Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 07:11 AM

Whats all this shouting?
We'll have no trouble here.
This is a local site for local people.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 06:18 AM

lone shark I would hope that when this happens the abusive culprit apologises to all concerned - some hope

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: lone shark
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 05:52 AM

Nasty posts by GUESTS are a problem I agree, but what is much worse, as has happened here last week, is when a member logs out and comes back in as an abusive GUEST, then has to brass neck to blame it on some unknown work colleague.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 05:31 AM

"Striving to better oft we mar what's well"

There are always good reasons for the kind of improvements that The Villan suggested there - but the effect, I'm pretty sure, would be to kill off much of the flexibility keeps the Mudcat alive, if annoying at times.

People who persist in coming in time and again in discussions as "nameless GUEST" strike me as annoying and confusing and I think it's a very discourteous thing to do.

However there doesn't really see any way to stop the practice that wouldn't have side effects which were worse. Most especially it might frighten off newcomers with questions to raise.

Incidentally I think it's a great mistake to refer to the "nameless Guests" just as GUESTS, because that inevitably gets understood as criticising people who come in as visitors or even longterm with a permanent or temporary handle attached to their GUEST.

Most of the time the "nameless GUESTS" are just irritating nuisances. Occasionally however they are people with interesting contributions to make. I sometimes wish that one of these would sometime explain why it is they insist on doing something that needlessly gets in the way, rather than, for example, using a temporary handle to distinguish their posts from other nameless GUEST posts, even in the same thread.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 01:40 AM

The Villan -

Abusive posts are known by the powers that be, but rarely do they exercise any control (as far as I know). I assume they are treating us like adults and that we'll sort out the issues ourselves. I do worry about newbies, either new guests or new members who get slammed for asking something. I've seen that this happens almost entirely from "guests." But such is life.

Today I got run off the road while riding my bike to church. The fool yelled at me to get off the f-ing road. I immediately forgave him because he had a "United We Stand" sticker on the back of his Honda. I'm sure he's a wonderful person.

He's probably a guest around here too.

------------------------

And "GUEST,An Annoying Guest" Thanks for being the typically predictable representative of your species. Of course you're not a random guest since you "know" where I live. I have to say however that Brucie mentioned you living in Disneyland, not Disney World. Here in Orange County, Florida, we have a Disney complex that sits on property twice the size of Manhatten Island, not like Orange County, California which has only a few acres of the "most magical" place in the world.

Oh - and I grew up about 40 miles from Disneyland, while I currently live 40 miles from Disney World so I should know the difference.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Rasener
Date: 29 Mar 04 - 12:10 AM

OK Thanks Susan.

Shlio - I am not a singer or musician either. Joined 2 months ago after getting a lot of help about Lonnie Donegan and Jack O' Diamonds, and am now for my sins running my first Folk Club out in the sticks of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. You never know what it can do for you.
Mudcatters are so helpful.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 06:23 PM

No, no, no-- problem threads are NOT advertised in the Help Forum. As per FAQ (top of thread list in dropdown box), report them privately via PM to Pene Azul or Joe Offer.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: GUEST,Shlio
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 04:52 PM

I think I'll stay as a Guest for a while. Though I love the community here, I hesitate to join a group when know I can contribute very little.

(Sounds odd, doesn't it? But I'm just someone who wandered in one day. Not a musician, nor a singer. Was born several decades after lots of the music discussed here was played. Am left baffled by nearly all of the music threads. Nope - I'll be a guest for now.)

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 08:53 AM

Why not create a permathread for guest-bashing?

Russ (Still guest after all these years)

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 08:41 AM

Sandra
Thanks for pointing that out. I wasn't aware of that. I am pretty new on Mudcat. Unfortunately in the forum of my ISP, these sort of things stare you in the face, because they are on the appropriate webpages as you need them. THsi helps new members immensly
I think that this is my point especially for newbies, and it is not being critical, that all such things are not so obvious.
Its OK if you have been using the website for some time, becuase hopefully you learn as you go.
Shlio, although you are a guest, you do indicate who you are and so does MMario.
Its the abusers that I am on about, who don't identify temselves..
Why don't you join - its free.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: GUEST,Shlio
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 08:23 AM

I love Mudcat just the way it is.

Particularly the way that everyone can post to any thread they like. This makes it so much more welcoming than other forums.

If I had to be a member to post, I would never have stuck around.

And if you stop GUESTs from starting threads, it would be unfair to people like MMario.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 07:25 AM

The Villan

I assume you are not aware of

Mudcat Help when you write the following.

The problem that this forum has, is there is no "report this thread/post to moderator" option. If that was available, then
members of Mudcat, could very quickly alert the moderators and have the offensive post or thread removed quickly, if
considered appropriate.

This is where Mudcatters report problems, eg. Mudcat down, Spam posts, duplicate postings, errors that need fixing in posts etc.

sandra

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: GUEST,An Annoying Guest
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 02:40 AM

Brucie, you'd have to ask Blackcatter the Disneyworld time - he lives there! And to be USA PC you must refer to the PEACE of Calaveras County.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Peace
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 02:29 AM

Dear GUEST,An Annoying Guest:

You have a strange name. Also, you seem to be confusing Blackcatter with the frog of Calaveras County--you say he is full of shot yet you tell him to float off. I know weird when I don't see it, and you are W E I R D. (Maybe that's W I R E D.) Anyway, what time IS it in Disneyland.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: GUEST,An Annoying Guest
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 02:22 AM

Well, if that wasn't a challenge, I dunno what is? F-off, Blackcatter, you are so full of Sh*t!

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 02:19 AM

I came upon Mudcat purely by chance becuase I was loking for lyrics for Jack O' Diaminds by Lonnie Donegan.
I am not a musician although I do like all forms of music, including Folk Music.

If I had not been able to post on this forum as a guest, there would never have been a new folk club in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, which started very succesfully last Friday.

Various Mudcatters, held my hand through a six week process and low and behold, they conned me into doing the Folk Club (only joking).

The problem that this forum has, is there is no "report this thread/post to moderator" option. If that was available, then members of Mudcat, could very quickly alert the moderators and have the offensive post or thread removed quickly, if considered appropriate.

One other way of dealing with guests, is to allow them to read all threads, but only allow them to post in a specific section for guests. That way you keep the abusive posts away from the serious threads.

Has anybody thought of creating specific sections within the Forum, so that when you first log on, you are met with a group of specific sections, instead of straight into the threads themselves.

I know there is a drop down menu to select a different subject, but it is not obvious and most of the time I find that a little annoying.

For example, when you first come in you would be met with 3 sections.
Technical, General and Guest.
Within Technical you could have various sub sections, to deal with all sorts of technical problems.
Within General, you would have sections such as EVENTS, LYRICS, etc.
And last but not least the Guest section, would allow them to post, but also get encouragement to join and various tips etc.

My above comments are related to the computer concepts of file management and ease of finding things. It may well be that to change to the above method would be too difficult to set up, in which case I would understand. IMHO my initial reaction to the forum, is that its structure is not that well planned out. That is not a critisicm but constructive comment. As to the members and posting it is excellent and thriving. That says an awful lot about the members, and I feel very comfortable and happy involving myself in it.



I don't believe that any member should be allowed to post as a guest, unless they in a guest section. I believe that if you have something to say then reveal your mudcatter name.

One thing that I would like to ask a question on, is when you reply to a PM, you are not able to see the previous post. Why is that?. If you post to a normal thread, you are able to see all the previous posts.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 01:30 AM

But wait! An annoying guest has yet to flame this thread!

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 10:43 PM

Oh well, it was a thought...but the arguments you've all made for retaining the facility as it is are stronger than my concerns. Let's leave it at that. Thanks, folks.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 09:50 PM

Catters, myself included, sometimes post to or even start a thread as "Guest (nnnn)" for any variety of reasons. I recently started such a thread, a serious discussion -- or as serious as it ever gets here -- which is still continuing. I did this for a number of reasons, all (to my mind anyway) quite valid.

The best way to deal with abusive Guests is to ignore them. Don't post to the thread no matter how incensed you are or how bloody stupid the post is -- eventually, they'll go away.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: open mike
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 09:31 PM

I agree with what Art says about mnay of us first posting as guest
before becoming members. Many people come here in a search for some lyics, and do not even know it is possible to become a member til
they ask a question...this is a valuable resource and some of the
beauty is that there are many who ask questions, and often many
answers as well. The troublesome and offensive threads are often
deleted as soon as they are noticed. Sometimes it is helpful to be
able to disquise your identity by revertiing to guest status for
posts too personal or revealing to attribute to your nick name.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 08:35 PM

It seems to me that most guests are either asking for information or have something worthy to say. We have had some extremely knowledgeable guest posts recently, especially with reference to Gaelic or Irish questions. Some may not wish to reveal that they are commenting.

The best way, I believe, is simply to ignore offensive postings.
We have been over this ground before.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 07:48 PM

What about - ban GUEST from starting a thread - but allow GUEST,somename (generically) to start them.

Robin

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 07:48 PM

I agree with Art.

Also - I don't think much has changed considering the abusive guests. They're always here, they will always be here. They never seem to last around for more than a few weeks - at least as I've noticed.

Subject: RE: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 07:31 PM

Well, ANON.GUEST comes and goes, but he/she/it does keep the blood pressure of some of our more somambulent members up. The problem with banning GUESTs from starting threads is that it would be technically very difficult (I'm not quite savey enough to say impossible) to keep this person out without affecting all GUESTs. There are a lot of threads started by people who come here to ask for assistance, and I'd hate to consider cutting them off. Most of us began at Mudcat that way, after all...

Subject: Tech: GUEST, Irrelevant?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 07:14 PM

Is it just my perception, or is there an increase in irrelevant and occasionally offensive threads started by GUEST(whoever)? Other chatrooms do not allow any postings by non-members; I don't propose to follow that extreme, but how about simply not allowing the starting of new threads by GUEST accounts?

Would that be technically possible - and would others agree with the idea?