Requiring forum members to enter an address to register

[Beverly]

On one forum where I'm registered, they required me to enter an address to gain membership. This was a Wordpress style forum. And, it's the first time I've ever seen this type of required field on a forum registration. I didn't feel very comfortable giving out the info, considering it might be published on my public profile.

In a way, I can see why they would want this information, especially if it's fora mailing list or subscription. Also, knowing a home address would cut down on spam.

Is this something you have encountered when online at forums? Or, do you require address/hometown/zip before you let someone register?

 

[Red Herring]

Well, I certainly would never require anything like that. I too can see why a blog or website would want that information, but for me, it'd be too much of an invasion on the privacy of my users. Spam or no, I will stick to virtual details for verification.

 

[Mikaya]

If they require that info, then it'd be best if you didn't give it. That's really personal (I'm sure you all agree) and I don't see why they would require it. If there's a perfectly good explanation, and you agree with it, then go ahead. I've never encountered such a thing.

 

[Ashley]

I agree with the two people who have posted so far. I would never open a site where I required people to tell me their home address in addition to their email address. As Mika has rightly said, that is an invasion of privacy. I wouldn't even trust that kind of thing for subscription reasons.

 

[buysell-browse.com]

The only time an address and phone number should be necessary is for trading and shipping of goods. Since the vast majority of forums don't deal with that, I would seriously question the need for users to supply personal information as a requirement to register. And even in those instances where an address is necessary for e-commerce transactions, I prefer willing parties to exchange personal information in private.

Naturally, if you have a brick-and-mortar business trying to attract customers to your store, you may want to publish your business address.

 

[Migi]

Address, as in real life address? That is jumping too far for a simple forum registration, in my opinion. And can be easily faked as well when people do not want to share it, or simply choose not to register at all. I do not think it is that important to send a mail, or newsletter, or to avoid spam bot. There are measures to do it online without using more sensitive details. Not a very wise choice there, I think.

 

[VirusZero]

I've never seen any forum that requires a home address. Most places has been like username, password, email, maybe a birthday (if they have a COPPA system enabled or if there is mature content present).

I wouldn't join if they required a home address.
Either that or I would lie and put in a fake address.

I don't think an address field would really stop spambots for long either. (Once they figured out what was going on and why spambots were getting stopped they'd add a section to handle addresses.)

 

[Ashley]

I've never seen any forum that requires a home address. Most places has been like username, password, email, maybe a birthday (if they have a COPPA system enabled or if there is mature content present).

I wouldn't join if they required a home address.
Either that or I would lie and put in a fake address.

I don't think an address field would really stop spambots for long either. (Once they figured out what was going on and why spambots were getting stopped they'd add a section to handle addresses.)

If I really wanted to join a site where it required a home address or phone number, I would do something along the lines of what you do, Virus Zero, something like:

Address: 000 at 0 street south (or something like that) and for phone, I'd do something like

000-000-0000

However, if a site required a real number and address, that would hinder me from joining up and I might not join at all.