not making email addresses available on the open pages.

I'm sure regular members would treat the information in the manner intended but there are always rogue elements, especially as the forum is open to public scrutiny.

[AlanHo]

pops

I don't quite get your point.

How could I misuse the fact that you tell us that 'JoeBloggs' is based in Australia or wherever. I understand giving out Email addresses is not on - but surely the country of origin is hardly a data protection problem.

As it happens I don't understand why so many members are not more willing to divulge more of their personal details. It would be nice to be able to recognise location, age bracket and gender. I recall last year a thread about weather conditions and some people posted that they had snow where they were - but there was no indication in their profile or post where they were referring to. A bit pointless methinks.

[catgate]

Where are members located..

I know where my member is located, and I am sure other forum contributors are in a similar position.

[andsome]

Where are members located..

I know where my member is located, and I am sure other forum contributors are in a similar position.

Under pants.

[doug]

>Andsome ,ot only do we know where you are located but if developements continue it's possible we might be able to find out what you are doing :D

[andsome]

I'm looking at the forum right now.

[Irene]

pops

I don't quite get your point.

How could I misuse the fact that you tell us that 'JoeBloggs' is based in Australia or wherever. I understand giving out Email addresses is not on - but surely the country of origin is hardly a data protection problem.

As it happens I don't understand why so many members are not more willing to divulge more of their personal details. It would be nice to be able to recognise location, age bracket and gender. I recall last year a thread about weather conditions and some people posted that they had snow where they were - but there was no indication in their profile or post where they were referring to. A bit pointless methinks.

I seem to remember having a similar discussion on WF quite some time ago, after some type of forum update.

As I stated then, I personally find it preferable to know gender, indication of age, location, etc. I think I asked if they could be a required field, but it was declined.

Lots of people join with no information apparent other than a forum name - not even any detail about the equipment they are using.

[-pops-]

There is more information in an IP address than the country of origin. I'm not au fait with what it is but it can be used for locating and tracking users, I understand.

Regarding the points made about lack of other information about members, I agree it would be nice to have more of this, especially technical details when a tech query is made and there are no details in the thread or in the profile.

[MANEMAN]

WE get quite a few new members posting spam or other suspicious threads who are anonymous. These people are always totally anonymous and we have no idea where they are based.

They dont just do it on this forum Alan. The trick is to keep them posting whilst getting a fix on them over a wide spectrum of forums. "Give 'em enough rope and they will eventually hang themselves", is the name of the game. When they discover that you are playing them at their own game they quickly scuttle off back to troll land.

No manner of "Name Changing" or proxy usage on their part then gives them anonymity because you have got a fix on them.

Bung them over to the "We tie Prats up in Knots Society" 10 Broadway,London.,Carry on answering the silly questions, and keep them posting while someone else in the background gets a fix on them and makes sure they get what they deserve.

I think you'd probably be quite suprised just how many people and forums get checked out in this age of counter terrorism. Many of these trolls because of the frequency of posting are on record already. If they make too much of a nuisance of themselves they get jumped on from a great height for very insignificant breaches, or pirate downloads that the authorities would normally turn a blind eye too. The general public doesn't get to hear about it, and the media cant be bothered with reporting on this sort of stuff.

Dont go worrying about it too much. Just keep reeling the rope out. :) :)