Privacy, real names, and other thoughts

[Tim Vasquez]

I wanted to bring up the issue of privacy on Stormtrack. As you all might know, we have a mandated "real names" policy and much of our board is indexed by Google. Combined, this does present some privacy issues and we have become somewhat of a panopticon for friends, future employers, ex-wives, stalkers, Lexis-Nexis, lawyers, and whoever else might want to check up on us someday. We do allow the use of pseudonyms, but it's on an "don't ask don't tell" basis and this keeps some from developing a good name and a real identity in the storm chasing community.

So we think it's good to invite feedback and discussion about our privacy policies and how we can make Stormtrack a more usable and trustworthy place. Some questions for thought:

1. How do you currently feel about our real names policy? Do you have concerns about it?

2. Do you have concerns about what the general public reads (or might read someday) in your posts?

3. Do you see any need for making some areas of Stormtrack private? Which ones?

4. What are your feelings about Target Area being viewable by the public?

Tim

 

[Connor McCrorey]

1. How do you currently feel about our real names policy? Do you have concerns about it?

2. Do you have concerns about what the general public reads (or might read someday) in your posts?

3. Do you see any need for making some areas of Stormtrack private? Which ones?

4. What are your feelings about Target Area being viewable by the public?

1. I personally like the policy. I don't know how others feel about it, but I think it's nice to always know who a poster is without having to try to remember some strange name they came up with.

2. If I don't want the public to read my posts, I post it in the B&G, simple as that. Last time I checked, that area was not available to the public.

3. As long as the B&G is kept private, I see no reason to close off any other sections. While I wouldn't necessarily mind if another one was made private, I don't see any reason to at this time.

4. When I was just getting started, the FCST threads here were some of my main resources in learning about chasing and forecasting. I think it would be a little selfish to close off an area that has plenty to offer, when there are so many people that could benefit from it.

Then again, maybe it could help clear the roads

 

[Chris Allington]

1. How do you currently feel about our real names policy? Do you have concerns about it?

2. Do you have concerns about what the general public reads (or might read someday) in your posts?

3. Do you see any need for making some areas of Stormtrack private? Which ones?

4. What are your feelings about Target Area being viewable by the public?

Tim

1.) Thus far I agree with the policy. It only causes problems when people want to start flame wars about something that happened out on the road. I feel that it helps the quality here too, as someone is likely to put more thought behind what they are saying when their actual name is being used.

2.) The only thing I can think of to be concerned about is an insurance company being able to see why you really filed a claim on your vehicle and subsequently denying it. Not that I have this problem... my chase vehicle is paid off and liability only so I couldnt claim hail damage if I tried.

3.) I think unless we start to have a real problem with quality control in the FCST threads then it should stay how it is now.

4.) Kinda goes hand in hand with the above.

 

[Jason Foster]

Keep the Real Name policy

I think the policy of real names is a good one. In fact, I prefer to see first and last name, such as the way I'm listed, and many others. I'm not big on the first initial and last name or other variations. Stormtrack, do to the nature of what is discussed here, full disclosure is vital to keeping the content and the posters of this content accountable. The right to not join and belong rests with the individuals who wish to remain anonymous. There are plenty of other boards and forums that do not have this policy to which they can join and be more than satisfied with the anonymity. I think Stormtrack has been able to control and manage the content on it's forum much more easily because of the real name policy. Without such a policy and practice there is a much easier way for a non-proper name poster to unjustly post about someone else with slander and such, even if it is against policy, it will still happen and will mean a huge increase in management from the administration and moderators.

While I understand the desire for some to allow those to be anonymous because of work or insurance. However, I think it is a slippery slope when we allow such people to join while lying to employers, insurance, etc. about their activities. Stormtrack should not be in the business or protecting others for their life decisions. Stormtrack's liability and reputation are better served by keeping and strictly adhering to a real name only policy in my personal opinion.

I will say that one area that could be considered making private is any and all forecast areas. Those have the highest level or liability for those who post there and to Stormtrack itself. Through other networks and associations, that is one area that "legal" has advised those groups to be very cautious about and forecasting given over the air or posted online. That would be my only suggestion for a change to the public view policy as it currently stands.

 

[Jerry Prsha]

1. How do you currently feel about our real names policy? Do you have concerns about it?

2. Do you have concerns about what the general public reads (or might read someday) in your posts?

3. Do you see any need for making some areas of Stormtrack private? Which ones?

4. What are your feelings about Target Area being viewable by the public?

Tim

At first, I thought that the real names idea was a bit drastic but the idea grew on me. It keeps thing from becoming childish and the owness of each post is obvious. When the emperor has no clothes, everyone knows it.

For that reason, question number two becomes part of the first question.

Three and four are related as well in my own mind. When did knowledge become proprietary? I can understand people not wanting things to get crowded but seriously, what the real purpose of Stormtrack if it's not to educate others? If you don't want to share where you're headed for the day, don't post it. I think sometimes people post on the target area more for their ego rather than for the benefit of others anyway.

 

[Darren Addy]

I think it is kind of quaint, in that it ceased to be a good idea a long time ago.

