# Can the location field be activated for guests? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 25, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535 "2009-05-25T04:32:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/1 "2009-05-25T04:32:47Z")
Is it possible to have “Guests” location field visible in their posts? Knowledge of a poster’s location is often necessary to frame context to their statements or questions. With the number of guests increasing substantially during the past number of weeks, I’m finding myself increasingly frustrated that I can’t make quick reference to the location of the poster (notwithstanding the fact many members don’t use the location field to indicate where they are anyway). Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/2 "2009-05-25T05:58:41Z")
Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/3 "2009-05-25T08:50:52Z")
Clicking the Profile to find their location takes a matter of seconds, so it’s no great hassle. OTOH it does seem a rather pointless differentiation. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/4 "2009-05-25T11:03:08Z")
I’d like to nominate that they show post count too. That stuff is more relevant to the people they’re interacting with than the poster themselves - why hide the information that paying members would like to be able to see? And a board with as many bandwidth/hamster problems as this one has had over the years should not be making people click through to profiles to get information would could be conveniently displayed along with the post. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/5 "2009-05-25T11:23:23Z")
I agree with the sentiments expressed thus far but am also cynical enough to realise it’s not going to get changed anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/6 "2009-05-25T11:25:01Z")
I’d like to see the location field displayed for guests, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/7 "2009-05-25T11:47:58Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > I’d like to nominate that they show post count too. That stuff is more relevant to the people they’re interacting with than the poster themselves - why hide the information that paying members would like to be able to see? I won’t argue against the display of post counts but the poster, and what that poster has to say, is far more relevant to me than his or her post count. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/8 "2009-05-25T12:40:34Z")
I have to agree. The location field is helpful to the readers as it adds context to threads especially ones that address things outside the States. Guests post in these threads and unless they specifically state it you don’t know if they are just WAGing or giving local knowledge. I don’t see anyone thinking that it’s a perk that they’d be willing to pay for. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/9 "2009-05-25T13:41:16Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > I’d like to nominate that they show post count too. What positive purpose is served by post counts? Purely a vanity feature. I think they should be turned off for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/10 "2009-05-25T13:51:33Z")
Unfamiliar user name + early join date + low post count = ahh, I don’t know your name because you’re mostly a lurker. Unfamiliar user name + early join date + high post count = did you change your user name? Ooh, you used to be … ! I’m not into post count padding or vanity. Sometimes I just want to try to work out why I don’t know who someone is. Also… Strikingly familiar user name + late join date = are you posting a _lot_, or have we just coincidentally been hanging out in the same threads? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/11 "2009-05-25T15:51:54Z")
I agree that the location field should be open for all members, and getting it back was the sole reason for me asking **Jodi** to gift me a subscription. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/12 "2009-05-25T23:02:14Z")
Absolutely. This is a huge issue in GQ all the time. In fact, I’ll go farther. The location field should be visible when in reply mode as well. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/13 "2009-05-26T02:23:32Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > I won’t argue against the display of post counts but the poster, and what that poster has to say, is far more relevant to me than his or her post count. Nobody claimed otherwise. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What positive purpose is served by post counts? Purely a vanity feature. I think they should be turned off for everyone. I like to see post counts. And it’s not my vanity since I tend to skim past my own posts and have no idea what my count actually is. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/14 "2009-05-26T03:53:05Z")
C’mon, people! This is a **pay-for** perk. Now the only way for this to truly be a perk is if those that paid for a membership had this feature turned on for everyone, and the rest of us “Guests” would just get to see how fabulous you “Members” and “Charter Members” are by staring at your stats and locations, but looking at our blank spots. Jealousy would soon overwhelm, and most of us “Guests” would just flood the SDMB with payments to be “Members”. Or not. But things like this get complicated on this message board. Technical issues and all that. So instead of adding a filter, or (gasp!) turning the bloody fields on for everyone, TPTB will continue to think that this feature will strangle the going rate for re-upping on this board from those of you who want to see it from other “Members” and “Charter Members”. But you are only buying a subset of what you want or need. It’s like buying for cable service in an apartment building, and unless EVERYONE buys the same plan including a channel (say, ESPN), NO ONE gets to see ESPN. So those that pay for this service only get a perk if all “Guests” pay to post. Why would we do that? What TPTB don’t seem to get is for us “Guests”, who post for free and don’t seem to really add any value to this board unless we click on an ad link, aren’t the ones voicing their displeasure over this issue. With the exception of **Martini Enfield** and myself, the rest of the posters in this thread are Members or Charter Members. Or am I the only one who notices these things? Not only would it help the _paying_ teeming millions, it would make sense! i.e. Don’t hold your breath. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-location-field-be-activated-for-guests/497535/15 "2009-05-26T04:44:18Z")
I lurk more than I post, but if I run across a name I don’t recognize I often wonder if in is a new poster, or maybe just someone I missed. I really hate not having a frame of reference that a post count provides. Oh and the location field would be nice too.