Email address?

I was wondering if someone who’s been banned from the forum is still allowed to post their email address on the FBI site.

If that's actually against the rules, and it's clearly laid out in the forum guidelines, then I sincerely apologize for missing that detail and would appreciate it if someone could point me toward the specific rule.

On the other hand, if it isn't prohibited, why is it that a banned user's posts containing an email address keep getting deleted over and over again?

hollowtrucker77 said:Yeah, look, it’s not just the banned users—it’s actually off-limits for every single person on this forum
Dealing with private info is a massive minefield here, honestly

I guess you'll just strip your own Skype contact from your profile then. ☕ And I suppose you'll have to purge thousands of members who have their email, ICQ, or some other way to reach them listed in their profiles too.

Stop. Making. Up. Rules.

Google left an email address that doesn't reveal her real name or any actual private data. Honestly, the "slippery slope" you keep trying to convince us about is something else entirely. 😬

I'm talking about using one's own email address here, not someone else's. Plus, an email address doesn't typically reveal where you live, and it rarely even includes your full legal name.

So, in my eyes, I don't really see this as some kind of shady gray area.

People tend to leave much more significant breadcrumbs about themselves online, often sharing far more specific pieces of identity than just an email.

Regardless, it's always useful to stay informed about what's prohibited.

Paul Green31 said:I still remember back in the day when we’d get a Word doc listing our responsibilities, and it would always kick off with:

Moderators are responsible for...

And yeah, that document actually defined how to handle user data too.

But that was ages ago. It's possible someone just stopped sending them out, though that's a pretty stupid move if they did.

Thanks for the advice, but I'm also a grown man—legally and otherwise—and I'll decide who to defend and when. Besides, I have that f***ing flaw where I tend to stick up for the underdog, and right now, Sasha is just the little guy getting kicked around by a pack of bullies on the PZK.

Sure. You clearly decided to just ride the wave of change. Instead of sticking to the actual threads we opened on the PŽK regarding the forum issues, you pivoted to talking about politics, racial tensions, and self-promotion. You started pushing your own agenda with topics that have nothing to do with the discussion at hand. And you didn't even get banned for it.
If you actually had the guts to post under your real name, I might feel something. Instead, seeing how much you back down just makes me lose respect for you.
You claim to stand up for the underdog, yet you’re actually siding with the guy who holds all the power here. You're backing someone who can decide our fates on this forum without any accountability whatsoever. Yeah, that’s definitely the weaker side—the one that can ban you from this site forever.
After dozens of pages of arguing here, nobody has actually achieved anything. All this did was prove that someone tried to purge the forum using 500-point bans, but the attempt failed because those bans were completely illegitimate.
If a nation rises up against one or two dictators, that doesn't make the tyrant weaker just because he's outnumbered ten thousand to one. Numbers don't change the math of power.
Weakness is defined by a lack of power.

melloworca6 said:And you guys managed to screw up this thread again.

Sure, we're the ones who screwed this up.

melloworca6 said:And how can you actually be sure you're leaking your own data instead of someone else's?

How did I not see that sooner? Kuki is just some brainless sixteen-year-old who clearly has nothing better to do than leak people's emails all over this forum. She’s just a total psycho looking for drama and blood.

God, what a massive wave of hypocrisy.

wanderingbadger44 said:I'm talking about using one's own email address here, not someone else's. Plus, an email address doesn't typically reveal where you live, and it rarely even includes your full legal name.

So, in my eyes, I don't really see this as some kind of shady gray area.

People tend to leave much more significant breadcrumbs about themselves online, often sharing far more specific pieces of identity than just an email.

Regardless, it's always useful to stay informed about what's prohibited.

Yeah, it’s definitely good to be aware of 🤣 🤣

What exactly does that ban cover—is it strictly limited to email addresses, or does it extend to other possible means of communication as well?

Paul Green31 said:It's because posting private info is strictly against the rules here, and under the Privacy Act, an email address counts as private data.

