Currently Online - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Fordim Hedgethistle · 10-22-2004, 08:32 AM

Sorry if the answer to this already exists in the FAQ or elsewhere. . .

I've noticed that at times on the Who's Online page there is a discrepancy: the line at the top will say that there are, say, 10 users online, but when I count the actual names there will only be 9.

Are there people online who are invisible to this list or something? If so, why?

mark12_30 · 10-22-2004, 08:48 AM

It's in your user CP under Options:

Quote:

Use Invisible Mode
Invisible mode allows you to browse the forums without appearing in the 'Currently Active Users' lists.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 10-22-2004, 09:21 AM

Goodness Gracious Me!!

Who would be so foolish as to make themselves invisible in a forum devoted to Tolkien???? Are these people not unaware of the danger this poses??

*Fordim shivers in terror at the realisation that there be Wraiths among us*

Thanks for the explanation though -- I had always assumed that anyone who was "invisible" would show up as a "Guest".

Mithalwen · 10-22-2004, 10:23 AM

Ah but you forget Fordim we are all wraiths, wights and so forth here .... so it is those living, visible people you should be nervous of...

Evisse the Blue · 10-22-2004, 12:56 PM

I didn't notice that option before. I must say becoming 'invisible' is really very tempting to me.

Because since that stalking thread, I keep 'looking over my shoulder', so to speak. Sometimes, when I linger way too long on certain threads, while just browsing others aimlessly, I stop to think 'what would someone who stalks me think?? she spends only 5 minutes reading this thread in the books forum, moves to another in Mirth which she reads for an hour, takes 20 minutes to reply to a topic...' I feel watched and I don't particularly enjoy it. Yes, I know I'm paranoid and yes I know I have a self esteem issue. But thank God for this invisible option. I shall now be free to roam across the barrow as my whims take me.

Encaitare · 10-22-2004, 03:29 PM

Hmm... didn't even know there was such an option. Seems a bit weird to me, seeing as it's a forum and not a chat or instant messaging sort of thing... although I suppose if you wanted to avoid someone for some reason, it could come in handy.

Quote:

Sometimes, when I linger way too long on certain threads, while just browsing others aimlessly, I stop to think 'what would someone who stalks me think??

Come, now, Evisse, didn't anyone ever tell you not to worry about what other people think?

Bêthberry · 10-22-2004, 05:43 PM

With the old forum software, mods and admins could see who were 'invisible.' No such magic eye with the new software now, at least for mods.

I do know of people who, feeling quilty about how much time they spend here, choose to go 'invisible.' It is rather like people on a diet who sneak that piece of fudge when they think no one is looking, I suspect. It still adds up!

Lalwendë · 10-27-2004, 12:35 PM

Well, for a while now, being rather dim and slow on the uptake, I've wondered what all this 'stalker' business was about, and thought to myself: "the only way you know who's online is from the front page screen, what on earth are they all talking about?". But I've just put two and two together and noticed the link to the 'current activity' page and --->

It's like Big Brother (or Sauron) is watching me! I hope I've never left the site open on something weird when I've left the room! One question, what are those 'spider' things all about?

mark12_30 · 10-27-2004, 12:38 PM

You funny!

Spiders are programs used by search engines such as google. They snoop through all the links they can find, recording where they've been.

Sometimes they turn up interesting BD links, too.

Aiwendil · 10-27-2004, 08:33 PM

These spiders are beginning to frighten me.

Quote:

02:25 AM MSNBot Spider Viewing Printable Version Groups?

I didn't know spiders could use printers.

Imladris · 10-28-2004, 09:07 AM

I've seen spiders registering, sending emails to their friends....

*giggles*

Lalwendë · 10-28-2004, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Spiders are programs used by search engines such as google. They snoop through all the links they can find, recording where they've been.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, *it dawns upon me*, and there was me thinking there were arachnids creeping sinisterly around the 'Downs. Doh! It's a good job there are no programs called 'cats' or these 'spiders' would be missing some of their legs and living in fear... I presume this is a kind of pun on the 'web' then? Hmm, I understand the meaning behind a 'trojan', but surely something which burrows around the depths of the web should be a 'mole' or something. Or am I being dim again?

InklingElf · 10-28-2004, 06:00 PM

oh forums what a concept...

ArwenBaggins · 10-31-2004, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

With the old forum software, mods and admins could see who were 'invisible.' No such magic eye with the new software now, at least for mods.

I do know of people who, feeling quilty about how much time they spend here, choose to go 'invisible.' It is rather like people on a diet who sneak that piece of fudge when they think no one is looking, I suspect. It still adds up!

