non argumentativ GUEST question

Subject: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:16 AM

the funny thing is, right now one thread (steps in the folk process) doesnt recognise me and thinks i'm a guest, whereas another(sourdough:ten days in ireland) credits me with being a member called "greg stephens" when i get to the place to add my contribution. what's the difference, surely i'm either a guest or not at any given moment(something to do with cookies isnt it?) whichever thread i'm reading. any theories?

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:20 AM

read the million threads where cookies are explained

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: MMario
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:21 AM

are you getting to one or the other thread through bookmarks? even if you cookie is set, sometimes if you go thorugh bookmarks the page doesn't recognize that it is set. Also, sometimes it can be because your cache hasn't been flushed since your cookie was reset.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:36 AM

i havent got any bookmarks or anything. i just looked at one thread in the ordinary way and then looked at another one. and they treated me differently. and,stroppy anonymous guest who just added your bit, i have tried hard to read and understand about cookies and i can't explain this phenomenon. that's why i'm hoping some kind person will help me, not sneer.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: MMario
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:46 AM

Another thing you can try - which is sometimes necessary if you are going through a proxy server, is to do a forced reload of the page.

In netscape this would be hitting the reload button while holding down the ctrl key. I'm not sure what the equivilant is in IE.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:47 AM

I have sometimes found that even though I can post as Mrs Duck the system will not allow me to look at the personal pages and yet at other times there are no problems. I'm sorry I can't offer any explanations but just thought I'd let you know it's not just you!

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: GUEST,diff guest
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:48 AM

Have you tried just resetting your cookie, then maybe quit your browser & go back in again? - might flush something through.
Are you on some strange browser, or a particularly old version of a browser?
There's some wonderful illogic in computers isn't there!
Kris

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 10:49 AM

You're on a TV based system right? In the UK? I think we have just one other frequent user with a system like that.

I'm having trouble understanding, though, just what you are asking about-- are you saying that sometimes your post is entered as a guest and sometimes as a member, when you have not meant to change your settings? Or are you saying that you feel you get treated differently when you are signed in as a member and when you are not signed in and are posting as "Guest, greg stephens"?

Can you say a little more about what is happening?

If it is a technical matter, tho, you will get better (and maybe faster) help in the Tech Help section of the site. But if you are on a UK TV-based system I am not sure we have folks here who know your type of system... I think all the volunteers are US-based.

Perhaps the best advice I can offer, though, whatever the problem, is just to post as you wish and don't worry too much how it comes out or how people take it. Just get accustomed to being here and let things make sense over time.

~Susan

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:00 AM

susan yesi am a uk based cabletv(ntl) type person. theproblem(or rather intriguing situation) is that i entered the discussion forum to have a look (not really knowing whether my cookie was set or not) and found that one thread recognised me as a member whereas another thread didnt, as if my cookie was set when i read thread 1 and was unset for thread 2. And it persisted, when i went back and rechecked it stayed that way, one on and one off.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:11 AM

Hi Greg, I am the other Uk member that Susan mentions, I am using KIT, (an internet TV system), the problem you mention happens to me sometimes, the only thing I can suggest is just keep reseting your cookie, there was a few days last week when I had to set it every time I posted, though this is very unusual and some computer users had this problem at the same time, sorry I can't offer any useful advice, I think it's just one of the drawbacks of using a TV based system.john
PS. Can you listen to music files on your system, Mp3, Real Audio etc? (I can't)
I suppose if you are spending a lot of time on music sites it could be worth you getting a computer, I intend to do this eventually, though I have a 12 month contract on this box that runs out on 30th of march.

This system is very fast, it is DSL and all websites load instantly , but it has many disadvanteges, if you get a computer you can listen to Paltalk, chat on ICQ, download Mp3 music files, sace song lyrics in your computers memory and loads of other stuff.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:17 AM

well,whatever it was its stopped doing it now, all the threads seem to know who i am. sorry to clog up the airwaves with technical questions. one problem is that i cant access the FAQ section, its too big for me to read!

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:28 AM

I have the same problem with the FAQ! If you have a specific problem, just use the help forum, just click on the top right hand corner of any page.I think this is another problem with internet TV, I can't read long threads (anything longer than about 100 makes my system freeze up, it sometimes makes a long beeeeeeeeep type noise then I just reset it.

Subject: RE: non argumentative GUEST question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:31 AM

You could get on to ntl and try to get them to explain, Greg. Mind you, understanding their explanations isn't easy. Probably better to write them an email so you can explain it properly, rather than do it by phone, because it's an odd sort of problem> I think they'd be a bit more likely to understand it in writing, rather than jump to the conclusion it's another problem they came up against before. And phone calls to technical helplines can cost a lot.

