Since non-CathInfo members cannot post in this forum, I think it would be helpful to rename the forum to something like, "Anonymous".
As opposed to "Anonymous Posts Allowed"?
I think "Anonymous Posts Allowed" is clear.
This way, it does not appear that unregistered guests are posting.
I never got that impression.
Likewise, I think it would be helpful to change the screen name for such anonymous posts from "Guest Unregistered" to "Anonymous Poster".
That makes sense.
(I was originally thinking it should be "Anonymous Coward", but Matthew has posted elsewhere good reasons why some posters may have for posting particular comments anonymously.)
I agree with Matthew.
I also think it would be helpful if the "DO NOT post this Anonymously" option was checked by default and that members should have to un-check it in order to post anonymously.
I couldn't disagree more. When one is in a section for anonymous posts, much safer to have "anonymous" be the default. If one forgets to check, no big deal; he or she can always go back & edit their post to put their name on it. But if someone wants to post anonymously and forgets to check a button, then their meant-to-be-anonymous post is out there for all the world to see with their name on it. Even if they
immediately go back and edit to remove the text, someone may have seen it in the interim, and/or if the title of their thread gives the topic, now they can never go in and post anonymously, because the first post with text removed would be with their name.
No way should the default be non-anonymous!
e.g. Suppose Jane Doe starts a topic called, "Married to a pathological liar." She is already stressed out about posting this, but the anonymity gives her the confidence she needs to post. She starts the topic with that thread title, and accidentally (in her stress) forgets to "check" the anonymous button [especially since CI members are already used to the opposite default]. She hits the "post" button, and voilà! Now all the world knows that Jane Doe feels she is married to a pathological liar. And even if Jane Doe is not her real name :wink: , anonymous screen names only go so far; a lot of times, depending on your posting style, it's not that hard to pin down who someone is, or at least have a suspicion. Plus, often spouses know each other's screen names.
Likewise for any individual posts.
How hard is it for Joe Schmoe, posting anonymously, if he forgets to check the "do not post anonymously" button, to go back in, edit his post, and sign it "Joe Schmoe"? Not hard at all, and no harm done if he forgot to check the button. There are
zero bad ramifications for Joe Schmoe if he accidentally posted anonymously, other than the poor guy will have to spend the 10 seconds to edit his post and sign it. Poor baby. But as seen by the example above, there could be HUGE bad ramifications the other way.
Topic: Guest Forum (Read 791 times)