Logon required now for "New Posts" item?

Open Photography Forums is great to read through. Has there been a change recently in that a requirement has been added that one needs to log on to see the "New Posts" menu item?

Mike

How will the forum determine which posts are new to the respective user?

I think the New Posts menu item without logging on used to show the previous 24 hours, but am not sure. The forum moderator would need to verify that.

Without logging on, it's certainly possible to also determine by IP address when that computer has previously visited, but again this may or may not be part of this forum's software functionality?

Mike,

The "New Posts" button/function determines, based on your login data, which posts you haven't seen yet. As Dierk has rightly pointed out, it is user dependent. It would not function with IP numbers quite the same way since many people can be "hidden" behind a public IP number (by means of the so called NAT which separates internal and external networks).

There is a link for "today's posts"under the menu item "quick links".

Regards,

Cem

Yes, there does appear to have been a change in the past 2-3 days. I'm 99% sure I was able to list new posts without logging on - now that's no longer possible.

John

I am also quite sure that there are relatively few people surfingthsi and other forums with a static IP address. Leaves cookies ...

There seems to be a search function that allows the last twenty-four hours of activity to be viewed, like on the Luminous Landscape forums (without logon), so maybe something like that would be possible without wrestling with IP addresses, cookies, or the like? However "New Items" worked previously without requiring a logon, it was a useful feature.

Mike

Agree the "New Items" link without logging in was useful. Another change I have noticed is the "remember me" also does not work. If I close the forum link without logging out, the system automatically logs me out. I sort of get the feeling the owner/moderators are looking for better tracking of who is viewing the forum. Am I correct?

Cem Usakligil said:

Mike,

The "New Posts" button/function determines, based on your login data, which posts you haven't seen yet. As Dierk has rightly pointed out, it is user dependent. It would not function with IP numbers quite the same way since many people can be "hidden" behind a public IP number (by means of the so called NAT which separates internal and external networks).

There is a link for "today's posts"under the menu item "quick links".

Regards,

Cem

Click to expand...

The only way to get "quick links" menu is to log on which also provides the "New Posts" link.

It is highly possible that changes I made might have infringed upon access to "New Posts".

Can you live with keeping your computer set to remember OPF so that logging in is automatic?

I am trying to decrease the proportion of my time spent to protect your privacy and keep out those just visiting for nefarious purposes. I have been checking on almost all new members, look at their photograph, searching unusual names and finding promoters of schemes and scams and I've blocked them.

Three incidents disturbed me that took place in other photography websites. One woman started advertising her charms, a person joined thousands of websites in the past month and posted on one (of the first of a dozen sites I saw), all sorts of salacious materials. In another website, email were harvested to send pornography.

So I made it necessary to register to search OPF or access your profiles. Apparently this might also inconvenience members.

The changes made so far for security and making a safe collegial community:

1. Real names

2. Checking where possible the photography of members.

3. Editing out references to children, naked infants and other searchable items that might bring the wrong audience.

4. Getting members to post equipment in profiles not in their signature.

We are working on further security measures. So far we have developed well. We are still growing and refining this home.

We're a friendly safe place for hanging out sharing ideas, humor and the creation great photographs.

It concerns me that we might have a problem with members getting "New Posts". Let's confirm and define this before we make any tweaks to permissions.

Asher

Asher,

Trying to contain the incidents you describe is highly understandable and it's obviously very difficult to strike a good balance between openness and keeping the bad apples at bay. It's not an enviable task at all.

For me, part of web security is never retaining permanent cookies, even for the most trusted sites, so that means logging on each time I want to post (admittedly not all that often) or to purchase something (too often - bad ratio to postings).

Would a menu item to see a list of the last 24 hours infringe on greater security? It shouldn't be a whole lot different than just having the entire message list available forum by forum without logging on unless there's some interconnection between any kind of search (24 hours list) and security.

At any rate thank you for your efforts!

Mike

Thanks for your appreciation of the isues involved.

The bulletin software doesn't distinguish, at this time, between non-members and people who just didn't log on.

I just tried to set it up so that anyone can even post without login but the posts will be moderated before appearing and so we'd filter out non-members. However, it didn't work out that way.

We have only 3 people with access to the Bulletin administrative panels and all I consider trustworthy.

How could we reassure you that we won't send nefarious cookies?

Feel free to contact me privately and we can explore this further.

If you have a keychain software with passwords, can't you set it up for automatic login and logout?

Asher

Asher Kelman said:

How could we reassure you that we won't send nefarious cookies?

Click to expand...

There's nothing nefarious about cookies as long as you aren't hosting ads that track, and even then the user can control this by disallowing third-party cookies. A compromise is to use session cookies which don't write to the harddisk, but then your session goes away when you close the browser window.

- DL

Asher

Why don't you set it up to stop people posting without logging in first? If members want to post, it's no pain to log on, and while moderating other forums I've found it better to keep spammers out at the front door rather than clear up the mess afterwards. It may be that I've a good nose for them (eg I google user names - spammers ofter register at multiple sites on the same day).

Like Don, I don't think coookies are an issue.

John

Don Lashier said:

There's nothing nefarious about cookies as long as you aren't hosting ads that track, and even then the user can control this by disallowing third-party cookies. A compromise is to use session cookies which don't write to the harddisk, but then your session goes away when you close the browser window.

- DL

Click to expand...

Thanks Don,

I'm pleased that we have not, TTBOMK allowed anyone questtionable in. However, I do continually check.

I don't even know what cookies we use!! Can you tell me from what you receive?

We do not have any advertisements.

If it's important, I'll check on it further.

