More Privacy features ?? Against the likes of a Public search

[Firbolg]

Hello, just wondering what the general consensus is on the privacy setting. I did a Google search for my Profile both on this as well as Tribe and the few others I have. Tribe and this Popped up again and again.

What are the chances of making things more private for personal discussions and Ideas of members ? Not saying that we have to block everything off, just that you need to sign in and be a member or say friend of to access stuff..Not do a public search and see all the discussions and information..

What do you think ??

[Ms Dynomite]

I'm not sure if Firbolg's message above is clear about the privacy options for the site and what choices members are being asked to decide on, so here's some more info to help :)

As I mentioned to Firbolg in a private message, I have the option to change the network to semi-private where only the Home Page is viewable to non-members. All other site content, including forums and profiles would be members-only.

NOTE: There is no way to designate just parts of the site as private, such as only profiles or only the forums. it's either the whole site private (with a public home page) or the whole site public. As I explain in How To Join the site is currently public, but you can mark your individual blog posts, photos and videos as private by selecting the "friends only" option. And of course, private Groups can only be viewed by members of that Group.

The upside to a semi-private site is that nothing but home page content would be searchable by things like Google. All profiles, photos and posts would be hidden from non-members. Anyone linking to site content other than the home page would be prompted to sign up.

The downside to a semi-private site is that those interested in the site (such as invitees) won't be able to preview the features, check out a Group before joining, or read about options first. For example, I'd have to find a way to host the How To Join page elsewhere and potential members couldn't see things like How are Ning and Tribe Similar?. In other words, having the site semi-private means less access to potential members to woo them here and less help info available before signup.

If the majority of members here wish to make the site semi-private I'm happy to make the change. :) I've created the site as public because that seems to be the industry standard for social networking sites (Tribe, for example is public and searchable).

[gypsydaze]

ya know, when i googled my name (gypsydaze) i was shocked what popped up...everything i'd ever posted, everywhere...but not in the private only tribes. but even in the semi-private ones. even if you hit the link and it says must be a registered member, still...that's not private, just an extra step.
but ya, what you write is generally public record which is why i dropped out of song writing, politics, anything that may draw unecessarry attention tribes. and i try and tell my teenager that her future can hinge on what she posts in cyberspace.
one time a guy on MS pmed me to give thanks for a prayer he found on a google search that gave him a link to tribe where i had posted something im my personal profile. somehow he found i was on MS, probably google and thus the cycle completed itself. that's when i googled my name.

[kauwika]

What makes sesne to me is public for the network. And make sure people know that their top-level postings to the network are just that - public. Openness is part of the discussion board dynamic that appeals to me, and it's useful when it comes to attracting new members... Either out of the ether or by invitation, many people are loathe to commit themselves by membership to an interaction thay can't observe first.

I also understand people's need to discuss some things in more private setting. There are post-by post privacy settings for blogs; private groups can be set up, and there's personal messaging if it's a matter that's private between only two people. I'd rather see these other options used well than see the network as whole go private.

[Firbolg]

Eh ? Dig what ? Layers of Digging ??

Yeah, I get what you mean about being able to track and see something from the outside before "committing" to something. God knows how I hate commitment. But maybe if a user wants something limited to his friends or just his group. Like my profile on Tribe and most of the conversations are pretty much public record.. that was part of the issue with the puritans that freaked out over tribe being so explicit, not saying that this should be a den of iniquety but that we can regulate our own privacy more. That we can get a choice.

Now from the idea to the practical is completly out of my hands as I have a tendency to ruin most things electronic..but hopefully the idea can get worked.

[chris]

Darn if you do, darn if you don't.

I could be wrong, but it might to early for this. The way I see let more people in before start with semi or full private. The more people equals more reliable sources stating it is a good place to be in. How do you thing Tribe, Myspace and others started, by being open.

I know the other side of the spectrum free speech without outside people looking in without subscribing.

Thought thought I say something.

[gypsydaze]

and really, the truth is that if what we have to say is that interesting to certain parties, factions, organizations, etc...they will track us no matter how technologically savvy we think we are.
when i first started social networking, i didn't realize it was public to cyberspace..i thought only to the particular network. so, as a writer and politcally outspoken, i am cautious. cause what your post can and will be used against you.
it's a tad sad people can't post their songs, poetry, stories on these types of unprotected networks, but hey that's the way it goes. so, if by some obscure chance my lyrics get picked up by some undercover ASCAP folks and gets recorded and wins a grammy, it's on me. Tho the chances are slim to none, to see your work plagerized can be disheartening.
ignorance isn't bliss, it's stupid.
i don't even know why i wrote this.....muserants after a long day

[Christie V.]

Well, I'm used to the fact that anything I write in a forum is public and can be seen by anybody. That is the way it is on Tribe except for private tribes and PM's.

So I'm fine with leaving the privacy settings as they are, not private at all. But if others would prefer that we change to private I'm fine with that, too. It might even make this social network have more of an individual personality because people will feel free to write things, and post pictures and videos, that they don't want to share with the world. Just with each other here.

I'm curious to read what the other members feel about possible privacy on Tribe Refugees.

[Lone]

I like privacy.
Life is unfortunately not always simple and for various reasons I normally choose the most private settings I can get. In my case I am "protected" by a common name. I had never actually googled my user name but I just tried it and was pleased to see that it is totally drowned into the gazillions of Lone, Lone Pine etc.

[merlin bear]

i prefer public, but i would be okay with whatever most want.

i have posted many of my songs. it seems to me that the fact that i posted it before a plagiarizer had it should be proof enough. if someone want to use those lyrics and make a hit they can pay me now or pay me more later! ahahahaahhahaha