Why Hide Your Presence?
#1
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Hello,
I've not been visiting the forum for a while but came in again today for a look.
Bored out of my mind, I started counting the names and noticed that the number of members do not match the number of names listed.(visitors /guests obviously not in the equation).
I then found out that it's possible to actually hide your presence
It's a serious question
Why do people choose to hide their presence on the Forum? I can understand moderators hiding themselves but not standard Forum members. Is this site that scary? :scared: Or is there another reason and I'm missing the point completely?
Please forgive me if I'm being stupid!
I've not been visiting the forum for a while but came in again today for a look.
Bored out of my mind, I started counting the names and noticed that the number of members do not match the number of names listed.(visitors /guests obviously not in the equation).
I then found out that it's possible to actually hide your presence
![Confused](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif)
It's a serious question
Why do people choose to hide their presence on the Forum? I can understand moderators hiding themselves but not standard Forum members. Is this site that scary? :scared: Or is there another reason and I'm missing the point completely?
Please forgive me if I'm being stupid!
![Multicoloured Crocodile is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#2
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Originally Posted by Multicoloured Crocodile
Hello,
I've not been visiting the forum for a while but came in again today for a look.
Bored out of my mind, I started counting the names and noticed that the number of members do not match the number of names listed.(visitors /guests obviously not in the equation).
I then found out that it's possible to actually hide your presence
It's a serious question
Why do people choose to hide their presence on the Forum? I can understand moderators hiding themselves but not standard Forum members. Is this site that scary? :scared: Or is there another reason and I'm missing the point completely?
Please forgive me if I'm being stupid!
I've not been visiting the forum for a while but came in again today for a look.
Bored out of my mind, I started counting the names and noticed that the number of members do not match the number of names listed.(visitors /guests obviously not in the equation).
I then found out that it's possible to actually hide your presence
![Confused](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif)
It's a serious question
Why do people choose to hide their presence on the Forum? I can understand moderators hiding themselves but not standard Forum members. Is this site that scary? :scared: Or is there another reason and I'm missing the point completely?
Please forgive me if I'm being stupid!
So now, only I know when I am here, and if I chose to ignore someones post, its for me own reasons.
![Pollyana is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#3
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Originally Posted by Pollyana
Its been asked before, I'll give my reasons - firstly, I once had someone bombarding me with pm questions as soon as I appeared on the logged in list, and then complaining when I didn't answer immediately. A real pain if I had gone to the shops and left the computer on, come back to 20 messages saying "Answer me!!" Secondly, and I know others have had this problem, every time I logged in I was deluged with obscene abd unnecessary junk pms.
So now, only I know when I am here, and if I chose to ignore someones post, its for me own reasons.
So now, only I know when I am here, and if I chose to ignore someones post, its for me own reasons.
![Mad](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif)
![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
love sophia xx
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(obviously an anti-social cow!!
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#4
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Originally Posted by sophia
Pollyana's spot on here, my reasons are almost identical, I also had "someone" PM'ing me stoopid questions all the time!
...I too like to be the only one who know's I'm here now and if I wanna answer a post I do!!
love sophia xx
(obviously an anti-social cow!!
)
![Mad](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif)
![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
love sophia xx
![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
(obviously an anti-social cow!!
![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
I've never been bombarded with abusive or junk PMs but I can certainly understand why some members hide their presence now! I'll probably do the same in future once I figure out how, after the abuse I've had to deal with on the forum itself......
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#5
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Originally Posted by Pollyana
Its been asked before, I'll give my reasons - firstly, I once had someone bombarding me with pm questions as soon as I appeared on the logged in list, and then complaining when I didn't answer immediately. A real pain if I had gone to the shops and left the computer on, come back to 20 messages saying "Answer me!!" Secondly, and I know others have had this problem, every time I logged in I was deluged with obscene abd unnecessary junk pms.
So now, only I know when I am here, and if I chose to ignore someones post, its for me own reasons.
So now, only I know when I am here, and if I chose to ignore someones post, its for me own reasons.
How awful - it hadn't even crossed my mind that people would do this. No wonder you want to be anon.
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#6
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Originally Posted by Multicoloured Crocodile
Hello,
I've not been visiting the forum for a while but came in again today for a look.
Bored out of my mind, I started counting the names and noticed that the number of members do not match the number of names listed.(visitors /guests obviously not in the equation).
I then found out that it's possible to actually hide your presence
It's a serious question
Why do people choose to hide their presence on the Forum? I can understand moderators hiding themselves but not standard Forum members. Is this site that scary? :scared: Or is there another reason and I'm missing the point completely?
Please forgive me if I'm being stupid!
