Require more profile info?

Darkfinn · 05-09-2008

Good morning all...

I've been poking around lately... and I see a lot of user profile pages with no biographical or interest information filled out. I realise people put more of their info out in threads... but I don't think that it should be necessary to search a dozen or more threads to find out about a member's hobbies, likes, and dislikes... especially new members who post very little in their introduction threads and remain a largely unknown quantity for some time.

Is there any way that we can put emphasis on people filling their profiles out a little more? I mean you don't have to write a book in there... but a few lines about yourself would be nice.

Footed P.J. · 05-09-2008

I like that idea, though I admit myself that I havent checked my profile in a while. *goes and checks*

Jaiden · 05-09-2008

It would be nice but I don't think new members should be pressured or obligated into putting out more info more about themselves than they are comfortable with. A lot of people are uneasy about giving out even the little details and interests on the internet, there are a lot of young kids here, and people will fill out their profiles when they feel ready to do so after familiarizing themselves with the site. I think, if anything, making it mandatory to fill the profile publicly might put some people off getting involved and having it as optional seems the best fit. What really matters is how people act and what they say here, after all.

I can see where you're coming from, but I think we're fine as it is.

Footed P.J. · 05-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaiden

What really matters is how people act and what they say here, after all.

I can see where you're coming from, but I think we're fine as it is.

Good point! Alhough it can be a nice icebreaker, too (a profile, that is). I just filled mine out more. Didn't know I had so much space at my disposal.

Lukie · 05-09-2008

I've got my profile set to friends-only, and even then I really don't have much information in there (just ask some of those on my friends list!). I figure if people want to know something specifically, then they can PM me, catch me in the IRC chat or get in contact with me directly in some way. I just don't feel it necessary to give out trivial information about myself as it has no real impact on the interactions between myself and other users here.

So I guess with that said, I don't particularly care how much information people write about themselves in their profile, or lack thereof. I'm just two-sided like that; I'm not revealing trivial information about myself, so I don't have an interest in other people's own trivial information. The forums are only a kick-off point anyway for the larger picture. I've gotten to know people much better by chatting with them as opposed to scouring out minute details about their lives.

Besides, I don't think people should be forced to put the spotlight on themselves if they don't want to, even for something as small as a few scrappy details. Just by this site's nature, I can understand why people who post here would want to keep facts about themselves hidden, even if those facts are insignificant. It's as simple as not prying into other people's lives, which I definitely don't intend to make a habit of doing.

If you are keen on getting to know the people here on a more personal level, then instead of emphasising them to fill out their profiles a bit more, make an effort to get in contact with them, or emphasise them to get more involved with other features of this site. Even something as simple as a quick chat, replying to a blog entry or a PM with a question is a great starting point in getting to know someone... or at least getting to know them better than the superficial details they write about themselves.

Johnathon · 05-09-2008

I'm just throwing this out there. But I have noticed that alot of the people that get banned have very little profile information or only the bare minimum filled out. I won't talk to those people. Seriously guys, look at everyone who gets banned. None of them have anything filled out. To me that is a red flag unless they have been on the site awhile.

Lukie · 05-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnathon

I'm just throwing this out there. But I have noticed that alot of the people that get banned have very little profile information or only the bare minimum filled out. I won't talk to those people. Seriously guys, look at everyone who gets banned. None of them have anything filled out. To me that is a red flag unless they have been on the site awhile.

I think profiles get cleared when a user gets banned.

Darkfinn · 05-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnathon

I have noticed that alot of the people that get banned have very little profile information or only the bare minimum filled out. I won't talk to those people.

You're not the only one...

That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. I can understand people wanting to restrict some of their information. But putting up that you like action movies, computer games, and long walks isn't going to hurt anything.

chevre · 05-09-2008

You guys actually read user profiles? I usually don't. Anyway, I had a good bit filled out on the old site but when that died I didn't bother to fill it in again when I re-registered. I'm kind of apathetic about the idea of requiring people to fill out a bunch of fields.

Honestly, if people don't want to write anything useful, they don't. It's like how we require posts in the greetings forum and we end up with lots of "Hi, I'm tb14314312 and I like to wear diapers."

Pojo · 05-09-2008

When I click on a profile, I just skim through it...I don't really care what they write...People that actually do have it filled out, have something like "I've been wearing for ___ year" or "I'm a TB looking for others" or something like that (With poorer grammar/spelling of course)...Forcing people to write something doesn't seem great though...The only things you can search are the first few things, and people do fill those out usually...

