advantages(?) of redesigned site

[Michael W.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

John, with all due respect, I think NCRS showed a TOTAL lack of concern for MEMBER SECURITY when they force fed us the requirement to show our full name on an open website for the world to see.

To add to Norris' comments- many believe this discussion board to be private and can be seen by current members only. This is not true as anyone anywhere can sign up for a 30 day free trial and extract all the info they want. This should be taken into account when posting private stuff.

[Gary F.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

Can't a screen name be linked to your real name at time of log in??? What's the big deal?? Where's the SECURITY for the members??? Was it lost in the upgrade??? Was it even considered?? Every other forum uses screen names, so somebody please tell me what is the lesson to be learned by using your real name. So whose wrong, ALL the other forums that use screen names for security, or this one that doesn't???

[John W.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

In my opinion all of the others. That is why so many of them get swamped with trash. Anonymous users seem to have a problem keeping a civil tongue.

When you put your name on what you say you tend to be more select about what you say.

[Terry B.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

In my opinion all of the others. That is why so many of them get swamped with trash. Anonymous users seem to have a problem keeping a civil tongue.

When you put your name on what you say you tend to be more select about what you say.

I agree with you John 100%. Keep the real names with the posts!

[Norris W.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

In my opinion all of the others. That is why so many of them get swamped with trash. Anonymous users seem to have a problem keeping a civil tongue.

When you put your name on what you say you tend to be more select about what you say.

So what you are saying is, making it easier for the moderators to keep the site controversy free is more important than security for the members. I really like the notion that "all of the other" websites are wrong in allowing screen names. John, again, as an administrator on a website that is many times larger than this, with millions of hits a month, I've seen both sides of this issue. This is a very flawed and dangerous path and it's why I feel so strongly about it and keep commenting. You personally are sitting in a virtually sealed box since internet searches such as Intellus give no clue as to who and where you are with no additional information to narrow the search. Terry B. above who does not object to this either shares the same luxury.

This is a very simple solution and it is within the capabilities of V Bulletin, both older and newer versions if there simply must be identity exposure: Make a MEMBERS ONLY section that only NCRS registered members may log into. Make that section a member's list where John 107 becomes John Waggoner. If someone is posting trash as y'all seem to fear it is easy for any registered member to flip to that forum and see exactly who it is, but the pirates that surf the internet looking for scam targets and theft victims do not have access to that information.

If you don't want to do that, then let's require everybody's location under their name, both city and state so the scammers, identity thieves and car thieves will have the same opportunities to find all of us and our exposure will at least be equal.

Another couple of comments, then I'll try to get off this soapbox: ScreamandFly, which I help run stepped up to the latest V Bulletin some time back as one of the first guinie pigs and from an Administrator's standpoint I hate it with a passion. Our site owner there is a full blown computer geek who does it full time and often stays up all night fooling with the inner workings. From a regular member's standpoint, such as my participation here I do not really object very much, however still believe the older one is superior and much more user friendly especially to those who are not fanatical computer geeks. Since I do not get into the hardcore mechanics of the actual program I do not know all the advantages from a Mod. or Admin. standpoint are, but I know we are still getting a lot of complaints after over a year and a lot of questions on features on top of that. WWW.Chevelles.com is another website that I frequent as a regular member, and at least glance at a couple of times a day. They still run the older V bulletin and seemingly with no problems at least none I've encountered. I have no idea what their moderator's work load is, but I know for certain that the site stays clean as a whistle both from spam and non appropriate posts. (like everybody else on the web EXCEPT NCRS they use screen names) Here're there numbers as of one minute ago: Threads: 354,436 Posts: 3, 252, 272 Members: 62,306 Currently online: 1246

I REALLY feel that a lot of people who don't object to this simply haven't thought it through, or either haven't had a family member victimized by indentity theft or scam. (I have in both cases, elderly Mother in first, cousin in second) All it takes is the smallest tidbit of information to make someone an attractive target for a thief and all the tools are in place in public view in various places on the internet to facilitate it.

[Erik S.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

I think that Norris touches upon a couple of serious issues with proper suggestions so I hope that the admin team will assess those in detail - I like his idea about member names for example

[Rob M.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

I think Norris provided a good suggestion in hidding (or make names not recognizable) for members who are not logged on (e.g. non-members or search engine spiders). I'll look into that one (put it on our todo list).

