I was worried that we might have to rename “Mik’s Challenge.” (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Here is my issue. Some of us might have jobs, for example Law Enforcement, Military or someone on a protection order (last might be rare). Having your real name, will let people search your name, bringing them to this forum. By reading post, can disclose info for example where the person lives or just more about that persons life etc. I think Bob should take that into consideration if someone emails him with a reason like that. Maybe not a goofy name but a name. I use my real name now but sometimes I wonder if its a good idea. I will not put down my location.
" Rooster " said:
Since it seems we are now having and open discussion on this I would like to ask some things and I would like to add some of my own thoughts.
For starters I don’t really understand how doing away with nicknames fixes the problem with the “Boo Hoo Me’s” that were blowing up your e-mail and caused you to give us all a time out. Are you only doing this to please a few “Boo Hoo Me’s” ?I can totally understand why someone would want to use a nickname. (Not because I do and I will get to that in a bit). Perhaps some that use nicknames are say law enforcement officials or such where with a quick google search you can find out info on them simply because they want to share a hobby on a forum but are required to use their real name and location.
For me and perhaps this reason will hold water with Greg? I MUST use a nickname on a car repair forum. WHY you ask … because my real name is attached to my business name. I have done numerous write ups and how to’s on that forum to help the forum and the hobbyist. Now a few of those "how-to’s " are rather involved (for instance) like disconnecting and removing airbags and reconnecting and installing them in order to do the repair .
Yes there is/ are numerous disclaimers on the site and on my write ups . However I still don’t want my name/ business affiliated in any way to that site . The first idiot that doesn’t read and follow the instructions correctly by starting with step 1… DISCONNECT THE BATTERY could blow that bag in their face. Then they search me out and try an sue my business because they were an idiot to begin with. Is that a valid point?As for my nickname? When I joined LSC I used my real name for the longest time. I was then GIVEN a NICKNAME by the folks here on LSC. When I would post most would respond to me as Rooster not my real name. I go to the ECLSTS and not a single person in the alcove calls me by my real name it’s always Rooster. I walk down the halls at York during the show and I hear “HEY ROOSTER”.
I spend a good bit of time in LSC chat and at one point we had 3 or 4 Daves chatting at one time. Another chatter whined about all the Daves and said we should have Dave and David and Dave 1 and Dave 2. I decided to just change to Rooster and eliminate the problem. That didn’t fair well with the one chatter but that same chatter will answer and respond to NUMEROUS nicknames in chat and has on the forums as well.
I will continue to support LSC and will offer more support since Bob stated that the forums are no longer self supporting. However I see no real benefit in changing my Nickname back to my real name other than it’s possibly satisfying a complaint from back channeling. If I can’t log in then so be it but I will continue with sponsorship if I’m allowed. I just don’t think you are ever going to make some folks happy and there will always be complaints but the complainers are probably not the supporters either?
BTW I have welcomed and responded to many of the new posters and perhaps I missed some but from the return response I get back from them with my LSC given nickname doesn’t seem to bother them.
Perhaps Bob you can shine some light on how this will fix the “boo hoo me” posters or the problems.So there is your answer Pete as to “what is the Rooster going to call ITSELF”
Could someone please correct my spelling and punctuation since this is also important on a Train Modeling Forum for the hobbyist and is supposed to be fun.
I think Rooster nailed it and agree with him. I use my real name but will it backfire on me someday? who knows. Time will tell. If it ever comes to that you bet Ill start using a nickname.
I was shown a train photo I had posted years ago on another site at a job interview. It wasn’t anything incriminating, of course, but the guy made his point.
Yes, and the point should be made that if you put something on the internet, regardless of how much effort you put in to hiding your identity behind pseudonyms, a determined person will find you out. If it is on the internet, ANYWHERE, it is public information.
However, Rocky, I would have to ask my self…“Do I want to work for this guy who has his nose that deep in my personal life?”
FWIW
Shawn Viggiano said:
Here is my issue. Some of us might have jobs, for example Law Enforcement, Military or someone on a protection order (last might be rare). Having your real name, will let people search your name, bringing them to this forum. By reading post, can disclose info for example where the person lives or just more about that persons life etc. I think Bob should take that into consideration if someone emails him with a reason like that. Maybe not a goofy name but a name. I use my real name now but sometimes I wonder if its a good idea. I will not put down my location.
Shawn, I would have to ask the question, “if their security is so important, why jeopardize that security by doing ANYTHING that would jeopardize it?” I have that issue with Facebook. It is against my company’s policy to participate in Facebook. It is plainly considered a security risk. And considering that military folks have been dishonorably discharged and court marshaled for posts, I can see why. Your personal security is in your hands, not the hands of good folks like Bob who provide us a place to share information. What information you share is your responsibility, not Bob’s.
