User Names - Engraving Etc. Forum

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	21 Apr 2006
To:	gt350ed	1 of 27

3580.1
Ed, I didn't want to shift the direction of the "Laser University" (LU) thread, so I'm addressing your concern over anonymous posts here. The topic of our member's true identities has come up in the past. At that time, there was strenuous objection, to making mandatory, the true identity of our members. The fact is, even though one person registered as "Anonymous", if you look at the overwhelming majority of our member's screen names, many are posting anonymously. There seems to be a trend, in people revealing their true identities, once they feel comfortable, within our group. I encourage that trend by occasionally asking people their names (if they don't mind) because I like to know who I'm talking (typing) to. I allowed the "Anonymous" post in the LU thread, because the person was offering his/her personal opinion of Mike Fruciano's skills/qualifications as an instructor. You, through first-hand experience, agreed with the assessment. Unless we experience a rash of baseless, scathing posts, from anonymous sources, I have no immediate reason, nor see the need, to change our user name policy. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	gt350ed	21 Apr 2006
To:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	2 of 27

3580.2 In reply to 3580.1
Yo...Kee-Moe-Subee! I got no problem with your decisions regarding YOUR forum. But when I start MY forum....things are gonna be different! Ain't gonna be no "Any Mouse" user names. (devil) Ed Holley Victor Valley Trophy Co. and Coffee Mugs Online www.coffeemugsonline.com

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	21 Apr 2006
To:	gt350ed	3 of 27

3580.3 In reply to 3580.2

That will be for-um you to decide.

Or is that For-Um U.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Harvey's Tips Page When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	21 Apr 2006
To:	gt350ed	5 of 27

3580.5 In reply to 3580.2

Ed,

Actually, we're in agreement.

I'd prefer to see "Real Names Only." With over 7,600 members, that policy doesn't seem to be hampering Sawmill Creek's popularity.

If, for whatever reason, people are against using their true names, I don't want that to be the reason for them not joining the forum.

Oh, and Ed...when you start your forum, just call it Engraving Etc.

It's becoming a popular name. :-)

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

EDITED: 21 Apr 2006 by DGL

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	21 Apr 2006
To:	gt350ed	7 of 27

3580.7 In reply to 3580.6

Ed,

Let me know when you get that going. I'll be one of your first members. :-)

Note: I changed my previous post, to update the number of Sawmill Creek forum members, from 5,000 to 7,600.

During March, there was a point where over 500 people were online, at the same time.

Yeoww!

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

EDITED: 21 Apr 2006 by DGL

From:	anon (ANONYMOUS)	21 Apr 2006
To:	ALL	8 of 27

3580.8 In reply to 3580.7

Even though I've been criticized for posting anonymously, I feel I've been more upfront than others that use public forums.

I could have made up a pausible name and even filled out an acceptable profile. I've spent more time than I should have trying to figure out how to explain my compulsion to hide my identity. The best conclusion I have been able to come up with is this:

We've all been in public places and you heard something that just isn't right but you don't want publicly announce your opinions and possibility hurt someone's feelings. What do you do? You go to those closest to you and whisper your thoughts to see if they've had a similiar experience. Maybe you're not physically whispering but you get my drift. Well, guess what folks, there's no whispering here but I still wanted to share this with those that I'm closest to in this industry.

Will I do it again? No way. I've spent my life speaking my mind and I'm not about to stop at this point.

Another thought - with ease of acquiring free email addresses or just using a bogus one, it would be very difficult to 100% identify all posters. Even if this went to a pay site, there are still those with an axe to grind that would find a way around it.

