What profile is for ?

[Mavis]

I’ve been looking thru the membership list out of curiosity and found that actually there are many people don’t have a lot of details in their profile, not to mention about the profile pic.

Personally, I’d prefer to know who I’m talking to/ chatting with.

A little background/details of him/her, and even better to know their face.
Don’t you feel it’s much more ‘real’ when u can get to relate their background and face when you talk to them?

[CS_owns_Zurich_n_me]

I agree Mavis, though I must admit my guilt as to not having such a detail profile I was just fitting in with social norms, its true I am a sheep (yes! another thing to put in my profile ).

Also regarding the picture part of it, as most are on the photo of one social or another, how about Diem or another hero running this site, identify those in the pictures?

In anticipation of...'if you came you would know'...I am fully intending to do this!

[CS_owns_Zurich_n_me]

Oh and I think to get the attention this deserves it should be under the general topic.

[Mavis]

i was going to put it under General Topic, but then hmm...i wasnt sure,so i started it under the off-topic haha.. we'll see whether Mark will move it to other topic

[mark]

Well actually since this subject exclusively to do with the use of this forum, don't you think it would belong in "Forum Support"? Sure, mark will move it, but he hates cleaning up after people all the time, so do him a favour next time and put it in the right place...

Mavis, I agree with you - I think it makes some sense to fill in the profile details. I also think it's a matter of politeness to drop a little introduction and give a little bit of info about yourself before asking for help. Unfortunately there are many who just see the internet and many forums as a place to serve them, rather than a community. You see it around here sometimes - someone arrives (often not living from Switzerland) and abruptly demands the answers to a list of questions, giving no information about themselves.

I don't know about you, but I'm in no hurry to answer such people

At some point I might put in the requirement to complete the profile data before posting the first message, or a reminder to do so, or something along those lines.

My pet hate is also people who fill in their location as "Switzerland", or "CH" (which usually means nothing to those who don't live here, they don't know what it stands for). Simply "Switzerland" doesn't mean anything to those of us who do - we can't even guess which language region they are in...

[Diem]

	Quote:	CS_owns_Zurich_n_me
	how about Diem or another hero running this site, identify those in the pictures?

Just let me know which ones you fancy

Anyway, I dangerously named names according to Mavis's previous request. If nobody shouts about it, I'll name more.

You can see a real photo of me in my profile (clue: not the cartoon version.)

=DM=
PS I'm not a hero who runs the site, I just like to meet people. Feel free to give me millions of reputation points if you appreciate my efforts

[ming_the_merciless]

	Quote:	mark
	My pet hate is also people who fill in their location as "Switzerland", or "CH" (which usually means nothing to those who don't live here, they don't know what it stands for). Simply "Switzerland" doesn't mean anything to those of us who do - we can't even guess which language region they are in...

Do give people some credit. Many people who don't live here are aware that CH is Switzerland. (They might even guess from the this forums domain name and it's subject material!!)

And given that this is the /English/ forum, the importance of members language region is of limited use beyond being an interesting stat.

[Lou]

	Quote:	ming_the_merciless
	Do give people some credit. Many people who don't live here are aware that CH is Switzerland. (They might even guess from the this forums domain name and it's subject material!!) And given that this is the /English/ forum, the importance of members language region is of limited use beyond being an interesting stat.

I disagree, most people I know have no idea what CH stands for. When I have driven my car home I always get asked what it means. I've also been asked by people here what it actually stands for.

Knowing which part of Switzerland people are residing in is important and relevant to a lot of the questions that are asked and especially now that we have the rather helpful language section.

[Mavis]

Well ... Sorry Mark, but I'm just bad in identifying where I should put it.

But for sure ... I will try my best to see which Topic my new threads will best fit in the future

	Quote:	mark
	Well actually since this subject exclusively to do with the use of this forum, don't you think it would belong in "Forum Support"? Sure, mark will move it, but he hates cleaning up after people all the time, so do him a favour next time and put it in the right place...

[Mavis]

I also didn't know what CH stands for before I came here

	Quote:	Lou
	I disagree, most people I know have no idea what CH stands for. When I have driven my car home I always get asked what it means. I've also been asked by people here what it actually stands for.

[mark]

	Quote:	Mavis
	Well ... Sorry Mark, but I'm just bad in identifying where I should put it.

