[carrie_ann]

i just wondered if there's a reason PC is the only forum i come to where folks can go to anyones profile page and see exactly what thread they're reading or what activity they're doing i.e. private messaging, viewing user control panel etc. being a mental health site it doesn't seem fair on folks with paranoia problems to begin with?

I'd just add that it would be polite if people who look at your profile page would at least say "hello, I was here looking at your stuff "
Also a question: if someone is using invisible mode, will their name still be on the "last 10 visitors to this page" list?

[carrie_ann]

Originally Posted by George H.

I'd just add that it would be polite if people who look at your profile page would at least say "hello, I was here looking at your stuff "
Also a question: if someone is using invisible mode, will their name still be on the "last 10 visitors to this page" list?

no, if someone is using invisible mode, their name doesn't show up, but you know by the number count someone has been by. that also freaks me out!

[CastlesInTheAir]

I'm actually curious because this forum is actually pretty public anyone can read this forum but not neccesarily post until they join.....

I've wondered if some forums could actually be locked from public view

[Sabrina]

Originally Posted by triciadrich

I'm actually curious because this forum is actually pretty public anyone can read this forum but not neccesarily post until they join.....

I've wondered if some forums could actually be locked from public view

I've belonged to forums that where one can only post and view once joined. The forum was otherwise closed to the public.

[unaluna]

my friends have told me they can't read the forums unless they join, they can only read the page one articles. do I just have really dumb friends??!

Odd, I had another post here earlier. Not sure what happened to it. Basically it was this : A friend and I did an experiment. If you use invisible mode and visit someone's profile page, you will not be recorded on the visitors to this page list.

[roads]

Originally Posted by carrie_ann

i just wondered if there's a reason PC is the only forum i come to where folks can go to anyones profile page and see exactly what thread they're reading or what activity they're doing i.e. private messaging, viewing user control panel etc. being a mental health site it doesn't seem fair on folks with paranoia problems to begin with?

If you are in invisible mode, your location in the forum doesn't show on your Profile Pade.

[roads]

Originally Posted by hankster

my friends have told me they can't read the forums unless they join, they can only read the page one articles. do I just have really dumb friends??!

Well, uh, hmmm .... dumb friends I'm afraid, hanky.
You can come on the site and look at everything--
just not post or go to individual profile pages, etc.

[DocJohn]

Guests (non-logged-in users) can read posts and threads.

They cannot, however, look at a member's profile page, or look at a member's photos, unless they log in first.

Seeing what members are doing in "Who's Online" is a built-in feature of the forums and we haven't had any complaints about its use here (since it seems to satisfy some people's curiosity).

DocJohn

[di meliora]

I check "Who's Online" frequently to keep track of what I am doing.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by George H.

I'd just add that it would be polite if people who look at your profile page would at least say "hello, I was here looking at your stuff "

There is a part that identifies the last several people who were visiting your profile page. Of course, after a time, people's names scroll off that list.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by hankster

my friends have told me they can't read the forums unless they join, they can only read the page one articles. do I just have really dumb friends??!

it is possible to read any of the pages and any forums with out being logged in and without being a member here.. the only pages my wife cant access when she visits are the profile pages. my wife is not a Psych Central member.. we use google chrome, foxfire and Internet explorer7/8

[pegasus]

Everyone has the option to go 'invisible' and then no one can see if you are online or what you are doing.

Originally Posted by pachyderm

There is a part that identifies the last several people who were visiting your profile page. Of course, after a time, people's names scroll off that list.

The post I quote below must be invisible

Originally Posted by George H.

Odd, I had another post here earlier. Not sure what happened to it. Basically it was this : A friend and I did an experiment. If you use invisible mode and visit someone's profile page, you will not be recorded on the visitors to this page list.

If a member is using the "invisible mode" their name will not appear on your last 10 visitors list.

I visited your page pachy... do you see my name there? Sorry I didn't say hello

[seeker1950]

Well, out of curiosity, I just did a Google search of my PC user name, Seeker1950, and the first hit was for here on PC. It was wishing me happy birthday here on PC. I am a bit disappointed that my PC user name showed up on a Google search. In the past, I felt it was secure, but now not so sure, and even thinking I should change my name here. I'm not paranoid at all about my posts here, but in the past, before PC, on another forum, everything I posted was plastered online for anyone to view, and someone did, in a stalking manner. I had no idea of this till the person revealed to me how he had read all my personal posts on that forum. That was a hard lesson about internet privacy (as there is none!).

[di meliora]

Internet privacy is an oxymoron.

[DocJohn]

Yes, our forums are indexed by Google and other search engines. When you register, we have a notice that strongly suggests not using a username here that you may have used elsewhere online, in order to better protect your privacy (if that's a concern to you).

Best,
DocJohn

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by Roadie

Well, uh, hmmm .... dumb friends I'm afraid, hanky.
You can come on the site and look at everything--
just not post or go to individual profile pages, etc.

LOL no i'm afraid it's their friend who's dumb! I tell them to pull up my posts and they cant't. I think no matter!

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by seeker1950

Well, out of curiosity, I just did a Google search of my PC user name, Seeker1950, and the first hit was for here on PC. It was wishing me happy birthday here on PC. I am a bit disappointed that my PC user name showed up on a Google search. In the past, I felt it was secure, but now not so sure, and even thinking I should change my name here. I'm not paranoid at all about my posts here, but in the past, before PC, on another forum, everything I posted was plastered online for anyone to view, and someone did, in a stalking manner. I had no idea of this till the person revealed to me how he had read all my personal posts on that forum. That was a hard lesson about internet privacy (as there is none!).

Well, remember that Google knows what sites you visit most and displays those first. So, what comes up first for you doesn't come up first for someone else who doesn't visit PC.

[carrie_ann]

Originally Posted by pegasus

Everyone has the option to go 'invisible' and then no one can see if you are online or what you are doing.

i can visit your profile page and know if you are just invisible but really in or not really in. how? if you are not really in it will show last activity with the date and time. if you are in but just invisible it will show current activity ... i.e viewing thread "privacy on pc", private messaging etc.

[pegasus]

Hello carrie ann, I never go invisible so you will see my green light shining when I am here, when I am not here it will tell you on my profile page when I was last here. But if you go invisible (which I don't) it does not say when you were last here or what you are currently doing.