Private Messages, or are they?

I talked to Brandon about this and he is fully aware, as are a good portion of the viewers, but I noticed one day when I accidently clicked the "Who's Online" link, I saw on the list that a user was "Sending a Private Message to user <insert username>" also Ive noticed that when you read private messages it says who you are reading it from. The way it was set up in VB2 it just said "Sending (or reading) private message." Talking to people about it they have mixed feelings about that. Some think it is a problem, others do not.


So (this is where you come in):

Is this a problem?

[Madison]

I noticed this, too, but didn't have any opportunity to corroborate it.

I don't like it.

[KyleGilbert45]

I voted that this was a problem, because obviously it's not so private if it tells the name.

[MissInformation]

It also shows up on the users profile screen in the last activity today area. I can certainly see where it would be a problem for some, and if the "invisible" option were not available, (and if I actually used the private messaging option more than I do) I probably wouldn't like it too much. Oh, and your latest action does show up on your profile as long as you are on-line even if you are in the invisible mode. Without going into reasons why (nothing to do with paranoid schizoid loony-toon delusions) I have to say I like the invisible mode, I just feel more comfortable with it, which makes me think that some people will feel more comfortable with private staying completely private.

Heidi

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and I laughed when I saw that you can now see exactly who's profile is being viewed rather than just "viewing member's profile"...

[Brandon Martus]

I said I would do some investigating, and found that I can turn down the level of information displayed. Someone remind me in a few days via AIM about this poll, and I'll change (or not change) the settings accordingly.

[KenWittlief]

correct me if im wrong, but I seem to remember seeing somewhere that the CD monitors can (do?) monitor PMs ?

I think in general, you should never send a PM or email to anyone that you would not want to be made public. In most companies, any email you send and any web surfing you do can be monitored and read by your supervisors

PMs should be used for conversations that you think will only be of interest to the other person (to avoid cluttering up the forum or pulling a thread off topic) - NOT for things you need to communicate in secret.

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

correct me if im wrong, but I seem to remember seeing somewhere that the CD monitors can (do?) monitor PMs ?

I think in general, you should never send a PM or email to anyone that you would not want to be made public. In most companies, any email you send and any web surfing you do can be monitored and read by your supervisors

PMs should be used for conversations that you think will only be of interest to the other person (to avoid cluttering up the forum or pulling a thread off topic) - NOT for things you need to communicate in secret.

I agree with you to an extent. Certain Moderators and The Adminisrators...yes I think they should be able to see, but the general public? I think not. I really don't see a reason why they should or need to know.

[Jeff Waegelin]

I don't see it as much of a problem, personally. It doesn't matter to me if someone knows I'm sending a PM to someone, and I really don't mind too much if they know who it's going to. However, I know that some people prefer privacy. So, while I personally do not mind, I think for the sake of the user base as a whole, this feature should be changed to show less data.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Jeff Waegelin

I don't see it as much of a problem, personally. It doesn't matter to me if someone knows I'm sending a PM to someone, and I really don't mind too much if they know who it's going to. However, I know that some people prefer privacy. So, while I personally do not mind, I think for the sake of the user base as a whole, this feature should be changed to show less data.

I agree, I mean who cares if someone knows WHO I sent a PM to? You can't see what the content of the PM is now can you? Like it has been stated before everytime you surf the web, or even send a PM, it is vulnerable (maybe not the best word to use) to other users to see what it is you are looking at or sending.

Not everyone can see this more than likely, but it still does have the chance of a moderator, or a savvy hacker seeing your info.

Bottom line - The internet is not "secure" in all places so beware of what you view, or in this case post, or PM someone.