I talked about this in another thread... but I wanted to give it its own thread because I have a firm stand on this issue and I have a few things that I'd like everyone to hear -- especially since I was, in fact, personally attacked last week regarding something along the same lines only for everyone here to collectively act as hypocrites.
I've been the one who has been using the hidden feature... or one of them anyway... I think that there are a couple of more (at least one more)... it's me, I admit it. I told everyone that I was sort of having a "me time" week and this feature allowed me to lurk without people hasselling me for still being here (and they actually did, by the way).
For all of you people that were filing complaints... I want to bring two things to your attention.
Number one, this is what's going on in our country today. People are supporting our phones being wiretapped as a safety precaution. We sacrifice freedom for security. That's what you're doing. I'm a registered user who has not caused any problems and yet, I still am not allowed to lurk without being seen because everyone here is paranoid.
And number two, if my suggesting that we have users in charge of the invites is "going off the deep end" (which I actually felt to be a personal attack, especially when everyone seemed like they were ganging up on me about it), then this is completely insane.
There is absolutely no more security with the hidden feature off. You think there is, but there isn't. If it were a troll, they could just create a screenname that seems friendly and lurk here and you wouldn't know the difference. You wouldn't know until they start posting abusive threads. Which is about the same thing that happens if you are hidden, no? They're just here and it's not a problem until they start doing stuff that is a problem -- and you'll know who they are when they do it and then you can take action.
I just want everyone to realize how overly paranoid they are being with filing complaints and while I think Phillip is amazingly wonderful with handling this site, I think that this action to suit your comfort serves no merit and I will be protesting it by leaving this fine site. I don't like living in a country that taps my phoneline to make sure I'm not a terrorist... and I don't like coming to a site that revokes my right to lurk so that they can feel better.
So April 5th will be my last day here if my hidden option is taken away... and to be honest with you, I had only planned to stay hidden for about a week.
Thanks,
David