I've not been visiting the forum for a while but came in again today for a look.
Bored out of my mind, I started counting the names and noticed that the number of members do not match the number of names listed.(visitors /guests obviously not in the equation).
I then found out that it's possible to actually hide your presence
![Confused](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/confused.gif)
It's a serious question
Why do people choose to hide their presence on the Forum? I can understand moderators hiding themselves but not standard Forum members. Is this site that scary? :scared: Or is there another reason and I'm missing the point completely?
Please forgive me if I'm being stupid!
![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
I don't use the "invisible" option myself ... but then again I don't allow PMs or email contact either
![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
As previous posters have said, there are a lot of sad people out there that delight in winding people up and stirring trouble ... some people even use multiple log-in names.
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
Having an internet connection is inviting the world and all it's deviants into your home. The more options to protect yourself the better!
![Deadmeat is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#7
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Originally Posted by sophia
Pollyana's spot on here, my reasons are almost identical, I also had "someone" PM'ing me stoopid questions all the time!
...I too like to be the only one who know's I'm here now and if I wanna answer a post I do!!
love sophia xx
(obviously an anti-social cow!!
)
![Mad](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif)
![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
love sophia xx
(obviously an anti-social cow!!
![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Yep same thing, after a while they stopped pm-ing and started emailing me
![Sad](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/sad.gif)
I also leave Expats running on my work PC almost 24/7, so it would look like I'm 'online' when in fact I could be offline, either just not in the office or even asleep!
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#8
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Didnt even realise you could be invisible, am I visible or lurking around like an axe murderer, could someone have a look and tell me?
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#9
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Originally Posted by jad n rich
Didnt even realise you could be invisible, am I visible or lurking around like an axe murderer, could someone have a look and tell me?
It says you're offline now... so if you're not, then you're invisible too
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#10
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Originally Posted by mlbonner
It says you're offline now... so if you're not, then you're invisible too ![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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#11
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Originally Posted by Pollyana
Its been asked before, I'll give my reasons - firstly, I once had someone bombarding me with pm questions as soon as I appeared on the logged in list, and then complaining when I didn't answer immediately. A real pain if I had gone to the shops and left the computer on, come back to 20 messages saying "Answer me!!" Secondly, and I know others have had this problem, every time I logged in I was deluged with obscene abd unnecessary junk pms.
So now, only I know when I am here, and if I chose to ignore someones post, its for me own reasons.
So now, only I know when I am here, and if I chose to ignore someones post, its for me own reasons.
Thanks for that
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#12
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Originally Posted by Deadmeat
How's Adelaide man? Hope things are going swimmingly. ![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
I don't use the "invisible" option myself ... but then again I don't allow PMs or email contact either![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
As previous posters have said, there are a lot of sad people out there that delight in winding people up and stirring trouble ... some people even use multiple log-in names.![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
Having an internet connection is inviting the world and all it's deviants into your home. The more options to protect yourself the better!
![Wink](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
I don't use the "invisible" option myself ... but then again I don't allow PMs or email contact either
![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
As previous posters have said, there are a lot of sad people out there that delight in winding people up and stirring trouble ... some people even use multiple log-in names.
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
Having an internet connection is inviting the world and all it's deviants into your home. The more options to protect yourself the better!
I'll tell you what, you're right and I think I'll be hiding my presence from now on (not that I'm on here that often, but still)
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#13
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Originally Posted by Multicoloured Crocodile
Adelaide is absolutely fantastic thanks and glad I'm back after spending Xmas in miserable England. Feel so at home here now.
I'll tell you what, you're right and I think I'll be hiding my presence from now on (not that I'm on here that often, but still)
I'll tell you what, you're right and I think I'll be hiding my presence from now on (not that I'm on here that often, but still)
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#14
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Originally Posted by tonyk38
I'm hiding my presence right now! ![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
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#15
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never realised this before, re 'hiding your prescence', always thought that polly was either a really quick 'typer'
or just flitted in from time to time, never did i consider that people on here have to be on their guard from sh*ts who just want to cause mayhem! really sad people... how lacking and lonely? don't you have any 'real' friends that you can play with?
been away for a few days and can't believe that so much unhappiness has happened, and to see that people aren't going to post anymore, especially because they give such 'sound' advice when you need some objectivity, and a 'laugh' when things are going badly, such a shame, you'll be missed!
bob...
![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
been away for a few days and can't believe that so much unhappiness has happened, and to see that people aren't going to post anymore, especially because they give such 'sound' advice when you need some objectivity, and a 'laugh' when things are going badly, such a shame, you'll be missed!
![Sad](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/sad.gif)
bob...
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