| Profile: Hide My Profile while Posting in the Forums - Can I ?
Posted: 12/29/2005 10:58:14 AM | | Hello everyone! I've muddled my way through the 'help' FAQs and haven't gotten anywhere with them - how do I hide my profile so that it can't be seen when posting in the forums? I've hidden it already in terms of searches, etc, but can't seem to figure out how to hide it in forumland. Any suggestions? | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 12/31/2005 8:37:17 AM | | my profile is hidden too but will always be there for anyone to read (if they choose) if i post in the forums, they can just click the view profile link same as for unhidden profiles (don't ask me why, i didn't see the point in that either)... | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 12/31/2005 12:03:03 PM | If your profile is hidden, no one can see it. The "view profile" link still appears under your name on your forum posts, but when it's clicked the clicker is taken to the main page of POF, not your profile.
I've just clicked on "view profile" for both Tweetie and Starsinhereyes. I wasn't able to view either profile, so as far as I can tell, you're both hidden. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 12/31/2005 12:56:31 PM | hey thanks trilby for the confirmation, that's good to know ....must be a new upgrade as i still got email a while ago from people commenting on my posts after i hid my profile so i had to add at the beginning of my profile that it was hidden because i was seeing someone so they shouldn't have been peeking at it to begin with  | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 12/31/2005 2:55:37 PM | If you are
A) an outside visitor just browsing the forums, or
B) a member, but only logged into the forums,
then they will not see your profile by clicking on the View member link (providing you are Hidden)
Once a "member" logs into their inbox, then all bets are off, and clicking on View Profile in the forums will still take you to their profile.
Hope that clears that !
Forum Moderator | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 12/31/2005 5:21:17 PM | Sub topic with regards to Forum Posts appearing on your profile / Forum Moderator
There's a very good reason why people would want to hide the forum posts that appear on their profiles. Its because they serve two different functions. A profile is a small advertisement describing you and what you are looking for in dating. The exceptions are, those who aren't here for dating (are with someone) but wanted to have somekind of identity. But for the majority of us, we are either seeking dating or new friends.
On the other hand, the forums are a place to let loose and comment on topics of all sorts. They are like an online discussion area.
Now, it very clearly states that in the forums, you are supposed to stick to the topic, and not use the forum area to hit on other people. Private emailing is suggested. And its appropriate - why go on an open forum and use that place as a place to hit on someone, right? Its off topic.
But by the same token, its completely off topic for the creators of POF to have included the forum posts on the profiles. The main purpose of the profile is an introduction of you, and what you are seeking. Even the way the profile is set up, is to fill in information for what you are seeking. Its not an invitation to delve into your ideas in a forum.
What really bugs me about this is, that while the person who has a profile has so many options given to him or her for their profile, including a "restrictions" area, a choice owhether or not to turn off the IM pop-ups, of whether or not they have to include a photo(s), and even a choice on picture and profile rating (i.e., you can decide what you want to have private, and what you want to have open to the public) - but while there are so many choices for those things, you have absolutely no control whatsoever over your own forum posts being on your profile. You can't hide them, and you can't delete them once they are posted.
The problem for the person who likes to post is, that they lose the freedom to post openly without feeling that they can have any kind of separation from their profile. There are some sensitive topics on the forums, too, and sometimes people reach out for help. If you write something to help others, sometimes you have to include some information that you might keep private on your profile page. And the opposite is true too, that if you try to ask for help on a topic and don't want to include lots of details, then other people will ask you to in order to give you proper feedback. But once again, the catch 22 - you lose the privacy factor on your profile.
You know, this site has a helpful area where you can get feedback on your profile. This is to help people attract other people. Well, I would say that the very first thing a moderator here would say to anyone is, get those forum posts off your profile. People can weed you out because they may read what you said out of context. Its plain and simple logic.
My thought is, quite frankly, as super a web site as POF is (cuz it is a good site) - the reason they keep our forum posts on our profiles is economics. A free site must run on advertising to pay for itself. And internet advertising runs on hit counts - it assures the advertisers that their ads are getting looked at. Fair enough. But if you want to keep the web site traffic higher, you have to ensure ways to do that. Forums are a great way - it keeps people coming back on, and then you can tell your advertisers, "this site has a huge following and look at the hit count" and the advertisers are happy and keep paying you money. One of the ways to do that, is to put the forum posts right on the profiles so that people will be curious and do a little forum lurking when they are on your profile. The creators of the site know that, and they want to use this as a way to attract people to the forums and keep the traffic on the site higher.
But it annoys me to no end that the forum posts end up on my profile. I find it intrusive, and I think it distracts to the profile. It robs me of the freedom of setting up a clean and easy-to-read profile that will attract others who could be potential friends. It's really annoying, and other dating sites separate the forums from the profiles pages. I understand that POF didn't used to do this feature, so why did they change it? I think we just go along with it because we don't get any choice, but maybe if POF would like to improve the quality of the profiles, they will put it back to the way it was. I still think this is an excellent dating site and far above many others. I've never seen a site that had a forum for creative writers before - that's very unique. Or the POF parties - wonderful. But I would really appreciate it if I could do something to seperate my forum posts from my profile.
It makes me want to take my profile off, quite frankly. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 12/31/2005 5:37:46 PM | | I said this when the forum posts appeared on the profile page many months ago, and I'll say it again: if any non-forumite woman browses my profile/posts, and judges me negatively for it by taking the words out of context or not , I wouldn't want to receive a message from her, anyway. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 12/31/2005 5:57:00 PM | I've already been wrong once today, so I know I'm pushing my luck, but Birdy267, it sounds like you're saying you don't like having your forum posts showing on your profile because it impedes your ability to control what other people think of you. Aren't you hoping to find people who will like you for you, metaphorical warts and all?
See, that's exactly why I like having the posts on the profiles - it gives me a better picture of who people really are. Most people aren't that good at writing profiles. The forum posts are extremely helpful in getting a more well-rounded look at an individual.
And the advertising theory would only make sense if there were ads displayed on the forum, which there aren't. Unless I can't see those either because I'm not logged into my inbox. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/1/2006 1:44:44 AM | Ya, Trilby, but that isn't the way that I want people to decide whether or not to post to my profile. I thought my forum posts were my own business, and not for the purpose of letting a person know what a "good person I am" so they can scan through every single idea I put on. I mean, am I writing the politically correct prose as we speak? Should I edit my words so that the profile people think I'm okay, as we speak?
Here's a question - if the advertising isn't a bearing, then why did managment decide to put the forum posts on the profiles. Simple, straight forward question for you (or for management). Maybe they can give me a straight forward answer.
Don't get me wrong - great site, free site, and I'm very happy, considering I'm not paying for this luxury. But, I still like to be a critical thinker, and I believe that software is set up for a reason. It doesn't happen all by itself. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/1/2006 6:08:53 AM | But by the same token, its completely off topic for the creators of POF to have included the forum posts on the profiles.
'Off-Topic' Issues apply to Forum Message Postings, not from where viewing of such Posts is also possible.
you have absolutely no control whatsoever over your own forum posts being on your profile. You can't hide them, and you can't delete them once they are posted.
Moderators also use these Profile posting Links streamlining the Administration of the Terms of Service/User Agreement and Forum Rules. Furthermore, it makes Posters responsible for their Messages, and if you have a need to run away from your Posts, then that is all anyone needs to know about you.
If you write something to help others, sometimes you have to include some information that you might keep private on your profile page.
Unlike your E-Mail, there is nothing 'Private' on the face of a Profile, and sensitive information should not be placed there.
My thought is, quite frankly, as super a web site as POF is (cuz it is a good site) - the reason they keep our forum posts on our profiles is economics. A free site must run on advertising to pay for itself.
You are confusing Profile 'Advertising' with Profile 'Forum Posting Links'.
They are not synonymous.
One of the ways to do that, is to put the forum posts right on the profiles so that people will be curious and do a little forum lurking when they are on your profile. The creators of the site know that, and they want to use this as a way to attract people to the forums and keep the traffic on the site higher.
What "Voices" have told you this?
But I would really appreciate it if I could do something to seperate my forum posts from my profile. It makes me want to take my profile off, quite frankly.
If you need to run away from your posts ... go here: Account Deletions (Not a Profile Link)
I thought my forum posts were my own business, and not for the purpose of letting a person know what a "good person I am" so they can scan through every single idea I put on.
Yet one of the best and quickest Ways to quickly flush out and eliminate Players and to get to know the Person a little better.
I thought my forum posts were my own business
Your 'Forum Posts' your own Business?
If you cherish your own 'Business', then don't post it on a Public 'Message Board'.
Here's a question - if the advertising isn't a bearing, then why did managment decide to put the forum posts on the profiles. Simple, straight forward question for you (or for management). Maybe they can give me a straight forward answer.
You are concocting and making far too many Assumptions in which you then 'stitch' together Profile 'Advertising' with Profile 'Forum Posting Links'.
But, I still like to be a critical thinker
A good trait then. Why worry about Profile Links if these show you in a better Light?
