NYCC.org

Welcome

26 replies [Last post]

Wed, 11/06/2002 - 10:00am

Anonymous

As you can see the club’s website has implemented a new web based message board program. It’s been a while in the making and has finally been released as previously advertised. (We're still ironing out some kinks of the new site at the moment.) So your patience is greatly appreciated. Also, a big “Thank you” must be expressed to for the NYCC board’s approval and support. Additionally Robin Read, the club’s web administrator, efforts of creating, establishing and maintaining the club’s website are deeply appreciated. It cannot be overstated enough the amount of effort, attention and dedication she has put forth since nycc.org’s inception. Thank you, Robin!

I hope this new software will be a positive asset to the New York Cycle Club. It was by no means my intention to spawn a monster. I hope this communication medium is used responsibly by its participants and reflects well on the cycle club’s image. Well, it’s one day removed from election day, so I‘m sure we’re all exhausted from hearing one long speech after another, so without further ado….

Enjoy!

See ya out on the road. Thanks,

Peter

Wed, 11/06/2002 - 12:19pm

Evan Marks (not verified)

Thanks, Peter!

Don't sell yourself short - you put a ton of work into this too. Thanks.

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 3:15am

Robin Read (not verified)

More thanks

"Thank you Peter for creating and scripting this new bulletin board system! It's a great improvement over our ""quaint"" old one as you will all see as the future unfolds. . .and much thanks to our Prez for spearheading the change."

Fri, 11/08/2002 - 1:30am

Don Montalvo (not verified)

Awesome message board!!!

Peter and Robin,

Awesome message board! Thanks for including posters' IP addresses. Hopefully at some point (if it hasn't been implemented already...I'll know once I post), we'll be able to edit or delete our own posts.

(I just checked and I'm back to add another comment)

Wow, you guys rock! I'm re-editing my post! Awesome!

My hat's off to you and Robin for a fantastic site! :)

Don

Mon, 11/11/2002 - 11:28am

E. Singletary (not verified)

TEST

Mon, 11/11/2002 - 11:31am

E. Singletary (not verified)

post checking ip

test

Tue, 11/12/2002 - 4:58am

E. SINGLETARY (not verified)

test through firewall

test

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 5:58am

Joe Schmoe (not verified)

testing to see if I can post anonymously

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 8:15am

!@# (not verified)

Test.

Well, test test test by me also.

I hope the new forum rejects this.

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 8:17am

!@# (not verified)

Failed

Here we go loop de loop encore

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 8:20am

#10

!@# (not verified)

Also, it's 11:14 on Th., Nov 7.

Fri, 11/08/2002 - 8:35am

#11

<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)

It's about time

Concerning the date and time....The date and time you see is that of the web site server machine assigned to NYCC by its web host provider. Evidently, the physical location of the web server machine is somehwere out west.

More interesting, the reason for having all of the message posts date/time stamped under one clock, is purely for logical reasons (computing logic, that is). It is needed to correctly render the threaded discussions' tree-like/indented structure. With this setup, it need not matter which time zone you post from or say require one to remember to adjust their computer's clock for say Day light savings when using this all-under-one-watch logic.

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 9:04am

#12

nycc member (not verified)

test

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 9:13am

#13

Tom Laskey (not verified)

Posting Anonymously

The purpose of the new message board is not to prevent anonymous posts. Others have made as good a case if not better for allowing anonymous posts than I could. The new message board does allow for better tracking of posters. Notice the series of numbers below the poster's name. This is the user's ISP Domain Address or more coloquially, the user's footprint. Notice the same numbers appear below Joe Schmoe's name in each of his posts even though his identity changed during the thread. We now have a better ability to track and identify those who seek to abuse the message board and by extention the club membership.

Should we encounter the same problems as we have in the past, we will tighten the system more. This is also something we were unable to do with the old system.

Everyone who uses this message board owes huge thankyous to both Robin Read and Peter O'Reilly. You guys are the best!!!

- Tom

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 9:07pm

#14

Revoked by Admin (not verified)

Removed by Web site Admin

Admin Edit: yes such actions are taken seriously. Don't be fooled to think that you are posting annonomously as it is simply not so. With a little bit of effort and interest, one may be easily identified. If you continue, steps may be taken to block you from the website, revoke your membership, report you to your service provider among others not to mention the humiliation one may experience publicly in front of their peers. This is not a threat, just a warning. The choice is now yours to make, so please do the right thing. Thank you.

