Private Profile option

Hotblack Desiato · 20-11-2022 9:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119896825#Comment_119896825

JFC this thread has jumped the shark.

odyssey06 · 20-11-2022 10:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899163#Comment_119899163

Thanks - which means the resolution of concerns for historic personal forum posts is even more obvious.

20-11-2022 10:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899151#Comment_119899151

Its purely a self-restraint thing for me. If (when?) my account is deleted I won't make another one. I've had the same account since 2006.

But while its still active, I am weak - and will let myself still get sucked back in. So by requesting deletion, I'm cutting myself off.

(But now I want to stay until Strictly is over for this year, as I am invested! 💃 )

Hotblack Desiato · 20-11-2022 10:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119898748#Comment_119898748

This. Threads are closed there quite rapidly if there is no further activity, I can't see any rationale for not deleting closed threads there tbh.

Hotblack Desiato · 20-11-2022 10:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899200#Comment_119899200

Change your password to a random string and log out.

20-11-2022 10:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899226#Comment_119899226

Isn't there a password reset option?

But otherwise, not a bad idea. Maybe if my deletion request still hasn't been followed up on by then, I'll do that when Strictly is over. For now, I am enjoying the Strictly thread.

Glaceon · 20-11-2022 10:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899163#Comment_119899163

In addition to this, any posts you were quoted in pre-Vanilla will still show your username in the quote.

Sweet Talkin Romeo · 20-11-2022 10:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119898953#Comment_119898953

😁😁

lol , brilliant that 🙂🙂

20-11-2022 10:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899151#Comment_119899151

No they anonymise posts if you close account, or used to pre vanilla

20-11-2022 10:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899392#Comment_119899392

Thanks. True though.

quoting on this board is some crock of xxxx. It's some ad for vanilla

Leg End Reject · 20-11-2022 11:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899448#Comment_119899448

You had to request that, it wasn't automatic.

20-11-2022 11:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899510#Comment_119899510

Oh you're right apology. What used to happen when you closed it from the site option?

Leg End Reject · 20-11-2022 11:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899524#Comment_119899524

Your name stayed the same for years, then when GDPR came in there was a short time you could have everything nuked, that then changed to all your posts being anonymised.

Initially that didn't work with quoted posts, then it did and I'm not sure if it does now.

Furze99 · 20-11-2022 11:21pm

At the moment, it seems just like Hotel California "You can check out any time you like, But you can never leave"

Very odd setup for sure.

Chips Lovell · 21-11-2022 8:33am

I think there's a lot of unrealistic expectations at play here. Sure, we all liked the functionality of the old site. But it wasn't sustainable. No amount of moaning is going to change that fact. So if you have a choice between no Boards and a somewhat more pared down Boards, I know what I'd pick.

21-11-2022 11:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119899163#Comment_119899163

But isn't changing the username to deleted user ok re GDPR as there's no identifying data then so the post is not linked to a person.

21-11-2022 1:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119900725#Comment_119900725

I honestly don't know. I haven't really looked into it, but technically I don't think usernames are identifying data either.

Boards.ie: Niamh · 21-11-2022 6:09pm

Good evening everyone, I think I have a few things I need to clear up here so it's going to be a long post.

Email addresses and IP addresses are only visible to Admins and staff, nobody else.
Admins are not employees therefore they access the site from wherever they like, be that their own office, home office, coffee shop, gym, bus, train, wherever. Working from home in and of itself is not a GDPR issue. Every user is responsible for the security of their own account, Admins are very aware of this and security conscious. I also work from home as I have since March 2020 and does Mike now too, in case you thought there was a Boards office Admins could drop into to do some Adminning of an evening...
Any posts that were made anonymously using the old anon posting feature will remain anonymous, that was never in question and apologies of that was not clear
You cannot hide when you were last active on your profile that I know of but I will ask to be sure and also find out about the number of visits on a profile and what counts as a visit
There is no feature that allows users to close their own account on Vanilla so we have to do it manually - you can request this by emailing datarequests@boards.ie. All of these accounts will be anonymised as if they were GDPR requests as there is no other way to do it atm.
Any users with a large pre-migration post count who have requested deletion/anonymisation but have not yet been done - this is due to an issue mentioned earlier in the thread. We have a tool on Vanilla to do it but it does not anonymise pre-migration quoted posts. We're working on both updating our own anonymisation tool (which gives random 3 word usernames per thread instead of [Deleted User]) and also Vanilla are working in their Delete User tool to cover historical quoted posts. I have a list of users that will be done in a batch (so if you are waiting, you are on it) and then going forward when the tool is updated we will be able to process a request as soon as a user requests it. Newer accounts or very low post count users who request anonymisation have all been done on time and we'll continue that. If you are waiting and don't mind about the pre-migration quoted posts let me know and I'll run the anon asap.