Sharing MSN Messenger Handles isn't banned, even if they look like emails, because legally they don't fall under protected private data.

The forum is obligated to prevent anyone from leaking private info, whether it's your own details or someone else's.

Because technically, I could post my own private info right here and then sue the forum for publishing it. 😁
Pretty convenient, right?

Since the moment I hit "send post," the forum owns everything I write and becomes responsible for it.

Look, Paul, let's try to be realistic for a second.

If we have a user who was banned from the forum write something like, "My MSN Handle is xxxxxxxx@gmail.com," would that really violate any of our community guidelines or any standard American privacy laws? And is that actually something we should be encouraging people to do?

Douglas Gonzalez4 said:What exactly does that ban cover—is it strictly limited to email addresses, or does it extend to other possible means of communication as well?

If you’ve ever shared something as personal as your bra size in a thread—and let's be honest, most of us have at some point—you should probably go back, find that specific post, and ask the moderators to scrub it. It’s just like how one small slip-up with sensitive info can act like a breadcrumb trail leading straight back to your real identity under the Privacy Act.

ruggedjackal46 said:You can't know for certain, because let's face it, you can't know almost anything in this life with 100% certainty.

What you can do is weigh the situation and see if you can reach a level of confidence that's "good enough." In this specific case, we have a user who's currently under a ban, yet she's providing her email address so other users can reach out via private message. To me, it sounds perfectly plausible. I don't see any logical reason why she would go through the trouble of posting someone else's contact details. I’d say there’s a 99% chance she's telling the truth about it being her own info. I’m leaving that remaining 1% just in case she completely lost her mind overnight.

If you want my take on moderation, doing it without using your brain is like going skydiving and deciding not to pull the ripcord.

I was responding to Bradley Sanders4's post; I wasn't targeting any specific individual.

Bradley Sanders4 asked why she couldn't post her private info on the forum, so I simply asked how we were supposed to verify those were actually her details and not someone else's.

briskmoose90 said:Sure. You clearly decided to just ride the wave of change. Instead of sticking to the actual threads we opened on the PŽK regarding the forum issues, you pivoted to talking about politics, racial tensions, and self-promotion. You started pushing your own agenda with topics that have nothing to do with the discussion at hand. And you didn't even get banned for it.
If you actually had the guts to post under your real name, I might feel something. Instead, seeing how much you back down just makes me lose respect for you.
You claim to stand up for the underdog, yet you’re actually siding with the guy who holds all the power here. You're backing someone who can decide our fates on this forum without any accountability whatsoever. Yeah, that’s definitely the weaker side—the one that can ban you from this site forever.
After dozens of pages of arguing here, nobody has actually achieved anything. All this did was prove that someone tried to purge the forum using 500-point bans, but the attempt failed because those bans were completely illegitimate.
If a nation rises up against one or two dictators, that doesn't make the tyrant weaker just because he's outnumbered ten thousand to one. Numbers don't change the math of power.
Weakness is defined by a lack of power.

Sure, we're the ones who screwed this up.

How did I not see that sooner? Kuki is just some brainless sixteen-year-old who clearly has nothing better to do than leak people's emails all over this forum. She’s just a total psycho looking for drama and blood.

God, what a massive wave of hypocrisy.

No, I'm the one who screwed her over.

Oh, what a brilliant realization! Because obviously, Kuki is just some brainless sixteen-year-old with nothing better to do than drop other people's emails on a forum because she's a total psycho looking for blood and chaos.

My God, what a massive wave of hypocrisy.

There's no need to be rude. I asked a simple question.

melloworca6 said:I was responding to Bradley Sanders4's post; I wasn't targeting any specific individual.

Bradley Sanders4 asked why she couldn't post her private info on the forum, so I simply asked how we were supposed to verify those were actually her details and not someone else's.

No, I'm the one who screwed her over.

