April chit-chat

[flatcap]

Agate, I had to look up Marie Kondo, so I wouldn't say I'm a disciple. I would agree with her, however, that it is better to pass clothes on if you don't like them. In addition to the caps, I have some other clothes that I plan to donate. I hope someone who likes them gets them.

[flatcap]

I noticed some time ago that the little red 'light' that lights up when you have new messages isn't always working as it should. I missed one of Agate's messages from 4/16 until I went into the Message Center on 4/18 to see if I had any new messages (I sent a reply, Agate).

In addition to checking for New Posts and Who's Online before I log out, I will now be checking for new messages in the Message Center. I don't want to missing anything, particularly if it is something I need to reply to.

[agate]

What little red light?

I never know when I have new messages unless I've remembered how many were in there the last time I looked. If that number is 1 larger, that means I have 1 new message. It's the only way I have of knowing, and I often forget to look.

[flatcap]

The "Messages" button will [sometimes] light up [in red] when you have new message[s].

[flatcap]

Well, it got hot enough today that I went to turn on the air conditioner in my car. Turns out the darn thing isn't working. It doesn't make any noise, it just won't come on. Press the button, and nothing happens. The indicator light doesn't turn on and neither does the AC.

I guess I will have to take it to the dealer next week and see if they can fix it. The car is out-of-warranty, so I will have to pay for it. I hope it's just a blown fuse. It might otherwise cost a lot.

Wish me luck.

[agate]

Too bad! Maybe at least it won't get so hot that you'll miss the AC until it gets fixed. It must be unseasonably hot where you are?

[flatcap]

I think it only seemed hot today because it has been so cold recently. On several nights during the last week or so, it went down to below freezing. Having things bounce back to Springtime so fast calls for a little adjustment. I was hoping the AC would do that for me.

So, for now, I'm cruising around with the windows rolled down. Kinda makes me feel like a kid again. I think you have to be one to let your hair fly as you are driving. What hair I still have left, that is.

And as far as that goes, thank god for flat caps. ;)

[flatcap]

I'm not sure, but I think I might have a shadow-user sort of following me around here.

I always check Who's Online before I log out, and now every time I do that user is right behind me. The time stamp always matches mine within minute or two. That person doesn't post much on these forums, if at all.

For obvious reasons, I won't name the user here. I just think it's interesting. I have thought of sending them a PM, but they would probably just think I'm crazy. Of course, they would be right about that. LOL



ETA 1: This has to be a bug in the forum software. I just logged out, waited for some time, then came back and immediately checked Who's Online without doing anything else first. There that user was again, and the time stamp on their activity exactly matched mine. As usual, if not always, their Location was blank.

ETA 2: I have just now been sitting in Who's Online, and I keep reloading the page, and there that user is yet again. Even if I wait a few minutes before reloading the page, that user's name shows up either right above or below mine, always within a minute or so of the same time stamp.

[agate]

I'd chalk that up to coincidence. I've learned to distrust my own suspicious nature. Time and time again I've had suspicions, even near-certainty that something that was suspect going,, only to be proved wrong.

Since you're noticing weirdness in the log-in times, though, why not bring it to a moderator's attention? Maybe there is some problem with the way that part of the board is working. It might be something like a close resemblance between the log-in information for two different users--you and someone else.

Or you could put yourself into Invisible Mode and then your user name wouldn't show up in the Who's Online section.

[flatcap]

I will try going "incognito".

I am not interested in reporting this issue to the moderators. Moderator #2 was here when I wrote the above. Since nothing much at all is going on anywhere on these forums but here, Moderator #2 either ignored my post or missed it. I would bet it was the former, but either way, I don't want to bother them about it. It isn't worth it, at least not to me. I just thought it was interesting,

But if I go incognito, doesn't that mean I wouldn't be able to tell whether the user in question appeared to be trailing me? I think not, but I will tell you how things go.

[flatcap]

Or you could put yourself into Invisible Mode and then your user name wouldn't show up in the Who's Online section.

So, I just went into Invisible Mode, and it still looks as if the user in question is tracking me. If so, fine. If not, that's fine, too.

I seriously doubt the issue is tied to a resemblance between the user's login info and mine. Our user names aren't at all close or related, and I use a decidedly unique, random password. In addition, the user has more than once posted somewhere on these forums at sometime in the past.



ETA: Not that anyone cares, but I am now Visible again.

[agate]

flatcap, I just sent you a PM.

[agate]

flatcap, in case you didn't check your PMs, I hope you will edit your 10:04 post in this thread. You're talking about someone who was using this forum in a legitimate way. It is not against any rule to keep checking in here at whatever time we want. You can't prove that someone is tracking you by the information you have, and even if you were being tracked, that is always possible on an Internet forum. Most of the time if it's happening, it's absolutely harmless--just someone interested in what you're saying here, for instance.

The information you have posted makes it very easy for anyone here to know who you are talking about. That's what needs to be modified, IMO.

[flatcap]

I took out the number of posts the user in question has posted. Hopefully, that is enough for you. I do not intend to edit my post any further.

I do not appreciate your PMs about this, nor your post above. You can play "police" on this forum if you must, but you are not in charge here.

[agate]

Thank you for doing the editing, flatcap.

A while back I was in considerable hot water because I dug up some older posts by a forum member and cited them in posts here on this board. The decision was that members here should never reveal any information about anyone here without that person's permission, even if the information was in statements made by the user him/herself for everyone to see at any time here (in this case, everyone's past posts are available so long as they are still archived here).

It's the same principle as the one that tells you not to reveal to someone some information about another person even though you've had it directly from that person. It's all too easy to assume that unless someone tells you that strict confidentiality is to be observed and you agree to that, you can then go ahead and reveal whatever the person said to you to anyone else.

Not a good idea, really. You'd be taking the person's words out of context. They were from a different time, in a different setting. The person might feel quite differently about sharing that information in the here and now.

This may sound ridiculously overcautious but on the Internet maybe it's better to be safe than sorry.

I apologize for this muddy post. If it's not clear, would someone please let me know and I'll come up with a hypothetical situation.