Have a say - more privacy?

[Babeba]

Hello folks,


We mods/admin have been discussing whether this forum would benefit from a slight change in privacy mode.

Currently, the TS forum is available to the whole wide Internet: you don't have to be signed in to see these posts. On the one hand, that lets newcomers see this is more than just crossdressers. On the other hand, it may keep some people from posting in case they get 'caught.'

What is your opinion of setting this forum so you must log in to see posts? There will be no restrictions on post counts needed to access the forum (unlike private messages) and no need to apply to join (unlike Safe Gaven or the religion/well being forums).

Is this something you would be for or against?

<edit>

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?185171-Have-a-say-more-privacy&p=3029304&viewfull=1#post3029304

PLEASE READ THIS LINK BEFORE REPLYING, THEN REPLY PLEASE.

[Miranda-E]

The people that post here are out in the real world already. Living and dealing with life not living in fear of being found out.
We don't fear getting "caught" by wives and neighbors as were already dealing with ID's, government paperwork, court hearings and employers.
The whole idea about getting "caught" for being human being is silly and insulting.
No need to hide it.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

It seems like a sensible thing to have some minimal step to see posts.
Not everyone is comfortable with anyone on the Internet reading every post.

Can it be set up so that this sections topics are visible but to see the posts you need to log in? (With no restrictions. Just log in).

[AllieSF]

Babs, I am not sure why you need more privacy. Can you explain that better, i.e. have members requested that, have you had some troll issues, what? How will that log in work? Will one have to sign in to see every thread, or sign in twice? Maybe just have us non-TS's get permission to join the TS section based on how long we have been here so when we sign in, we are automatically given access to that section. I think a double sign in would be too cumbersome and confusing.

Miranda, I understand what you are saying, but I believe that there are many TS's here in this section and in the General section that are still in the closet as they try to find their own way and to determine who and what they are. But who knows what privacy they desire.

[PaulaAnn]

Hi; No ,please leave this forum as it is .I've got nothing to hide ;I'm out to all.Miranda-E has said it all rather nicely.
Paula

[Bree-asaurus]

I'm a member at another forum that is entirely private except for an introductions forum. Once you post and introduce yourself, you request permission to join the private forums. That kind of privacy sounds good to me!

But even simply requiring you to be logged in to see the posts would be good to. As it is, I think posts here in the public forum show up in Google. That can be solved with a simple robots.txt, but an additional layer couldn't hurt.

[sandra-leigh]

Can it be set up so that this sections topics are visible but to see the posts you need to log in?

That might be good. On the other hand, if the topic index is available then people still get to see who is posting here, and still get to look at profiles (I think?) so there would still be some element of the fear of "getting caught".

There needs to be enough available to the public to allow them to find the forum and be able to see that topics they are interested in are being discussed here.

Question: is it practical to have google index the section, but not cache the pages, with people required to log in to read the messages? I have seen arrangements like that for some technical systems. The impression I had was that google was given a login method by the relevant site admins, but it could be that instead google just had more access because the admins had configured wider access when the site detected that it was google's crawlers accessing.

Allie, it wouldn't need a second login: it would just be something similar to "Members Only" like the Lounge is.

[Babeba]

It seems like a sensible thing to have some minimal step to see posts.
Not everyone is comfortable with anyone on the Internet reading every post.

Can it be set up so that this sections topics are visible but to see the posts you need to log in? (With no restrictions. Just log in).


This is exactly what the situation would be. Everyone with an account would still be able to log in and see/ post in the section as per usual; it just would mean you could not see the posts if you were surfing as a 'guest.' For members who come to the site and immediately log in, nothing would change in your experience. If you like to lurk and then only sign in to your account if you have something to say, then you would have to sign in to do the lurking.

Basically, this forum would be at the same access level as the body issues forum, or the beauty forum in the Mtf cross dressing section. All logged in members could see it.

As Bree points out, this forum can come up in google searches as it now stands. If you had to be logged in to access this, these posts wouldn't show up on google.

The idea was floated around the staff because this is a more serious and personal forum than, say, the MTF crossdressers. Some of us thought it might make it easier for people to post if this section was not open to all and sundry. We also think it's important to get the opinion of the users of this forum, rather than just change it and see who notices!

[Tamara Croft]

In other words, would you prefer the TS section members only like body issues, or leave it open as it is? It wouldn't require additional log in, just guests can't view the section, you would have to join. And yes, I have been told by a few members that they would prefer it a bit more private, which is why I brought the idea to the staff to discuss and then to you for discussion, but we are going to need a good clear concensus, so yes or no and a reason please?