Oh, what a brilliant realization! Because obviously, Kuki is just some brainless sixteen-year-old with nothing better to do than drop other people's emails on a forum because she's a total psycho looking for blood and chaos.

My God, what a massive wave of hypocrisy.

There's no need to be rude. I asked a simple question.

But look, we're discussing a specific case here, and moderation is always about dealing with the specifics. Sometimes someone will post something like, "Hey, send dick pics to my email at anderlon@forum.hr," and then we'll know they're probably lying. Other times, you get a situation where the email address is likely legitimate. The point is, there’s no sense in deleting EVERYTHING; you have to leave the cases where it's highly probable the person isn't lying about their contact info.

ruggedjackal46 said:What mess?

Person A posted their own email address just so other users could reach them while they're under a ban.

The upside of deleting it: you eliminate the tiny, microscopic chance that she accidentally leaked someone else's address (which is unlikely, since why would anyone bother posting a stranger's email just to tell people to send them private messages?) or that she tries to sue the site over her own self-published email. That wouldn't fly here in the States, either.

The downside of deleting it: you're stripping away her ability to talk to people outside the forum (which isn't actually part of the ban she received), you're setting a precedent where admins would have to scrub endless amounts of private info from profiles and posts across the entire site, you're fueling more drama with an already unhappy user, and you might even inadvertently push her to create a sockpuppet account just to stay in touch with people.

You don't need a law degree to figure out which option makes more sense.

shadowpilot8 said:I assumed that was the entire point of a ban.

The sheer, unstoppable power of forum moderation just keeps growing by the second.🤣

ruggedjackal46 said:But look, we're discussing a specific case here, and moderation is always about dealing with the specifics. Sometimes someone will post something like, "Hey, send dick pics to my email at anderlon@forum.hr," and then we'll know they're probably lying. Other times, you get a situation where the email address is likely legitimate. The point is, there’s no sense in deleting EVERYTHING; you have to leave the cases where it's highly probable the person isn't lying about their contact info.

Then you run into the issue where some people are allowed to post their emails while others aren't (specifically those using their full names), and I can already hear someone else coming out of the woodwork to complain that the rules should apply equally to everyone.

What about when someone puts a company name in their email? That isn't a first and last name, so it could slip through just like this cookin' email—it wouldn't count as personal data. What are we supposed to do in those situations?

briskmoose90 said:Sure. You clearly decided to just ride the wave of change. Instead of sticking to the actual threads we opened on the PŽK regarding the forum issues, you pivoted to talking about politics, racial tensions, and self-promotion. You started pushing your own agenda with topics that have nothing to do with the discussion at hand. And you didn't even get banned for it.
If you actually had the guts to post under your real name, I might feel something. Instead, seeing how much you back down just makes me lose respect for you.
You claim to stand up for the underdog, yet you’re actually siding with the guy who holds all the power here. You're backing someone who can decide our fates on this forum without any accountability whatsoever. Yeah, that’s definitely the weaker side—the one that can ban you from this site forever.
After dozens of pages of arguing here, nobody has actually achieved anything. All this did was prove that someone tried to purge the forum using 500-point bans, but the attempt failed because those bans were completely illegitimate.
If a nation rises up against one or two dictators, that doesn't make the tyrant weaker just because he's outnumbered ten thousand to one. Numbers don't change the math of power.
Weakness is defined by a lack of power.

Sure, we're the ones who screwed this up.

How did I not see that sooner? Kuki is just some brainless sixteen-year-old who clearly has nothing better to do than leak people's emails all over this forum. She’s just a total psycho looking for drama and blood.

God, what a massive wave of hypocrisy.

Wow, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You’re really out here pointing fingers while being the biggest hypocrite in the room. So what if you figured out my other handle? It’s not like I need "balls" to use it—honestly, I have no idea where you even got that idea—but let's call it privileged info. Besides, pretty much everyone knows it anyway; it's hardly some state secret. And for those who don't? They can just ask, and I'll answer.

