Topic: Please, Please make providing your location mandatory on sign up! (Read 6500 times)

dgberg · « **on:** July 19, 2016, 04:33:43 pm »

If I have to ask someone one more time what part of the world they are from I am going to explode.
Not just here but it seems every forum I am on no one wants to fill out their location in the profile.
It's simple it is painless and if you want to know where to find a vendor or anything really we have to know what part of the world you are from.
I just hate having to answer a question with another question..
Rant over. $:-\$

Justinr · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2016, 05:31:30 pm »

Quote from: Dan Berg on July 19, 2016, 04:33:43 pm

If I have to ask someone one more time what part of the world they are from I am going to explode.
Not just here but it seems every forum I am on no one wants to fill out their location in the profile.
It's simple it is painless and if you want to know where to find a vendor or anything really we have to know what part of the world you are from.
I just hate having to answer a question with another question..
Rant over. $:-\$

Maybe people are just getting pee'd off with handing over all their info all the time. I know it puts me off online shopping for instance.

Tim Lookingbill · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2016, 06:13:31 pm »

Quote from: Justinr on July 19, 2016, 05:31:30 pm

Maybe people are just getting pee'd off with handing over all their info all the time. I know it puts me off online shopping for instance.

Your location on the globe of Earth isn't really handing over a bunch of personal info. I mean get real.

You would not believe how many people include their GPS coordinates in the EXIF data of their cellphone photos. I found someone's address from it. Listing a town and country isn't really narrowing down anyone's location.

Justinr · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2016, 06:25:34 pm »

Quote from: Tim Lookingbill on July 19, 2016, 06:13:31 pm

Your location on the globe of Earth isn't really handing over a bunch of personal info. I mean get real.

You would not believe how many people include their GPS coordinates in the EXIF data of their cellphone photos. I found someone's address from it. Listing a town and country isn't really narrowing down anyone's location.

Then go look up their exif data if you really want to know.

Colorado David · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2016, 07:12:14 pm »

I've included my location in my profile; North of the Arkansas, South of the Platte. That should narrow it down.

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2016, 12:31:27 am »

I'm east of the Mississippi River, south of Canada, north of the Mason Dixon line, and west of the Atlantic.

And I pinned that exact location down without the help of a GPS.

stamper · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2016, 04:01:52 am »

There are some members who think that every member lives in the US. A frequent question is in what shop can they buy a certain piece of camera equipment and don't state which country they live in.

stamper · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2016, 04:03:32 am »

Quote from: Dan Berg on July 19, 2016, 04:33:43 pm

If I have to ask someone one more time what part of the world they are from I am going to explode.
Not just here but it seems every forum I am on no one wants to fill out their location in the profile.
It's simple it is painless and if you want to know where to find a vendor or anything really we have to know what part of the world you are from.
I just hate having to answer a question with another question..
Rant over. $:-\$

How do you know if they are using their real names never mind what country they live in?

Justinr · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2016, 04:38:06 am »

Didn't we have a lad on here a year or two back insisting that we all post selfies of ourselves and now we have another demanding that we tell the world of our location. I thought the CIA had FB for all that nonsense or doesn't it cover enough of the population?

drmike · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2016, 05:08:35 am »

I find it handy to know if someone is US, European, likely to have English as a first language. Knowing the country would be helpful but one can always ask. I must check to see what I have

BobShaw · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2016, 05:39:59 am »

Quote from: stamper on July 20, 2016, 04:01:52 am

There are some members who think that every member lives in the US.

There are some members who are not aware that there are other countries than the US (:-)

stamper · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2016, 06:08:16 am »

Quote from: BobShaw on July 20, 2016, 05:39:59 am

There are some members who are not aware that there are other countries than the US (:-)

Otto Phocus · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2016, 06:52:13 am »

I think it should be up to the individual to decide what to fill out in their profile... and to accept any consequences or inconveniences for that decision.

I also think that if a person is asking or answering a specific question that is location dependent that they include that information in their question or reply.

Tim Lookingbill · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2016, 09:16:35 am »

I have no worries of my online personal information being found out about even after becoming an I.D. theft victim.

In fact I'm kinda' glad this happened to me because it motivated me to investigate just how it happens and how frequent by asking random strangers I meet in my town and IRS and financial institution CSR's who handle such matters. None said it had anything to do with their online activity. Their social security number and date of birth was found by other methods mainly centering around stolen credit cards and hospital stays dealing with medical billing specialists.

Even a local policeman said they get a a few calls on ID theft activity and indicated the culprits never if rarely are caught.

Bart_van_der_Wolf · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2016, 09:51:35 am »

Quote from: Dan Berg on July 19, 2016, 04:33:43 pm

If I have to ask someone one more time what part of the world they are from I am going to explode.
Not just here but it seems every forum I am on no one wants to fill out their location in the profile.
It's simple it is painless and if you want to know where to find a vendor or anything really we have to know what part of the world you are from.
I just hate having to answer a question with another question..
Rant over. $:-\$

Hi Dan,

I understand the irritation. It is lazy, or inconsiderate, to ask about vendor recommendations without stating the region or even country. I occasionally also find it useful to know what cultural background one has, in order to better understand some of the questions/remarks.

On such occasions, I feel an urge to reply with an answer like: two blocks from the street where I live. But in practice I usually ignore the question, even if I might help the person if I knew he/she lives in my region.

But it cannot be a mandatory entry, because that is e.g. illegal in the Netherlands (where I live) and probably in most of Europe. Due to privacy law, there are rules and regulations about collecting/storing personal data, and it is usually only allowed for conducting normal business, e.g. an address is required to deliver ordered goods otherwise it's not allowed to record it. If records are held, then there are lots of regulations about protection of that info, and a right to check all data that is collected upon request. Not everybody abides by those rules, but they might be forced to comply with the law.

So out of courtesy, and respect for fellow members, it would be nice if people give a hint about their approx. location. But making it mandatory is one bridge too far.

Cheers,
Bart