05-09-2008	#1 (permalink)
Darkfinn Lurker Historical Donor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Age: 24 Posts: 2,720 Threads: 68 Gallery Uploads: 16 Wiki Edits: 4 Blog Entries: 17	Require more profile info? Good morning all... I've been poking around lately... and I see a lot of user profile pages with no biographical or interest information filled out. I realise people put more of their info out in threads... but I don't think that it should be necessary to search a dozen or more threads to find out about a member's hobbies, likes, and dislikes... especially new members who post very little in their introduction threads and remain a largely unknown quantity for some time. Is there any way that we can put emphasis on people filling their profiles out a little more? I mean you don't have to write a book in there... but a few lines about yourself would be nice.

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05-09-2008	#2 (permalink)
Footed P.J. Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Age: 33 Posts: 744 Threads: 7 Gallery Uploads: 2 Wiki Edits: 1 Blog Entries: 1 Reputation: 7	I like that idea, though I admit myself that I havent checked my profile in a while. goes and checks

05-09-2008	#3 (permalink)
Jaiden Regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Age: 21 Posts: 312 Threads: 11 Wiki Edits: 1 Blog Entries: 4	It would be nice but I don't think new members should be pressured or obligated into putting out more info more about themselves than they are comfortable with. A lot of people are uneasy about giving out even the little details and interests on the internet, there are a lot of young kids here, and people will fill out their profiles when they feel ready to do so after familiarizing themselves with the site. I think, if anything, making it mandatory to fill the profile publicly might put some people off getting involved and having it as optional seems the best fit. What really matters is how people act and what they say here, after all. I can see where you're coming from, but I think we're fine as it is.

05-09-2008	#5 (permalink)
Lukie Aysc.qm Historical Donor Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,318 Threads: 30 Gallery Uploads: 7 Wiki Edits: 154 Blog Entries: 39	I've got my profile set to friends-only, and even then I really don't have much information in there (just ask some of those on my friends list!). I figure if people want to know something specifically, then they can PM me, catch me in the IRC chat or get in contact with me directly in some way. I just don't feel it necessary to give out trivial information about myself as it has no real impact on the interactions between myself and other users here. So I guess with that said, I don't particularly care how much information people write about themselves in their profile, or lack thereof. I'm just two-sided like that; I'm not revealing trivial information about myself, so I don't have an interest in other people's own trivial information. The forums are only a kick-off point anyway for the larger picture. I've gotten to know people much better by chatting with them as opposed to scouring out minute details about their lives. Besides, I don't think people should be forced to put the spotlight on themselves if they don't want to, even for something as small as a few scrappy details. Just by this site's nature, I can understand why people who post here would want to keep facts about themselves hidden, even if those facts are insignificant. It's as simple as not prying into other people's lives, which I definitely don't intend to make a habit of doing. If you are keen on getting to know the people here on a more personal level, then instead of emphasising them to fill out their profiles a bit more, make an effort to get in contact with them, or emphasise them to get more involved with other features of this site. Even something as simple as a quick chat, replying to a blog entry or a PM with a question is a great starting point in getting to know someone... or at least getting to know them better than the superficial details they write about themselves.

05-09-2008	#6 (permalink)
Johnathon Um, yah? Historical Donor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 687 Threads: 19 Gallery Uploads: 1 Wiki Edits: 9	I'm just throwing this out there. But I have noticed that alot of the people that get banned have very little profile information or only the bare minimum filled out. I won't talk to those people. Seriously guys, look at everyone who gets banned. None of them have anything filled out. To me that is a red flag unless they have been on the site awhile.

05-09-2008	#9 (permalink)
chevre Not your typical kid Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: US Age: 24 Posts: 944 Threads: 25 Wiki Edits: 37	You guys actually read user profiles? I usually don't. Anyway, I had a good bit filled out on the old site but when that died I didn't bother to fill it in again when I re-registered. I'm kind of apathetic about the idea of requiring people to fill out a bunch of fields. Honestly, if people don't want to write anything useful, they don't. It's like how we require posts in the greetings forum and we end up with lots of "Hi, I'm tb14314312 and I like to wear diapers."

05-09-2008	#10 (permalink)
Pojo Changed AIM for privacy Historical Donor Staff Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cow-Land, VA Age: 18 Posts: 4,385 Threads: 73 Gallery Uploads: 6 Wiki Edits: 111 Blog Entries: 20	When I click on a profile, I just skim through it...I don't really care what they write...People that actually do have it filled out, have something like "I've been wearing for ___ year" or "I'm a TB looking for others" or something like that (With poorer grammar/spelling of course)...Forcing people to write something doesn't seem great though...The only things you can search are the first few things, and people do fill those out usually...