Perhaps the Pendulum also swings the other Way ...
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/1/2006 12:47:31 PM |
I mean, am I writing the politically correct prose as we speak?
I don't know about you, but I don't speak politically correct prose. I say what I really think, and I have little patience for people who can't do the same. If people can't handle that then it's probably better that we don't waste time getting to know one another - and the forum can help cut down on the time it takes to figure that out. After all, the whole point of being here (for me, anyway) is to find people I'll be compatible with.
Should I edit my words so that the profile people think I'm okay, as we speak?
If you regularly feel the need to censor yourself when speaking with people in everyday life, then why would you conduct yourself any differently here? If you're looking for compatibility, you should act the way you normally act. Anyone who isn't being themselves is going to have a much tougher time finding someone that's right for them, in my opinion.
Here's a question - if the advertising isn't a bearing, then why did managment decide to put the forum posts on the profiles.
Obviously, I didn't have any say in this decision, but my guess would be it was done to give people more information to go on when choosing who to contact, as well as to keep people accountable for what they post. Apparently, some people think they should make themselves sound all sunshine and roses in their profiles when they aren't really like that at all. Having the forum posts on the profiles helps expose some of the players, liars, mentally unstable, perpetually deluded, etc.
As well, it helps out some of the people that are lousy at deciding what to say about themselves in their profiles, but who can still be pretty good at conversation. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/1/2006 11:12:21 PM | Trilby, first, thank you for taking the time to give feedback to my many questions, and to what I thought were suggestions. I can tell in your answers that I must have pushed some buttons, but I really didn't mean to, honestly. Still, I do think you took time to respond, and since you are one of the moderators, thank you for taking the interest to do so. I was really interested in this topic, and that's why I was a bit passionate about it. I really think it would be cool if we could change the profiles to not include the forum posts, but that's my own personal preference.
I guess in posting an argument here, I was hoping to present an argument for making a change, and I thought well, maybe one of the people who designs the site might see what I was saying. Honestly, I just got a bit passionate about the idea. I really think it would work better for the profiles, but that's my idea - it doesn't have to be for others. And as for the higher traffic part of my argument, its just that I used to design web sites for small businesses, and links and internet traffic was such a big part of marketing a web site.
Anyway, you have taken alot of time to respond to my posts, and I thank you for that. I don't believe that I want to "run away" from my profile posts, though. I just simply would love the freedom to include on my profile what I want and what I don't. On the other hand, it is a free site, and we don't have to pay, and I really do think that POF is a good web site. Sometimes you have to go along with what is presented. I just was hoping that I could put out a good argument to the software designers for a small change that would benefit people.
"Obviously, I didn't have any say in this decision, but my guess would be it was done to give people more information to go on when choosing who to contact, as well as to keep people accountable for what they post. Apparently, some people think they should make themselves sound all sunshine and roses in their profiles when they aren't really like that at all. Having the forum posts on the profiles helps expose some of the players, liars, mentally unstable, perpetually deluded, etc.
As well, it helps out some of the people that are lousy at deciding what to say about themselves in their profiles, but who can still be pretty good at conversation."
Well, I can see that, but I guess I just think that it kind of shuts people down when they are posting at the forums, and I think that many of the people who don't post at the forums could easily be all those things that you mentioned.
In my opinion, I just think it would be cleaner to have the two seperate, and better for the profiles. And I'm not personally trying to "run away" from my own posts on my profile. Nope, quite frankly, I'm sure lots of people have read my posts that read my profile. I just think the site would work better that way, that's all, and I don't think that it has to do with ME, personally. It was just a suggestion for how the site could work for everyone, and I do tend to get a little passionate on a subject. LOL, I'm sure I could be accused of that.
Once again, thanks for posting back - sorry there isn't a way to change how the profiles work, but thanks anyway. At least you took the time to respond, and I do appreciate that. No criticism was intended; I still think this is a great site. POF provides a really good web site, and it is the only dating site I've ever seen that provided a creative writing forum - very unique. Plus, its one of the few that provided organized parties, too. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/1/2006 11:58:57 PM | Just to clear a couple things up - first of all, no buttons were pushed here. If I came off sounding hostile, it wasn't my intent. Like I said, I speak my mind. Some people don't like how I speak it. That's why I find forum posts so handy to have on the profiles. It can help weed out the people who can't handle me or people I'm not going to be able to handle.
Secondly, I'm not a mod, nor do I have any other association with POF other than being a member, like you, with an opinion. But I have seen your suggestion come up in these forums several times before, and Admin has said it's not going to change. I was just feeling particularly yappy today and decided to stick my oar in.
