Why are members allowed to keep their locations anonymous?

[1979]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Other members have addressed the privacy reasons. From a technical standpoint, there is no foolproof way to determine the zip code where an Internet address originates. Sometimes it's possible to determine the city or the name of the organization that owns the connection, but to be able to identify it down to the zip code is rare. There are many Internet addresses that are impossible to even identify the country of origin.

Well, I know there are ways to detect location. And after all, the police do it all the time. Computers I've used on college campuses connect to weather in local area, and I've seen personal adds pop up announcing advertisements related to where the computer is located. I've seen it on personal computers as well.

People also try to come off that an area is either more "liberal" or "conservative" than it really is by playing off like they're a native. We see this with the huge amount of responses every time a "gay marriage" post is listed. Then, all of a sudden we see a "phrase" or some other clue that is not even indicative, or popular to that native area.

[hiknapster]

In one of the regional forums there's a guy from another country that claims his location as one of the local zip codes. He's been to the town for a few days to buy an investment property. That's it. Now he tries to tout the area like it is some paradise when it is an economic disaster.

What can you do? In the end, it just doesn't matter.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by 1979

Well, I know there are ways to detect location. And after all, the police do it all the time.

The police have the ability to subpoena an ISP to get the information about which user was using an IP address at a given time and date, as well as the physical address of that user. City-Data doesn't have the authority to get that info from an ISP.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Ro-Dialin

Why are members allowed to keep their locations anonymous? This gives members the advantage of being able to post in other forums and act as if they are a native to a particular area when they're not. Why not generate the members location based on the zip code where they are using their computer.

Great idea / suggestion, Ro-Dialin!

Even though the negatives are no longer, I also believe all "Reps" should be automatically identified.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Ro-Dialin

Why are members allowed to keep their locations anonymous? This gives members the advantage of being able to post in other forums and act as if they are a native to a particular area when they're not. Why not generate the members location based on the zip code where they are using their computer.

If you force the location identification, they'll just create multiple shadow accounts to make their troll posts, IMHO.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Ro-Dialin

Why are members allowed to keep their locations anonymous? This gives members the advantage of being able to post in other forums and act as if they are a native to a particular area when they're not. Why not generate the members location based on the zip code where they are using their computer.

I think this is a very bad idea. I used to give the name of my town on my location, now I just list the general geographical area. I have in many posts identified the state, and on my local board, the town. But I've had some bad experiences with trolls, and I don't want to give out too much information. The more information a hacker has, the easier it is for them to find you.

Also, you can log on to CD from any computer, so why would the zip code where the computer is be beneficial?

Everyone is welcome to post on any forum. You don't have to be a "native" to do so. I post on some fourms where I have visited extensively, as well as various places I have lived.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Ro-Dialin

Why are members allowed to keep their locations anonymous? This gives members the advantage of being able to post in other forums and act as if they are a native to a particular area when they're not. Why not generate the members location based on the zip code where they are using their computer.

If there are members here that you are having a problem with, or are not following the TOS, then bring it to a moderator's attention. It shouldn't matter where they are from if they are causing trouble/trolling.

[effie g-tad]

Originally Posted by squeezeboxgal

Members aren't restricted to posting only in the area in which they live, so does it really matter if someone is a "native" or not? As others said, people can be very knowledgeable about areas whether or not they currently live there.

a whiff of hospitality, thankfully acknowledged.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by effie briest

a whiff of hospitality, thankfully acknowledged.

I agree. I was happy to see what Squeeze said and to read Katiana's last paragraph. We should all feel welcome to post and join in anywhere on the forum.

As far as posting your location~IMHO it should be the choice of the individual. There are times in the weather forum that I think it would be nice if people would at least let their state be visible, but it really is their choice.

I actually enjoy it when non-residents post in our state forum. I like to read trip reports or posts from new-comers. It's amazing the things that they pay attention to that I've never noticed since I'm a lifelong resident here. They observe many things that I never think twice about.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I agree. I was happy to see what Squeeze said and to read Katiana's last paragraph. We should all feel welcome to post and join in anywhere on the forum.

As far as posting your location~IMHO it should be the choice of the individual. There are times in the weather forum that I think it would be nice if people would at least let their state be visible, but it really is their choice.

I actually enjoy it when non-residents post in our state forum. I like to read trip reports or posts from new-comers. It's amazing the things that they pay attention to that I've never noticed since I'm a lifelong resident here. They observe many things that I never think twice about.

I agree. On the Colorado forums, it's good to "see ourselves as others see us". A lot of peole post there who are thinking of moving there.