FWIW
Bob Cope said:
Yes, and the point should be made that if you put something on the internet, regardless of how much effort you put in to hiding your identity behind pseudonyms, a determined person will find you out. If it is on the internet, ANYWHERE, it is public information.
However, Rocky, I would have to ask my self…“Do I want to work for this guy who has his nose that deep in my personal life?”
FWIW
That is true but Id rather have them work hard to get the info then advertise it with one click of a key, especially for someone with little computer knowledge.
Bob Cope said:
Shawn Viggiano said:
Here is my issue. Some of us might have jobs, for example Law Enforcement, Military or someone on a protection order (last might be rare). Having your real name, will let people search your name, bringing them to this forum. By reading post, can disclose info for example where the person lives or just more about that persons life etc. I think Bob should take that into consideration if someone emails him with a reason like that. Maybe not a goofy name but a name. I use my real name now but sometimes I wonder if its a good idea. I will not put down my location.
Shawn, I would have to ask the question, “if their security is so important, why jeopardize that security by doing ANYTHING that would jeopardize it?” I have that issue with Facebook. It is against my company’s policy to participate in Facebook. It is plainly considered a security risk. And considering that military folks have been dishonorably discharged and court marshaled for posts, I can see why. Your personal security is in your hands, not the hands of good folks like Bob who provide us a place to share information. What information you share is your responsibility, not Bob’s.
Bob I am careful at what I post thats not my issue but what you don’t understand is in certain jobs like LE you don’t want your name and location on public things like forums. Its not because of the employer but because of criminals we deal with. Unless your in LE you will not understand so no point in explaining why… Rooster gets it. Yes with research things can be found but again why make it easy. Id rather them work hard. You said my personal security is in my hands, that’s right it is. That’s why I choose not to use my location and in most forums I don’t use my real name.
Also…a big thanks to Bob (BD) and all of you who helped to arrive at this fair compromise on names. I respect Bob’s rules and I respect the membership. I never have any reason to complain…it’s a hobby forum.
Shawn, I do get it. I fully understand the whole security issue. I go through Security Training, Cyber Security Training, Ethics Training, twice a year. Trust me I get it.
I also get that Bob made a rule and there has been nothing but whining from a certain few to make exceptions. One of those whiners has nothing to do with personal security, it has to do with financial liability, and they are two different topics. My issue is, and has been, it’s Bob’s site, Bob’s living room, and Bob’s rules. As far as I am concerned that statement stands for itself. If you don’t like the rules, go elsewhere to Facebook and see if their security stands up to muster. and see if it is any better. That said, I am glad that Bob found a viable solution.
Steve Featherkile said:
I was worried that we might have to rename “Mik’s Challenge.” (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
That’s hilarious. Actually Mik wasn’t Mik, he was Mik Just Mik, and he wasn’t that either, not that I ever understood what Mik meant, he was Allen Bupp, and a lot of people spelled it Alan, and he wasn’t that either, either one (!) because his real first name was Harry! So…I vote for Harry’s Challenge!
Well, while it is true that posting something here with your real name is additional information on you on the net, if many of you would google yourselves, you would find that the information on the net you don’t want public is ALREADY THERE and not from LSC.
Shawn, your work on the Appalachian Trail puts you all over the internet. Your train club’s newsletters don’t help. There’s other stuff but I don’t want to make you more upset than you are.
Bottom line, LSC is not the place your really personal information will be exposed/harvested. It’s things like using a credit card at home depot, and other things that give your address… all that people will get from here is that you like trains, along with the rest of us crazies.
Greg
“Mik” was originally used as a slang term for someone of Irish or Scottish heritage. Until the mid 20th century it was considered offensively derogatory. Of late it has fallen out of use in that respect and is often adopted as a nick name by people of Gaelic heritage. I do not know if Allen considered himself to be a descendant of the Emerald Isle but the surname Bupp is Germanic in origin. Maybe he just liked how it sounded and if his tag line “Mik, Just Mik” is any indication he certainly preferred it.
If you ever had the opportunity to talk to Mik you know that he was as close to a Mad Scientist / Crazy Inventor as anyone could be on LSC. He was the original napkin builder and readily resorted to his two favorite tools; dull scissors and a sledge hammer. He is also well known for his admonition in all things railroady, “Have Fun”.
“Mik” is “Kim” spelled backwards. Kim was Mik, Mik just Mik, Allen, Alan, Harry’s girlfriend’s name.
Mystery solved.
Your welcome.
-Kevin.
(Kevin just Kevin- my real first name)
Bob Cope said:
Shawn, I do get it. I fully understand the whole security issue. I go through Security Training, Cyber Security Training, Ethics Training, twice a year. Trust me I get it.