Actually that wasn't too long. Apologies for any typos, it's been a long day!

Deja Boo · 21-11-2022 6:31pm

Did you leave out a 7? ....can nothing be done to leave sensitive RI and PI posts off user profile searches? Perhaps fixing this issue would be easier than closing and anonymizing so many who are concerned only about such unnecessary exposure.

22-11-2022 1:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119902884#Comment_119902884

"Admins are not employees therefore they access the site from wherever they like, be that their own office, home office, coffee shop, gym, bus, train, wherever."

So they open and download people's email and ip on theirs personal phones

This is having private data on personal phones in history

22-11-2022 1:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119904844#Comment_119904844

Which, again, is not in itself a GDPR violation.

Also, the above has been true since Boards has been in existence, long before the migration to Vanilla.

Caranica · 22-11-2022 2:46am

Any chance the admin data/gdpr talk can be split to a separate thread @Boards.ie: Niamh ? It's really clogging up this one and not the same issue at all.

22-11-2022 11:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119905023#Comment_119905023

Neither was the PI RI so could that be split too

o1s1n · 22-11-2022 12:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119905805#Comment_119905805

Historical PI/RI forum posts being linked to your profile is directly part of the private profile issue being discussed in this thread, definitely should not be split off.

Neyite · 22-11-2022 1:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119902989#Comment_119902989

I remember back in the mists of time when Dav removed the PI posts from the main home page (before they were public and often high up on the home page), then it was subsequently further restricted so for example, registered and unregistered users couldn't search all your Deja Boo posts in PI, however PI mods could - they needed that functionality for modding (and their Cmods and all admins).

Having said that, if you googled "Deja Boo", often it would bring up your posts that way and that was outside of the control of Boards AFAIK.

I started off as a poster in PI then a mod, Cmod and now admin. PI always was public to view, public to post on and public to post anon on. It just never showed on the Home page or Trending page, but if you googled it, it would often bring you to the forum or a thread in the forum.

Under the old system, modutils allowed only mods, cmods and admins to check anon posts against posters. This way, we could check for stirrers, sockpuppets and trolls. However, it was limited to posters with an Irish IP so that meant overseas posters couldn't post anon due to Cloudflare restrictions. So mods were fine for posters who for legitimate reasons, wanted to create a throwaway account for the purposes of a thread they wanted to start. Just give them the heads up.

Now we don't have the anon function, would that be a solution?

So for example, if you want to start a PI thread, and not have it linked back publicly to Deja Boo. So you can let mods know you are Throwaway1 on [thread link]. That would only show on your throwaway profile, not your Deja Boo one, however from a modding pov we then know that a match on the account /IP isn't breaking the one-account-per-person rule, so you'd not be at risk of getting your main account banned IYKWIM? We would know, and if you used Throwaway1 to go troll elsewhere, well then the hammer would come out.

As long as I've been a mod there we have always guarded posters privacy fiercely. Granted it's the internet, and some cop on needs to come from the poster themselves, but if someone posted something and subsequently wanted it deleted, it was never a problem if you asked the mods. As well as that, we often snipped stuff out to save people from themselves at times. And when there's genuine reasons they are happy to delete whole threads for OPs as well.