[Badtranny]

I say no because I personally like the totally public aspect of the forum. I like what I write to be visible to the world and accessible by all. There is a lot of self serving BS out there and my posts may be self centered but they are absolutely honest with no regard to my own public image. I post here for the girls like me who are on the edge of self discovery or the beginning of an exploration. I lurked here for months before I joined and it was the TS girls that really spoke to me.

[sandra-leigh]

I have no real opinion on the privacy of this section.

I do note that in practice, matters that are perhaps more suitable to Body Issues get discussed here, hormones in particular. Sometimes those also get discussed in the MTF Crossdressing section.

By the time I was ready for this section as more than a curiosity, I had already been a member for a fair while, having found it while searching Google for some clothing related information. I think it likely, though, that others are finding the section by searching for information on more serious matters (e.g., hormones), so my concern at this point is that enough information of this section be findable on google to attract new people to the site to log in. However, if others have particular desires to close the forum, I would be fine with that.

I do have a bit of a privacy concern in using the site: if I do get around to changing my name and change it to Sandra-Leigh, then finding my postings and discussions of being trans becomes much simplified.... and a bit of a business risk (people search for my writings quite a bit, as I have written roughly 50,000 technical pieces.) However, I took that same risk (and more, in some ways) by posting in the Crossdressing section, and will find some way to deal with the matter later.

[Kirsty_D]

I'm 50/50 on the issue... Some privacy would be nice but as Melissa said, with it being public it is there available to help others.

If people want more privacy there is the Safe Haven, which is excellent but I feel it often under utilized.

[Rianna Humble]

Although I personally would not benefit from increased privacy because of the publicity about my transition that went viral on the Internet. I can see that some people who are questioning might not want their posts to be a mere Google search away from their employers.

For this reason, I would support the idea of making this forum only accessible to members of crossdressers.com

Currently about 90 - 95% of what Google shows about me comes from this forum. It might reassure questioning members if the same were not true of them.

Safe Haven would not achieve this aim as it is an invitation section for MtF transsexuals, not for our FtM brethren, nor for those who are just starting to question

[Saffron]

Requiring log-in sounds good for me. Creating an account it's easy and free so...

And of course keeping it available to all members.

[ReneeT]

I favor a login requirement to view threads in the TS section, but I am not adamant about it. In this era of ever-shrinking privacy, a bit more is not all bad

[Sandra1746]

We are also responsible for what we post. If we post readily identifiable information and it gets us "outed" we have nobody to blame but ourselves. The same could be said about any "open" section on this site.

As for me, the posts I have made, in aggregate, are certainly enough to identify me and determine a relative location if anyone is ambitious enough to 'data mine' them. Am I worried, no because I regularly go out dressed in "plain femme". I also have prescriptions for Estradiol and, HIPAA aside, that in itself lets a lot of people know something about me. Then there's the obvious support of Question 6 in Maryland; but I digress.

My summary; I like the open nature of this part of the forum. If another really private section is needed, that's fine but the whole purpose of the site (IMHO) is to provide information and education to the public and we can't do that by hiding under a rock (or in our closet).

Just my $0.02
Sandra1746

[BRANDYJ]

I like the idea of the whole Forum to be private. If visitors want to read or spy on, look for somebody, they have to join. This would help keep out those here to troll or otherwise get their jollies looking at pictures and reading about what to some uneducated people think is just some weird kink. If you have a real interest you need to and should join. There is already to much information on the net that can trace anyone. In fact, I think for it being as open as it keeps the really closeted potential members from joining. Look at the visitor vs. Member count at any given time and the visitors far out number the members. If those same visitors had enough reason or purpose to read the forums then they should have to join. I would like more privacy for the whole site.

Don't forget, the vast majority of crossdressers are very very closeted. They might think twice about joining knowing it is as open as it is now. Make it more private and watch the membership roster grow appreciably.

[kimdl93]

The question I have is how would potential members decide to join?

[BRANDYJ]

The question I have is how would potential members decide to join?

I think that's simple Kim. HOME page shows a declaration of who we are, and what the purpose or goal of this site is all about. In that declaration it would be great to point out that this is not a dating site and we do not tolerate any form of pornography or vulgar language.
Point out that we are private and secure for the safety and comfort of our members. Point out who is welcome to join us, what our goal is and why we are the best site on the net for questions and answers for the wives and SO's of crossdressers, or anyone needing help in understanding anything about gender issues. A mission statement of sorts.
Well, you get the picture.

