A question for Poppy

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 02 Jan 2007, 20:50

Poppy, a question for you as our new moderator.

Do we currently have people on the board who are either using multiple accounts, or have "quit" as one account and re-emerged as another?

I'm not interested in anyone's personal data like their IP address, but I would be sad if the forum membership as a whole was having the wool pulled over its eyes as happened when Bob got away with being Moi.

Currently the rules are that you can't have multiple accounts without permission - has permission been given to anyone?

Jackson Priest made it clear that he was quitting to become Nelson Hatstand - fine. There was no overlap or subterfuge - a much better state of affairs than with Moi.

I don't want to be put in the situation where I'm talking to someone I don't think I know only to find out I do, or to accuse someone I didn't know of being someone I did - or any variations thereof which may come about from someone playing silly bu&&ers with the username system

Poppy, can you clarify the situation for us all with respect to our current membership?

p.s. If any answer is forthcoming, be it from new or old moderators or administrators, I'd prefer a straight answer as opposed to a well-crafted, smoke & mirrors, non-denial denial sort of thing.

impossiblevoices · Post by **impossiblevoices** » 02 Jan 2007, 21:08

I haven't been involved in the whole "Are you really someone else?" debate, but it would be interesting to have even a blanket response from the moderators as to whether everyone is playing by the same rules...

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 02 Jan 2007, 21:28

Don't know anything about IP addresses etc but what about families such as mine where there's me, Baby Dragon and at least one Clanger registered on POL but all use the same computer. Would we be limited as to the number of posts?
Is there any real harm in someone havig more than one identity?
Some of us do in real life, I'm either so and so's mum( x4 ), thingys wife, woman who weeds the garden, mad wifey in supermarket dancing to the Time Warp ( Clanger 1 and I couldn't resist when they played it in Asda )

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 02 Jan 2007, 21:31

I think I'll take this as some of your post was directed at me. Firstly, I think it's a little unfair to ask Poppy these questions when she has been a moderator for a little over 24 hours and has received no instruction whatsoever in how to perform her duties.

We have a clear policy on dual identities and we enforce it. As far as we can be sure, no-one is in breach of this policy.

I think it's time we stopped these games. We have already lost one member and we may be about to lose a second.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 02 Jan 2007, 21:34

SoupDragon wrote: mad wifey in supermarket dancing to the Time Warp ( Clanger 1 and I couldn't resist when they played it in Asda )

wish I'd seen that!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 02 Jan 2007, 21:36

Dadaist, in future if you wish to address a specific individual please use the pm system.

However, since this issue seems to be causing a great deal of interest on the board at the moment I wish to assure all users that the rules are being administered to the best of our ability and we have no knowledge of the rule on multiple identities being currently abused.

What is happening, however, is that some users are being put off from registering or are declining to post because of the behaviour of a number of users and this is of much more concern.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 02 Jan 2007, 21:40

Sandra wrote

wish I'd seen that!

Baby Dragon was with us and was most embarrased and stomped off in huff. Wouldn't speak to us for hours, bless her.

Luckily we weren't in full Rocky Horror gear, though that could take the boredom out of shopping

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 02 Jan 2007, 21:53

Marya wrote:Dadaist, in future if you wish to address a specific individual please use the pm system.

Not if I'm addressing mods and want the discourse to be public.

However, since this issue seems to be causing a great deal of interest on the board at the moment I wish to assure all users that the rules are being administered to the best of our ability and we have no knowledge of the rule on multiple identities being currently abused.

Has permission been given for multiple identities to anyone?

What is happening, however, is that some users are being put off from registering or are declining to post because of the behaviour of a number of users and this is of much more concern.

Which users? What forum rule did their "behaviour" break?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 02 Jan 2007, 22:32

Dadaist wrote:
Marya wrote:Dadaist, in future if you wish to address a specific individual please use the pm system.
Not if I'm addressing mods and want the discourse to be public.

If you wish to address the Mods as a group then do so.

Has permission been given for multiple identities to anyone?

Other than for Stephen McIntyre/Porty for the Matters Forum, no.

Which users? What forum rule did their "behaviour" break?

I am not prepared to vilify individuals. No 'rule' was broken.

Nelson Hatstand · Post by **Nelson Hatstand** » 05 Jan 2007, 18:41

I meant to reply on this topic the other day, but haven't had the chance, so sorry if it seems like i'm unearthing old news/bad vibes or whatever. I speak as someone who likes dual identities (obviously).

Bob Jefferson wrote: We have a clear policy on dual identities and we enforce it. As far as we can be sure, no-one is in breach of this policy.

