Hidden

[Nebulous]

Why do people browse as hidden on a forum? As soon as they post everyone knows that they are the member who is listed as "1 hidden" on the index (for example). Then they arent really hidden after all. 😛
Whats the point of doing it?

I used to do it on my forum (as the admin) sometimes because I could check on the staff area and the forum as a whole without being bombarded with PM's by people seeing me online, and felt like asking a question or something.

 

[hcfwesker]

That's the only reason I actually feel when the "hidden" feature is necessary.

Some members just like that "mysterious" whatever feeling. Like, people on the forum are actually saying, "who was that masked member?" when he/she's online 😛

 

[Nebulous]

Some members just like that "mysterious" whatever feeling.

:lol: yeah you are probably right.

 

[wednesday]

I go hidden because I like to be secretive..i have a secret agenda.

Of course if it was a problem i would change...but why put the feature there if it wasnt to be used?

 

[AnAccount]

I never browse hidden on Marie 1988. I did it on FA once when it was still open, but it was stupid because I wound up posting around anyway, and people eventually found out what I was doing. I wouldn't recommend browsing hidden on any forum other than what HCF and Theezy have both said.

 

[wednesday]

I dont really get what the problem is???
Like you say..as soon as you post your seen...and staff know your online anyway.
"Found out what you where doing??" Yer i have a private agenda....its creeping up on people when there not looking.
Dear lord...

 

[CyberFreak]

I don't really understand the fuss. I am sometime hidden so i don't get bothered by users. I still post and alot of people look at the online list and forget that they saw a post from you. Some people do it so people can't see what they are looking at. Anyone can look at the who's online page and see what other people are doing. You can work out who is PM'ing who from that list if you watch it long enough. You can see where people are viewing or where they are posting. You can see what moderators are up to and what admins are up to and if they are in the mcp or the acp. It can be a privacy thing if people don't want users to freely track what they are doing. That is the main reason for this feature so people can choose not to have most of the community being able to watch all their actions.

 

[fantanoice]

You can use it to hide your IP address from hackers and such. You can also use it to simply snoop around the forums without people knowing you're there (until you post, that is).

 

[wednesday]

I don't like people looking at what i may be reading..especially cuz im so popular and have all these stalkers n stuff ...

 

[AnAccount]

I don't really understand the fuss. I am sometime hidden so i don't get bothered by users. I still post and alot of people look at the online list and forget that they saw a post from you. Some people do it so people can't see what they are looking at. Anyone can look at the who's online page and see what other people are doing. You can work out who is PM'ing who from that list if you watch it long enough. You can see where people are viewing or where they are posting. You can see what moderators are up to and what admins are up to and if they are in the mcp or the acp. It can be a privacy thing if people don't want users to freely track what they are doing. That is the main reason for this feature so people can choose not to have most of the community being able to watch all their actions.

The only thing I like about posting hidden as a staff member, is that only your fellow staff members know you are hidden. No one else, so that's kind of nice. Although, like you said, unless you start going post-crazy, then it becomes obvious that you are online.

 

[CyberFreak]

You can use it to hide your IP address from hackers and such. You can also use it to simply snoop around the forums without people knowing you're there (until you post, that is).

How would you go about using it to hide your IP from hackers?

Regular users wouldn't be able to get your IP and the only people it shows to are admins and they can see your IP whether you are hidden or not.

 

[RMRM]

On forumotion you are not really hidden it's easy to see who is online by going to their profiles and it will say "Use is online" :lol:

 

[fantanoice]

You can use it to hide your IP address from hackers and such. You can also use it to simply snoop around the forums without people knowing you're there (until you post, that is).

How would you go about using it to hide your IP from hackers?

Regular users wouldn't be able to get your IP and the only people it shows to are admins and they can see your IP whether you are hidden or not.

Well, it's something I read somewhere, which was a fair few years ago. I probably misquoted or they're wrong... I dunno.

I think some forums actually publically display people's IP's, whether you're staff or not. Being hidden can stop that.

 

[Nebulous]

I think some forums actually publically display people's IP's, whether you're staff or not. Being hidden can stop that.

Ive seen it, not recently.. I dont remember what software though. BUT the IP address you had at the time you made the post is plastered on the bottom for all to see. It doesnt matter if you are hidden or not.

However, all modern day forums do not publish your IP address for regular members to see.

 

[Red Herring]

He he. Back on this board I staffed I had to do that quite often to avoid being bombarded by PM's as well. It was pretty useful at that, and I tried my best to NOT post when I was hidden.

 

[fantanoice]

I think some forums actually publically display people's IP's, whether you're staff or not. Being hidden can stop that.

Ive seen it, not recently.. I dont remember what software though. BUT the IP address you had at the time you made the post is plastered on the bottom for all to see. It doesnt matter if you are hidden or not.

However, all modern day forums do not publish your IP address for regular members to see.

I think Forumer IPB may have done it, along with possibly an older version of IF. Don't quote me on that, though.

But yes, I haven't seen it in recent times either.

 

[Cloverfield]

I've never agreed with an Admin using that function...or a mod for that matter. The Admin is THERE to have questions asked and to help the members out. I would never allow my staff to go 'invisable' and one did at one point until I turned of the feature. As for members, well that's their choice. They can if they really want to but what really is the point :lol: