PMs on SBR aren't private

[fearless]

I believe you can have any pm sent to you directly to your e-mail acct. I would guess though that since it was sent by pm it could still be read.

Yes and Curious was banned from sending PMs but he'd post his email address like every day. It was a funny thing especially with his bizarre attitude, unique betting strategy, and wild avatar. I miss that guy.

[Mikail]

You send a PM with your email. then communicate.

[Joe Dogs]

THAT'S IT............CODED PM'S FROM NOW ON.

[Sam Odom]

On 11-29-07, 07:26 AM

The below PM was sent out to all SBRers. So this is old news to many of us.

Originally posted by Bill Dozer:

With regards to the Private Message (PM) feature here on SBR Forum, we would like to clarify our position moving forward so that all posters might better understand our policies.

While our intentions have always been to maintain and respect the privacy of users’ private messages, reports of abuse or misuse are investigated. When evidence of wrongdoing is found (abusive messages to other posters, soliciting other users for referral bonuses, attempts to sell picks or any other form of solicitation, etc.), appropriate action will be taken. This includes having PM privileges revoked and possible removal from SBR Forum.

Ours is one of the few remaining sports forums that still have an active PM feature. However, instances of posters abusing this privilege have been reported and follow-up investigations have revealed that this misuse has indeed been ongoing. In order to retain the PM feature for responsible forum posters, from this point forward SBR staff will review PMs on a regular basis to ensure users abide by our terms of service.

[themajormt]

Finally a nice debate with well articulated responses... Nice work Roguey...

John/WB: You don't feel a simple disclaimer on the inbox or when being sent is reasonable?

[Dark Horse]

We needed a way to monitor the PM system to keep out illegal activity, hustlers and spam. No one reads the 1000's of PMs. But different key words are searched for. We have been able to keep countless snake oil salesmen away from posters.

Fair enough. If it's not too much to ask, if one of you is in the neighborhood, could you please check my mail box too? And while you're at it, throw in my PO Box too.

Honest to God, I would have no idea how to separate the real mail from the junk.

Thanks beforehand for this valuable service.

[TexansFan]

Yes and Curious was banned from sending PMs but he'd post his email address like every day. It was a funny thing especially with his bizarre attitude, unique betting strategy, and wild avatar. I miss that guy.

He was unique, if that's the right word.

[Mudcat]

Private Messaging is definitely an inaccurate term for what they have here.

To my way of thinking, SBR is at the low end of the privacy scale - even compared to sites without PMs. At other sites I have been able to request so-and-so's e-mail address through a mod. If so-and-so was agreeable, the mod would pass on the contact info.

No muss, no fuss. I never had a mod start acting like it was their business what we might discuss. As an adult, that is what I would expect.

Last time I asked someone at SBR to do this, they refused. As discussed in this thread, you can't do it through PM's. Trying to set up actual private messaging is a sure way to put your PM's in jeopardy at SBR.

Apparently SBR lives in a state of feeling very threatened. Serious control issues.



Different forums have different pluses and minuses to be weighed. SBR is still my #1 choice overall but as far as respect/privacy, I rate SBR at the low end of the scale.

[Mikail]

On 11-29-07, 07:26 AM

The below PM was sent out to all SBRers. So this is old news to many of us.

What about us newbies? We didn't or I should speak for myself didn't know this til now!

[fiveteamer]

the best way to get in contact with posters privately, is try and find that posters real name, and then go on facebook.

SBR are you going to moderate my discussions on facebook, too?

[fearless]

Finally a nice debate with well articulated responses... Nice work Roguey...

John/WB: You don't feel a simple disclaimer on the inbox or when being sent is reasonable?

I think that would satisfy most of us. Just a simple sentence, it would be something like the internet version of Miranda rights.

[RogueScholar]

Finally a nice debate with well articulated responses... Nice work Roguey...

John/WB: You don't feel a simple disclaimer on the inbox or when being sent is reasonable?

Hah, you just hit the jackpot, and it hadn't even occured to me. The most responsible way to fix this would be to add a simple statement is readable text above the New PM input box that there's a high likelihood that the person you're sending the PM to won't be the only one reading it, that the staff routinely reads them and discusses them over wings and beer at Hooters.

A similar statement should be placed above the chat room, informing people that all the PMs are read by any Mod in the room (seen or unseen) and that if you want to have a private conversation with someone, SBR is the worst possible place to do it. They would never have to deal with a thread like this again after that.

[jjgold]

I love the monitoring of PM's, cencorship is the wave of the future.

[Sam Odom]

What about us newbies? We didn't or I should speak for myself didn't know this til now!

Admin should send a like PM to everyone every 6 months, maybe. I'm sure SBR will consider doing so.

[fearless]

Hah, you just hit the jackpot, and it hadn't even occured to me. The most responsible way to fix this would be to add a simple statement is readable text above the New PM input box that there's a high likelihood that the person you're sending the PM to won't be the only one reading it, that the staff routinely reads them and discusses them over wings and beer at Hooters.

A similar statement should be placed above the chat room, informing people that all the PMs are read by any Mod in the room (seen or unseen) and that if you want to have a private conversation with someone, SBR is the worst possible place to do it. They would never have to deal with a thread like this again after that.

Once again you hit the nail on the head. They wouldn't have to deal with shocked and dismayed forum members either. News like this can hurt the site's reputation and thus traffic. The disclaimer with each message would make all this discussion unnecessary.

[themajormt]

I agree guys that their should be a disclaimer but also 100% agree with SBR's stance as to WHY the monitor. Fearless, your PM was harmless, but think about all the scammers out there that would be sending mass PM's offering awesome bonuses and probably even using SBR's name because they are posting on SBR. Or would about all the touts?

This could easily be avoided if a very simple and straightforward disclaimer was added, just like there is an instruction stating you can send a PM to 10 people or whatever it says...

[fiveteamer]

I love the monitoring of PM's, cencorship is the wave of the future.

[fearless]

I agree guys that their should be a disclaimer but also 100% agree with SBR's stance as to WHY the monitor. Fearless, your PM was harmless, but think about all the scammers out there that would be sending mass PM's offering awesome bonuses and probably even using SBR's name because they are posting on SBR. Or would about all the touts?

This could easily be avoided if a very simple and straightforward disclaimer was added, just like there is an instruction stating you can send a PM to 10 people or whatever it says...

Add the disclaimer and no one can complain. They probably don't want to add the disclaimer because the sending of so called "private messages" might be cut dramatically with such a disclaimer. Who wants to chat about private issues when nothing's private? Thus, what's the point of using "PMs" at all? Just say everything you've go to say on the forum. If you wouldn't say it on the forum don't say it at all.

[jjgold]

use e-mail only

jjgold@gmail.com

[tacomax]

Generally I don't mind the system but when I'm in a bad mood I find out which mod is on PM reading duty and send out PMs to random people. I make sure each PM includes the phrases I'll book your action or Want to buy my SBR points? to get flagged and then I embed a picture - if Vegas Dave is on duty I'll embed a picture of voucher for a free supersize pizza, if it's Willie Bee then I'll embed a screenshot of the NL central and if it's CrazyLou I embed a picture of a tarantula chasing a mouse.

[RogueScholar]

[themajormt]

Taco I generally hate you but you definitely get a point for that one...

[fearless]

Considering everything, PMs are actually more of a hassle than they're worth on this site, imho. Since they actually provide no privacy and they're a big headache for the mods, I ask the question, why have them at all?

With the new sbrpicks.com site they will soon be unnecessary for contests. I think everybody has to look at SBR and say if you can't say it in the forum, don't say it here at all.

If I were running this site I would consider disabling PMs.

[lakerboy]

enough with this already. who cares if they arent private. i dont care what vegas dave or crazylou or willie bee think about me. i learned a few months ago not to send stupid shit on there. i send and recieve pm's all the time but now i just talk about events not shit. let SBR do their job and we should all just carry on with our thing.

[wacked]

It's an invasion of privacy and burying it in the fine print probably wouldn't hold up in a court of law as it's not the industry standard. At least I know now that my "PRIVATE" Messages are not private.

I can understand to some point the need to monitor PMs, but a better option would simply be to state a disclaimer before each PM that reads along the lines: If you receive emails from other users that are promoting a website for betting, approached to bet with an individual or any other activity outside the normal bounds, please contact "Insert-Name-Here" about this issue. We will deal with it swiftly and promptly. The same thing could be mentioned for people sending PMs to other users.

You could also turn on PM options only after X number of days or X number of posts, but to read PMs based on "keywords" and not have a disclaimer in the PM area but instead hidden in the ToS is not only a joke but scary as to what else is going on that posters are not aware of.

This has definitely changed my thoughts about SBR and it's processes.

[Robyn]

Lol @ the system "flagging" certain pm's

They read all of them, this is a fact. Its also old news

Do you guys really think that they have the time (or the interest) to sit there and read all of our boring private messages? LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

There are programs that can be installed to flag key words. That is when private messages are monitored to make sure people aren't using PM's as means to spam and/or drive their own business as has been done in the past.