[CharleneT]

Speaking from the perspective of a post-op who is now moving toward a somewhat stealthy life - I'd vote for more privacy. I truly think that it should be easy to access though, so I like the sign-in is all you need. That makes it pretty easy, but slows down some strange folks and some search engines. For a while now I have been struggling with whether to post here any more or not ? The recent dust up made the decision for me. I rapidly felt remorse over that though . . . this would be a good solution ( in that regard ). A person who identifies as TS is going to have to do some pre-searching to land on this site anyhow, so the extra bit of work to get here is not likely to matter - that is pure opinion though.

Thank you mods for continuing to care and plan for the betterment of this place: three cheers for ya'll !!


:cheer: . :cheer: . :cheer:

[Kate T]

I'm not TS so I dont know how relevant my input here is. BUT I do see some concerns if the TS forum is made private. Kims point about how would people know if this site is fair dinkum or is relevant to them if they can't see the TS postings is a valid one. Sure HOME PAGE sets out the goals and rules but until you see a few posts you don't really know if it is "your crowd" so to speak. I looked at a number of Crossdresser "forums" and chose this one in part because of the TS postings that indicated it wasn't just about a bunch of guys having fantasies. Yes I know that the crossdressing forum is public viewable but at times you have to dig deep and hard to find a post that isn't about what colour bra or dress you wore or what is your favourite fantasy. On the other hand I would hate it if a member was discriminated against because a potential employer etc. found a post via a google search (and yes, as an employer, I do google searches if I'm looking at employing someone).
I didn't really help. My vote would be to leave it as it is.

[morgan51]

The log in requirement would be ok with me I'm out so not really adamant about it.

[Anne2345]

Kim's question is legitimate. If the TS sections are set to private, how will potential new members decide to join? The name of this site is crossdressers.com, after all. If a login is required to view the TS sections, prospective new members may not know that this forum even has a TS community within.

[Aprilrain]

I like the Idea of having to login to see the TS section.

[CharleneT]

Kim's question is legitimate. If the TS sections are set to private, how will potential new members decide to join? The name of this site is crossdressers.com, after all. If a login is required to view the TS sections, prospective new members may not know that this forum even has a TS community within.

Nothing on the front end will change, they could find it before, they could find it after the change. You would see the forum there, but without an ID, you could not read it. The main diff here is whether you have to setup a user ID to read it. That only takes a couple of minutes, so it is no obstacle really. It does give a layer of protection from either: search engines or people who are just a "guest".

[Babeba]

I too was curious about how we show up on google - I tried searching a few topics which have come up recently, things on stickies, and the phrase 'transsexual forum' - the content doesn't place us high on google but the fact the TS forum is here, does.

[ReneeT]

As for me, the posts I have made, in aggregate, are certainly enough to identify me and determine a relative location if anyone is ambitious enough to 'data mine' them
Sandra1746

And there are people here, even in Safe Haven, that do just that and post their summary for all to see.. I of course won't name names but we, and they, know who they are. They seem to revel in showing us how smart they are and how inconsistent and what liars some of us (like me) are. There are many on this forum that can confirm that nothing I say here is true.......

Yes, this little "hobby" of others pisses me off. I am expecting a PM any time......

[BRANDYJ]

I too was curious about how we show up on google - I tried searching a few topics which have come up recently, things on stickies, and the phrase 'transsexual forum' - the content doesn't place us high on google but the fact the TS forum is here, does.

First, I don't understand, Why are we talking about just the TS forum? MY earlier post was about the whole site. I don't understand why just one section should be private other then the ones that already are.

I still strongly believe you should have to join and log in before you can read anything here.

I just googled my own screen name "BrandyJ" and it came up on the second page with this:

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?179454-How-can-I-be-a-good-gf-to-my-CD-bf/page3

This is a post I made on 08-20-2012 at 08:03 PM

I'd rather not be seen on google let alone anyone accessing this site reading all my posts in open forums.

[Sandra1746]

My mention of identification via data mining was primarily directed to those in the "public at large" reading the freely available sections. Folks like bosses, bill collectors, neighbors, church members, etc. If someone with the ability to post (a CD.com member) does the data mining and uses that as adverse information; well that's just "catty". Those sorts will always be with us (unfortunately).

A fully private TS site would deprive those who are questioning their gender identity of one more source of information. This entire site (all sections) is a wealth of "human interest" stories that folks who are unsure of their identity can really benefit from (IMHO). It is WAY better than any of the porn sites or the "hyper religious" sites they will certainly encounter.

More $0.02,
Sandra1746

[Dawn cd]

Presumably under the new system, TS posts will not appear in the "new posts" section. I'm not opposed to it, but I wonder if some people will begin to post only in the TS forum—effectively hiding there—and we will wind up with a private website within a public site.

[BRANDYJ]

A fully private TS site would deprive those who are questioning their gender identity of one more source of information. This entire site (all sections) is a wealth of "human interest" stories that folks who are unsure of their identity can really benefit from (IMHO). It is WAY better than any of the porn sites or the "hyper religious" sites they will certainly encounter.