Alas, this does make quite a bit of sense.

Although, I love to flaunt my presence when I decide to creep onto the 'Downs. I feel special when I'm around others like me.

HerenIstarion · 11-01-2004, 03:27 AM

Seconding Imladris here, I've just seen

Quote:

01:18 PM MSNBot Spider Registering

How do they make up their nicks, I wonder?

Hilde Bracegirdle · 11-01-2004, 11:36 AM

Quote:

I've seen spiders registering, sending emails to their friends.... ~Imladris

Imladris you are too funny, and have me LOL at work! Now how do I explain what has me laughing over my lunch!

Quote:

How do they make up their nicks, I wonder? ~HerenIstarion

If the Inktomi Slurp spider holds any clues, I’m betting they use a name generator, but not from this site! Perhaps they are the real descendants of Ungoliant!

Mithalwen · 11-02-2004, 02:18 PM

Aieee I have seen them! *collapses in the style of Merry at the Pony*... I must admit .. I wondered what on earth you were talking about ..thinking you meant the list on the "front page" ..... now I have seen one with my own eyes .. an "ask jeeves" spider.......

10-22-2004, 08:32 AM	#1
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Currently Online Sorry if the answer to this already exists in the FAQ or elsewhere. . . I've noticed that at times on the Who's Online page there is a discrepancy: the line at the top will say that there are, say, 10 users online, but when I count the actual names there will only be 9. Are there people online who are invisible to this list or something? If so, why? __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

10-22-2004, 09:21 AM	#3
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	Goodness Gracious Me!! Who would be so foolish as to make themselves invisible in a forum devoted to Tolkien???? Are these people not unaware of the danger this poses?? Fordim shivers in terror at the realisation that there be Wraiths among us Thanks for the explanation though -- I had always assumed that anyone who was "invisible" would show up as a "Guest". __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.

10-22-2004, 10:23 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,455	the quick and the dead... Ah but you forget Fordim we are all wraiths, wights and so forth here .... so it is those living, visible people you should be nervous of... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

10-22-2004, 12:56 PM	#5
Evisse the Blue Brightness of a Blade Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: wherever I may roam Posts: 2,685	I didn't notice that option before. I must say becoming 'invisible' is really very tempting to me. Because since that stalking thread, I keep 'looking over my shoulder', so to speak. Sometimes, when I linger way too long on certain threads, while just browsing others aimlessly, I stop to think 'what would someone who stalks me think?? she spends only 5 minutes reading this thread in the books forum, moves to another in Mirth which she reads for an hour, takes 20 minutes to reply to a topic...' I feel watched and I don't particularly enjoy it. Yes, I know I'm paranoid and yes I know I have a self esteem issue. But thank God for this invisible option. I shall now be free to roam across the barrow as my whims take me. __________________ And no one was ill, and everyone was pleased, except those who had to mow the grass.

10-22-2004, 05:43 PM	#7
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,996	Twilight Zone With the old forum software, mods and admins could see who were 'invisible.' No such magic eye with the new software now, at least for mods. I do know of people who, feeling quilty about how much time they spend here, choose to go 'invisible.' It is rather like people on a diet who sneak that piece of fudge when they think no one is looking, I suspect. It still adds up! __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

10-27-2004, 12:35 PM	#8
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Well, for a while now, being rather dim and slow on the uptake, I've wondered what all this 'stalker' business was about, and thought to myself: "the only way you know who's online is from the front page screen, what on earth are they all talking about?". But I've just put two and two together and noticed the link to the 'current activity' page and ---> It's like Big Brother (or Sauron) is watching me! I hope I've never left the site open on something weird when I've left the room! One question, what are those 'spider' things all about? __________________ Gordon's alive!

10-27-2004, 12:38 PM	#9
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	You funny! Spiders are programs used by search engines such as google. They snoop through all the links they can find, recording where they've been. Sometimes they turn up interesting BD links, too. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

10-28-2004, 09:07 AM	#11
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	I've seen spiders registering, sending emails to their friends.... giggles __________________ I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn. It would have been nice to have unicorns. I'm your huckleberry.

10-28-2004, 06:00 PM	#13
InklingElf Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 402	oh forums what a concept...

11-02-2004, 02:18 PM	#17
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,455	Aieee I have seen them! collapses in the style of Merry at the Pony... I must admit .. I wondered what on earth you were talking about ..thinking you meant the list on the "front page" ..... now I have seen one with my own eyes .. an "ask jeeves" spider....... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace