Email Addresses in Version 5

[David Clark]

I can confirm that the default setting for email visibility is "Share with Staff Only".

[kpatch]

That's what I was hoping you'd say. Thank you David Clark. Appreciate the fast reply. I would still like to see a "hide email" option and/or a visible "only to admin" option. 

Thank you!

[David Clark]

If you wanted to direct that sentiment to the plugin request forum, I'm sure someone would take it up. Both of those features would be quite easy to write.

[VS Admin]

Apr 20, 2013 11:46:52 GMT -8 ♥ ℒʊ√ ♥ said:

Apr 20, 2013 4:39:40 GMT -8 ramack said:

I disagree.  At the very least the email should be view-able the admin.  I do agree that they should have the option drawing the analogy with the birthday, I think that's a good idea. However, as the admin, I should have access to information about my members.  I don't mean down to the level of knowing passwords, but IPs and email I would like to know and have easily obtainable access.

Maybe put a "disclaimer" or short note, that even though the email is hidden to other members, the email address is not hidden from admin and/or some of the staff.

As admin, I don't feel the need. We're adults. I have no reason to contact my members through an outside source. PMs suffice. There is nothing I can do in an email that I can't through a PM. 

I can see the need for ProBoards to have the information. But no one else unless the individual wants it that way. It should remain their choice. It's their information to share ~ or not ~ with who they choose. 

The option of "hide" should be available.

You do have the option to edit your templates and remove the users email address from being displayed. Just go to Admin > Themes > Layout Template > User Profile > Summary and remove this code
{if $[user.email]}
<tr>
<td class="headings">Email:</td>
<td>$[user.email]</td>
</tr>
{/if}

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

VS Admin Thank you so much.  


But it would still be nice if "hide" was available ~ so THEY could make the decision. Some won't mind. Some will. Giving them the ability to control their choice ~ like you do with birthdays, would be the ideal. 

[Liz]

Thank you Patrick. I've decided to remove e mail addresses as I'm uncomfortable about people who have recently signed up thinking their e mail addresses were private, suddenly finding out that they are not.

I agree with ~Luv~ that a Hide option would be a good idea

[ramack]

Liz and Luv,
So even as admins you want your members to be able to hide their email addresses from you?

I'm coming from the perspective of having a relatively small private "close knit" member base whose emails I already have had because they had sent them to me via previous correspondence within another group. I am using those email addresses to verify and validate membership to "my" forum. If new members apply using email address that don't match a previous list which I already have, then I want more verification from new members coming in. If they can not provide more information as to their identity I reject their membership.

As the forum admin, I want to know basic information about my members. But stop at emails. I don't need phone numbers, physical addresses etc. I just am screening out the riff-raff. As admins we should have access to email addresses. The members already have the ability to hide their addresses, but admins should be able to view them. And we can view them the each members profile even if the member chooses to hide them from the rest of the member base.

[Smokeygrey]

Apr 21, 2013 9:51:35 GMT -8 ramack said:

Liz and Luv,
So even as admins you want your members to be able to hide their email addresses from you?

I'm coming from the perspective of having a relatively small private "close knit" member base whose emails I already have had because they had sent them to me via previous correspondence within another group. I am using those email addresses to verify and validate membership to "my" forum. If new members apply using email address that don't match a previous list which I already have, then I want more verification from new members coming in. If they can not provide more information as to their identity I reject their membership.

As the forum admin, I want to know basic information about my members. But stop at emails. I don't need phone numbers, physical addresses etc. I just am screening out the riff-raff. As admins we should have access to email addresses. The members already have the ability to hide their addresses, but admins should be able to view them. And we can view them the each members profile even if the member chooses to hide them from the rest of the member base.

You state a good case, ramack

My situation is almost the same as yours.

I also feel that as admin. We should have any tool available to keep trouble from our forums. I also have contacts, whom are known to me by their email addresses.  This is how I am able to verify it is them, prior to letting them enter our forum.

I feel that if there are Admins, that do not want email addresses in their forums. Good for them. I have no problem with that.

But if an Admin wants this info, in order to know who is in his / her forum. Then he / she should have that right.

Hopefully, all members here should now be happy. They can choose to either see or not see email addresses.

[Liz]

I haven't disabled mine yet, I'm waiting to see if a Hide option does get added. 

I upgraded to V5 at the end of January and I must admit that to begin with I found it strange that we could no longer see e mail addresses but I was even more surprised at not seeing IP addresses.

IP addresses are more important to me and I check these before accepting a new member.

All accounts have to be activated manually and people are asked to send me a short note about themselves to prove they are human. I used to check e mail addresses before V5 but can honestly say that I never found anything unusual with any of them and since January, I haven't had any problems.

I think Admins who want to have the facility to check them should have it, I just don't think it's essential for my forum.

I was very pleased to see the return of IP addresses though! 

[baz657]

Apr 21, 2013 10:22:41 GMT -8 Liz said:

I was very pleased to see the return of IP addresses though! 

We've had our V5 forum since Januuary and have always had access to IP's. I wouldn't like to give members the option to hide their email address from the main admin, but if any admin isn't happy with that on their own forum they can change it and make emails totally private.

I personally find email a better tool to weed out possible trouble makers. These people who join to cause trouble or spam are probably aware of using proxies so IP's in themselves don't help.

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

ramack, Smokeygrey as I've stated, there is no reason for email contact of my members through me (unless they specifically give it to me, by choice, because we've developed a friendship outside of the board). Much as Liz stated, the IP address is more important to me. Those who use proxie servers seem to be the ones who cause trouble. My board has been around since 2009 and I've not once contacted or used anyone's email address. It's simply unnecessary. 

I'm not saying to take the feature away. I am saying that I believe it is privacy issue. And I believe the users have every right to expect that ProBoard's respects their right to such. It should not be an admin's decision to see the email address; it should be the individuals. As I stated, there are so many throw away email addresses, I don't see the purpose. Just as folks who wish to cause trouble can use a proxie server, they also use throwaway email accounts.

My forum is a group of wonderful folks, who even after recycling, have over a half million posts. We are not a closed forum. We welcome all. Banning has been few and far between. There is no requirements one must meet before joining, as you can see in one of my sidebars on my test forum. All are welcome. This open door policy has worked fine for 4+ years and I'm confident that will continue. 



live-learn-luv.boards.net/

[moonbeam]

Apr 21, 2013 12:08:19 GMT -8 baz657 said:

Apr 21, 2013 10:22:41 GMT -8 Liz said:

I was very pleased to see the return of IP addresses though! 

I personally find email a better tool to weed out possible trouble makers. These people who join to cause trouble or spam are probably aware of using proxies so IP's in themselves don't help.

I'm just the opposite. I find emails to be very unreliable as far as detecting spammers. None of the spammers I've ever encountered bother with proxies so as soon as I see they're from Indonesia/ Pakistan, etc., then I know not to approve them.

sent from my mobile addiction

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

My proxies usually turn out to be the few members who have been banned trying to sneak back in. That's why I delete accounts immediately if they have a proxie server. And I agree about email addresses and spammers. You know a spammer when you see one ~ and you don't need an email address for that confirmation of their purpose. 

[Thomasss]

You can change an email just as easy as you can IP.. Emails are un reliable, its just a way to for an admin to contact you.. I am not going to remove the code, however my staff have been instructed to not use it, unless they absolutely have to.

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

Yup, Thomasss, that's why I much prefer there be a "hide" option. I prefer protecting and respecting my members right to privacy if they so choose.