More $0.02,
Sandra1746

I disagree Sandra. If it is important enough for them to read, then they can do as the home page suggests and join. This day and age of the Internet I'm all for more privacy even if I have nothing to hide. I stand by my earlier thoughts....We would have more members if we gave those that found us more security. I just closed down my Facebook BrandyJ account for that very reason. And believe me, there are many CD's that are more afraid of what others can find than me.

[Saffron]

The question I have is how would potential members decide to join?
First thing I did when I found this site was create an account. But of course I started as a CD, I didn't really know about the TS forum at first (in fact, I didn't know anything about TS), but once I found it and started to read it, I felt more at home, lol.

[Prissy Linda]

Ok, I have a question. How many of our members lurked here for days, months, even a year or longer before feeling comfortable enough and trusting this site before becoming a member. Before joining this site I lurked for a very long time. The TS section is very educational for people searching for answers that may not be adressed in the CD section. My suggestion is don't fix something that isn't broke.

Linda

[Marleena]

I don't think there is much incentive to join if you can read everything (the other side of the coin). I'm on the fence about it since we are kind of anonymous here but I do hate the lack of privacy on Facebook.

[Nigella]

First, I don't understand, Why are we talking about just the TS forum?

You obviously didn't see where this thread was then, did you?

To clarify for anyone under a misapprehension, we are talking about the TS FORUM ONLY.

How will it work, simple log off, then view what you can see without logging in. See the headings of each forum, then see what it says about them - MEMBERS ONLY, INVITATION ONLY. If the TS forum is changed, it will read MEMBERS ONLY. That means you HAVE to be a member of this forum to view any posts in it. Once you log in you will have full access to the posts, just as you do now.

[Traci Elizabeth]

I would opt for more privacy. And like others being post-op, I would like to contribute to help my pre-op sisters/brothers but am concerned over maintaining a level of privacy I am comfortable with.

[sandra-leigh]

Ok, I have a question. How many of our members lurked here for days, months, even a year or longer before feeling comfortable enough and trusting this site before becoming a member.

When I first found the site, I wasn't quite ready for it. I read some postings, and then wandered away for about a month and came back again. The second time, I joined 2-3 days later when I found something I wanted to reply to. But my intro post was somewhat abrupt and not all that trusting.

But that was me, and I was remarkably "out" as soon as I finally realized that I wanted to dress in the clothes (e.g., dressed in public 3 weeks after my realization.) My experiences with other people suggest that a fair period of lurking and building trust is much more typical.

[Nicole Erin]

Special log-in or requirements would not really help.
The only true privacy setting on the web is - unless you don't mind if it is out there, don't post it t begin with, or at least don't use a real name and don't post photos of your face. Don't advertise your facebook page and then wonder how people found out.
But yeah like they said here, most of us are "out" anyways. Not like we are waiting for our wives to go to Spain for a month so we can so we can transition.

Random lurkers or pervs are probably not looking for info about HRT or the best surgeons.

[jacques]

hello,
I visited this site several times before I joined, trying to build up the confidence to join and post messages. It is a great resource and people like us tend to be a little timid about our hobby. It would be a great shame if it was changed.
Yes we could be caught and outed... but I would guess that most members do not use their real names and we can choose how much personal information we reveal.
luv J

[arbon]

I am in favor of having to be logged in to access this section.

[Rianna Humble]

It is a great resource and people like us tend to be a little timid about our hobby.

Jacques, this discussion is not about making crossdressers.com harder to find, it is about giving a little more privacy to those members who already know they are transsexual and want to discuss what they are going through as well as to members who may be questioning whether they are transsexual and/or to SO's

Given that this discussion is specifically about the TS forum, do you think that the term "our hobby" might have been an unfortunate choice of words?

[Kaitlyn Michele]

.......................
Random lurkers or pervs are probably not looking for info about HRT or the best surgeons.

This made me smile...people can jerk off to the titles just as easily as the messages...we're not harming that crowd at all if its changed a bit..

Its a reasonable question to ask... who is this forum for?

this is not a hobby or a lifestyle.....if we assume that the forum is run for people that at a minimum care about transsexuality, even if simply curious, and even if curious for the "wrong" reasons, at a minimum why not set a bar that they simply log in?
why not communicate with new people in a friendly and open way...and ask the same of them...
Nobody has to use real names or post pics..set up a blank gmail account, make a screen name and you are in..

given how the last year or so went, i'd prefer to know that people at least stepped up to the minimal standard of logging into the site to read highly personal posts.

