Anonymity on the board?

[timzcardz]

My thoughts on this is that if you are going to conduct yourself here as a lady or gentleman then it doesn't matter whether a real or user name is employed.


If you are not going to conduct yourself in that manner, then perhaps you should go discuss things with the bouncer at a local watering hole and have him kick your butt, because I'm certain that Leon has better things to do.

[steve B]

On the bike mailing list the lack on anonymity works very well. As the list owner puts it - picture it as if we're all hanging out in my garage talking about bikes. And don't say anything in print that you wouldn't say in person-

There are heated discussions, and there are guys that just won't ever get along. But even the arguments are pretty civil. The radio group on AOL that I started with was moderated, but barely, and the total anonymity led to lots of childish stuff.

I can see a need for some people to be somewhat anonymous. Someone who's a public figure - Yeah, I can see if Charlie Sheen was here he might get a lot of the typical schmoozing requests that I hear celebs are constantly subjected to.

And maybe if someone is in witness protection they might want to keep a low profile.

I can even sort of see how someone might want to be separated from their comments for job/professional reasons. Just a hint, if posting from work is going to get you fired, DON'T DO IT!
But I've got to ask if a prospective employer is going to have a problem with something said on a baseball card board doesn't that seem a bit weird. I mean if you were going for a job as a grader or one with a card company I can see it, but for anyone else?
"Oh, this guy doesn't like graded cards. I bet he's a lousy accountant"
(Not aimed at anyone in particular, just picked an issue and career)
Makes no sense at all, and for me it would be a sign that my employment there would be pretty brief anyway.


T206 collector - I'm interested in what you think you could find. Feel free to google me and report back what you've learned. If you find anything that's actually of any potential use/harm I'll be convinced. I think that about the worst you'll find is that I often lie about my birthday on signups just in case someones data gets compromised.


Steve B

[ChiefBenderForever]

Originally Posted by steve B

But I've got to ask if a prospective employer is going to have a problem with something said on a baseball card board doesn't that seem a bit weird.

Steve B

Your potential employer could find it very weird, it's not like one person does the hiring, usually a whole panel does and the slightest thing that seperates you from the next canidate is often the difference. Right now for every job there are 10-200 people applying. Many people find collecting baseball cards strange, much like comic books. If they realized how much someone was spending on cardboard they might think you were insane. This may be an extreme case but could happen, I think that it is just a personal choice, some people are private and others not so much,that's all. Leon has everyones info so it isn't really private anyways.

[Robextend]

I tend more to agree with Barry and Leon; however I certainly see the argument from both sides.

However, I have known just about all of the parties I have dealt with on the BST and that is how it should work there. Coincidentally the BST is where I have made most of my hobby friends.

Rob

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by steve B

T206 collector - I'm interested in what you think you could find. Feel free to google me and report back what you've learned. If you find anything that's actually of any potential use/harm I'll be convinced. I think that about the worst you'll find is that I often lie about my birthday on signups just in case someones data gets compromised.

This is a standard response to invasion of privacy claims: "I have nothing to hide, so why should you?"

[teetwoohsix]

I am confused-do people really make deals on the B/S/T and still remain anonymous? Any time I've bought or traded cards with anyone on the board I've given my full name,address,and I'm pretty sure even my phone # too. I don't see how one person would be comfortable sending the other cards or money if the person wasn't willing to give a name?

Clayton

[GrayGhost]

People send payment, I send them the item. We know each other's names at that point, what is the problem?

You need to have some trust that if people find your name out , they won't go digging around and stuff for dirt. I think overall Leon's idea of giving out a name if requested if there is a real heated issue is fine too.

For me, I like this board, and reading the diff topics/seeing the wonderful items you guys have. But, like another board I belong to, that has nothing to do w the hobby, there is a lot of childish stuff too, and the occassional big shot and whiner too. I guess it goes with the territory on basically any site.

Scott.

[T206Collector]

If I make a trade with you, you'll learn my name and a mailing address. I've made plenty of deals on here and so many of you all know my real name. I draw the line at being in a fishbowl with a name tag on.

[Lordstan]

Well,
I think both sides have made very good points and I think Leon has found a very happy medium zone. Be any name you like, with very selective name revelations to individuals, not the board as a whole.
For me, I like the anonymity on the day to day posts for many of the reasons already here. While I do think identity theft is more likely at the local store, that doesn't mean we should throw caution to the wind everywhere else. I do think it woud be easier for those famous collectors to participate knowing they don't have to expose themselves.
BUT on the flip side, I do disagree with T206 collector in that people acting like jerks is much more likely with a psuedonym, than with a real name. This is why, knowing who we are talking to when there is a big argument, I feel, is a deterrent to personal attacks.
JMHO
Mark

[steve B]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

This is a standard response to invasion of privacy claims: "I have nothing to hide, so why should you?"

Nope, I have stuff I'd prefer stay hidden. I just don't put it out anywhere. Anything I make public I'm glad to have public.

What I'm saying is that if you can find anything I'd prefer kept private simply from my name, it's possibly worth the exposure to know how it may have become accessible. That way I can change my proceedures. It's not as easy to get info as they make it seem on NCIS.

Steve B

[mcap100176]

This is really me.....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdeCPGNRjOU

[BCauley]

I have no issues with having my name on this site. I realized the rules when I signed up for this place and Leon wasn't holding a gun to my head forcing me to join, I did it on my own free will understanding the rules.

It's really not hard to find out information about people. I did a search on my fathers name on some site recently. What it pulls up is the address of the person, phone number, average annual household income, and some other nonsense that should not be out there but is. And this was free, not one of those pay for information sites. On top of that, I just know of many other ways that people are able to find out about others if they want too.

What I do enjoy is that out of the forums in which I am a member (all of 3), this is the best one. Not just because it's pre-war, but the people, for the most part, respect one another and have actual civil conversations about cards, collecting, Seinfeld.....etc etc etc. The other two sites I'm on (anonymous ones), have much more in the way of juvenile tendencies and moronic threads/posts. There are great people on those other forums but a good sized percentage of people that hang around there just like to act like morons because nobody knows who they are.

I'm not really sure if my post even means anything or if it's going anywhere so I'll just stop.

[Rich Klein]

It *IS* a basic right to know WHOM is attacking you for any reason. If I get flamed for any reason on this board and I don't know who is doing that; I want to know why.

Joe P, now resting; always wanted to topic to be cards only; no side shows. I, on the other hand, always enjoyed the diversions. Those frankly are part of life as well

So, to reiterate. If you want to stay unknown and post on a subject such as -- please make me recommendations on baseball books to read; then go right ahead

If you want to stay unknown and post on a subject such as;.... BCCG Sucks; PSA is terrible; SGC is worthless, The Standard Catalog is horsebleep because nothing past 2000 is in print in that book;... well guess what -- those words should have a NAME next to them. I know from my days at Beckett, we always respected those people willing to put their names to their opinions. And, when they had specific issues, we always listened.

There are boards such as the PSA boards where people are only known by their SN's. And Bobby of VCP got hammered a few months ago over something I suspect he had no control over plus the person bitching never mentioned his name on the board. Sorry folks; you got a complaint; put your name to it

Regards
Rich