Testers: Anonymous posters or Real Names?

Tim Blaney · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1127

Nevermind, just re-read the rules.

[ August 10, 2001: Message edited by: Tim Blaney ]

Charlie Tackett

Is it just me or does there seem to be an increasing # of folks not following the rules of using your full name? Or using fictious names (Mcfastybloke?)?

Are we keeping Glenn and Jeff too busy with this? Do we need to reconsider the e-mail confirmation method?

Darren Swisher

Charlie, I would say if it interferes with anything to do with the quality of work they do now. Then it is a must.

Darren

Dave Stevens

quote:
Originally posted by Charlie Tackett:
Are we keeping Glenn and Jeff too busy with this? Do we need to reconsider the e-mail confirmation method?

This is really for everyone, not Charlie specifically.

Other than community trust, there is really no way to insure that the person on the other end is who they say they are. The exception might be requiring a vaild credit card for registration, and even that has caveats. No amount of personal profiles, email confirmation or other method, will tell you if that person is really that person.

In many cases, thinking that by having a simple authentication method as a way of verifying an identity, creates a false sense of security, which may be worse than having none at all.

Online comunities are very much like real communities. The message boards are different from a mailing list and by being more accessable, with lower barriers to entry, we are going to get some that just don't want to get along. In a way, we, the participants are are just as responsible for the operation of the community as the operators of the site are. Some would even say more influential than the board moderators. Nothing like a good dose of peer pressure to bring someone in line.

The rules are clear, post with your real name. Those that don't, make your own conclusions as to the validity of the posts. As time goes on, we'll know who is who, and be able to determine the value of others advice. In the meantime, it's up to those that are respected, the leaders of the community, to keep an ear out for anything less than factual. I'm not talking about strong opinions, but rather technical fact, that is supported by hard documentation.

There will always be some knuckleheads from time to time. It's how the community deals with them, that will determine if they impact our little slab of the Internet here.

Dave

Glenn Holland

I've noticed the seeming increase of non-complaint screen names. The email confirm may be one direction we want to head.

Unfortunately, my plate is extremely full right now. I have secured a Cobalt server for the entire site and have to learn how to set it up (ugh). Plus, I just got back from Mid-Ohio.

In the meantime, we'll try to get these people to conform.

G.

Dave Stevens

quote:
Originally posted by Glenn Holland:
The email confirm may be one direction we want to head.

It proves a valid email address, but I don't see how it provides for identifying the user. Am I missing something?

quote
Quote:

I have secured a Cobalt server for the entire site and have to learn how to set it up (ugh). Plus, I just got back from Mid-Ohio.

Mid Ohio, cool.......Looks like Brack to Ganassi, Mad Max the unemployment line.

Don't let the Cobalt shake you, think of it as the Rotax of Unix server appliances.

Dave