Do the clear descriptions under each area not give a clue?

[Mavis]

Oh the instruction is clear it's just me....

Please excuse my incapability in understanding and categorizing things

	Quote:	mark
	Do the clear descriptions under each area not give a clue?

[Music Mole]

	Quote:	Mavis
	Please excuse my incapability in understanding and categorizing things

Mavis - you are not alone. My personal bad is always seeming to post a thread about something that's already been asked. I'll search before posting but I never seem to search for the magical right term so I never find the results. But mark is usually good about searching and posting the search results on the threads I then create . . .

All we can do is do our best . . .

As for profile info, I am always cautious in an internet forum setting about giving too many personal details away. Sorry - the facts are there are some not-so-nice people out there. Hence my current location is the county I live in, not the name of my small town. When I move to Switzerland, if we are in a large city like Zürich, I'll list that. If we end up in a smaller town outside the city I'll list the canton. I'm just funny that way . . . but I'm ok with it!

[Sauron]

	Quote:	Mavis
	I’ve been looking thru the membership list out of curiosity and found that actually there are many people don’t have a lot of details in their profile, not to mention about the profile pic. Personally, I’d prefer to know who I’m talking to/ chatting with. A little background/details of him/her, and even better to know their face. Don’t you feel it’s much more ‘real’ when u can get to relate their background and face when you talk to them?

Dont really belive half the things people say here do you ?

Sauron A Nice guy Honest, Ex- Mountain climber horse back rider through the Sands of Africa......

Sorry Its the voice in my heads that need me to write this lol

Sauron

[mepriana]

	Quote:	Mavis
	I’ve been looking thru the membership list out of curiosity and found that actually there are many people don’t have a lot of details in their profile, not to mention about the profile pic. Personally, I’d prefer to know who I’m talking to/ chatting with. A little background/details of him/her, and even better to know their face. Don’t you feel it’s much more ‘real’ when u can get to relate their background and face when you talk to them?

Mavis, you have shamed me into completing more of my profile, but you have to do without a pic, since I generally take them of other things/people, not of myself.... but the details are filled in, anyway!

[mark]

Mavis, you'll be pleased to know that people who haven't filled in their profiles will not get a little pop up box reminding them to do so. I've also altered the location description to say "Where you live (if Switzerland, please enter town or region)". I'm also seeing if I can specifically refuse the responses "Switzerland" or "CH".

[Mavis]

Thanks mates!!!

That's really good then I could start to surf again member's profile

[DaveA]

That may well be the case, but not everyone wishes their personal details splattered all over the internet for all and sundry. If you have seen how such details can be related and analysed, you may think twice. If you put something on the internet, it is usually archived and as someone has pointed out on another thread, you lose control of it. If you wish to share your personal details with the world then fine,but don't complain if by chance they are misused.

And please don't assume others will do so, or try to coerce them into this. If provision of such details become a mandatory requirement for membership to the forum, then my contributions will cease.

Regards
Dave

	Quote:	Mavis
	I’ve been looking thru the membership list out of curiosity and found that actually there are many people don’t have a lot of details in their profile... Personally, I’d prefer to know who I’m talking to/ chatting with. A little background/details of him/her, and even better to know their face.

[CS_owns_Zurich_n_me]

I agree that it shouldn't be compulsory but I think the request was more regarding information about you as a person rather than personal details.

And you can describe yourself without giving away any sensitive information.

Just my opinion. Also being on teh receinving end of your very good contribution I certainly don't think it would be a good idea for them to stop.

	Quote:	DaveA
	That may well be the case, but not everyone wishes their personal details splattered all over the internet for all and sundry. If you have seen how such details can be related and analysed, you may think twice. If you put something on the internet, it is usually archived and as someone has pointed out on another thread, you lose control of it. If you wish to share your personal details with the world then fine,but don't complain if by chance they are misused. And please don't assume others will do so, or try to coerce them into this. If provision of such details become a mandatory requirement for membership to the forum, then my contributions will cease. Regards Dave

[DaveA]

Thats fair enough, although I never cease to be amazed what you can piece-together concerning some peoples' background, family and even state of health from their (internet) posts. Too much information IMO.

dave

	Quote:	CS_owns_Zurich_n_me
	I agree that it shouldn't be compulsory but I think the request was more regarding information about you as a person rather than personal details.