Private area of forum?
Party, I've just Googled myself and I can view my profile on LMH and from that link I can 'view all posts by Crystal'...so there isn't a 'log-in' restriction to view posts.I often clicked on a google 'find' only for it to say I had to be logged on or didn't have permission to see it, so maybe not.
Helen, I'm still confused about how the 'private' forum works? Can this forum be viewed only if you regisiter? In which case if someone Googles me...and they come to a log-in page, if they are really curious to read my posts all they would have to do is to register to gain access to the 'private' forum?
That's what I mean Crystal, at the mo it would allow access to all posts but whether it would bar access to posts on a private forum, I think it probably would based on me trying to access posts from a google link on other sites....oh dear, I'm confusing myself again.Party, I've just Googled myself and I can view my profile on LMH and from that link I can 'view all posts by Crystal'...so there isn't a 'log-in' restriction to view posts.
Don't waste energy on things you can't change.
Costa de la Luz apartment rental
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S5386.htm
Costa de la Luz apartment rental
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S5386.htm
Ah...now I know what you meant..the forums you were trying to access had restrictions! Sorry..you're on the right track...it's me confusing you!That's what I mean Crystal, at the mo it would allow access to all posts but whether it would bar access to posts on a private forum, I think it probably would based on me trying to access posts from a google link on other sites....oh dear, I'm confusing myself again.
A private forum would not be private because anybody can join Lay My Hat.
I happen to think that if I came across someone's posts on this forum it would encourage me to book with them rather than put me off. If they care enough about what they do to discuss it with other owners it makes me think I will be in good hands, even if they are discussing incontinence or problem guests.
I happen to think that if I came across someone's posts on this forum it would encourage me to book with them rather than put me off. If they care enough about what they do to discuss it with other owners it makes me think I will be in good hands, even if they are discussing incontinence or problem guests.
Paolo
Lay My Hat
Lay My Hat
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Hells Bells
- Posts: 13173
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- Location: French Alps
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Paolo, I think that was the point I was trying to make, although I admit to fence-sitting on this one, I like the openness on here. It is only private until the person registers. Forums and identities are kept private on SnowHeads not to protect anyones identity, but to encourage joining and participating in the whole forum.
Crystal, some of the forums on SnowHeads are accessible only to moderators, even the registered members can't see them.These 'hidden forums don't appear in a Google search. Others are only visible to a registered member,I am not an expert on the phbb software so I can't tell you how it works . I'll ask over there about their visibility.
Crystal, some of the forums on SnowHeads are accessible only to moderators, even the registered members can't see them.These 'hidden forums don't appear in a Google search. Others are only visible to a registered member,I am not an expert on the phbb software so I can't tell you how it works . I'll ask over there about their visibility.
OOOHH Well theres a thought...clever moo cow.. 
Trouble is I will probably forget my new name and end up arguing with myself. .
also all my posts will surely have my usual 'fopars'..[I know but its expected of me now ]
so itll soon become clear there from me ....
I have thought about this and I can see when it might be a good idea to have bits others cant view.
.but then would we all start posting everything there and so do a away with the fact that this is an open forum...food for thought though ...
Trouble is I will probably forget my new name and end up arguing with myself.
.also all my posts will surely have my usual 'fopars'..[I know but its expected of me now
]so itll soon become clear there from me
....I have thought about this and I can see when it might be a good idea to have bits others cant view.
.but then would we all start posting everything there and so do a away with the fact that this is an open forum...food for thought though
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Mountain Goat
- Posts: 6070
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- Location: Leysin, Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland
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I think we're getting confused.
Here's what happens on SnowHeads, a ski forum (using the same forum software as LMH), and I'm sure HelenB will correct what I get wrong.
There are several views of the forum depending on who you are:
1) Casual Visitor who's arrived by Google - they can read most of the threads on the forum, but not all (not even the titles of the private threads).
2) Ordinary Member who joins, gets approved, and can read and post to all the ordinary threads on the forum (some of which are hidden to the Casual Visitor).
3) Mods and Admin Bods who have their own threads to discuss spammers, scammers, chalet pimpers on trial etc. visible only to them i.e. a forum within a forum within a forum.
My original concern was that if someone was interested in renting our property, they would (as I would) do a general Google search for further information, not just the stuff I directed them to - search keywords would include village / name of property / name of owner etc. On a totally open forum, i.e. LMH, many of us would appear in this search. This led to the farmyard pseudonym syndrome - very sensible.
Why does the guest do an initial search? Well, there's a little publicised case at the moment where an Austrian guy set up a chalet rental site, took deposits and disappeared; a very easy scam to set up. If the punter is forking out a few grand, 8 weeks ahead of arriving, they really need to know the property exists. This post, for example, would go in a private thread - why give the scammers new ideas?
A thread which was only open to ordinary LMH members would offer a shield from the casual browser. Not a secure shield, but it would have its uses. It could be called Delicate Issues. It wouldn't be visible to Google. There need only be one thread, and it wouldn't even be mentioned as a private thread so casual visitors wouldn't be tempted to join to see it.
I'm just lousy at explaining the concept.
Now, about that recent punter who gave us negative feedback in our guest book (true) as there was no porn in the chalet (also true) and how we dealt with it.....name and shame I say.
MG
Here's what happens on SnowHeads, a ski forum (using the same forum software as LMH), and I'm sure HelenB will correct what I get wrong.
There are several views of the forum depending on who you are:
1) Casual Visitor who's arrived by Google - they can read most of the threads on the forum, but not all (not even the titles of the private threads).
2) Ordinary Member who joins, gets approved, and can read and post to all the ordinary threads on the forum (some of which are hidden to the Casual Visitor).
3) Mods and Admin Bods who have their own threads to discuss spammers, scammers, chalet pimpers on trial etc. visible only to them i.e. a forum within a forum within a forum.
My original concern was that if someone was interested in renting our property, they would (as I would) do a general Google search for further information, not just the stuff I directed them to - search keywords would include village / name of property / name of owner etc. On a totally open forum, i.e. LMH, many of us would appear in this search. This led to the farmyard pseudonym syndrome - very sensible.
Why does the guest do an initial search? Well, there's a little publicised case at the moment where an Austrian guy set up a chalet rental site, took deposits and disappeared; a very easy scam to set up. If the punter is forking out a few grand, 8 weeks ahead of arriving, they really need to know the property exists. This post, for example, would go in a private thread - why give the scammers new ideas?
A thread which was only open to ordinary LMH members would offer a shield from the casual browser. Not a secure shield, but it would have its uses. It could be called Delicate Issues. It wouldn't be visible to Google. There need only be one thread, and it wouldn't even be mentioned as a private thread so casual visitors wouldn't be tempted to join to see it.
I'm just lousy at explaining the concept.
Now, about that recent punter who gave us negative feedback in our guest book (true) as there was no porn in the chalet (also true) and how we dealt with it.....name and shame I say.
MG
Last edited by Mountain Goat on Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:19 am, edited 3 times in total.
I also think it would be very useful...particularly in the 'guest management' area where I also have concerns about guests 'accidently' finding posts that may (or may not) refer to them - one of the reasons I choose not to use my own name and why I took a long time to attach my website addy.
Sometimes we just want to rant (like BW) and share our frustrations...other times we do have 'delicate' situations crying out for advice.
Also didn't one of our long term members suffer problems through being identified on the search engine? It is a real concern.
Mousie
x
Sometimes we just want to rant (like BW) and share our frustrations...other times we do have 'delicate' situations crying out for advice.
Also didn't one of our long term members suffer problems through being identified on the search engine? It is a real concern.
Mousie
x
One martini, two martini, three martini floor!
Ros wrote: Trouble is I will probably forget my new name and end up arguing with myself.
Yes, there are problems with this, not least remembering to log in with the correct ID before posting! It isn't as much fun, either, and the responses were significantly fewer than those to regular poster's threads.
Quite a few forums have a private section now for members only.
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tree-peony
- Posts: 1308
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and it's easy enough to make a category's permissions as "read for registered members only" 
Unfortunately, even on private forums, it's not unknown for posts to 'escape' to a wider audience. Just because somebody can satisfy the entry criteria to a forum doesn't automatically make them a nice person. Although I've always assumed (possibly incorrectly) that posting to a private forum should offer you a measure of protection if one on your rants is 'liberated' without your permission.Quite a few forums have a private section now for members only.
When posting to private or public forums, I tend to adopt the 'in the pub' approach where, if I would have lowered my voice and looked over my shoulder before pontificating, by the same token I think long and hard before posting on a contentious issue. Few opinions are worth losing business or legal action. Fortunately, on LMH you can edit or delete posts if wiser council prevails (or when you sober up) which is a useful safeguard.
Jim