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mrerick · 03-18-2012, 10:59 AM

Hi,

Adding friends on this site isn't the same as adding them on the social media sites.

This is a Bulletin Board. It is the first generation of Internet web technology for helping groups of people come together. In some ways it is similar to systems we had prior to the widespread acceptance of the Internet back in 1993.

I am not an admin here, but have some background. The facilities and controls of the "vBulletin" BBS are straightforward and controlled through an access heirarchy. Non-Members - Members - Admins etc... Generally things that are posted can be seen by everyone that is authorized at a group or forum level. Email addresses can be made visible, or kept private and may be made only accessible by the admins. The admins have some abilities that are needed to properly manage use and misuse of the site (for example, they can research the actual IP address that sessions originate from).

If you use care in what you post here, you're not exposing yourself or giving up your privacy without knowing exactly what you're doing.

That is all different on the "Facebook" "Twitter" and Google implemented social media sites. They are more powerful, but with great power comes great risk.

They also are collectively the greatest invasion of privacy in human history - and all operating because masses of individuals are willing to trade privacy for a sense of community. That, of course, isn't necessary - but it's a potent attractive nuisance.

I have a Facebook page that I only use "defensively". I post absolutely nothing of a personal nature on it. I created the presence because someone where I work was opening up Facebook accounts in other employee's names, and then using them to imply all sorts of things.

Imagine the high school student posting plans of the family vacation at the end of the month. The student's "friends" and their "friends" lead to some members of the social circle that are "into drugs". By constantly reviewing the postings, it's easy to locate vacant houses and schedule burglaries.

The recent Laptop Shooting seen on YouTube happened because a father created an account for the family dog, then had the dog befriend his daughter's Facebook friends. He then gained access to what his daughter was saying about the family... That video is up to 32 million viewings, and is now attached to commercial advertisements.

Privacy invasion can take place at large scale commercial levels through a variety of means. Both legitimate and illegitimate. To me, the social media are just not a good "value", so I stay away from them.

I like what we've got here just fine! Thanks Admins and supporters...

Marc

03-18-2012, 10:59 AM	#11
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Hi, Adding friends on this site isn't the same as adding them on the social media sites. This is a Bulletin Board. It is the first generation of Internet web technology for helping groups of people come together. In some ways it is similar to systems we had prior to the widespread acceptance of the Internet back in 1993. I am not an admin here, but have some background. The facilities and controls of the "vBulletin" BBS are straightforward and controlled through an access heirarchy. Non-Members - Members - Admins etc... Generally things that are posted can be seen by everyone that is authorized at a group or forum level. Email addresses can be made visible, or kept private and may be made only accessible by the admins. The admins have some abilities that are needed to properly manage use and misuse of the site (for example, they can research the actual IP address that sessions originate from). If you use care in what you post here, you're not exposing yourself or giving up your privacy without knowing exactly what you're doing. That is all different on the "Facebook" "Twitter" and Google implemented social media sites. They are more powerful, but with great power comes great risk. They also are collectively the greatest invasion of privacy in human history - and all operating because masses of individuals are willing to trade privacy for a sense of community. That, of course, isn't necessary - but it's a potent attractive nuisance. I have a Facebook page that I only use "defensively". I post absolutely nothing of a personal nature on it. I created the presence because someone where I work was opening up Facebook accounts in other employee's names, and then using them to imply all sorts of things. Imagine the high school student posting plans of the family vacation at the end of the month. The student's "friends" and their "friends" lead to some members of the social circle that are "into drugs". By constantly reviewing the postings, it's easy to locate vacant houses and schedule burglaries. The recent Laptop Shooting seen on YouTube happened because a father created an account for the family dog, then had the dog befriend his daughter's Facebook friends. He then gained access to what his daughter was saying about the family... That video is up to 32 million viewings, and is now attached to commercial advertisements. Privacy invasion can take place at large scale commercial levels through a variety of means. Both legitimate and illegitimate. To me, the social media are just not a good "value", so I stay away from them. I like what we've got here just fine! Thanks Admins and supporters... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.