I also get that Bob made a rule and there has been nothing but whining from a certain few to make exceptions. One of those whiners has nothing to do with personal security, it has to do with financial liability, and they are two different topics. My issue is, and has been, it’s Bob’s site, Bob’s living room, and Bob’s rules. As far as I am concerned that statement stands for itself. If you don’t like the rules, go elsewhere to Facebook and see if their security stands up to muster. and see if it is any better. That said, I am glad that Bob found a viable solution.
Haha wow Bob I love how you cross out elsewhere and put FB. Wonder where that came from… I almost feel like your being passive aggressive. Did you think that up all by yourself. That was good. If I remember that someone, cough cough Rooster never said he uses a nickname for personal securities. Maybe if you were around long you would know the real reason, But you know it all, so why bother. That whiner knows how to add spice to whats suppose to be a fun hobby. Did it ever occur to you that you might be part of the problem, part of the reason why this place got toxic. Im guessing after this post Bob will kick me out. If that’s the case Ill be going elsewhere (notice I didn’t cross it out) or should I say Facebook because if someone gets into my FB account they might take my fake DOB and address. Its no more a security risk then google, forums etc…
Greg Elmassian said:
Well, while it is true that posting something here with your real name is additional information on you on the net, if many of you would google yourselves, you would find that the information on the net you don’t want public is ALREADY THERE and not from LSC.
Shawn, your work on the Appalachian Trail puts you all over the internet. Your train club’s newsletters don’t help. There’s other stuff but I don’t want to make you more upset than you are.
Bottom line, LSC is not the place your really personal information will be exposed/harvested. It’s things like using a credit card at home depot, and other things that give your address… all that people will get from here is that you like trains, along with the rest of us crazies.
Greg
Not sure why you think I’m upset. I’m actually amused by all this. As you can see this is a hobby, something I enjoy doing on my free time. I don’t stress out over what people say or think, maybe more like adding fuel to the fire. That might be a better way to phrase it haha. I deal with a lot worse at work. Getting upset over a forum hahaha that’s actually funny that you think that.
I use my real name so its no surprise what I do and that I am all over the internet. Its sad that a train forum had to go this route. Because of a few cry babies and people who think they know it all but will never admit to that. We cant even use a nickname to have fun or for some that don’t want their name out there. I was just speaking in general not me per say. Like people said its Bob place and he can do what he wants. Its sad that he had to make that decision because of a few people.
Well Shawn, what’s wrong with putting Pocono Mt, New Jersey as your address? That’s what the web “thinks”. No harm no foul.
I put my city, and if the bad guys can use that to find my house, more power to them.
And you can now put “Shawn V” as your displayed name, which is even more secure than you have now.
Just suggestions to promote the infinite harmony of the site, clearly no one wants you to leave because of your address.
Greg
dieseldude . said:
“Mik” is “Kim” spelled backwards. Kim was Mik, Mik just Mik, Allen, Alan, Harry’s girlfriend’s name. Mystery solved. Your welcome. -Kevin. (Kevin just Kevin- my real first name)
Kevin with the slam dunk…Hah! I never new that.
dieseldude . said:
“Mik” is “Kim” spelled backwards. Kim was Mik, Mik just Mik, Allen, Alan, Harry’s girlfriend’s name. Mystery solved. Your welcome. -Kevin. (Kevin just Kevin- my real first name)
He had a hard divorce and Kim saved him from despair, (as I understood it) and mik was a way to never forget. And now we complete his will.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)
Bob Cope said:
Yes, and the point should be made that if you put something on the internet, regardless of how much effort you put in to hiding your identity behind pseudonyms, a determined person will find you out. If it is on the internet, ANYWHERE, it is public information.
However, Rocky, I would have to ask my self…“Do I want to work for this guy who has his nose that deep in my personal life?”
FWIW
The fact you opened with is the primary reason I went back to my real name. I had been using it for years with no fears UNTIL my wife had an auto accident and we were sued. I was worried that a search of my name would turn up all these train threads and photos giving the impression that we are rolling in dough, which is about as far from reality as it gets. In my 17 years in LS I’ve owned hundreds on locomotives and cars, but most of those were sold as my focus in the hobby evolved. Looking back through photos you don’t get that impression, rather one that I have a boat load of train stuff.
As it turned out the law suit was settled out of court and our insurance covered all of it so the damaged party never had the need to look into my affairs, although they probably did anyway. Once the dust settled I decided it made no sense to be on Facebook with my real identity and use an alias here.
@Bob - Your revised name rule makes great sense. No reason anyone should refuse to give you their identity in confidence. Are you going to call Goodson and let him know? It was good to see him posting updates on his RR again.