CPAPtalk.com

SleepyEyes21,

If you don't mind my doing so, I would like to suggest that you just may have missed the larger point.

The norm of 'don't feed trolls or engage bullies' is not unique to this forum. (And, hey, I violate that norm on a regular basis, myself, since I generally don't mind personal attacks being directed at me and, for personal reasons, even pride myself in learning to try to respond to attackers with helpful, useful info whenever possible.) But if you read the OP carefully, she is actually suggesting a slight modification of that norm to 'IF you choose to engage them, please do so in a location away from the helpful thread.' (My words, not hers.) She is therefore not dictating others' behavior so much as she is making a kind appeal regarding location and informing the board of her future response--linking to this thread--which will be her exemplary way of moving HER response to the disrupter out of that thread. (BRILLIANT, in my view!) I see that as exceedingly kind and not judgmental in the least. To my ears/eyes, it is not so much an expression of disdain for the trolls/bullies/wounded-creatures-lashing-out-at-the-world, or those responding to them, as it is an expression of how much she cares about the people she is trying to help in constructive threads. So I see it as a kindness on our part not to get in her way when our social agenda differs from her CPAP help in a particular thread. And personally I will consider it a kindness on her part if she ever links me to this thread if I'm ever, perhaps inadvertently, disrupting some good she is trying to do in another thread. I'll just move my tomfoolery, or troll-response-experiment, to this thread and out of that one. I will consider her link to be just as kind and as considerate as when she suggests to newbies jumping into a thread that they start their own thread in order to get more nuanced and specifically customized help--it is best for the newbie AND best for the thread. A win-win response to/for all.

-jeff

Lucyhere wrote:Robysue and/or Pugsy...

Why isn't it okay for someone to post as Guest, Guest3, Guest*, Guest10, anonymous, etc.

I never claimed that it's not ok to post as Guest---i.e. anonymously while not being logged in as registered forum member.

Indeed, the Guest logins are part of Johnny's Rules. My understanding is that Johnny wants a newbie in trouble to be able to post even if he/she is computer illiterate enough to not understand the registration process. And I happen to agree with that decision and I've stated my agreement with that decision a number of times over the years in plenty of threads with the theme, "Why can't the forum have better moderation?", albeit I don't think I've made my position clear on Guest logins on THIS thread yet. But to make it very clear: I agree with Johnny's decision to allow Guest (anonymous) logins from people who are NOT logged in a registered users. There are plenty of 50+ year olds who know little or nothing about computers and the internet, but these people often need help too.

And I have responded to Guest/unregistered user logins in the past when the person posting is looking for help with CPAP problems. And I will continue to respond to Guest/unregistered user logins in the future when the person posting is looking for help with CPAP problems.

That said: SOME people who post anonymously do post inflammatory posts that are clearly designed to stir up a tempest in a teapot. Me? I do my best not to take the bait and I just ignore them. Unless the Guest/anonymous poster posts something that is clearly inaccurate or highly misleading. For example over the years I have responded to a number of Guest/anonymous posters who have started out by posting that OSA diagnoses are a scam or that CPAP is a scam.

Then there's the problem of the (names) that appear under a Guest "nonlogin". They're supposed to help a newbie who hasn't managed to correctly register or login identify themselves to the forum. But the software that adds the (name) to the Guest post is not robust: It appears to be using IP address to identify the poster. And the problem is that nobody has a fixed IP anymore. Your internet provider provides you with a temporary IP address and they will switch that IP around. And your old IP winds up being assigned to somebody new.

Does Guest immediately suggest a person who is here with malicious intent? Do you know if there has ever been a 'Guest' who needed some questions answered and asked/replied in a civil manner?

Guest by itself does not immediately suggest a person who is here with malicious intent.

Guest + a malicious post DOES suggest that that particular Guest poster IS here with a malicious intent.

99 wrote:

wm_hess wrote:Guest, on the other hand can't be ignored or foe'd. Even if I wanted to ignore them, I can't.

Certainly the must be a place you can go where their rules will protect you from such a stressful life?
Like Pugsy said:

Pugsy wrote:Remember Johnny gets to decide...not any of you.

The Guest logins are part of Johnny's Rules. Johnny wants a newbie in trouble to be able to post even if he/she is computer illiterate enough to not understand the registration process.

I guess you fall into this category....

Pap-Daddy
Also Posted As:
(Ruinednose)

Guest
Also Posted As:
(Ruinednose)

Guesty
Also Posted As:
(Ruinednose)

Guest
Also Posted As:
(Ruinednose)

LSAT wrote:The Guest logins are part of Johnny's Rules. Johnny wants a newbie in trouble to be able to post even if he/she is computer illiterate enough to not understand the registration process.

I guess you fall into this category....

And you fall into the lonely wannabe category.

