Ken Brunt said:
Well, maybe Bob would just like to know who is visitors are…and it’s just plain common courtesy…
Unlike Batman, my identity is not very secret. And my spam filter is full enough.
Well, so much for common courtesy, heh?..
Ken, Sorry, just not buying the “common courtesy” bit. “Mik” has served everybody just fine for nearly 12 years on 9 different boards. If you politely ask for my real name, and I think it’s any of your business, I’ll tell you. Vic knows it, so does Greg, Tony, Aaron. Dave T, Ralph, Shawn, Doug, Travis, Del, Stan Cedarleaf, AND I’m pretty sure Bob. (plus Mikey, JJ, and at least a dozen others on the other board)
Having TWICE now been victim of a vindictive webmaster publishing my full name, address, phone number AND THOSE OF MY MINOR CHILDREN, I really prefer the relative privacy of my nickname. So I’m “MIKKY MAWSE” as far as the forums are concerned.
Besides, I COULD always have used a “real sounding” fake name, (oh, something like “Ken Brunt” for instance), and who’d be the wiser?
But I thank you for your concerns.
Personally, I eat the contents of the can, not the name on the label, but YMMV If my contributions to this forum aren’t welcome because you don’t like the name I use, then I CAN always find another forum. (Except THAT would probably make you and your buddy entirely TOO happy. I’m actively trying to promote the hobby, AND this forum - What about you?)
…winking…
Joe Zullo said:
If you are meaning the Railroad History, it’s there on the Home page in the lower right. Here is a link to it…
He might be referring to the Railnews.net feed I had on the front page.
I havent quite figured out the right way to package this for the new site, but its on the list.
**Mik just Mik said:**If my contributions to this forum aren’t welcome because you don’t like the name I use, then I CAN always find another forum.
(http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/funny-birds-photoshopped-arms-12.jpg)?w=500&h=375
I have never gotten into a debate over real names vs alias’s but IMHO if a website/forum you want to join and you are not comfortable providing your real WHOLE name then maybe you should not join. I lurked here for a few weeks and was more than confident to provide my FULL name and location. Our Host makes us feel welcome and provides a SAFE place for us to hang out. Only my 2 cents.
Hey Bob,
What happened to the city, state, and country information that was listed under our name and profile picture. I really like knowing where everyone was located. Can that feature be added back in?
Chuck
Chuck Inlow said:
Hey Bob,
What happened to the city, state, and country information that was listed under our name and profile picture. I really like knowing where everyone was located. Can that feature be added back in?
Chuck
Thanks Chuck. I’d been meaning to mention that but keep forgetting.
Randy McDonald said:
I have never gotten into a debate over real names vs alias’s but IMHO if a website/forum you want to join and you are not comfortable providing your real WHOLE name then maybe you should not join.
Really now…
We have a bunch of members who don’t use their full name or real name. Narrow Gauge Lover, Diesel Dude, Korm and a host of others. Most of them I know their real name.
I’m glad they’re here and maybe it’s about time we stop beating a dead horse and quit giving them crap about it
Ralph
I have enough problems just trying to remember my name, much less anyone else’s…
Ralph Berg said:
Really now…
We have a bunch of members who don’t use their full name or real name. Narrow Gauge Lover, Diesel Dude, Korm and a host of others. Most of them I know their real name.
Very true, and I have no problem with that but I don’t recall any of them whining about having to provide a last name either. Or making some claim to a status of “victim” as an explanation for not providing one.
Chuck Inlow said:
Hey Bob,
What happened to the city, state, and country information that was listed under our name and profile picture. I really like knowing where everyone was located. Can that feature be added back in?
Chuck
Added. Another thing that slipped through the cracks. Thanks!
Ken Brunt said:
Very true, and I have no problem with that but I don’t recall any of them whining about having to provide a last name either. Or making some claim to a status of “victim” as an explanation for not providing one.
Mik just Mik said:
Why does the board now require a last name? I’ve been just ‘Mik’ forever
I’d say you’re being just a bit critical…in this particular case.
He simply asked a question.
Some people just rub us the wrong way.
It’s not intentional, but it happens to us all
But anyway, looking forward to seeing you in Roanoke 
It’s going to be a blast
Ralph
Yea, Me too…
Ken Brunt said:****:
I don’t recall any of them whining about having to provide a last name either. Or making some claim to a status of “victim” as an explanation for not providing one.
Dear Mr Brunt. I don’t recall having ever done ANYTHING to you. I don’t recall ever questioning your veracity. I don’t recall criticizing your posts, projects, or what you “need”. I also don’t even recall asking for YOUR opinion on MY life.
You, sir, are over the line for the 3rd time in as many weeks. I am asking nicely that you and your friend please refrain from your unnecessary and unwanted criticism of me for the good of the board. If only because Bob doesn’t need this kind of shit.
Ralph is right. ALL I asked about is a very noticeable change of the profile requirements that DID NOT SHOW UP AT ALL until I tried to update my profile. YOU created the “problem”, one that DID NOT EXIST until then, by behaving like a boor.
Ralph also assures me that you are a “nice guy” - May I humbly suggest actually behaving like one? I’ve tried to be polite, and simply answer your “questions” with the plain truth. If the truth is not sufficient or acceptable to you, I suggest you simply not read ANYTHING I post from now on, nor respond to it. - I am giving notice, you and Mr Marconi WILL be ignored for the good of this board. - One that YOU do not own - just like I would bratty obnoxious children, Unless the TWO of YOU choose to start acting as civil adults.
Thank you.
And, we’re done here. Take it to email.
In response to “Why do we need a full name?” Its all a matter of security and spam protection. The biggest headache I have, and the reason why I upgraded site software, is people making bogus accounts and either spamming the site with crap, emailing users, posting SEO hacking links, etc. Its still not 100% secure, but I now manually activate all new user accounts. I delete somewhere around 50 bogus accounts a day (17 so far today, and its not even lunchtime). Its pretty easy to spot fake accounts.
That being said, a few people (and very few), like Mik, have gotten a pass on the whole name thing because we actually know who they are. BUT, if someone signs up with the name “ed”, there’s no way for me to tell WHO that is. A full name, at least, gives me one piece of information to help determine if the account is a valid one or not.
So, the software needs reasonable information for account profiles. I apologize if this has rustled people’s jimmies, but we cant have it both ways, I need the site to be secure. The whole nature of the web is constantly changing for those of us that run sites, and we have to do what we can to help keep the problems away. Just because things have been a certain way in the past, does not mean its the correct way to proceed into the future.
Thank you for the explanation, Bob. That’s all I wanted to know. And I’m sorry it turned into… all this.
Joe Zullo said:
If you are meaning the Railroad History, it’s there on the Home page in the lower right. Here is a link to it…
No, the history section was always there, too. What I am talking about is a news feed for what is happening, today, in railroading. We used to have it.
Just in case you missed it in all the noise…
Bob McCown said:
Joe Zullo said:
If you are meaning the Railroad History, it’s there on the Home page in the lower right. Here is a link to it…
He might be referring to the Railnews.net feed I had on the front page.
I havent quite figured out the right way to package this for the new site, but its on the list.