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bbpolitical
Forum Admin
265 Posts |
 Posted - 11/15/2005 : 4:53:31 PM
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I just wanted to make a post here because I am not sure how many of you post both here and also follow the conversation on my blog (You must be logged in to see this link.). However, I thought I should mention that I was accused of tracking people's privacy over there because apparently my site counter recorded part of people's IP addresses (not enough to identify anyone) as well as the time they access the page and the kind of web browser/operating system they were using. I posted a more detailed explanation of what happened over there if you are curious.
In any case, I have since removed the counter and as I was unaware the counter was doing this and I have investigated this forum as well. Thus far, it my understanding that no one's ISP is tracked here and made available to me or anbyone else using the forum. I certainly have no need or want to use anyone personal information anyway. However, I do know that nearly all ad banners, such as the Google one above, track this information to find out where users are located and better target ads. That is whay I don't have to pay to host this forum. This tracking is rather benign, however, if you are really nervous about this information being tracked, there are several things you can do.
First of all there is a website I really like at You must be logged in to see this link.
It includes a forum as well as links to small programs that get rid of tracking files (called cookies) and spying software that is sometimes downloaded when you visit certain unsafe websites (I get them usually when I mistype an address and go to a site I don't recognize). The easiest ones to use are Spybot Search and Destroy and the Microsoft Antispyware. These are seperate form virus checkers like Norton Anitvirus and are completely free. The castle cops website can also point you in the direction of ways to block your IP address from being transmitted by your computer as it normally is, however disabling this often disables features on websites or can stop you from being able to use a website altogether, so it is a trade off.
The point is, what my site meter was doing there was completely unintended by me. I have no need for location info and all I wanted to know was how many times the site was accessed. However, tracking this info is so commonplace now that it is literally everywhere you go online. My little counter is nothing compared to what a savvy technical con-artist or company can get about you if aren't careful. But, for the average user, cleaning out the spyware and setting passwords that are hard to guess on your computer and email is enough to keep your privacy safe.
I certainly think blogs are safe as blogger.com would lose most of its blogs if it did try to steal personal information.
I am an average resident of Everett who would like to see more communication about anything and everything to do with Everett
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Jane
Senior Member
102 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2005 : 6:01:33 PM
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| just becareful you never know |
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bbpolitical
Forum Admin
265 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2005 : 9:12:48 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Jane
just becareful you never know
Jane,
Well, my blog has not received a single comment since the discovery of the counter around 3PM, so the future of my blog as a source of discussion seems in doubt. It may be too late for me to fix perceptions there. As a result of what I perceive to be a loss of trust in my motivations (mostly created by anonymous comments of questionable agenda) I nearly decided to close out my blog altogether.
But I won't
Since the Everett Average Citizen forum was designed to be a center of discussion, my obligation now becomes even more clear to maintain the integrity of this forum. I can continue to post on my personal blog using it to make editorial-type comments when I feel like it, but frankly, it doesn't matter if nobody reads them or comments there, since I have no political agenda or aspirations. However, in this forum my role in posts is simply as a member of the community. As the administrator, I will only do what is needed to keep the most discussed topics active and coordinate the needs expressed by the community by creating new categories as seems appropriate and archiving out-of-date. This forum is of greater importance to me and therefore I will work very hard to maintain it as a free platform for discussion. I will continue to appreciate any comments from you or from anyone else to advance the forum. I hope everyone here will give me the benefit of the doubt that I am doing my best to help this forum as open as possible.
That being said, the home link above is currently set to go to my personal blog. As this seems inappropriate now, I will be take suggestions as to what the new home link should be and make a poll in a new thread.
I am an average resident of Everett who would like to see more communication about anything and everything to do with Everett |
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bbpolitical
Forum Admin
265 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2005 : 11:02:17 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by H1ghCh4r1ty
I am concerned and dissappointed regarding this discovery.
Anonymity is a wonderful catalyst for a vibrant discussion of politics on a blog/message board.
I can only assume that this was happening under Stan's blog and he didn't have the decency to notify us.
bbeverettma, I thank you for your honesty and candor.
I must reconsider my participation on this blog as it may compromise my privacy.
Emile Schoeffhausen
Just to clear up any possible confusion, let me remind everyone that this is not my blog, this is a forum. No IP addresses are tracked by me on this forum, the personal blog at zoom76.blogspot.com was the blog being discussed here. You must be logged in to see this link. site remains as safe as any website could be and absolutely nothing is tracked and made visible to any users, including myself, IP addresses or otherwise. The best way to ensure privacy on the internet is to use hard-to-guess passwords and use spyware removal software. But, again, there is no danger of privacy invasion here.
Thanks,
Michael Bilica
I am an average resident of Everett who would like to see more communication about anything and everything to do with Everett |
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lisa
Senior Member
143 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 05:26:13 AM
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| do you think Stand up Everett had this problem? hell no, if they wanted us they would of found us by now. Good job Mike just remember its hard being a moderator on a line. Unlike H1 I will be here who cares if they know who we are I would only worry about the ragucci administration doing something stupid not anyone else out here. That should bring H1 back we like to agree to disagree. Smile. |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 05:59:39 AM
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Thank you for clarifying the situation, Michael. As lisa says, it is a commitment to run this forum, and I thank you for taking the time to do so.
I will be staying here for a while, much to the dismay of others.
Not you of course, lisa.
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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lisa
Senior Member
143 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 08:04:27 AM
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| are you picking on me H1? |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 4:13:35 PM
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never you lisa, you're my pal
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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lisa
Senior Member
143 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 4:19:30 PM
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| H1 I am so glad I will not be executed out here. Hate to see where my head would be rolling LOL |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 7:44:10 PM
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Too many executions at City Hall.
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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Masterful1
Senior Member
421 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 7:52:12 PM
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| Not any at Vine Street. The Reaper should visit that place..lol |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 8:53:49 PM
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Excellent observation.
A few in particular appear to have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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