h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

how do you know if a convo is private between two ppl

Well, I'd say it depends on what kind of entry the conversation belongs to.

I see you've already posted in several threads at <./>Askh2g2</.> - those can definitely not be considered private.

If, on the other hand, you see a conversation belonging to a user page, then it's more likely to be a private one.

so is there no defining key to mark the thread as actually Private or
do you always use your own judgement

On h2g2 *nothing* is private, it's a public forum, anyone who visits h2g2 can read everything you have said, which is why the BBC advise you not to disclose email adresses or suchlike.

You can unsubscribe to a conversation if you wish, even after having commented, but other people who are still subscribed to that convo can read what you wrote previously, so if they feel like contacting you via your personal space, they could (you are not of course obliged to reply to them)

Basically, it's probably best to assume everyone can read everything and keep private stuff for emails and instant messaging is my advice.

Terri

Technically, there is no such thing as a "private" thread on h2g2. All threads are open for everyone to read and to comment on. However, very rarely do people uninvolved in conversations just come along and make a comment. It is sort of a judgement call.

That said, I'm replying to this thread because I'm an ACE and a Guru, and thus qualified to answer such questions. It's sort of my job.

You may *think* you're qualified but you're still wrong. There *is* such a thing as a private thread, ie one on someone's private forum. It's "private" to the participants in that (after a bug fix) other normal users can't even see it is there - though the staff can still stalk those threads.

Traveller in Time wearing none of the badges
"Sometimes you can see in the subject a thread is supposed to be 'private'. Other threads span for pages with just two researchers having a conversation.

I sometimes 'intrude' in threads on a Personal Space, most often to provide a missing bit of information. Such as denying the idea the conversation would be private. "

Prezactly.

Who got modded?

Traveller in Time counting the conversation level
"Probably SEF, they are in pre mod so the message can appear any minute. "

Amy's right - h2g2 doesn't have private areas, although iCan does. Some people misuse the iCan functionality and make it appear on h2g2, but it's still an iCan tool, not an h2g2 one. They pay for it, they run it - nothing to do with us at all.

The forums for h2g2 members *are* on h2g2 space. I checked again when posting last time just to be sure you hadn't changed anything since previous checks. You might like to pretend they are on ican but they are not. Trying to restrict functionality to just ican was actually a post-hoc fix for the way it was showing up before on other sites.

I repeat - private areas created on h2g2 use functionality created for use on iCan, not h2g2.

If Researchers choose to misuse iCan's fucntionality, that's their choice, but we are under no obligation to host those areas and can close them down should we feel it's inappropriate to have them on this site.

Amy, I notice with interest that you don't respond or reply to posts from this page from your fellow Aces requesting help with Welcoming newbies, I believe that is part of your job too, as you, yourself quoted about your job in post #5.

Emmily

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Hi Emmily,

I would prefer to keep this sort of conversation purely in the ACEforum at Yahool; however, normally by the time I have had a chance to sit down and do hootoo things, there are no longer any newbies who need welcoming. I am in the US, and thus five hours behind the (normally) UK ACES who post those pleas.

And simply because I do not reply to such annoying ploys, that does not mean I do not meet and greet on my own without such prompting. I do what I can, when I can.

End of discussion. Keep it on yahoogroup, please.

Good idea

And congrats on your engagement, Amy

I often wonder what one would call stalking. Perhaps being subscribed to a volunteer page that they don't belong could be classed as such - particularly if it was used to spread a personal vendetta.

Obviously the more people available to help the better - providing they wish to help of course.

And the more experienced researchers that may be subscribed to this page have an obvious interest in promoting the positive aspects of the site - we like it.

Just a thought and not an opening for a debate.



Mort

Traveller in Time showing his non badges on official pages
"I mostly wait a few hours until 'experts' have given their opinion. "

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SEF - I am so pleased to hear that you feel you do still belong as part of the site, and any help you can offer to show newer researchers the wonderful things h2g2 has to offer will always be appreciated