There's another long standing Boards etiquette that bringing what someone posted in PI or RI into other forums or threads elsewhere is worthy of a mod action. So even alluding to something someone posted in PI would result in a warning or a ban in another forum depending on the offenders track record and their post removed as soon as a mod could. Same with posts elsewhere on the internet where we could establish a link via posting history to a boards account. Won't stop people getting a ban here. That that still stands.

o1s1n · 22-11-2022 2:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119906481#Comment_119906481

That's a good idea for future posts, but again, the thing that's bothering folks is historical PI posts.

Historical PI posts are now to be linked to your profile.

People should be given the option of having these posts mass deleted rather than having them linked to their account as they were created under the pretense of them not being linked to your account.

You can't say 'hey, create posts and generate content in this forum, they'll never be linked to your account' in X year and then X years later decide to link them to everyone's accounts. Well, you can, but it's a dick move.

I don't want posts I made 5, 10, 15, 20 or whatever years ago in PI linked to my profile. They weren't meant to be then when they were created and shouldn't be now. Honestly I haven't even a bean of the full content of what I've posted in there, it's been two decades.

I've asked for my posts in PI to be mass deleted if possible. I've zero problem with that as a solution. Whether it can easily be done is another thing.

Cup · 22-11-2022 3:09pm

If you made those posts under your username, they are already linked to your profile. You can see them yourself under your comments on your profile. The only thing is that, once all profiles are public, anybody else can click on your profile and scroll away through your posts. I guess that wasn’t the case for old boards though?

That’s also discounting the other ways of finding posts by users, already mentioned in this thread.

22-11-2022 3:56pm

As I mentioned before, if anyone has a genuine concern about personal data being leaked, eg inadvertently by an admin using public Wi-Fi, there is the possibility of using Tails, a portable personal operating system. I keep a Tails USB stick handy in case I need it.

https://tails.boum.org/

Boards.ie: Niamh · 22-11-2022 4:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119898207#Comment_119898207

Got an answer on this for you, the Visits shown on your profile are an approximation/guesstimate of how often you have been logged in or active on your account.

Visits are a "fuzzy statistic" that can't ever be 100% accurate because we have no way of knowing whether a person is actively using their device. With that said, a visit is calculated when a user is "away from the site" for at least 20 minutes, meaning:

-If the user closes the site, they will be considered away so the next time they browse to the site a new visit may be incremented.

-If the user leaves the site open in their browser, they will be considered away if the site isn't their active tab. This is to account for users who may have a long discussion open for more than 20 minutes. If you leave your browser open over night, you likely won't trigger a new visit.

A user cannot hide the 'Last Active' field on their profile either.

Leg End Reject · 22-11-2022 4:48pm

Am I the only one who can only read a few posts on a profile, including my own? There isn't an option to scroll onto further posts.

HeidiHeidi · 22-11-2022 4:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907451#Comment_119907451

Bottom right of the list there's a button "More Discussions" (desktop)

Dial Hard · 22-11-2022 4:53pm

@Neyite The PI/RI mods have already said throwaway accounts are fine for posting in the forum and did so as soon as it was copped that anonymous posting wasn't supported on Vanilla

@o1s1n this is a genuine question, had you posted your own PIs in the forum, or is it just replies you're concerned about? Cause I don't really understand the issue if it's the latter. And, actually, even if it was the former they were always searchable via Google anyway, no?

Fwiw, I had to scrap my previous account because I was doxxed and it nearly cost me my job. But I have absolutely zero issue with anyone being able to find and read my replies in PI. Why anyone would even want to is beyond me, though.

Boards.ie: Niamh · 22-11-2022 4:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907451#Comment_119907451

On both mobile and desktop you will land on the page that show's a user's Discussions (threads they have started). If you scroll to the bottom of the page on mobile you will see the option to select Comments which shows all of their other posts. ON Desktop, you select the silhouette icon on the top right of the profile page and the option to see Comments is there.

Leg End Reject · 22-11-2022 5:07pm

Thanks @HeidiHeidi and @Boards.ie: Niamh, I'm an idiot! 🤣

Cup · 22-11-2022 5:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907394#Comment_119907394

Thanks very much Niamh for all the detail! And best of luck with the new job!!

Dial Hard · 22-11-2022 5:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907494#Comment_119907494

It still only goes a few pages in, though. For me, anyway.

o1s1n · 22-11-2022 5:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907473#Comment_119907473

To the best of my hazy memory, no I haven't - however it's hard to 100% know as it's been such a long period of time. For a bit of perspective, I created this account the month after the Twin Towers were hit by planes - I'd be doing well if I could remember a fraction of what I'd posted over the years.

I suppose my reasons for such are mine really, I'm not comfortable with historical PI discussions being linked to my profile and I was always posting there with the understanding they wouldn't be.

I'm also (I think anyway!) speaking for more than just myself and I'm sure there are other folks who aren't too enamoured by the idea too. From some off the comms on this thread from boards.ie reps, they didn't even know this would be a potential issue.

22-11-2022 6:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907473#Comment_119907473

It would depend on replies, eg if one said “OP, I’m in same position as you, fell in love with a guy/girl I work with and my husband/wife doesn’t suspect anything”.

Caranica · 22-11-2022 7:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907473#Comment_119907473

I scrapped my previous account when I gave up being a mod. I'd really prefer not to have to do that again.

And yes I have posted my own threads in those fora.

o1s1n · 23-11-2022 4:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119908050#Comment_119908050

I had a look through my created threads on my profile and it looks like I don't have any I started - you've a couple of PI ones though which are now linked to your profile so it might be an idea to ask the PI mods to nuke them specifically.

Caranica · 23-11-2022 9:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119911704#Comment_119911704

Thanks so much.

Hey @Boards.ie: Niamh do I need to pm the mods to do this. I do not want these threads on my profile. They weren't, until you moved the goal posts!

Neyite · 24-11-2022 11:49am

@Caranica I'm happy to do it today - I'm a bit pushed for time with a work deadline and will be AFK from tomorrow until after the weekend but if you link me directly to them, I'll delete for you, if we don't get it sorted today then one of the local mods would be able to do that for you.

Caranica · 24-11-2022 12:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119914850#Comment_119914850

Thank you. You can't sort by forum on mobile so it will be the weekend before I can find them

o1s1n · 24-11-2022 12:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119914969#Comment_119914969

I've sent them on to you in a PM there, three in total.

The ease and quickness in finding them via your profile now that they're linked really highlighted the problem.

Caranica · 24-11-2022 1:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119915067#Comment_119915067

Thank you so much! It's actually quite scary how easy it was for you to find them. See @Boards.ie: Niamh ??? I'd really like all my PI and RI posts deleted but the threads are a start so thank you @Neyite for your help. I've sent the links on to you by pm thanks to @o1s1n

Jequ0n · 24-11-2022 3:21pm

Since you made such a big deal out of it I felt compelled to have a look too, but found them rather boring. Disappointed.

Boards.ie: Niamh · 24-11-2022 5:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119915271#Comment_119915271

Yes I do see, however we'll do our best to look after those who are worried. We couldn't hold back allowing mods access to user's notes sitewide based on a small number of people worrying about their PI/RI posts being attached to their profile. As pointed out earlier, if someone really wanted to find them before, there was very little to stop them and I doubt this move will suddenly spur an interest. I completely understand why some users might prefer for them not to be accessible though. Thank you @Neyite for offering to take care of those threads.

o1s1n · 24-11-2022 11:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119916632#Comment_119916632

Thanks Niamh, appreciate the effort and I don't mean to be a moaning sh1te - fully appreciate that moderators need the visibility.

If you can keep us posted re whether mass deletion within the forum would be possible that would be great.

smuggler.ie · 25-11-2022 12:05am

This is really fukced and it might become very painful for some....

Teapot30 · 25-11-2022 10:34pm

Its so wrong that youve done this! So many people would have shared private information about themselves in posts with the understanding that their profile is and will continue to be private so no one could see previous posts and replies that could identify them or that give away other personal info. You cant give the option of privacy to people then remove it when it suits yourselves. Very bad form.

Private Profile option

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