Privacy concerns!!!

[Steve St.Laurent]

If we haven't lost a lot of expertise over this issue in the last 5 years I don't think we'll do so know. Our traffic is up 11% over last month and we continue to add ~350 members per month to the site. The problem with polls about issues such as this is that you tend to hear from the people who find a problem with something but you don't hear from the masses that feel the other way around. We are continuously talking about what we can do to improve the site and what if any changes need to be made. We take any input from users very seriously and Robin and I discussed this topic quite a bit today taking into account this new input.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

RT66DOC - I certainly did not mean to sound arrogant or condescending. I called Robin and we discussed the issue again taking into account what people had said on this thread up to where I had posted. We both felt that given the input we'd received here as well as privately along with the historical considerations that the policy should remain. I then posted and pointed out the reasons that the policy was in place and explained where and when people can see the information that people were concerned about. Several members had stated that they wished a refund and I gave the information as to how they could do so if they wished. BTW, this forum is also only visible to members otherwise I would not have posted your last name here either.

 

[RustyJC]

What's your point Rusty? (and don't say trying to make a point). You don't even have an unlisted phone number, but I won't post it here.

Just demonstrating what's easily obtainable with a name and location. To your second point, would you have been able to obtain my phone number were my last name not listed on my User Profile?



Steve, a lot of things related to the Internet have changed since 2001, haven't they? What might have been OK in 2001 may not make as much sense in 2006. All I suggest is to review this last name policy in light of today's technology and environment, not that of 2001. Do you see any significance whatsoever in the fact that other forums don't make this information available to the general membership? Don't you think there's a reason?



Rusty

 

[RT66DOC]

If we haven't lost a lot of expertise over this issue in the last 5 years I don't think we'll do so know. Our traffic is up 11% over last month and we continue to add ~350 members per month to the site. .

"... let them eat cake. "

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

The vast majority of those forums are free and membership simply consists of you signing up for it - which anyone could do in order to mine information from it. This site does not fall under that category. Anyone simply looking for information to steal identities could find peoples last names and locations for free and from any number of places easier to get to than to sign up here for access, pay $35, and then go to the profile to get it. It would be far easier to them to go to http://www.whitepages.com and type in any last name and a state and have a virtual gold mine to get information. I did a search on Jones and Michigan and got 28 pages of names, addresses, and phone numbers. With all that available there why would someone want to come here and pay to get less information than they could get there?

 

[Paychk]

Hey Steve could someone take my first initial off of my last name? looks a little funny.



Thanks!

 

[msperos]

far easier to them to go to http://www.whitepages.com and type in any last name and a state and have a virtual gold mine to get information

Amman Steve, kinda what I was trying to say. there are easier ways to get names then the TDR.

 

[AKAMAC]

Information is accessible from other places with far less monetary expenditure than here. As I list in my "Location," I'm in the Livermore Ca. area. If you are proficient in internet exploration you can tag and log IP broadcast locations. Do we give the bad guy an "extra" with the listing of our last name? Maybe... . For me, I'd be more concerned with credit card fraud and the resulting fallout than theft of ID thru this site. Mike



BTW Can I keep my log-in rights and still recieve a refund?

 

[Parks]

"Super Moderator" I like it. Oo.

Parks is actually my last name. It also has my city, state, first inititial and birthdate in my profile. But actually I just noticed the wrong birthdate.

That's not fare, It's April 2, I want it fixed or I am taking my toys and going home. :{

Just kidding

Seriously, I'm with Steve, this policy has been in affect for 5 years without any incidents. There are alot easier ways to get someones info and alot more of it than just a last name and a city.

I never heard back from anyone as to whether or not that have concerns when they give there credit card to waiter and they walk away with to do with as they please or if someone is setting in there neighborhood with a scanner listening for cell or cordless calls trying to get cc info. Do you worry about or is your last name that you are really worried about?



I respect the TDR for standing behind there policy. It shows backbone. ("Backbone" I feel like I am in the old west. ) It shows that they trully are looking out for the good of all the members not the ones that cry the loudest.

Ok I guess I had a few cents to add.

Thanks for listening.

Brandon Parks



Oh, yeah. Someone told me they are putting a Mercedes engine in Dodge trucks in 2008.

 

[JayWm]

Oh, yeah. Someone told me they are putting a Mercedes engine in Dodge trucks in 2008.

FORD owns CUMMINGS :-{}



How many of you guys use paypal? You're online right now, are you not? TDR is the least of your security worries since your all internet users. Christ, hackers can and do hack sights like social security, TRW, etc... gimme a break

 

[Nate]

Jeez... everyone get's their panties in a bunch just cause your last name is shown on the web board.



I just looked at another web board I'm on, and I've got my name, location, birthdate, and even my phone # under my profile. No one has stopped by to rape and pillage yet. :-laf All that is pretty much public info anyway.



Oh no. . cancel my membership, like that is proving something? I'm just sitting here thinking, well that's one less whiner. Oh... and I'll happily take whatever's left of your subcription and add it to mine

 

[WyattEarp]

Just my . 02 cents and im not defending anyone here but im sure that back when the policy was changed it was either noted in a forum or that all members were notified one way or another, its like going to a bank and not reading the fine print. . As for me im sure you all can see im concerned, heck i have my job description up but then again that could be a deterant right there :-laf .