Asher

John Beardsworth said:

Asher

Why don't you set it up to stop people posting without logging in first? If members want to post, it's no pain to log on, and while moderating other forums I've found it better to keep spammers out at the front door rather than clear up the mess afterwards. It may be that I've a good nose for them (eg I google user names - spammers ofter register at multiple sites on the same day).

Like Don, I don't think coookies are an issue.

John

Click to expand...

Hi John!

I've done that. Could you check it please! I google any names that are suspicious or where no furhter information is provided. As we grow we'll prune.

If people can't access, they'll either sign up or go elsewhere.

Anyway, I'd recommend everyone to look at John's website. He is so talented!

Asher

Asher Kelman said:

....Anyway, I'd recommend everyone to look at John's website. He is so talented!...Asher

Click to expand...

I humbly agree, truly amazing work John!

Cheers,

Cem

Cem Usakligil said:

I humbly agree, truly amazing work John!

Click to expand...

Me too! Awesome.

@Asher: Cookies are no problem for me, using Opera 9 as my browser.

Mary,

You are the last person in the world that I'd be worried about! I know you are honest and kind.

Asher

Thanks, Asher. I just wanted to weigh in. The log-on restrictions are no problem for me, and won't be, however tightly they are set.

Don's suggestion of session cookies to track people when they don't log on sounds good.

Now it seems the forum has changed further where if you don't logon the only forums visible are the "Introduce Yourself" and the "Layback Cafe" forums? Session cookies or permanent cookies are no problem really since most browsers can be set to accept them and/or discard them after leaving the web sites.

A requirement of logging on for posting is perfectly sensible, but needing to logon for viewing purposes seems like it should be generally open, i.e. like it was a week ago.

Mike

Asher Kelman said:

Hi John!

I've done that. Could you check it please! I google any names that are suspicious or where no furhter information is provided. As we grow we'll prune.

If people can't access, they'll either sign up or go elsewhere.

Anyway, I'd recommend everyone to look at John's website. He is so talented!

Asher

Click to expand...

Love to look at John's website. Where is the link?

Bev

Click on John's name to see the pull-down menu.
Then click on "Visit John's homepage."

Mary Bull said:

Click on John's name to see the pull-down menu.
Then click on "Visit John's homepage."

Click to expand...

Thanks Mary.

Bev

Mary Bull said:

Click on John's name to see the pull-down menu.
Then click on "Visit John's homepage."

Click to expand...

Bonjour Mary
That's nice to see that now your the Queen of OPF and masters its functions perfectly!

;;;-)

Best

Thank you, kind sir. <happy smile>
It's just taken me a little time.

Mike Bailey said:

Don's suggestion of session cookies to track people when they don't log on sounds good.

Now it seems the forum has changed further where if you don't logon the only forums visible are the "Introduce Yourself" and the "Layback Cafe" forums? Session cookies or permanent cookies are no problem really since most browsers can be set to accept them and/or discard them after leaving the web sites.

A requirement of logging on for posting is perfectly sensible, but needing to logon for viewing purposes seems like it should be generally open, i.e. like it was a week ago.

Mike

Click to expand...

Hi Mike,

Can you set a macro, say shift+Z+Z to login then Shift + Z+X to log out and clear cookies?

We want to get lurkers to login so I can find out what pictures they take, if any so we can plan the site's resources, and know who follows OPF.

OPF is a community. We are friends in a living room or at work. It is courteous to introduce oneself and not just listen from behind a curtain!

Several people we have contacted turn out to be wonderful additions to our resources in quaity photography and or technical expertise. However, if if one is just seriously interested in photography, we'd like to know that too.

Asher

Asher,

I've had a fair share of trolls, spammers and warez linkers on my old site. The recent revamp has enabled me to also be more vigilant and secure, but how does one strike a balance between open and closed content?

I noticed today when I went to OPF without logging in, that the forum only lists two topics, neither of which were photography related. e.g. Introduce Yourself and Layback Cafe.

Hi John,

did that to merely show that we're a friendly bunch. If they want to come into our living room, they can't listen at the door to our serious conversations about photography.

I find that some of these lurkers are indeed very talented. Everyone has to decide for themselves that they want to participate or not. If we need real names, then no names and no photographs is bot acceptable either!

This is not a user's list. It's a house we're building for sharing experience, relaxing and getting to help each other make the best images to show and or sell.

We are not about equipment only about the implementation of purpose and visions in a real picture that we can show and appreciate. We want to filter out lot's of people who just want to collect masses of details on everything and buy themselves bragging rights.

Asher

Warning -- Old curmedgeon posting (on the net since...)

The problem I've had with sites of this sort (and there seem to be a number of them, powered by various scripting languages) is that in general, I've found that if I set a cookie that does an auto-login, it will set some variable that assumes that I've seen everything that is new since the last time I visited.

This is not a good assumption, as sometimes I get started looking at stuff, and get interrupted and not get back again until the next day. At that point, looking at a 'what's new' link usually only shows stuff that was posted since my last login timed out, due to inactivity or some such. That's why I've found a 'posting since last... (day, two days, week)' of real value.

I've already had to deal with this site timing me out when I'm composing a post, having to re-login and then find my posting in a back-cached page so I don't lose all my work. I've not set the 'remember me' box, so maybe that would cure it, but I shouldn't have to do that, just to be able to spend five or ten minutes composing a post.

I'd say that if you keep poking at various controls you might be able to get the site to work the way you like, but I pine for the 'old days' when a good threaded newsreader (like 'tin') was all you needed to keep up with the various groups you were subscribed to. Too bad that net news has gone pretty much to the dogs, and it seems that the rest of the online community these days can only figure out how to interact with these 'pretty print' web-based forums. They certainly waste a *lot* of screen real estate (and bandwidth) to just send what is primarily text messages back and forth.