It would still be an open forum..and for people that feel its important to keep it a secret its a very easy thing to set your computer up in a way that keeps your surfing private (lurking is surfing too btw...if you visit the site as guest or as ramrodder69, you can still get caught)

...and if people can read all the topics they can decide for themselves whether its worth it to stop lurking and sign up to see what the discussion is all about..

[Barbara Ella]

Visitors only need to know that the sections are within the site. Making it available to all members, essentially like it is now is a good thing. those serious enough to become members, and hopefully contribute, and develop, and find themselves and realize their true self is transsexual need to have this resource. It took me many months before i even peeked in here, longer to even post, but I am so glad to have this available.

Barbara

[Tamara Croft]

Can members please read: -

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?185171-Have-a-say-more-privacy&p=3029304&viewfull=1#post3029304

Then reply, we aren't having no special login, there will be no usernames like ramrod69, because names like that are deleted.... it should have been a simple enough question with simple yes or no answer and a reply, that's all.

[sandra-leigh]

I am confused about whether the need is for "consensus" or for a "vote" ? "consensus" is a process that involves discussion.

But if we are voting already, then my vote is "No, leave it open", and my reason is irrelevant.

[DebbieL]

I hope that we can keep the site open.

Yes, there is the risk that someone's anonymity would be broken, but I remember how desperately I searched for any kind of information about boys who wanted to be girls, or cross-dressers. I couldn't find anything in the library and what little I could find in the adult bookstore was so limited and in many cases fictional, that it was very depressing. The lack of information left me feeling so alone, so helpless, so hopeless. Between the ages of 15 and 26 I probably tried to kill myself at least 30 times, and even though I survived, I struggled. I was lucky enough to get access to usenet newsgroups when I was about 28, and eventually met some other transgenders, including the founders of the Tri-ESS group in Atlanta. Getting information from other transgenders, cross-dressers, and transsexuals helped me to realize that there was the hope, that even though I was a girl trapped in boy's body, that there were others like me who had found an equilibrium.

I know that there are tens of thousands, possibly millions, who are like I once was, alone, afraid, unable to comprehend the nature of their desires to dress, to be a woman. This domain provides a unique ability to create a resource available to all those who seek more information. To not only transvestites, cross-dressers, transgenders, and transsexuals, but also to their families, friends, spouses, and even their children. For some, this may be the first site they encounter, and this may be one of the best resources available to be able to collect a good understanding of the whole range of transgender behavior.

More importantly, we see in this group success stories, as well as questions and even members who have failed and rebounded.

If we need more "closed groups", that may make sense, but I hope that we could keep the core forums open as a resource for information to any who are so desperately wanting to understand cross-dressing and all it's variants.

[~Emma D~]

I only joined after being able to read threads on the TS forum, and I can’t tell you how much it has helped me. Had I at the time been restricted to reading the CD section, it’s very doubtful I would have joined the site at all and been able to receive the help I’ve had.

Looking back to when I was young, there was no help available to someone like me – somewhere like here would have been a godsend for a naïve, confused and frightened teenager trying to understand who she was.

The world has changed with the internet, so help can be found if you look in the right place, but, if that place to find help isn’t available because it’s effectively a ‘closed shop’ where do you go.

If you identify as a TS, the probability is that you find somewhere else to get that help, so it may stop potential new members joining.

I would ask the question – “Why is it Open in the First Place’. Is the answer not to help the TS out there who doesn’t know where to get help.

Would it not be a case of blocking or preventing a TS from receiving what may well be much needed help. How many existing members might not have joined. The ongoing success and viability of sites is not just the current members, but that of future members.

I tend to post in Safe Haven or other private areas, partly due to privacy reasons but mainly because much of what I write is very personal, so I don’t post it in the open forums. That’s my choice and too be honest it if access was changed, it would probably make little difference to me.

That said, i have threads in the open forum, that I would happily like to have access restricted on.

But, all in all, I would suggest leaving as it is.

[Babeba]

Presumably under the new system, TS posts will not appear in the "new posts" section. I'm not opposed to it, but I wonder if some people will begin to post only in the TS forum—effectively hiding there—and we will wind up with a private website within a public site.

All the sections which you have access to show up in the 'new posts' section. They will still be there, don't worry!

[Tiffini Marie]

IMO it is important for nonmembers to be able to see posts. That ability is what made me decide to join. If privacy is a concern, is it possible (without too much redesign work) to have pictures and avatars in the public furum are hidden until someone logs in?

[Rianna Humble]

I hope that we can keep the site open.
As Tamara has already said more than once, we are not talking about closing the site or anything like it. We are talking about wherher people should have to be members before they read the posts in the transsexual forum


I hope that we could keep the core forums open as a resource for information to any who are so desperately wanting to understand cross-dressing and all it's variants.