I think it's time we stopped these games. We have already lost one member and we may be about to lose a second.

Marya wrote:
Dadaist wrote:
Has permission been given for multiple identities to anyone?
Other than for Stephen McIntyre/Porty for the Matters Forum, no.

Marya wrote:What is happening, however, is that some users are being put off from registering or are declining to post because of the behaviour of a number of users and this is of much more concern.

Bob, I agree with you. It is time we stopped playing games. But in the case of members who are 'abusing' the username system, and therefore playing games with their fellow members, then is it not fair that we are able to join in their game? Do you think that in the case of, say, McGachieWillCatchYe or Moi then this was fair enough? (And let's not forget Ali's merciless hounding of... Roger Twongle

).

From what you and Marya seem to be saying, you cannot as administrators/moderators be absolutely sure if people are using multiple usernames, and the systems you have in place are obviously not failsafe. Just look at... Messalina,

for example. I must say, I cringe at my own stupidity when thinking of 'her' - as I was the first person to voice the totally incorrect suspicion that she was Cleopas (Sorry Cleopas). I know you're worried that you might have lost her as a forum member as she's not posted for a couple of days, but I think she's got a very good reason for that indeed, one which is nothing to do with POL.

I enjoy this forum very much, and I think it's regrettable that you think people are being put off from posting on it, though off the top of my head, I think that we've lost 4 or 5 posters in the last 6 months or so, and I don't think that's because of the current 'games', so maybe that's a problem that needs to be addressed too.

I'm not sure if you're entirely correct in thinking people will be put off though. I remember when I was lurker - it was always much more interesting when there was a bit of argy bargy going on, and I was filled with awe and admiration for the likes of Dadaist (I still am

) and I wanted to communicate with these strange people. And I'm sure someone mentioned this recently, so forgive me for stealing your point, whoever you are, but have you noticed how the amount of guests watching goes up when something of import is occurring?

By the way - i honestly do not care if people are being 'duped' or whatever. I think it's rather good fun, and am generally filled with admiration for the dupers (even speaking as a recent dupee). Apart from McGachie, that is.

Anyway - that's all I have to say. I'm off to the pub now. You coming?

CHEERS,
NELSON (that's my real name, honest)

Oh, one other thing:

Nelson Hatstand wrote:
Izzie wrote:Who will be our next quiz master???????????

Will it be Ali or Nelson

Nelson Hatstand wrote:
teddygirl wrote:Wot you two been up to
Look on the Dear Gilo thread, TG.

I was helped in my time of need.

I've started compiling my quiz - the questions are all based on British Psychedelic Music, 1966-1969 - you know, Tinkerbell's Fairydust, Crocheted Doughnut Ring, The Cuppa T, that kind of thing. So get those old lps out.

So far I've thought of 2 questions, and I'll do the quiz on January 23rd (that's a tuesday) about 8.43am. It'll be 9 questions, approximately. Is that ok with everyone?

CHEERS,
NELSON.
Don't forget. January 23rd. About 8.43am. It's gonna be great.

It's not. It'll be rubbish. I can only think of questions like 'Who played the guitar in Dantalion's Chariot?*' Cleopas, do you know much about British Psych? Can you give us a hand?

*You'll all know him, I guarantee it.

2 edits: punctuation and stuff

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 05 Jan 2007, 22:17

Nelson Hatstand wrote:I Just look at... Messalina, .........I know you're worried that you might have lost her as a forum member as she's not posted for a couple of days, but I think she's got a very good reason for that indeed, one which is nothing to do with POL.

So by a process of deduction Messalina=Dadaist?

I seriously doubt it.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Jan 2007, 22:43

Nelson, I'm not sure I follow all this but I will do my best to respond. We do have a clear policy on dual identities and we enforce it to the best of our ability. If someone is determined to circumvent this, then they will do so.

I'm not going to discuss the 'moi?' issue again as I have said all I have to say on the subject. In any case, the examples you refer to pre-date our rule about identities.

I'm a trusting kind of guy, maybe sometimes to my cost. I don't believe that Cleopas and Messalina are the same person. Why? Because that's what they tell me.

What I do see is that people have been (unintentionally) genuinely hurt by this issue and that is very unfortunate. I want Cleopas to come back. I want Messalina to come back. I would like to believe there is room here for everyone and I take it very personally when people leave.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 05 Jan 2007, 22:50

There's no need for doubt when you consider the tools the mods have at their disposal.

They can see at a glance if two users have posted from the same machine.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Jan 2007, 22:53

That doesn't prove that they are, or are not, the same person but, for the record, Messalina and Cleopas have never posted using the same IP address, if that is what you mean.