Note from the Publisher (Max)

Subject: Note from the Publisher
From: Max D. Spiegel
Date: 25 Jun 97 - 06:28 PM

One of our goals is to enhance the community that has arisen around this site and this forum. To do so, we are creating a cookie driven system to identify and personalize your interaction with it. As soon as this is done, this note will be moot, but I'd thought I'd make the point just the same.

I noticed that many people to not enter their name when posting to the forum. I can understand the desire to remain anonymous, but I really would like that everyone use a name of some sort, whether is their real name or just an alias. I am about to add an email field too.

I feel so strongly about this that I may in fact reprogram the forum to not let you post unless the name field is filled in. I do not really want to do this, so please keep this into consideration when posting.

I look at this as nothing less than a global conversation. I have trouble communicating with folks without some sort of identification. Since we cannot see your face, give us all something to identify with.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Note from the Publisher
From:
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 12:02 AM

Max

I have been signing all posts at the bottom but not in the name field. Is this a problem?

Frank Phillips

Subject: RE: Note from the Publisher
From: Susan of DT
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 05:44 AM

Max - Please allow the option of anonymity. I use it some times either to prod people with things like "start another thread" or when answering something I don't really want to be associated with - ie rock. Some people will not post if they must identify themselves. e-mail should also be optional.

Subject: RE: Note from the Publisher
From: Frank in the swamps (anonymous)
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 06:21 AM

Hey everybody, SUSAN of DT knows ROCK!!!

Busted.

But seriously, if we wish to remain anon. surely it's not difficult to type in that most famous of Nom-day-blooms.I admit, I find it slightly bothersome when I see no name listed, I can't say I know why for sure, but I think seeing some sort of id helps compensate for the fact that we don't see faces.

Yours, My first name ain't "Frank" but my last name's really "in the swamps."

Subject: RE: Note from the Publisher
From: Angus McSweeney
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 11:03 AM

I totally agree with putting your name (or a name) in the name field. If you want to prod someone into creating a new thread (Susan) or any other suggestion that you don't want identified with your name, I suggest creating an "alter ego" identity for just those purposes.

Angus (I yam who I yam) McSweeney

Subject: RE: Note from the Publisher
From: Elsie
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 12:15 PM

I certainly have no problem with filling in the name field! And I wouldn't even object to a 'reminder' that tells me to. I have 'forgotten' to enter my name once or twice when I had something to say and the 'from' box disappeared at the top of the screen before I was finished typing.
Susan of DT can be "Susie with DT's" or "Suzanne of Dry Texas" or even "Elsie"- but I agree with Max that SOME form of should be filled in.

Subject: RE: Note from the Publisher
From: LaMarca
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 02:14 PM

Maybe we could all identify ourselves as "Threadiquette Police" or "Miss Manners" when scolding someone for egregious breaches of thread protocol like using lousy thread titles, digressing from the topic/song at hand, not reading the original question and giving totally spurious answers or even (The Horror, The Horror) asking about Rock and Roll...
Seriously, I also think folks should give some sort of moniker, especially when criticizing someone else. There's nothing more disheartening than getting flamed by total strangers; maybe having a name to reply to will help. I also like the idea of having an E-mail field but making it optional; sometimes I'd like to correspond with particular folks and not have it be a totally public conversation, but I don't want to force folks to give the net equivalent of their home phone number if they don't want to!