All the sections about cross-dressing and it's variants would remain as open under this proposition as they were before.

What we are talking about here has nothing to do with variants on cross-dressing and everything to do with the lives of transsexuals. A number of people no longer feel safe with the TS forum remaining open to the whole wide world.

The proposition, for which I have already expressed support, is for that forum to be readable only by those who log in to the main site - in much the same way as Loved Ones is currently.

As I have already said, I would not benefit personally, but it would help others so I am in favour.

[Kerstin]

No. It's people's responsibility not to provide personally identifiable information, if they are worried about privacy.

[Miranda-E]

All the sections about cross-dressing and it's variants would remain as open under this proposition as they were before.

What we are talking about here has nothing to do with variants on cross-dressing and everything to do with the lives of transsexuals. A number of people no longer feel safe with the TS forum remaining open to the whole wide world.



but the question is Who?
most of the TS members seem fine with it the way it is?
Is the fear that non members doing searches might equate TS with, or part of, or a consequence of CDing?
who exactly doesn't feel safe and why?

[Traci Elizabeth]

If we are voting yes or no on whether we want more security then my vote is YES!

[eternal-c]

Likewise, Often I have wanted to post some updates and some things that have been going on, but because this forum folder is public I have felt a rather slim level of insecurity. This often results in typing my fingers off to Babs. So Likewise I would say "Open to members once they log in" ^_^

[Cheyenne Skye]

I've been a member for a few years now, however, I rarely post. I always try to be sure that I don't post anything that might reveal anything about me personally. I think if their were a little more privacy, I might post more often. So I vote yes to making it necessary to log in first to view posts.

[KellyJameson]

I protect my privacy by not posting a picture of my face but this makes the interaction less personal. I'm not concerned about my privacy with those who are members but with the wider internet and the concern that I could be recognized and my safety put in jeopardy and I show a similar reluctance on FB so I would benefit but.....

My worry would be that others who are not yet members but in serious need of answers may be "locked out"

Many who are taking their first steps need to be highly secretive and it is easy to forget this the farther you go down the path to where you are living openly.

I do not have an opinion one way or another but I do hope accommodations are made for the most vulnerable among us that may not yet have found this site or the courage to join.

[Melody Moore]

My vote is YES for more security for a number of reasons...

1. Some members of this forum are not out and risk losing their job, family & friends if they were discovered here.

2. Members would benefit more from the increased security with a private forum to be more open in their discussions.

3. Some of members of this forum don't wish to be stuck with the label of being transgender or transsexual, especially
some of the post op transsexual women who just want to get on with our lives and leave the transsexual history behind.

[Badtranny]

I appreciate the question but a private forum already exists and from what I'm told it's pretty quiet in there. Anybody who claims to be TS yet worries about being "outed" has a rude awakening on the way, and if you are worried about being tagged as TS because you post on a TS forum than the answer seems pretty simple to me. (and it AIN'T to restrict the forum to others in order to protect your own privacy)

I have zero interest in something like Safe Haven. Who wants to preach to the choir? Who wants to limit themselves to a captive audience? I want EVERYBODY to read my posts and I want them to engage me in discussion if they disagree. This forum would be FAR less interesting if the audience were limited to members only.

[Melody Moore]

I appreciate the question but a private forum already exists and from what I'm told it's pretty quiet in there.
And standing on the outside looking in you can never really know what is going on in there. I don't think it is quite at all
despite the fact it is a closed forum. I don't think you understand that with the TS forum being private it will still be seen
and accessible by all the members of this site, it will just not be visible to the general public if they don't have an account.
As long as this forum is publicly accessible like it is our information is not safe and can be easily located using Google. Scary!

If the privacy on this forum is not increased, I really would like my account closed and deleted. I have no more
interest in posting here because I just want to get on with my life as a woman. It would have been nice to stick
around for others who are coming through transition but not at a cost to my own personal privacy and security.

There is far better security now available on Facebook by using the group feature for those on your friends lists
and setting the permissions and privacy controls to limit the audience who can see any content posted there. Those
that think Facebook is not secure with privacy are very ignorant of the new features now in use on Facebook.

[melissaK]

No. Being able to migrate freely from CD to TS forum suited me years ago . . .

And because I'm not out at large a la Badtranny, my profile has no specific locale, no photos, no identifiers. And yet I'm still here - still able to stay connected to a community that is important to me. When I want to put up posts that I think are more personal I go to Safe Haven or I PM someone. It works.

Anyone who logs into this Forum has to risk tracks in their own browser, and the big pink and blue CROSSDRESSER logo shows from 100 yards so anyone looking over your shoulder knows you're here. So, why the desire for secrecy? Just to keep Trolls out? I thought the Mods were the Troll hunters.

"Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?" - Areopagetica 1644, John Milton

[ChelseaErtel]

I like it open as I do think it helps others to be able to see what is written.

If you could allow the members to set their settings so they can share with just the members or the whole internet. So, if a member only wanted other members to see their posts or replies, they could go to settings and select the proper check boxes. Maybe this would encourage more posts by those in more sensitive situations.

If it's an all or nothing kind of thing, I'd just like to keep it as it is now.

I started posting with photos because came to not care if I got caught.

[stefan37]

I do not think restricting the forum will accomplish the desired intent. Newcomers or guests can not post without
Registering. I lurked here for years before i felt comfortable enough to register. I have. Received a tremendous amount of info and support from just lurking. As i started to accept.who i was i registered so i could post.
Making the forum private to address trolls, it was a short time ago a registered member trolled the post and cause a huge upheaval.? I would vote to keep it open. There are still.restricted forums for those that require
More privacy for their comments.
t

[Stephanie-L]

I lurked here for a long time, about 93 seconds, before I signed up, because I knew that it was the place for me. One thing that attracted me was the absolute ban on porn and similar posts. One can google crossdressing and get all the porn you want, finding a site that gives good information and support is difficult. I did not define myself as TS when I joined, but I now realize I was, of course I always have been. Would not seeing the TS section until I joined have made a difference? Not to me, but seeing it after I joined help me figure myself out. I think making the TS section members only is reasonable, guests can still see that there is a TS section, they just can't look inside until they go through a simple process. Perhaps there can be an "invisible" mode for those members who are not yet comfortable being seen perusing the TS section, though as Melissa (BadTranny) says, they are in for a rude awakening if they are really TS. I am a member of a few other forums, one similar to this but with fewer TS members and a more international membership, and another that is strictly TS and requires approval to join. This is the one that I use the most, because it has the most active TS section. Since I am pretty much out, I really don't care who finds out about me, and if they do, I could simply say "well, what were you doing looking at a crossdressing website?" In my opinion, TS is possibly more accepted than CD, but as I said, just my opinion. So, my feeling is that the change would not make any difference to me, but I can see the extra layer of privacy as valuable to some. Anyway, either way is going to upset some, and make other happy.........Stephanie

[Melody Moore]

No. Being able to migrate freely from CD to TS forum suited me years ago . . .
I am 100% positive that most of you who are against the proposed changes don't understand these changes
and how it will NOT affect members of this forum. The proposed changes would not stop anyone from being able
migrate from the CD section to the TS section - the proposed changes are only about blocking Google and access
by the public (those with out accounts) and only limiting access to those that have registered on the site. This is
in no way any sort of disadvantage to members of this forum, but rather affords some protection for the sensitive
personal and private information posted by members.

[TxKimberly]

Personally I do not like the idea of restricting it in any way.
A lot of us have grown well past the point of being scared by much of anything, but there are still those who are too scared to actually join anything. "Oh my God, I have to give an email address and the CIA OR FBI can track me down with that!"
"What if someone figures out who I am by seeing my posts or profile?"
Yes, most of us find that fear to be silly now, but some people really ARE scared by silly things like that.
I wouldn't risk loosing a single person, or denying a single person support.

[gonegirl]

I think this is an important question to ask and for us all to consider. The discussion is healthy and there have been many good points raised.

I propose that the Mods set up a poll that our membership can vote on. A simple yes or no choice regarding the proposed TS Forum login requirement. I've seen these polls on other forums and it's a great way to reach a decision.

Mac.

[sandra-leigh]

I am 100% positive that most of you who are against the proposed changes don't understand these changes
and how it will NOT affect members of this forum.

I understood the nature of the proposed changes from the very first posting in the thread, and see advantages in both situations. I feel that in the balance, the current situation is better than the proposed situation.

[PretzelGirl]

Wow, what a mess of misconceptions to wade through. Privacy is a thing done in layers. Safe Haven is the most private and how this forum is setup is the least. What is proposed is something in the middle and that doesn't seem to be getting grasped by all. I look at it this way:

MTF Crossdressing forum - Real general discussion, no big issue in giving yourself away. Least Privacy required.
Transsexual Forum - The talk starts getting personal and for a person just starting to explore who they are and if they may be TS, they may want some more privacy before saying those things. More privacy needed.
Safe Haven - Those that have decided they are on a certain path and need the utmost privacy to talk specifics. Absolutely the most privacy available.

So I vote yes based on some need to discuss personal issues.