99 wrote:Certainly the must be a place you can go where their rules will protect you from such a stressful life?
Like Pugsy said:

Pugsy wrote:
Remember Johnny gets to decide...not any of you.

wm_hess wrote:

noise wrote: Why isn't it okay for someone to post as Guest, Guest3, Guest*, Guest10, anonymous, etc. I understand that when someone registers, adds machine name, mask, pressure needs, etc., it possibly makes it easier to talk about cpap related stuff. But, if someone doesn't choose to register, I don't get why that's such a problem. Lots of us use funny/strange names. What's the difference? Apparently the Goodmans must think it's okay or it wouldn't be allowed.

If I were to click on your name, I could either add you as a friend or foe. I'm not sure what 'benefits' a friend has, but a foe's posts would not be shown to me. It would tell me you had posted, but wouldn't show what you posted. It would give me an opportunity to view your post if I wanted to but would help with the blood pressure by not automatically showing me someone's posting that I didn't want to see.

Guest, on the other hand can't be ignored or foe'd. Even if I wanted to ignore them, I can't.

add into that, if "wm_hess" or "pugsy" or "chunkyfrog" posts something, there's a pretty good chance it's the same person each time behind that name, they build up a personality, a presence, someone you can relate to, whether friend, or foe, or just 'oh, that guy'. but it's a known quantity. even if you don't know their 'real' name, what they look like, where they live exactly, there is a persona that one can relate to.

"guest" is nothing, guest is a random note thrown over the wall, it could be a nice person one day and an asshole the next and a clueless newbie another time. it's also a license to be as nasty and hateful *with no repercussions whatsoever* as an asshole wants to be, (for example "also posted as (Ruinednose)") at least if you see a post by shittyeyes21, you know it's going to be filth and garbage and hatred, and eventually the account may get banned, it has happened before here. but 'guest'? who knows.

as to why it's allowed, long long ago the decision was made that requiring someone to register was an undue burden on people that appeared to be seeking help with their cpap therapy. perhaps, long long ago, that was a valid point. it really isn't any longer, having to register to post is the norm on the net in this day and age.

palerider wrote:as to why it's allowed, long long ago the decision was made that requiring someone to register was an undue burden on people that appeared to be seeking help with their cpap therapy. perhaps, long long ago, that was a valid point. it really isn't any longer, having to register to post is the norm on the net in this day and age.

Add to that -
Have someone read this to you then explain what it means...

99 wrote:
Certainly the must be a place you can go where their rules will protect you from such a stressful life?
Like Pugsy said:

Pugsy wrote:
Remember Johnny gets to decide...not any of you.

not to mention both pr and wm_hess were caught (by a guest) posting erroneous misinformation not long ago.

Pugsy wrote:A couple a weeks ago I saw a guest post with a long list of real screen IDs in parentheses...and Pugsy was included in that list. I know for a fact I never posted what was said...so I know the forum software messes up.

As Dave Barry once said, "very few customers take the time to examine their electricity closely", likewise, very few people take the time to examine the IP address they've been assigned by their internet provider.

the forum software doing the best it can with the information that it is provided, which is "have I seen the IP address this person is coming from before?". IP addresses are assigned dynamically more and more these days, your home internet, internet on your phone, etc, the ip address you get changes, because they're being handed out, temporarily, from a limited pool of numbers, and of course, more and more people are wanting bits out of that pool every day.

so when pugsy picks up her phone and connects to the net, she gets an IP assigned, then she reboots the phone, and that IP address is freed, someone else using the same phone company picks up THEIR phone and makes a guest post... boom, "also posted as pugsy".

again, something that should be updated for this day and age, unfortunately, the forum software is stuck about 10 years in the past.

99 wrote:Have someone read this to you then explain what it means...

all I hear from you is "THPPPT Johnny lets me be an asshole"

Pest wrote:not to mention both pr and wm_hess were caught (by a guest) posting erroneous misinformation not long ago.

more gusts of foul wind from 'Pest".

palerider wrote: . . . unfortunately, the forum software is stuck about 10 years in the past.

https://vimeo.com/189919038

IP and Guest question?

In a recent post, RobbySue mentioned that her husband is a "papper" and I think
ChicagoGranny has also mentioned that her husband is on cpap?

If two people living in the same house but who each made a different official
registered account sign in to cpaptalk, are their names listed together underneath
each other?

What a mess it would be if no one logged in and everyone was guest. We sign in for a reason. The ones that don't sign in also have a reason.

jnk... wrote:

palerider wrote: . . . unfortunately, the forum software is stuck about 10 years in the past.

https://vimeo.com/189919038

I saw mention of that yesterday but hadn't gotten around to watching it... full of chuckles.

palerider wrote:

Pest wrote:not to mention both pr and wm_hess were caught (by a guest) posting erroneous misinformation not long ago.

more gusts of foul wind from 'Pest".

Guess which end the foul wind comes out of.....