I myself am more worried about the dishonest bank teller taking my info than i am a TDR member. Just think about all the paper work you had filled out when you bought your truck and all the pple that have access to your name, and physical mailing address, The TDR would be the least of my worries as far as someone getting info about me.

Heck i invite the bad guy to my home, thats one less convict that the tax payers(you and me) will have to foot a bill on :-laf

 

[nps]

Just demonstrating what's easily obtainable with a name and location. To your second point, would you have been able to obtain my phone number were my last name not listed on my User Profile?

Rusty

Yes Rusty I can, using only information that you have provided - not using any information the TDR exposes - but I won't be so callous as to post how to do it on here. If you want to know how I can, then send me a PM. I am surprised however at your posting of others information if you truly are concerned about your own privacy.



The fact is that most people who are smart enough to know how to use the internet for identity theft, combined with having the motivation and time, aren't going to go after anyone on this board, even if they do pay $35 to get your last name. An analogy - why would someone who is smart enough to knock off an armored car with a $1M load risk holding up a 7-11 for $20?



For those of you who fear someone stealing your truck - fear the dirtbag on the corner eye-balling your 'nice truck' as you drive by more than your TDR brethren across the country.



Gosh, those fearless members who 'outted' themselves in the TDR Travel Companion must really be shaking in their shoes - you get that booklet for the $35 membership fee too don't you?

 

[RustyJC]

OK, I've pled and demonstrated my case and it's been rejected. Let's stop beating a dead horse.



I am, however, most disappointed that we can't even have a mature, intelligent discussion of a valid issue without stooping to pejoratives such as whiners and cry-babies. What disappoints me even more is the use of such terms by those holding positions of responsibility within the TDR.



Rusty

 

[justinp20012500]

????????????????????????



http://turbodieselregistry.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123046



I am not sure where I stand with the last name thing. I got burned very bad by it. Not going to name names, but it did some damage...

 

[Allnew2Me]

1 2

 

[fkovalski]

…. Steve, a lot of things related to the Internet have changed since 2001, haven't they? What might have been OK in 2001 may not make as much sense in 2006. All I suggest is to review this last name policy in light of today's technology and environment, not that of 2001. ….

This is an excellent point for re- looking at this issue. And, a valid one for allowing the administrators to use for a possible change in policy!

…The reason we have that information there is because we've found that when people have complete anonymity they will post things they wouldn't otherwise. …

How would this reason (of showing last names) change anything that is not already being said? There are some outrageous things being said here sometimes, and if what is being said is too out of line the Moderators do a very good job of keeping things in check. I guess I am trying to fathom a scenario where a member’s anonymity would cause something even more outrageous or harmful to be posted and missed by those who over see the forums. Conversely, does posting one’s personal information make the TDR a better site?



The point is: Can the TDR be as good as it currently is AND be flexible enough to respect the wishes of those who desire to be members. I do not wish to see members leave because of this. And to bid them good riddance (my words) because we have new members coming in monthly make it seems as if this site is more about money than trucks

 

[Bob Wagner]

Justin, what happened?

 

[DragonflyDriver]

How would this reason (of showing last names) change anything that is not already being said? There are some outrageous things being said here sometimes, and if what is being said is too out of line the Moderators do a very good job of keeping things in check. I guess I am trying to fathom a scenario where a member’s anonymity would cause something even more outrageous or harmful to be posted and missed by those who over see the forums.

I agree with you. Showing the last name is not a deterrent. A better one would be posting directions to the members homes if that's really what it's all about.

While I'm not overly concerned with the last name issue, it does present an element of risk. Even if only 1 member is ever affected by it, it's not worth it. As far as benefits go, I don't see any.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

How would this reason (of showing last names) change anything that is not already being said?

What could/would happen is that there would be more of it than there already is. When we instituted this policy we saw an immediate and significant decrease in the amount of antagonistic/problem posts. I literally have seen this over and over again since the early 80's. I ran dial up (where only one person or a few people could be on the site at once) BBS's back in the early 80's and I always saw that the boards that allowed people to be anonymous with handles versus real names had many more significant problems. That has continued to this day. Is it perfect? No it isn't but it is a big help. The fact of the matter is that with just a last name and no other information (which is all we put there) your last name is worthless to someone.



You have to keep in mind that we have 800-1,000 posts per day on the site and it is a BIG job to moderate those posts. We have policies in place that try to steer what's posted on the site. Hopefully without us having to step in and deal with it. We prefer to not have to edit/delete posts and do everything we can to steer things such that it is not necessary - this policy is one of those things and it works (we saw it firsthand when it was implemented).



This is an issue for a very small minority of users - looking at this thread there are 7 people who have spoken up as it being an issue for them and this thread has been viewed 1192 times. We have received more correspondence both through this thread and privately in support of the policy. This is the first time it has come up as an issue since the policy change back in 2001 (it was discussed extensively then).