[Beth-Lock]

As Charlene and Melody said, we are post-op and would perhaps just like to move on, living in something resembling stealth if possible.

My big headache, involves members with even better access than I have to various parts of this site, including private ones, trying to play silly b***r with me, and even when they don't, missing the point of my more serious posts. They already have access to the more private parts of this site, so I cannot escape them. The only solution to that which seems possible, is to stop posting on serious or contentious/hot-button topics here, and at least for serious topics I am starting to move my posting to another site instead. So, I remain silent on HRT which is a big worry for me now and an unresolved problem. I also remain silent on several other topics which, when I have raised them, just generated heat and got me blamed for trying to stir things up. It has been so frustrating, that I have been driven to my usual resort -- humour. It is beyond trying to take seriously now.

However, I decided recently to remain active in such groups, since I should pay back in terms of help, others, newer, just as I have been rewarded in the past by the sharing and participation of others. There are a lot of people committing suicide out there, for lack of anyone to give them a friendly and informative word or two, the system and the professionals, apparently adapting to their failures by hardening their hearts to them. Nobody has even begun counting the numbers. Nobody wants to spend public money on saving the lives of TS -- and that is our tragedy. Thank goodness for this site.

[~Emma D~]

Going from dont change to sitting on the fence time.

Could it be trialled for a period, and then members could see if it was having an effect either way.

Just an idea.

[Sue Too]

I'm in favor of the login rule. It is really a bare miniimum requirement.

[Badtranny]

As Charlene and Melody said, we are post-op and would perhaps just like to move on, living in something resembling stealth if possible.

Oh for goodness sake than move-on already! If I have to hear one more Postie "threaten" to leave the community and go live their lives, I'm gonna snap and take a hostage. We get it, you're a "woman" now, you're not like us poor unwashed dangling trannies. Why oh why is it so trendy to "leave the community"? It's a joke is what it is and all you broads who keep saying it are just making yourselves look silly to the rest of us.



Transsexual Forum - The talk starts getting personal and for a person just starting to explore who they are and if they may be TS, they may want some more privacy before saying those things. More privacy needed.


Privacy is for pooping and other things you don't want people to see. It's offensive to imply that us dirty TS people need more privacy so non-members can't see the illicit things we say to each other. I abhor the whole concept of secrecy or closed doors. If you must be private than Safe Haven is plenty private.



Safe Haven - Those that have decided they are on a certain path and need the utmost privacy to talk specifics. Absolutely the most privacy available.

The utmost privacy. It's the height of silliness and self importance that anything said there is so delicate. I can only imagine what the hens must be clucking to each other about in there. ...especially now. ;-)



I wouldn't risk loosing a single person, or denying a single person support.

This is exactly my point. Many people read for weeks or months before they feel like they have something to say. I would very likely have never joined if I wasn't able to see the TS section as a lurker. The CD section is what I found, but it didn't really speak to me. I didn't know who I was, and it was the mouthy broads in the TS section who gave me things to think about. KellyCan specifically.

TS people are at a greater risk than CD's. Some of us never really cross-dressed, many of us are trying to reconcile a lifelong sense of misplacement. Some of us were confused by an emotional attraction to women but a sexual attraction to straight men.

These are discussions that need to be as public as possible.

[Miranda-E]

I am 100% positive that most of you who are against the proposed changes don't understand these changes
and how it will NOT affect members of this forum. The proposed changes would not stop anyone from being able
migrate from the CD section to the TS section - the proposed changes are only about blocking Google and access
by the public (those with out accounts) and only limiting access to those that have registered on the site. This is
in no way any sort of disadvantage to members of this forum, but rather affords some protection for the sensitive
personal and private information posted by members.

we understand it, we understood it from the 1st post and still don't want it.
google and guests viewing is exactly where these discussions need to be seen because these discussions are important.

[Raquel June]

I don't mind people being able to find what I say. I'm not leaving my home address on here. And I'm not saying anything super-personal outside of Safe Haven.

I think it's great that people can see that there are a lot of posts in the TS section and that it's not just for CDs.

But, for all forums, I think a lot of people would like it if you needed to login to see avatars, the user's location under the avatar, or any attachments.

I'm not afraid of being "outed," but it's creepy that Google can link anybody to my actual picture next to each post. I think more people would have their actual pic if it weren't for that. And I'd probably have a pic without sunglasses.

[Nigella]

This is being taken back to staff for further discussion

[Tamara Croft]

Well that wasn't a great discussion was it? ask a simple question, turn into an argument :rolleyes: Seems the consensus is to leave it as it is for now, so that's what we will do, leave it as it is. If you want to post privately, there is Safe Haven which is only viewable if you've been given access.