# If you have a hidden profile it is more difficult to follow your arguments **URL:** \ **Category:** Site Feedback\ **Created:** [October 15, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302 "2022-10-15T20:02:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/81 "2024-05-30T09:59:27Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m not seeing much value to a user in hiding their profile. What, exactly, becomes private? For a non-mod, clicking on a user avatar brings up this: [![](https://i.postimg.cc/sXnqJ7C0/profile-1.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/sXnqJ7C0/profile-1.jpg) Which you can then click on to get this: [![](https://i.postimg.cc/2S7DZqyg/profile-2.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/2S7DZqyg/profile-2.jpg) For a hidden user, you get this: [![](https://i.postimg.cc/jdnmzDgZ/profile-none.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/jdnmzDgZ/profile-none.jpg) And can go no further. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/82 "2024-05-30T10:57:21Z")
There’s this handy feature I use for suspected trolls and drooling morons that occupy the boards, it’s called Ignore. See it will silence and hide those irritating posters but if I want to see what they post I have to click on hidden reply. It’s like making them go private. If I want to find any threads a private user is posting I use name @ first : in. Seems the majority wants an open profile as a tool for troll busting? How’s that working out? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/83 "2024-05-30T11:28:36Z")
But what do you really learn from that public profile? In particular, what do you learn that you couldn’t have learned by doing a search for @poster? The “top replies” would give the replies we’ve made that had the most likes, only likes have been disabled on this board, so it gives the most recent, which is easy to find by searching. You can see the join date. That used to be public for everyone in the old software. (Mods can see that anyway, fyi.) “Last seen” seems like the only other actual information in all those numbers. What else is there that you couldn’t learn by searching? We are looking into hiding “last seen” without hiding the rest of the profile, as many users have said they like the more user-friendly search interface you get when the profile is public. That is, the same info is available, but it takes more clicks with a private profile. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/84 "2024-05-30T11:32:16Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But what do you really learn from that public profile? In particular, what do you learn that you couldn’t have learned by doing a search for @poster? A search for @poster doesn’t tell you what and how many threads they have started. It also doesn’t tell you the join date. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/85 "2024-05-30T11:36:29Z")
I mentioned join date. But huh, on vbulletin you could search for threads created by a poster. I used to do that all the time. I am very surprised to see that Discourse doesn’t let you search for topics created by posters. That’s odd. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/86 "2024-05-30T11:53:28Z")
You can but Discourse doesn’t make it easy. Type `@chela in:first` and you will get a list of topics by her. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/87 "2024-05-30T15:01:11Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Seems the majority wants an open profile as a tool for troll busting? No. To be able to easily follow the sense of a poster’s contributions to a long thread. Discourse has other techniques for doing this, but they’re timeconsuming and annoying to use. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/88 "2024-05-30T15:46:35Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Seems the majority wants an open profile as a tool for troll busting? How’s that working out? No, not for that. It is used by trocks, but doesn’t really help troll hunting. The posts in thread feature works fine for Mods regardless of the setting. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/89 "2024-05-30T15:57:00Z")
I didn’t have an opinion on hidden profiles except by word of mouth until this thread. Now, I am leaning toward hidden profiles being much more likely to be trolls, not because you can hide, but because it is an easy way to be annoying, and that is their end goal. Plus, if people bring it up, you can create even more drama by insisting that it is innocuous (much like the use of the term “Democrat Party”.) ---
**Author:** ![dgy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a587f6/32.png) [@dgy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/90 "2024-05-30T17:27:32Z")
> **Post hidden by staff** > > > [@Ludovic](#): > > > > Now, I am leaning toward hidden profiles being much more likely to be trolls, not because you can hide, but because it is an easy way to be annoying, and that is their end goal > > And you base this conclusion on what specific DATA? Couldn’t one be equally annoying by PUBLISHING incorrect information in their profile? Why don’t folks use their real names instead of adopting silly “handles”? What are they hiding??? Or, trying to avoid being called to account over? > > I, as a matter of practice, tick such options as it makes it easier than having to dig through the information that is being covered and decide what I might want disclosed and what I might not. > > When a salesman asks me for my contact information, I routinely provide erroneous data. Am I trying to screw him out of a commission? Or, from tracking me down if they notice one of the automobiles I was looking at gets stolen?? > > It’s much easier to simply provide incorrect information than it is to argue about why I DON’T want to be contacted and, thus, why he shouldn’t need my contact information. > > “Phone number? Sure: 555-1212 (said with a completely straight face!)” > > Likewise when I visit a manufacturer’s web site and request technical information to decide **IF** I might want to use a device. You “need” an email address before showing me the link (or, sending me the document)? Sure, here’s one (that will be valid until 12 seconds after I have received the document… too bad, so sad). > > If I want to use the device, I will contact them and then be in a position where I must disclose my identity (but, not necessarily my APPLICATION) in order to purchase the item. Sounds right to me! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/91 "2024-05-30T17:29:09Z")
And that is your first warning for Trolling the board. I’m going to elevated this to the Modloop also. **Warning** for @dgy, do not post in this thread again. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/92 "2024-05-30T17:36:49Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > No, not for that. It is used by trocks, but doesn’t really help troll hunting. Yeah, it’s kind of non-issue for mods. If anything, allowing users to hide their profile gives mods the extra information that this person took an unusual action that is commonly taken by trolls. It’s just about the convenience of normal posters posting in long threads where some other posters have made a lot of posts. It makes it a little easier for them to see what Joe has already said in this thread. And it’s not really any extra information, it’s just the same info with fewer clicks. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/93 "2024-05-30T17:37:54Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It makes it a little easier for them to see what Joe has already said in this thread. I would change that to a lot easier. It really is way better than the search. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/94 "2024-05-30T19:51:00Z")
It has always really bothered me that posters can hide their profiles. I just assumed that Discourse was set up this way and there was no way for the SDMB to change it. That’s why I have never really complained about it. But now I see in a post from Coding Horror that it is possible. So why haven’t hidden profiles been nixed? Can’t we just end it? ETA: I don’t see any utility in the “presence function”. It would be fine with me if that were eliminated. Especially if it is being used as a reason to keep allowing hidden profiles. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/95 "2024-05-30T19:56:26Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > We have a lot of members, and only a few trolls. The number of trolls is low but the percentage of trolls who hide their profiles seems to be high. This means that a new poster who hides their profile is going to be looked at askance even if they’re in group 2 or group 3. I know I think of it as a red flag **even though I might select a hide profile feature** if I joined a new community. I’ve just been conditioned, here, to think of hidden profiles as a negative thing. So another reason to remove it is to improve the experience for legitimate new users. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/96 "2024-05-30T20:00:41Z")
The coding doesn’t have to be changed. The Powers That Be just have to make it a hard and fast rule that that feature cannot be used. It’s like, there is no coding that stops me from cussing out the Moderators, but that doesn’t mean it is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/97 "2024-05-30T20:10:18Z")
Isn’t it just a simple setting change in the SDMB set-up? A change that would make it impossible to hide ones profile and not require any “voluntary” effort by a poster? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/98 "2024-05-30T20:29:40Z")
As I mentioned, I bumped this up to the Modloop. It will probably take a while, but I am trying to get it changed. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/99 "2024-05-30T23:31:04Z")
Regarding the presence feature, the old boards on vbulletin always showed a little green light next to your name for all of your posts if you were currently online. I don’t recall it being an issue for the 20 years before we switched to discourse. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302/100 "2024-05-30T23:34:02Z")
You had the option to turn it off individually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-hidden-profile-it-is-more-difficult-to-follow-your-arguments/973302.md?page=6)