Private Messages.. a question

[gratedenini]

I`m not being specific to here (although the priciple might be the same)--- my question is: Can private messages be viewed by the moderators, or are they totally private.

Nowt to do with this forum at all..just been wondering about some goings on elsewhere.

So?

den

[jump]

Probably, Neil has gone into other people's account to change their sigs before so reading their messages wouldn't be a problem imo.

[eFestivals]

I`m not being specific to here (although the priciple might be the same)--- my question is: Can private messages be viewed by the moderators, or are they totally private.

Nowt to do with this forum at all..just been wondering about some goings on elsewhere.

So?

den

The moderators here can NOT read the PMs.

There's no function to read the PMs within the forums software used here (including within the administration panel for these forums) via which they can access the PMs.

Me - and me alone - is able to directly access the databases where such things are stored if I wished to, but I don't wish to. It's not like I'm taken with much of the drivel that gets posted here publicly, so why would I want to read more of the same?

(There have been a couple of occasions, for very good reasons, that has required me to look at a few titles of PMs sent by a member or two, and just one occasion as far as I remember where I've delved deeper to read a few of the actual messages behind the PMs. But these have been for very specific reasons, to do with spammers, people here who have tried [and sometimes succeeded in] scamming other users here, and criminally outrageous behaviour).

That's the situation on these boards with the specific forums software used here. The situation on other forums &/or with other forums software might be different.

[RABun]

Neil's winning friends and influencing people again!

[eFestivals]

Probably, Neil has gone into other people's account to change their sigs before so reading their messages wouldn't be a problem imo.

I just love it when people speak from a position of gross ignorance.

User account management - such as amending someone's sig - is a necessary function of a forums administrator, and so account management features are built into the administrator's control panel for this forums software.

Reading people's private messages is not a necessary administrator's function, and so there's no method within the forums software (including in the administrator's control panel) for private messages to be read.

Edited February 3, 2011 by eFestivals

[llcoolphil]

I`m not being specific to here (although the priciple might be the same)--- my question is: Can private messages be viewed by the moderators, or are they totally private.

Nowt to do with this forum at all..just been wondering about some goings on elsewhere.

So?

den

[Steve P]

You worried about the NoW getting hold of those pics you keep sending me?

[The Nal]

Does he keep sending those pictures of him spanking one off to Monarch of the Glen to you too then? I thought I was special.

[Steve P]

You’re just another number Steve. Hook, line and sinker!

[The Nal]

Mmm. Promised me the known world he did. I was to be taken to Rome, housed by the forum. Slaves, asses milk, as much gold as I could eat. Then he, having his way with me, and VOOM. Like a rat out of an aquaduct.

[gratedenini]

Mmm. Promised me the known world he did. I was to be taken to Rome, housed by the forum. Slaves, asses milk, as much gold as I could eat. Then he, having his way with me, and VOOM. Like a rat out of an aquaduct.

[eFestivals]

Its just that on another forum I use..with lot less punters..its been questioned whether some PMs have been read, and acted upon.

on any forums, it's always possible for the top level technical bod (if not others) to access PMs - but just cos it's possible it doesn't mean they do.

[gratedenini]

The moderators here can NOT read the PMs.

There's no function to read the PMs within the forums software used here (including within the administration panel for these forums) via which they can access the PMs.

Me - and me alone - is able to directly access the databases where such things are stored if I wished to, but I don't wish to. It's not like I'm taken with much of the drivel that gets posted here publicly, so why would I want to read more of the same?

(There have been a couple of occasions, for very good reasons, that has required me to look at a few titles of PMs sent by a member or two, and just one occasion as far as I remember where I've delved deeper to read a few of the actual messages behind the PMs. But these have been for very specific reasons, to do with spammers, people here who have tried [and sometimes succeeded in] scamming other users here, and criminally outrageous behaviour).

That's the situation on these boards with the specific forums software used here. The situation on other forums &/or with other forums software might be different.

[eFestivals]

Is that your final answer?

I personally thought it must be possible..if they can read any post.. surely they can read PMs.

Thank for the info anyway No1.

den

I think you're confused about what I've said.

When I've said 'moderators', I've been talking about those people here who are forum moderators. They only have access to these forums via the forums software in the same way as you, but they have access to extra functions (including the forums software administrators control panel in some cases) to allow them to carry out their moderating tasks. These people can NOT read PMs.

When I've said "the top level technical bod", I'm talking about a person such as myself, who has unrestricted access to all of a server's functionality because it's needed to manage the server. Because they have and need that unrestricted access, it means that they're able to access the forum databases via a method which doesn't use the forums software.

But just because a person has that access to a computer at system level, it doesn't mean that they're doing everything that is possible for them to do. For example, a huge number of people use 3rd party mail services (hotmail, yahoomail, gmail, or their ISP's email service, etc), which means that there's people that can access the emails you receive and (in some cases, it depends on set-up) the emails you send - yet no one ever seems to suspect that that is happening, yet it's just as likely/unlikely to happen.