Now I'll have nightmares about being a moderator. No, Mommy, please, no! | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/2/2006 12:06:16 AM | Wow, ya, your opinion kind of blew me away, Trilby! Especially the subtle suggestion for a link on how I could delete my account, if I was so inclined. :-)
No worries. I get passionate on subjects too. Peace, brother.  | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/5/2006 10:51:49 PM | To birdy 267
Your comments are kept on your profile for others to see because whatever you have written is obviously your view and opinion on any topic which you have discussed. If it is not a true reflection of your opinion then why write anything in the first place. I can't believe you can't see the sense in allowing other people to see what your views are. If you have a problem with that, then obviously whatever you write is crap & would not be worth reading. Its totally fine & ok to have different views on different topics but at least have the gutz & decency to own up or take responsibility for what you write. There is enough rubbish written in these open chat rooms to sink many battle ships and if annon enteries were allowed then I suspect these forums or chats would unbearable. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/7/2006 12:12:11 AM | Ticket-to-Ride,
The post I wrote before to Trilby was, I guess, one that I had meant to write to you. Your names are very alike. The only thing is, I didn't think the post on "voices" was appropriate for a moderator to make. Somehow, i guess I just expected a moderator to be neutral. My comments on thanking your for writing back, stand.
It isn't because have any problem with anything that I write. After all, if I did, I wouldn't have written at the forums. In fact, I try to write things to people that are encouraging or helpful to others. The reason I thought it would be a good idea to have the posts seperate from the dating pages is because I don't think they have anything to do with dating. JMHO.
I'm not going to go on with this post, now. Its obviously not going to be changed, so its a dead topic. I asked, I got the moderator's answer, its not important enough to me to pursue this. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/7/2006 2:57:54 AM | I didn't think the post on "voices" was appropriate for a moderator to make.
No more appropriate than you requesting 'Straight Answers' while you are twisting Profile Links together with Advertising, leaving the Impression & Incinuation we are not being upfront with you, or some other ulterior Motive exists.
| Anything ring a Bell? | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/7/2006 10:09:57 AM | Its hard to discuss the topic when I feel like you are attacking me personally. When you write things like, "what voices told you that" or "anything ring a bell" or stuff like that, it seems to be directed to me, personally. When you write a very long post which cuts up everything I said with a caustic response, it is really hard not to feel like someone is taking a mallet to your head. Sometimes its not the suggestions, but the tone in which they are written. I think the problem is that I may have said something that you really didn't agree with, and that's okay - you should have a right to your opinion. I'm just saying, is it possible to state it in such a way that you are not attacking me, personally? And please don't say, "oh, you are just too sensitive or taking everything personally." That's like the stuff on "running from my posts." I kind of laughed when you said that and thought of a person saying, "omg, here's my big bad post...its scares me...arghhhh...." Visual thought of someone screaming in terror after reading their posts. Come on, Ticket, laugh at this. It is a funny idea, isn't it?
I respect your difference of opinion, and I still thank you for taking the time to write back. My earlier post thanking you for that still does stand. Please read it and realize that I am trying to respond in kindness. Sorry if I said anything earlier that seemed like a personal criticism of any moderators. Honestly, I don't even think that. I think its a great site. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/8/2006 8:34:33 AM | Hello,
I totally agree with birdie267 that you don't want your forum posts to be seen on your profile. The reason is that you may be commenting about relationships, dating, the type of guy that might be more typically found on these online dating sites (e.g., not really looking for a serious realtionship, just sex), and you don't want that to show up on your profile when someone is first looking at it because even though what you are saying may be true, it might "turn off" the person who is reading your profile for the first time and the person might think you have an axe to grind with men or that you are a male-basher, when that is totally not correct.
As birdie267 said, you just don't feel free saying what you really want to say in the forums because others can see your comments when they click on your profile. However, being that POF is free and that it is a very good site, we have to take the good with the bad and if we are worried that someone is going to see what we are saying, then we shouldn't post in the POF forums. Of course, this defeats the purpose of having forums, but hey, I think most of us are here to look for dating partners, not for the forums. | |
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| How do I hide my profile when posting in the forums?
Posted: 1/8/2006 8:41:29 AM | To birdie267:
I wanted to add that even if POF removed a member's forum posts from the person's profile, anyone can still come and do a forum search under your user name. So they can still find out what you have been saying.
I do agree with you, though, that having the forum posts right there on the profile for people to see right off the bat is a problem. I won't be posting any more comments about dating, relationships, guys, etc. It can create a problem. | |
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