[Mikail]

I love the monitoring of PM's, cencorship is the wave of the future.

Sounds like a fascist statement if I ever heard one!

[RogueScholar]

It's an invasion of privacy and burying it in the fine print probably wouldn't hold up in a court of law as it's not the industry standard. At least I know now that my "PRIVATE" Messages are not private.

I can understand to some point the need to monitor PMs, but a better option would simply be to state a disclaimer before each PM that reads along the lines: If you receive emails from other users that are promoting a website for betting, approached to bet with an individual or any other activity outside the normal bounds, please contact "Insert-Name-Here" about this issue. We will deal with it swiftly and promptly. The same thing could be mentioned for people sending PMs to other users.

You could also turn on PM options only after X number of days or X number of posts, but to read PMs based on "keywords" and not have a disclaimer in the PM area but instead hidden in the ToS is not only a joke but scary as to what else is going on that posters are not aware of.

This has definitely changed my thoughts about SBR and it's processes.

This is why threads like this are important. People need to be aware of what regard they're held in by the operators of the site. It's easy to get distracted by points and contests and Bashes and pizzas, but in the end we're just a stream of income to them. That's fine, they give something back to us, but it is critical that the exploited know by whom they are being subjugated and in what means. Knowledge is power and I love threads like this for just that reason.

[fearless]

It's an invasion of privacy and burying it in the fine print probably wouldn't hold up in a court of law as it's not the industry standard. At least I know now that my "PRIVATE" Messages are not private.

I can understand to some point the need to monitor PMs, but a better option would simply be to state a disclaimer before each PM that reads along the lines: If you receive emails from other users that are promoting a website for betting, approached to bet with an individual or any other activity outside the normal bounds, please contact "Insert-Name-Here" about this issue. We will deal with it swiftly and promptly. The same thing could be mentioned for people sending PMs to other users.

You could also turn on PM options only after X number of days or X number of posts, but to read PMs based on "keywords" and not have a disclaimer in the PM area but instead hidden in the ToS is not only a joke but scary as to what else is going on that posters are not aware of.

This has definitely changed my thoughts about SBR and it's processes.

I won't trust PMs again, on any site. I never really did but I've seen the light. The mods on most sites might be fine but you never if there's a bad apple out there.

[fearless]

Do you guys really think that they have the time (or the interest) to sit there and read all of our boring private messages? LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

There are programs that can be installed to flag key words. That is when private messages are monitored to make sure people aren't using PM's as means to spam and/or drive their own business as has been done in the past.

This is the kind of apathy that's allowed America to become the fascist nanny state that it is. If you don't draw the line in the sand and say "no more" the powers that be will just keep pushing you back until you have no freedom or privacy left.

[jjgold]

Sounds like a fascist statement if I ever heard one!

MIKAIL I am a little facist, I can probably make a video on this topic one day

I have no problem with Will Bee reading PM's day and fukkin night

[Sam Odom]

To decrypt this message use http://infoencrypt.com/
Password: 12345

<Encrypted>

TyMNCfMDIpb6Yv2Y1vkCu9I8NUoQmKuh2oZ4OYE3 DYTs/qMAVW70t01wnVECoXgH

</Encrypted>

[Robyn]

This is the kind of apathy that's allowed America to become the fascist nanny state that it is. If you don't draw the line in the sand and say "no more" the powers that be will just keep pushing you back until you have no freedom or privacy left.

Maybe SBR is protecting us from terrorists or maybe even alien mind control!! Ever think of that?



In all seriousness...to prevent accusations like this that seem to pop up in a thread every six months or so, SBR should put a disclaimer on the Private Message inbox screen. That way if people start crying, SBR staff can direct them to the very same page in which they clicked to create or respond to a PM. Just a suggestion.

[fearless]

To decrypt this message use http://infoencrypt.com/
Password: 12345

<Encrypted>

TyMNCfMDIpb6Yv2Y1vkCu9I8NUoQmKuh2oZ4OYE3 DYTs/qMAVW70t01wnVECoXgH

</Encrypted>

Unreal. As long as the password's a secret between you and the person you're sending the message to, PMs are totally unnecessary. That system is 100% secret and secure. What would the mods do if people were running around here posting messages like that to each other out in the open?

The truth about all the censorship would be revealed.

[yisman]

We watch everything here, we need to protect the site. I might give Willy Bee a Silver Missile tonight.

Is that what you're calling it now?