Fri, 11/08/2002 - 6:13am

#15

richard rosenthal (not verified)

The above anon., toitty-talking, infantile poster

"The infantile, smut-mouthed, toitty-talking, and, of course, anonymous poster who posted the obscenity directed at Tom is merely the latest poster to persuade me there is no good reason to permit anonymous posting.

Yet Tom wrote in this thread, ""Others have made as good a case if not better for allowing anonymous posts than I could."" He wrote this in support of our site's continuing to permit anonymous posting. In my dotage, I have a failing memory. Tell me again, What are the reasons to permit anonymous posting?

Richard"

Fri, 11/08/2002 - 4:46pm

#16

J. Edgar Hoover (not verified)

Nonsense

"Don't be silly. You can only identify the ISP, & the server's URL.

If you want to dig any deeper, that requires the ISP's co-operation. And with pederasts, scammers ans spammers to worry about, do you really think they'll take the time to trace someone who's posting ""Johnny can't ride a straight line"" on a bike club BB?

Now, really..."

Fri, 11/08/2002 - 10:29pm

#17

Ms. Myers (not verified)

IP Witchunt.com

So Ms. Wicked Witch of the NYCC....

How are you going to do that?

What Legality and what Budget (the NYCC budget??) are you going to use to find the abuser?
It's bad enough that the NYCC budget is in the toilet to support such a Club.

Mr. Hoover pointed out a good point.

Should you find the abuser....
What are you going to do to him/her?

As far as I know...
You (and your policy that you made up on behalf of the NYCC ) are more liable for a criminal suit should you bring the induvidual (the idiot abuser) that you threatened regarding him/her internet abuse.

I'll be glad to represent that induvidual/idiot on his/her behalf should you harm his/her personal & career reputation that you threatened.

-Ms. Jacoby Myers

Sat, 11/09/2002 - 7:15am

#18

richard rosenthal (not verified)

A system to bar anonymous postings

I am surely the least computer literate member on the club message board so it may well be that what I imagine to be doable is un-doable...but, having said that, and knowing encryption systems require a name and password when buying online, is it really not possible to assign club members a secure number or let them choose a password that is required for them to sign on and which then attaches to their posts so they are identifable?

Of course, there seems to be sentiment that the message board should be open to non-members and that anonymous posting is a good thing.

Richard

Sat, 11/09/2002 - 11:50am

#19

<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)

Now, really...

"Please excuse my further silliness in trying to communicate with the deceased. I hope my ""crossing over"" works out well despite not having the benefit of John Edward at my side.

Ok, silliness aside now. What you wrote is very valid and worth bringing to people's attention (although it could have done without the patronizing tone - at least that is how it reads to me). I was hoping to be succinct with the ""Admin edit"", but it is very fair to see how more questions and concern may arise. Please allow me to elaborate and I think you may find there is no disagreement between us. The words you and I write are very relevant.

The post above was definitely not on the level of ""Johnny can't ride a straight line"". Mr. Rosenthal's retorting comments about it are plenty enough (for me at least). If you had the unfortunate experience to see the original post, I think you would agree. Maybe even more so if the post was directed at you.

I'm no lawyer or law officer, but what was written may constitute an assault or libel/slander or both. That itself would be reason for ""digging deeper"". Whether this is really true or not, is another matter which I'm sure could be discussed in boring detail at length (no interest here). The original poster most certainly would not communicate such in person, face to face, without fear of and the possibility of repercussion.

The risk of repercussion for such online actions are very real and quite possible. How likely is it - that's a good question. Even if the probability is low, the penalty is great. I'd rather not be practicing my golf swing on the top of my apartment building when a thunderstorm is rolling in. Why take a chance? Piss in enough people's pots and bad things will happen.

Let's assume the original poster has done his deeds on company time - using the office computer and Internet connection. I would bet his company and his boss would take great interest to know of his online behavior, e.g. the amount of time consumed not working and more importantly knowing this individual is degrading the company's image.

I can offer you one real example of this. Extra bonus - it's cycling related. There was a Pro Cat 1 racer who recently got dropped from his team. This person would toss flames left-n-right on the bicycle racing usenet newsgroup. Readers of the newsgroup somehow figured out who he was, pointed out his presumably egregious behavior to his racing team sponsors and he was summarily dismissed from the team.