It doesn't really matter to me, because I am one of the ones that gets away with using a pseudonym. In my real life, I'm a minor hollywood celebrity but I got sick of people wigging out about it. I pay a guy in Kearney, NE to answer to my pseudonym and pass along any real messages that I need to hear. The downside of all of this is that I don't get to be on the plains in person as much as I want to. There is many a Spring that I wish I could actually trade places with the guy in Kearney. Maybe after I win an Oscar, I'll be able to arrange that. For now, I still have to compete for good roles and that requires me staying pretty close to the big lights. Look for me soon in a hilarious movie near you where I play a pathological liar.

 

[Dennis Sherrod]

I think the policy of using real names helps keep credibility in this site. All anyone has to do is look at some of the other sites that allow other forms of User IDs. You will see they are not very professional and seems more of a place to just play, than learn, help, or get information.
As someone else said, it is good to know who the people are that are making comments than trying to figure out and keep up who has what little comic name, initials, IDs etc. We can still have fun here with our avatars, but at least we know who it is.
As far as privacy and what someone else may read... If you are really concerned about what someone may read in your post, then don't post it or go to one of the other sites and use the secret initial methods.

 

[Jeff Passner]

Keep real names... I was not crazy about it at first but it does not bother me. Fake names will mean fake posts; lots of junk here. If you are not comfortable posting things then you should not post. Chasing is a world-wide thing now, nothing will stop that, so it's good to see people here from almost every US State and all over the world. Honestly, nothing should be private here. We actually could use MORE people posting forecasts -- the more input the better. I actually think there are too many lurkers as it is. Making things private will diminsh the input the site gets.

 

[Richard Dickson]

I'm very pleased with the present situation. I think it adds a lot of credibility to know that what you put in print is what you believe and are willing to stand by whatever judgment the world places upon you. I really believe that using your name rather than hiding behind some made up handle is one of the things that attracted me to join ST and participate once I got over being nervous.

I also appreciate the excellent job the mods do of shepherding this group and quickly getting rid of posts that are more than the public really need to know about.

 

[Tim Vasquez]

When did knowledge become proprietary? I can understand people not wanting things to get crowded but seriously, what the real purpose of Stormtrack if it's not to educate others?

Yeah, I failed to explain that. I've gotten a couple of e-mails with the general idea that Joe "Non-Chaser" Sixpack finds out about Stormtrack's Target Area from Fark, ESPN, or wherever and figures whatever location is posted is a good place to go with a cooler full of beer and a camcorder. I could easily see that multiplying the chase crowds. It's a interesting point that comes up from time to time.

Tim

 

[John Wetter]

1. How do you currently feel about our real names policy? Do you have concerns about it?

I like the real names policy. It gives credibility and accountability. You should be able to stand up next to whatever you say.

2. Do you have concerns about what the general public reads (or might read someday) in your posts?

No. See number 1.

3. Do you see any need for making some areas of Stormtrack private? Which ones?

I still like keeping the B&G private along with the forecast threads. Let people actually make effort to read those parts.

4. What are your feelings about Target Area being viewable by the public?

Keep it private to members only. Makes sense to not just open that to the world for everybody to just hang out with a camcorder. Again, make people put in some effort to really be a part of the community.

 

[Adam Lucio]

1 - I agree with the masses. Keep the real names going. Theres enough flame wars as it is...the last thing we want to do is give immature minds an alias to hide behind.

2 - No I dont, if I think a post could be damaging to me if someone reads it, I wont post it. Everyone including my employer knows I chase...so nothing they read on here will surprise them...if they can understand it.

3 - I say the FCST area - for the reasons Tim mentioned. If people want to chase they should learn, not just leech of our hard thought forecasts and efforts. Reports and DISC threads can stay public.

4 - see above.

 

[Jim Saueressig]

I say we use only real names because that creates credibility but because we use them I also think that the B&G and TA (forecasts) need to be private. A stalker could hit you up in your target area if you find that sort of an issue to be a problem. Seems that has already been an issue in the past even if some were lucky enough that it was just blowhards making the threats it could always get real in the future as it seems many chasers are speakers of their minds and that irritates some people.

 

[Scott Lincoln]

To maintain this as a professional forum, I believe that all users should continue to be required to use their full real names.

 

[Anthony Silver]

1. How do you currently feel about our real names policy? Do you have concerns about it?

For the same reasons others have provided, I think the real names policy should stick. Allowing people to post anonymously or under pseudo-anonymous user names just opens the door for all kinds of trouble (Flame wars, trolling, etc).

2. Do you have concerns about what the general public reads (or might read someday) in your posts?

Nope, not at all. If I have any doubts as to whether or not a post will negatively impact my personal, financial, and/or work life...I'll just keep my mouth shut.

3. Do you see any need for making some areas of Stormtrack private? Which ones?

Keep the B&G "members only" as well as some of the forecast/target areas.

4. What are your feelings about Target Area being viewable by the public?

Tough call. On one side of the coin-I think people who are legitimately interested in chasing should be able to come here and learn. On the flip side, I don't feel we need the stalker or yahoo element out there creating potential safety hazards for us (clogging up the roadways, etc) due to inexperience or whatever the case may be.

I think restricting access to the Forecasts & Nowcasts is a great idea while leaving the Post Storm Discussion & Historical Chase sections open to the public.

Just my 2 cents....