Parentsnet Plus

Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:40 pm

Well, yes technically as admin, I could log into the administration panel (which only I have access to, so no-one else can do this - try if you like, you won't get in) and check the ip address of the poster, but I'd only do this in extreme circumstances, for example if the "Member Confidential" feature was being abused, i.e; used to make spam posts, or if I believed a member to be at risk or vulnerable.

I value and respect all members right to confidentiality and would not "check up" on someone without good reason.

But even ip addresses are not guarantee of whom a person is, as an ip address is linked to an area, not a person and some ip addresses are not "static" - which means that a person with a non static ip address could log in now and then log in again in half an hours time with a different ip address.

The only people with the power to link an ip to a particular person is an ISP, or in special circumstances, the police. In which case they would need me to give them the details, which again I would not do unless the feature was being abused, as members who post here for support, post built on trust and that is how I want to keep it.

So to answer your question, no I cannot tell who is posting if they use the "Member Confidential" feature. I could only hazard a guess, which would be way off. My only reason for checking would be to find the ip address and ban it if the feature was being abused.

Posting Anonymously Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

That makes me feel more confident knowing I can post in complete confidence. Thank you for being so honest about it. You sound passionate about your members/

Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:48 pm

Yes, I care about the members very much. There aren't many at the moment but in time, I hope the site will grow. It's still a relatively new forum, having only been created on 27th April and went live 1st May.

The reason the site was created was for support so I want members to feel they can post confidentially on a sensitive issue.

Posting Anonymously Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

Why does it say the join date of 30th april under the avatar in member confidential? sorry you must think i am trying to pick holes

Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:55 pm

No, of course I don't think that, it's your right to ask these questions and to be assurred that your anonymity is not compromised.

All the "Member Confidential's" (a, b, c and d) were created by me on April 30th for members to use to post anonymously. Try logging out and logging back in with one of the other Member confidentials, or even have a look at the userlist tab at the top of the forum, and you will see there that the "join date's" of all the "Member Confidential" profiles are April 30th.

Posting Anonymously Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

Ahh I just had a look at the user list, I see what you mean. Thank you for explaining that

Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:00 pm

No problem Wink

You can also send private messages an a "Memberr Confidential", although I would recommend you empty the box after a pm conversation, that way, anyone else later using the username cannot see the pm's.

Posting Anonymously Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

Thanks. Well I am going to bed it's an early night for me tonight. i might come on again tomorrow and post a bit more if i feel ready.

Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:06 pm

Goodnight Anon, have a restful night. And post when you feel ready, don't feel you have to.

You can always join in the community side of the site (general chat etc) on your member's name and get to know us a little bit first, have a bit of light heartedness. I'm not usually on here during the day, but evenings and weekends I pick up.

Night for now xx

Posting Anonymously Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

Good night Erika, thanks for spending the evening explaining about the feature that was very helpful