What you write about ISP cooperation is indeed true. Depending on the severity of the problem and going through proper channels could be fruitless - or not. I've been an IT professional for over a decade now. As one pursues their career they tend to network, make connections of colleagues, coworkers, cohorts, etc. and what not. Some of them may even work for ISPs in the back office. Asking a colleague to do a favor - one that requires a modicum of work checking log files is hardly any trouble for them to do to trace someone down. (Some may even relish at the request) Not much in the way of cost either - except one's time. Also, it is worth mentioning that I am an AOL-TW employee. Any idea what type of work I do? Let's just say I don’t spend my time shrinking wrapping and mailing out all those AOL free trial CDs they wastefully encumber on their own subscribers. That's a pretty big net casted already.

The NYCC is 1,600+ members strong. I wonder among this sampling who works for an ISP or has a family member of close friend who does. Picking up the phone to ask for a favor is hardly any trouble. One thing is for sure, given the past and very vocal experience of others who posted under the old Msg Brd, I have no doubt, if given the opportunity, at least one has the interest and will to ""dig deeper"" for the benefit of the web site (like the usenet example above).

As for me, despite"

Sun, 11/10/2002 - 4:27pm

#20

J. Edgar Hoover (not verified)

Mr. O,

My apologies for taking your reply out of context. I did not see the original post, and would certainly agree that vile attacks and personal assaults have no place here. They are, and should be, promptly deleted. No one wants to read them, anyway...

But, as an AOL-TW employee, I'm sure you are aware that one of the firm's paramount concerns is the protection of their subscribers' privacy. Going through inside channels to blow the whistle on a bulletin board nuisance would hardly be a good career move, and might very well put you and the NYCC in deep legal doo-doo.

All the best, and my apologies again for not understanding exactly what had been transpiring here before posting myself.

Mon, 11/11/2002 - 6:47am

#21

<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)

grey matter

"Hey J.,

No problem about the context. I left the post in so as to not lose other poster's content.

Incidentally, the troll started a new thread about the same time and post a couple more flaming messages. No one else posted there, so it was easy to pull the entire thread.

About the employee thing - I agree with you 100%. Doo-doo or doody free, I have not the least bit of interest, nor the will in doing such a deed. I was just using myself as a subject to provide an illustrative example. On the other hand that's not to say someone else will do so!

The ""outing"" of a real name (and _only_ a name), I liken it to the following...Despite the obvious ""deep legal doo-doo"" of hitting someone squarely in the face with your fist, I would not want to walk down Times Square flipping the bird at every other person I see and tell them to ""<blank> off!"" or alternatively wear a billboard that says something like, ""I hate black people"" in Harlem like Bruce Willis did in the movie Die Hard 3 (if I remember correctly)

Peter"

Mon, 11/11/2002 - 9:13am

#22

dennis bean-larson (not verified)

responsibility and ethics

First, what a great website your club has!

Second, I applaud your use of the IP address in all posts. As a long-time contributor to www.cyclingforum.com, I've witnessed many anonymous posts that, even at that very civil forum, went beyond the limits of reasonable behavior and at the very least failed to add anything to the discussion.

While it has been the decision of that host to allow anonymous posting, I personally feel that having some ability to track abusive posters is very acceptable.

http://www.tc-homes.com/bike
Traverse City, Michigan

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 9:14am

#23

another member (not verified)

Fri, 11/08/2002 - 7:53am

#24

Tom Laskey (not verified)

Posting Anonymously

Okay, I'll spell it out. There are people who have contructive things to say but for one reason or other don't want to give their names. Maybe it's shyness, insecurity or whatever. The point is, if they have something constuctive to say, they should be heard. Someone recently said thoughts are independent of attribution, or something like that. I think that sums it up. Our message board community would be much poorer for stifling those who are afraid to step into the limelight but have important ideas to contribute. It's true that this allows for the moronic posts that sometimes infest this board but I think the majority of anonymous posters are serious and I would hate to diminish their input because of a few miscreants who insist on proving their idiocy.

Tue, 11/19/2002 - 11:05am

#25

David Hallerman (not verified)

Re: Posting Anonymously

But what about those people who might like to post on this club's message board, but because of the ill-will created by some proportion of the anonymous posts, find themselves getting turned off not only to the message board, but perhaps to the NYCC itself?

I'll add one more data point: As someone who has been going online since 1985 (probably long before most of you), I've seen several well-mannered, respectful discussion groups on bicycle topics, and none of them (the respectful ones) have allowed anonymous posts.

David

P.S. Other quick topic...why does this board automatically make my name all lowercase, and not allow it with initial caps?

Mon, 11/18/2002 - 11:13am

#26

<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)

BBTTT (nm)

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