I'm also with ntl, but not with their TV-internet system. Our TV has a sort of limited access to some sites, and I find it's very very clunky and slow compared to using a PC, even with a slow connection.

I think what's happening is that the Mudcat has various way of getting through. Some of them don't seem to recognise cookies (which means that there's no name in the place where it belongs above the place where you write your message at the bottom of the thread). The TV system seems to be switching around between connections.

(For example here is a connection that doesn't recognise cookies, and here is one that does)

And you slipped in a capital letter to start a sentence there, Greg. If you send ntl an email it might be better to do that for the occasion - even if they don't use capital letters themselves for their own company name. Makes it a lot easier for them to read.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:42 AM

Greg, John, do you have the ability with your systems to open threads in new windows, leaving the forum list still open? Or do you have to click into and back out of each thread? What I am wondering about is whether, once the site recognizes you, there is a way to stay in that mode... I am wondering where the slipping out occurs in the process of moving around in the site.

I am also curious whether a link to just one message in the FAQ works for you-- can you read that one message from it? Here is the message that contains the FAQ's table of contents: CLICK. Can you get to it? Can you click, from the links it has there, to other parts of the FAQ?

Also, the links in that table of contents seem to be set up differently from other message IDs here-- see what happens when you CLICK THIS.

If you can get to PARTS of the FAQ, there's no reason why you should not be able, with the help of someone to fetch the right URLs for you, to read it a section at a time. Or if the experiments above worked, just Trace this thread onto your personal page and use the link to the table of contents any time you want to read up on something.

~Susan

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:44 AM

Wait-- THIS is another way to get into the table of contents.

~Susan

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 05:06 PM

Susan, if the link is to the thread (which it is), you still have to load the whole thread.

Maybe linking to specific messages (stand alone, such as the ones you get in a user search) would work. Unfortunately, a search pulls up only two deleted messages because I think Joe gave each message a title reflecting its specific contents.

I time-out when I try to load the FAQ also.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 05:33 PM

Do people know that when you are loading something too long, you can hit the STOP button in mid-load and, usually, get at least part of the page?

~Susan

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 05:44 PM

many thank for all this effort. unfortunately clicking on all the things you presented to me resulted in nothing, just the same unencouraging display that i get trying to look at a long thread. it's funny, because i can read all sorts of things on the internet that must have loads more info in than 40 items in a thread: things with pictures or loads and loads of text for example. its very sad because i really want to read the thread about English Folk Harmony! "so buy acomputer" i hear you cry...but i feel sure thisstorage problem must be soluble. the thing about thinking i was a guest and a member simultaneously was just a curiosity, but not being able to read stuff is irritating.

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 06:02 PM

Greg, do you think you would be able to read them as long e-mail texts? Do you have a message size limit?

I would try one if you PM me your e-mail address.

Perhaps you have a friend with a computer who could print some of the longer threads for you?

~Susan

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 07:24 PM

Greg, this is a link to the pertinent message in the FAQ. Scroll down a bit to see "Solving Registration Problems."

I don't know if it will help or not. If not, please try posting a message in our Help Forum. (Link is at the top of this page - click where it says "Help.")

Subject: RE: non argumentative GUEST question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 07:48 PM

I think putting the question straight to ntl is a good idea. Including the link to the Mudcat, so that they can see what you are talking about.

Then when you don't understand the answer they give, just email back asking them to explain. You need to get unto Victor Meldrew mode perhaps.

The logging in thing isn't a big deal, so long as option of coming in as GUEST greg stephens remains open (leaving aside the theoretical possibility that some other pillock might think it funny to sign on as GUEST greg stephens and say something you wouldn't want to be thought to have said); but not being able to open parts of the site is a drag. The ntl people ought to be able to sort it out - they are taking your money for providing the service.

I'd have thought there is probably some kind of default setting that can be changed. The source of the difficulty probably wouldn't be the length of the thread in itself, but that together with a relatively slow speed of loading it. So you take longer to load a thread than the TV device is set to allow.

With a computer it can be easy enough to change the setting on that. I'm sure there must be some way with a TV internet access, but it might be they have to make the adjustment somewhere else, rather than you being able to. Or maybe there is something you can do that would solve the problem. Either way it's their job to help you.

Here is the URL for their email form: http://www.ntl.com/locales/gb/en/home/ask/contact/customer.asp

Subject: RE: non argumentativ GUEST question
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:09 PM

Jeri, you really do need a Cable Modem.

Spaw