For a systems administrator to bother to access such things, they'd surely have a reason why they'd access it - it would be a very sad person who sat and read such stuff just because they could. And while individuals like you like to believe they're interesting enough to give a systems admin reason to access their private communications, the simple fact is from where I'm sat you're not. There's a million and one other things I could use my time for instead which would be massively more interesting than anything you might say in a private communication.

If you or anyone else is thinking that I'd be extending my already stupidly long working days to read stuff that users might send to each other, that person has a hugely unrealistic over-inflated opinion of themselves. No one here is that interesting to me, not by a million miles.

[gratedenini]

I think you're confused about what I've said.

When I've said 'moderators', I've been talking about those people here who are forum moderators. They only have access to these forums via the forums software in the same way as you, but they have access to extra functions (including the forums software administrators control panel in some cases) to allow them to carry out their moderating tasks. These people can NOT read PMs.

When I've said "the top level technical bod", I'm talking about a person such as myself, who has unrestricted access to all of a server's functionality because it's needed to manage the server. Because they have and need that unrestricted access, it means that they're able to access the forum databases via a method which doesn't use the forums software.

But just because a person has that access to a computer at system level, it doesn't mean that they're doing everything that is possible for them to do. For example, a huge number of people use 3rd party mail services (hotmail, yahoomail, gmail, or their ISP's email service, etc), which means that there's people that can access the emails you receive and (in some cases, it depends on set-up) the emails you send - yet no one ever seems to suspect that that is happening, yet it's just as likely/unlikely to happen.

For a systems administrator to bother to access such things, they'd surely have a reason why they'd access it - it would be a very sad person who sat and read such stuff just because they could. And while individuals like you like to believe they're interesting enough to give a systems admin reason to access their private communications, the simple fact is from where I'm sat you're not. There's a million and one other things I could use my time for instead which would be massively more interesting than anything you might say in a private communication.

If you or anyone else is thinking that I'd be extending my already stupidly long working days to read stuff that users might send to each other, that person has a hugely unrealistic over-inflated opinion of themselves. No one here is that interesting to me, not by a million miles.

[eFestivals]

whats all this extra dialogue about anybody thinking that you, the Great No1 would be reading PMs?

because often when some sad moron has a beef here with me, this is one of the things they like to throw in the mix.

(And I suspect it's something like that which has you thinking that your PMs are being read on whichever forums you're referring to!!)

Or merely gross ignorance has people making the sort of unqualified comment that can be seen as the 2nd post in this thread.

But even just with giving the explanation of what is and what isn't possible for a server's administrator within a thread like this where the question posed is about reading PMs, the rather stupid are left with the impression that PMs are habitually being read.

All of these things I'm more than a little sick of. So I make a full statement as I did above so that things are 100% clear.

Edited February 4, 2011 by eFestivals

[RABun]

Neil did your school reports say - "does not play well with others" ?

Grumpy ole man!

[eFestivals]

Neil did your school reports say - "does not play well with others" ?

Grumpy ole man!

It's f**k all to do with any of that. I'm simply pre-empting the stupid thoughts of those that are short of brain cells.

I've been there so many times over the years that I know exactly how the thoughts of those morons pan out.

[gratedenini]

It's f**k all to do with any of that. I'm simply pre-empting the stupid thoughts of those that are short of brain cells.

I've been there so many times over the years that I know exactly how the thoughts of those morons pan out.

[eFestivals]

I repeat No1---please dont flatter yourself that we have you in our thoughts so much!

I honestly cant see why you are posting such replies and somehow tarring everybody with your stained brush.

I posted a simple, genuine question.. theres been no replies in this thread that have been in the slightest accusatory.

Your pre-empting is not necessary under these circumstances.

Thank you for the information, it has helped.

Now...relax....

den

I'm not tarring everyone with the same brush.

I'm simply telling it straight for those who read this thread who have an over-inflated opinion of their own interestingness. Time has taught me that there's a hugely surprising number of people like that.

You posted a question, and I gave an answer to that question.

But as can be seen by some other posts here, some are already letting their imagination run wrongly and so I've expanded my answers to dismiss the stupid fantasies of some.

[The Nal]

I'm simply telling it straight for those who read this thread who have an over-inflated opinion of their own interestingness. Time has taught me that there's a hugely surprising number of people like that.

[eFestivals]

Its like owning a pub and telling the punters they’re a pain in the arse when they drink.

No, it's like owning a pub and keeping perfect ale, and then having lager drinkers who've not tried the ale saying it's kept shit.

[ampersand]

No, it's like owning a pub and keeping perfect ale, and then having lager drinkers who've not tried the ale saying it's kept shit.

[gratedenini]

you should set up a night school teaching customer service

[ampersand]

my genuine question has been thoroughly answered and it has assisted the person who needed to know.

den