But no, because we disagree, you decide to take this "secret" info and dump it right here on the thread, complete with a heavy dose of sarcasm and all the dramatic flair you can muster.

What would you even do with actual privileged information if you were a moderator? Isn't that exactly the kind of thing you claim to fight against?

It’s a shame. I used to have a decent opinion of you, but then someone had to mention perception, didn't they? You've really lost my respect. And not even because of this nonsense about handles, but because of your "overall contribution lately." Look, I don't need moderator tools to hand you a permanent ban.

Consider this my final word to you. I'm done. I don't do low blows and dirty tactics—even though it was clearly your intention to swing low, and honestly, you missed. If I actually felt the need to hide the facts you just so grandiosely laid out, believe me, you wouldn't even know they existed.

My God, what a massive volley of hypocrisy.

After reading that mess above, we really have to wonder: where exactly is this barrel of lies firing from?

I'm out. This afternoon just turned pathetic. Peace to everyone else. 👋

melloworca6 said:And how can you actually be sure you're leaking your own data instead of someone else's?

Well, I'm pretty sure she leaked her own data and not anyone else's. I guess if enough people step up and confirm it really is her email, would that change anything? Or maybe the doubt just sticks around regardless.

melloworca6 said:I was responding to Bradley Sanders4's post; I wasn't targeting any specific individual.

Bradley Sanders4 asked why she couldn't post her private info on the forum, so I simply asked how we were supposed to verify those were actually her details and not someone else's.

No, I'm the one who screwed her over.

Oh, what a brilliant realization! Because obviously, Kuki is just some brainless sixteen-year-old with nothing better to do than drop other people's emails on a forum because she's a total psycho looking for blood and chaos.

My God, what a massive wave of hypocrisy.

There's no need to be rude. I asked a simple question.

Given your incredibly detailed and untouchable contributions to this thread—and every other BVW for that matter—consisting of a single sentence where one word is "screwed," you aren't exactly performing any linguistic or authoritative acrobatics on the PŽK.

You don't have to be rude, I asked nicely.

Oh, please. I know what a polite question sounds like. Addressing people on this forum with such condescension and implications about shitting around doesn't exactly fit my definition of "nice." You should probably stop talking to people like that.
And since there are plenty of people here who know chocolatecookie far better than you do—myself included—who could actually give you a real answer, why don't you go ask the moderators or send a private message? Ask them if cookie could have leaked someone else's data on the forum and if that’s really our main concern right now.

I have nothing against the laws regarding not posting emails on the forum. Absolutely nothing.
But how does it work where certain laws apply to some of you, while everyone else gets to act like they're above them? 🙂

shadowpilot8 said:I assumed that was the entire point of a ban.

🙏

If we go by that logic, then George Orwell is nothing more than a complete amateur.

Are you suggesting the entire purpose of being banned is to shut down all contact, even outside of this forum?

Does your oversight extend into our real lives too? : plašljivosvrtprekoramena:

Paul Green31 said:Wow, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You’re really out here pointing fingers while being the biggest hypocrite in the room. So what if you figured out my other handle? It’s not like I need "balls" to use it—honestly, I have no idea where you even got that idea—but let's call it privileged info. Besides, pretty much everyone knows it anyway; it's hardly some state secret. And for those who don't? They can just ask, and I'll answer.

But no, because we disagree, you decide to take this "secret" info and dump it right here on the thread, complete with a heavy dose of sarcasm and all the dramatic flair you can muster.

What would you even do with actual privileged information if you were a moderator? Isn't that exactly the kind of thing you claim to fight against?

It’s a shame. I used to have a decent opinion of you, but then someone had to mention perception, didn't they? You've really lost my respect. And not even because of this nonsense about handles, but because of your "overall contribution lately." Look, I don't need moderator tools to hand you a permanent ban.

Consider this my final word to you. I'm done. I don't do low blows and dirty tactics—even though it was clearly your intention to swing low, and honestly, you missed. If I actually felt the need to hide the facts you just so grandiosely laid out, believe me, you wouldn't even know they existed.

My God, what a massive volley of hypocrisy.

After reading that mess above, we really have to wonder: where exactly is this barrel of lies firing from?

I'm out. This afternoon just turned pathetic. Peace to everyone else. 👋

Give me a break. How is it privileged information if you, me, and the entire forum know it? Even the admins know. So tell me again, how am I leaking secret intel on a public thread?
I don't see any lightning or thunder, but maybe you saw some flashes when you were reading my post.

What would you even do with privileged information if you were a moderator? Isn't that exactly what you claim to fight against?

Let me repeat: what privileged information?
Yes, those are the things I fight. That's why I'm pointing out how hypocritical you're being. But if a female user gets a permanent ban for using a clone account she made a million years ago—then we apply the same rules to everyone, right? She used a clone because she had no other choice, just like you wouldn't have a choice if your original handle survived until the next purge.

Consider this my final word. I’m done arguing with you because I don't deal in low blows. Though, you clearly tried to aim low and missed. If I actually needed to hide the facts you're grandstanding about, you wouldn't even know they existed.

And I don't like people who use forum drama at PŽK to pivot to politics and talking about Mexicans. When we needed you to vent about your own bans and the censorship of your political posts, you were all for it. Now that the exact SAME thing is happening to us, you're busy handing the admins tissues to wipe their tears.

After all that, let's ask ourselves: where is the target of these salvos?

With the banned users. They're the target. Or did you expect us to walk quietly to the slaughter like lambs?

Joshua Jones13 said:Well, I'm pretty sure she leaked her own data and not anyone else's. I guess if enough people step up and confirm it really is her email, would that change anything? Or maybe the doubt just sticks around regardless.

Joshua Jones13, how should I know? 🤷

briskmoose90 said:Given your incredibly detailed and untouchable contributions to this thread—and every other BVW for that matter—consisting of a single sentence where one word is "screwed," you aren't exactly performing any linguistic or authoritative acrobatics on the PŽK.

You don't have to be rude, I asked nicely.

Oh, please. I know what a polite question sounds like. Addressing people on this forum with such condescension and implications about shitting around doesn't exactly fit my definition of "nice." You should probably stop talking to people like that.
And since there are plenty of people here who know chocolatecookie far better than you do—myself included—who could actually give you a real answer, why don't you go ask the moderators or send a private message? Ask them if cookie could have leaked someone else's data on the forum and if that’s really our main concern right now.

I have nothing against the laws regarding not posting emails on the forum. Absolutely nothing.
But how does it work where certain laws apply to some of you, while everyone else gets to act like they're above them? 🙂

First off, I haven't been talking down to anyone in this thread, especially not to you.

Second, where exactly did I say you guys were talking trash? I said you trashed the thread, and I was being literal—I meant all that bickering on the previous pages where everyone is just taking shots at each other.

Do you honestly think all this fighting is going to achieve anything besides getting the thread locked? 🤷

wanderingbadger44 said:I was wondering if someone who’s been banned from the forum is still allowed to post their email address on the FBI site.

If that's actually against the rules, and it's clearly laid out in the forum guidelines, then I sincerely apologize for missing that detail and would appreciate it if someone could point me toward the specific rule.

On the other hand, if it isn't prohibited, why is it that a banned user's posts containing an email address keep getting deleted over and over again?

What is definitely against the rules is posting someone else's email. We can look at this situation like this: if you open up your control panel and go to 'edit profile,' you'll see right away that your email and password aren't even in the fields marked as 'publicly visible to all users.' Instead, we have slots for ICQ, MSN, Skype, and so on. It's pretty clear the system wasn't designed to have users display an email address directly in their profiles since those options don't exist. So, there’s really no point in putting it in your posts. That's the logic behind why the email was deleted—it's not necessarily a direct ban in the rulebook, but rather a byproduct of how things are set up.