I have a question for the administrators/moderators that I’ve been curious about for quite a while.
One of the rules here is that no multiple user names are allowed – a rule I am very much in favor of, btw, because I have seen the havoc wreaked on several boards by people who are signed up under a bunch of user names. But how exactly do you enforce this rule? How do you know for sure that several “users” are not one and the same individual? It is possible to set up an unlimited amount of e-mail addresses, of course, making it easy for hard-core trolls to get around the “valid e-mail address required” rule.
Do you keep track of IP numbers? With thousands of signed-up users, would it actually catch your eye if the same IP# turned up more than once? Do you check these things out regularly, or just wait until someone complains? As I’ve mentioned more than once, I’ve had problems in the past with people who used several user names, pretending to be something/someone they are not, etc., and playing games with others who were under the impression that they were comminicating with legitimate posters. I have great faith that this type of thing is not happening on this board, but I’m curious as to how exactly you guys do it. Thanks for any input.
You know, if you think about it, the multiple user name thing is really only important when it gets abused. If you did post under two user names, and both users seemed like unique and at least modestly valuable members of the board, no one would ever notice. I don’t mean to encourage someone to try it, only that we realize that the mods are not going to plolice empty streets. They are going to check IP numbers when they get suspicious.
Even the odd newbie who changes user names on his own and announces it publicly only gets it all explained to him. It’s just really usefull to have it understood from the get go that this is a place where we want to be able to recognize you, and remember what you have said. It really helps on the jerk factor judgements.
Having more than one user name & using one name to make the other one look cool, is called being a 'sockpuppet" That’s one way you know someone has more than one handle.
“Not to interrupt, but what WOULD happen if we had no bellybuttons?”
Would you? I promise I am not asking for the purpose of “sock puppeting” and/or trying to figure out how to get around the rules, if that’s what you are worried about. I am totally on the up and up. I am signed up here only once, and I will remain so. This should be easy for you guys to verify via my IP#, or whatever it is you do.
This is just an ongoing topic of interest to me because, as detailed several times here before, I have had problems in the past with people who engage in this kind of activity. I just want the best knowledge possible that I can get for avoiding to fall into their traps and for their stupid games. That’s all.
BTW, people who defend these deceptive little games are probably the ones that should be looked at. Why be in favor of sock puppeting, seeing “no harm” or whatever in it, unless you are part of it?
A friend is planning to visit me for several days. She is a doper & I know she will want to use my computer to check out the message board. I would prefer she not know my screen name. Is there any way to prevent my screen name from appearing in the “welcome” message? or do I have to tell her my computer is broken? (She can’t log on without using my pswd, which she knows.)
Just log out once you’re done doping. There’s a logout link next to your name at the bottom of every thread page, and one at the bottom of the forum’s base page. You’ll have to log back in to post, but this is what I do when browsing the dope in a computer lab (like now).
I was wondering if I could change my user name. You see, I have put myself this awful sickboy51 in a hurry, and now I would like to change it to another one more of my likings. If I´m allowed to do so, I promise I will be doing this only this time, and I will put in my profile or somewhere visible that I was formerly sickboy51 (not that I have something to hide). If not, well, it doesn´t matter, I think I could stick to it all the same.
about what “BANNED” means. I know what it *means * but what it means here on the SDMB must be a different thing 'cause a couple people’s names in this thread have “BANNED” under them. I’ve spent quite a bit of time here looking for the ramifications of the “BANNED” label, but I give up – I can’t find this information. I’m going out to get a life now, but I’ll be back.
There are also rules about bumping old threads. This one is obviously an exception, but try not to post to threads that haven’t been posted to in more than a month.
Welcome to the SDMB, have a pleasant stay.
[sub][sub][sub]Run while you still can![/sub][/sub][/sub]
Wow, chided by a newbie for an innocent post. Wiigii.
I meant nothing mean in that post. It seemed like relevant information; the welcome was heartfelt, and I thought the joke gave it the necessary degree of lightheartedness. It can be difficult to convey intent in a short post without resorting to vapid emoticons.
In the future, you might want to use the “Report this post to a moderator” link when you spot someone being such a jerk.