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	22 Apr 2006
To:	anon (ANONYMOUS)	9 of 27

3580.9 In reply to 3580.8
To satisfy my curiosity, were you an EE forum member, before your posted in the LU thread? I agree, if there's a will, there's a way and if a person wants to hide their true identity, there are any number of ways. That's why I'm choosing not to draw a hard line on the user name issue. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	22 Apr 2006
To:	anon (ANONYMOUS)	11 of 27

3580.11 In reply to 3580.10
Thank you. I can't blame you for the cautious tack you took, but as you can see, there's more of a stir over your anonymous status, than the message you delivered. :-) In any case, regular or not, I'm happy you're a forum member and I truly appreciated your input, in the LU thread. All the best, David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	spudislander (WILLM)	22 Apr 2006
To:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	12 of 27

3580.12 In reply to 3580.11

Hi David,

I don't do a lot of posting anymore for many reasons, the main one being very busy. I have had some repercussions from my posts in the past though. Earlier (several years ago) I posted about a negative experience I had with an engraving supply company. The results were that it had a negative and financial impact on my business. On another forum (DSSI) I had made some posts regarding sub ink hype, this time as an anonymous poster. B-) Guess what - I was cut off by one supplier and threatened by another. :-(

Wonder how they knew it was me?? >.<

Bottom line is, that after 7+ years on these forums, I can completely understand why somebody would want to remain anonymous when posting a negative experience. From my experiences I would even be cautious about that.

Will

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	22 Apr 2006
To:	spudislander (WILLM)	13 of 27

3580.13 In reply to 3580.12

Will,

I'm sorry to hear that you're the "Poster Boy" for forum backlash. >.<

I would think there's less chance of backlash, if a person posts under their own name; especially if they're publicly vocal about the backlash to their post(s).

Getting everything out in the open, can be a deterent to backlash.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

EDITED: 22 Apr 2006 by DGL

From:	spudislander (WILLM)	26 Apr 2006
To:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	14 of 27

3580.14 In reply to 3580.13

Hi David,

I'm not trying to make this about my personal experience - it's water long passed under the bridge. It wasn't public (forum) backlash that affected me. It was the private/commercial response from certain trade suppliers that affected me to a certain degree. It made me question my participation in forums. I don't think there is a simple answer nor do I expect one. The only point I am attempting to make is - there can be serious ramifications and consequences to public posts regarding suppliers.

i.e.
I post questioning the claims and sales hype of a product from a specific supplier. That supplier takes offense to my open (skeptical) questioning of their product and as a result will no longer SELL to me other products that I have come to rely on from them as a sole supplier of those products.

What is my next course of action?
-Bring their actions to light on the forum?
-Withdraw my original posting and kiss up?

It is a situation that is regrettable with no easy solution.

So to avoid the above situation (or something similar) I can completely understand why the original poster in this thread wished to remain anonymous while recanting their experiences to the rest of us. I would prefer to hear from an anonymous source than to not hear at all.

Will

EDITED: 26 Apr 2006 by WILLM

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	26 Apr 2006
To:	spudislander (WILLM)	15 of 27

3580.15 In reply to 3580.14
Will, I agree that hearing a person's experience, albeit anonymously, is better than not hearing it at all, although, as a forum host, I have to uphold our policy of only allowing first-hand, factual accounts, in the event of a dispute between members. In this instance, there was no dispute; just a personal opinion, that was upheld by another forum member, who wasn't taking sides; just adding his own opinion, under his actual name. Putting myself in your shoes, I think, by now, you know how I would have reacted to a supplier exacting revenge for a comment I made on the forum. Firstly, I would have never posted anonymously. Secondly, I would have brought the "retaliation" to the attention of the forum members, allowing them to decide for themselves, if they'd want to do business with such a highly-vindictive source. The outcome may have been the same, but I would have gone down fighting, with the distinct possibility of letting the offended supplier, put themselves in a bad light. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	26 Apr 2006
To:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	16 of 27

3580.16 In reply to 3580.15

The other alternative is to have the real names go into a protectd database that only the moderators have access to. That will protect the individual posting, and have a communication line available to the moderators if something seems strange.

Opinions?

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Harvey's Tips Page When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	26 Apr 2006
To:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	18 of 27

3580.18 In reply to 3580.16
Harvey, That's exactly what I have in mind, as part of the signup procedure for our subscription site. Users will be allowed to use whatever screen name they please, but the admin. will have actual names, mailing addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, which won't be passed along to third parties. Nothing more than would be asked in a subscription to a trade magazine or in signing up for a trade show. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA