Stalking function

[Minks]

Hi guys, girls and  gemmas.

Currently, the forum allows me to check who of the logged-in users is reading which topic. I don't think that's any of my
business.   
It once happened to (years ago) me that I got a rather creepy PM about "having read my story, how did you like it, lets be friends."
To my shame I must admit that I just recently learned, how they knew I was on that topic, even it it was just for a few
seconds (I didn't read it, I mis-clicked.)

I'd really like to see that function being turned off. 

Best,
Minks

[RlyDontKnow]

I think that's hidden as well if you uncheck the "Show others your online status?"

[LigH]

This function is usually (in many boards) reserved to board moderators ... congratulations for your promotion.

But I can see it too, now. So possibly everyone?
__

@ Rly: No - the feature you refer to is related to being listed as online at all, at the bottom of the index page. It may hide you in the Who's Online page too; but Minks believes that not everyone should be able to read that page. And me too.

[Addeline]

This page :- http://www.hydlaaplaza.com/smf/index.php?action=who shows who is online, as does the bottom of http://www.hydlaaplaza.com/smf/index.php

[bloodedIrishman]

You're all being watched.

[LigH]

The bottom line shows who is online at all (and that you can hide in your profile).

But the other page additionally shows who does which activity on which page - that might be too much information for the average user.

[Sen]

I also don't want everyone to see what Im having a look at.
Please deactivate that function.

Sen

[verden]

I do think this sort of a function should be reserved for moderators, but I also don't think its a huge deal. Anything you type into the internet, be it any service, just treat it as public information, because it all might as well be.  I'm more worried about people around me IRL knowing what I am doing on the PlaneShift forums.

[Sangwa]

I can see your green lights. I can see what pages you are viewing. And I'm keeping records.

[Caraick]

This page :- http://www.hydlaaplaza.com/smf/index.php?action=who shows who is online, as does the bottom of http://www.hydlaaplaza.com/smf/index.php

I agreed with Minks 100% on this one, that's just completely unnecessary for another player  to see what boards or topics a player is posting in.  I just don't see a real need for it....

   

[novacadian]

Just checking now with Profile -> Account Related Settings. It appears by having the Show others your online status? field not checked, then one will not appear on the who listing.

Perhaps all that is required is to change its default setting at account creation time.

- Nova

[Sillamon]

What's the worst that can come of this?
Someone sees which pages you are looking at ... And ?

You know that I looked at xzy's profile and some pages that they started. What can you do with that information?$
Nothing really.

The internet/web is not as private as you might think.

[novacadian]

What's the worst that can come of this?
Someone sees which pages you are looking at ... And ?

You know that I looked at xzy's profile and some pages that they started. What can you do with that information?$
Nothing really.

The internet/web is not as private as you might think.

Rather than opening a debate of what difference it makes; perhaps the easiest solution, to appease all users, would be to have the setting have the default setting of not being shown on the who listing; then those, like you and myself, can turn it on ... pointing the way for those awash in the Sea of Threads Past.

- Nova

[Geoni]

Oh, lol, I'm always lurking in "Who's Online".

[Aiwendil]

Oh, lol, I'm always lurking in "Who's Online".

Me too...It's great for trolling, when you see X... some people posting you already know it's going to be fun.

On a more serious note...I found it rather interesting in the past to be able to see what people in the forums are interested in. This not only applies for logged in people but also to what guests read. Rather than setting "hide online-status" as default why not keep it like it is right now and those people who don't want to be shown can still hide their status (to the disadvantage that others can't see at all when they are in the forums...helpfully at times when you need to discuss something with another players in PMs). Make a sticky about it which explains this all and fine...yes, I know reading stickies or reading abilities in general are a rare gift in this forum but then nobody could say he/she didn't know about this. And this function is only available for logged in accounts anyway, it was one of the few things I really missed when I deleted the Aiwendil account on the forum. (Maybe I have some strange views on this as I was also used as forum moderator to have this function in the OL forums but I often found it quit useful..and if it was just to notify a admin to move a post when I saw someone we told in game to apply for the RCO posting their application in the applications board for the outlaws again ).