[Claus S.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

I miss the "back to Technical discussion" button on the bottom on the page

[Gary F.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

I think Norris provided a good suggestion in hidding (or make names not recognizable) for members who are not logged on (e.g. non-members or search engine spiders). I'll look into that one (put it on our todo list).

This change benifits all the paying members, not just a few. Your full LAST name should not be in lights. The moderators know who you are because you had to log on. They are the ONLY people that should know who you are.

[Kenneth H.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

They are the ONLY people that should know who you are.

Gary, are you saying that, when asking for information or advice, we shouldn't know that the info is coming from Joe L. or Terry M. or Dick W. or Partick H. or Mike W. versus Joe Blow who may not know his *** from a hole in the ground. To me that wouldn't be much help.

Thanks.

[Norris W.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

Gary, are you saying that, when asking for information or advice, we shouldn't know that the info is coming from Joe L. or Terry M. or Dick W. or Partick H. or Mike W. versus Joe Blow who may not know his *** from a hole in the ground. To me that wouldn't be much help.

Thanks.

Kenneth, although my idea above involving a members only forum where a screen name could be easily cross referenced to an actual member name would eliminate that concern, I don't see it as a problem because of the depth of expertise on this site. For instance, if "Joe Blow" answers a question about someone stripping their Corvette with the suggestion that they use a 36 grit disc on a high speed grinder, it would be met with multiple contradictions as soon as it was posted. Actually I've seen a few tidbits of bad advice since the change to displayed names.

I actually thought the original screen name of member's first name and NCRS number was a great idea that some other websites would do well to find a way for similar identification. In most all other forums a member can log in with a screen name, create havoc and the moderators can only identify them by an IP number search and E mail address that can be easily changed if the person is booted and chooses to come back with a different identity. Having a membership number that is easily identified by moderators, and in the case of a member's forum identifying them to other members really does solve some problems, although they tend to be minor aggravations rather than serious issues. As Michael Ward correctly pointed out in post #15 above, this is a very public website and not private as some believe. Another NCRS member told me last year that he wished the website could be viewed by people who were not members because he was trying to get a relative interested in the hobby and thought it would be helpful. He was unaware that anybody, anywhere can log on temporarily and then do it all over again with a trick or two after the temp period expires.

I guess some would think that I'm sitting back, not contributing much in the way of actual input on the tech forum and throwing stones at the club. (as a result of advancing age and poor memory I ask more questions than I give advice) Nothing could be farther from the truth. I love the NCRS and think it is directly responsible for the state of the old Corvette hobby. I also think this board is the greatest single source of information on the hobby in the world and the depth of knowledge here is unsurpassed. No other Corvette forum comes close, and I no longer even scan the other two major ones. I don't think this change to forced disclosure was done with bad motives or for the wrong reasons, but rather in retrospect it represents a HUGE risk for very little actual result. Again, I sincerly hope it will be modified in some way, either the one I suggested or some other, to protect the security of the members while accomodating the concerns of the moderators.

[Gary F.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

The person still has to log in with his FULL last name, and member number to post. So your post appears as Kenneth H (49631) / Very frequent user, instead of Kenneth Hoffman. Since the H of your last name only appears, you are NOT traceable as a Corvette owner, and your identity is protected. Whatever label you place on members, or information they give on this site does not enter into this. This is strictly a SECURITY question. The members NCRS number will still appear next to his or her abbreviated last name.

[John W.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

Claus,

I thing you are looking for:

Forum Discussion Board Help! advantages(?) of redesigned site

In this instance you would click on Discussion Board Help to get back to the top of the Help forum. It is the same as the Breadcrumbs at the top of the page.

[Kenneth H.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

How about this. We use screen names instead of full names, and restrict access to the members' information section to members only. Then if you click on a screen name in a post, as now, you get directed (but only if you're a member) to the screen name's profile to see who the actual poster is.

Thanks.

[Rob M.]

Re: advantages(?) of redesigned site

Guys,

I'm working on a solution here, it is currently waiting to be tested. As soon as it is proven to be ok and is not messing anything else up we will release it.

In the meanwhile you can start removing your last name from your signature (for whom it is applicable) and/or any posting where you have entered your (or someone else his/her) last name...