I belong to another expat forum under a different board name.

There's considerable discussion on international news and at present there are four or five topics on the US election.

Generally the discourse is amiably but a new member turned up this year with extremist views and very few board manners.

His posts are well peppered with words like "liar" and "stupid" and he's succeeded in antagonizing most of the board and embarrassing those members of his own political inclination.

Someone even got up a poll to have him banned but Admin pointed out that forums weren't democracies. (They're all the same aren't they).

Being as it's rained all weekend in Chiang Rai I spent a few hours running his board name and variations through the search engines, an initially difficult task because he's extremely careful of his real identity. But, eureka, he appeared on one of the most politically powerful forums in the US... a whole page to themselves in Wikipedia, and there in all it's glory was a photo of him attending a political demonstration with other members.

So I started a private topic, a type of multiple PM system, with the half dozen members he'd insulted most and shared the glad tidings. Their reactions were interesting, half wanted to "out" him immediately, the others said nay, it's not the sporting thing to do.

Personally, to me it was just an exercise in internet surfing and I wanted to show off how clever I was, but if someone here was continually abusive to you and seemed to be bullet proof with the Mods, would you post a pic if you had it?

I'm aware it would be deleted immediately with holidays and bannings but there's ways around that.

When someone is that big an a/hole it's tempting to out them to try and get rid of them from a place you used to enjoy.

However, I think the principal of privacy on these types of forums must be foremost or else they can't continue to function in the same format. I don't think real ID's, or photos, should ever be released by anyone but the person themselves. I've been tempted to show an unflattering photo of one prick, but resisted.

(I can think of another case where some low life published details of someones family addresses which he found in a web sites registration. There were repercussions)

I had another stalker, possibly on the same forum you are talking about, who's posts, in answer to anything I said, were just paragraphs of invective - nothing witty or contributory. I found out his real ID, and managed to work a reference to his name into a post. No one else would have picked up on it, but he got the message and backed off.

It's not really an issue here because of the BBQs etc where so many regular posters meet up anyway.

I think I know the forum you're referring to Old Croc and, no, it's not that one, the one I mean is a much more civilised place.

I had another stalker, possibly on the same forum you are talking about, who's posts, in answer to anything I said, were just paragraphs of invective - nothing witty or contributory. I found out his real ID, and managed to work a reference to his name into a post. No one else would have picked up on it, but he got the message and backed off.

I'm fairly sure I know the guy you mean OC...... and I aslo sought out his real identity and found it, with pictures.

Did I ever disclose those to anyone?

No, I didn't, verbal abuse is something that you should be able to take without having a hissy fit, or you walk away if it gets too bad, but.......... if it had gone beyond verbal abuse, the relevant authorities would have had no problem tracing him.

yeah,

I'm fairly certain a lot of the more prolific posters can be traced to some extent online. With a lot of effort, and cutting pasting from the myriad posts... in a n effort to trace a person's story.

But frankly, an annoying pr1ck on a forum is just another keyboard warrior. But, Scea, why let oneself get so riled up about some keyboard warrior that you actively seek him out on the 'net. There's nothing clever or smart about it.

Frankly, I consider it quite shameful.

As Thaddy stated above, and I quote:

verbal abuse is something that you should be able to take without having a hissy fit, or you walk away if it gets too bad, but.......... if it had gone beyond verbal abuse, the relevant authorities would have had no problem tracing him.

How can I live with this shame?

As I said, it was an exercise in internet search engines, no harm will come of it other than his picture will possibly be posted on a pedophile web site.

Vindictive, Moi?

I reference to Thad's post, there are no relevant authorities in Thailand who would take any notice of what went on in a Farang website unless it contained porn or les majesty.

no harm will come of it other than his picture will possibly be posted on a pedophile web site.

Post of the day!

My personal view is that personal info is always out of bounds if somebody does not voluntarily post under their own name or state explicitly they do not have a problem with their personal info being disclosed, they should be allowed their anonymity.

It's just a web forum after all, and we should try to not let the prats get to us too much. If 'liar' and 'stupid' is the extent of somebody's insults, then that's hardly enough reason to out them no matter how annoying it might get in the long run.

That being said, I can see scenarios where I would think/act differently, but then they'd have to start the personal thing first.

But if someone places themselves in a public position by attending an event as a political activist, fully aware that the media will be present and film and photos will be taken, doesn't he voluntarily forfeit the right to privacy?

But if someone places themselves in a public position by attending an event as a political activist, fully aware that the media will be present and film and photos will be taken, doesn't he voluntarily forfeit the right to privacy?

That would be regarded as 'Open Season'

It doesn't work that way Thad, it's like movie actors and entertainers, who make a very good living from people watching them at work, howling about invasion of privacy if someone takes a photo of their woolly while they're drunk in the street.

I'm not saying that it should or shouldn't work that way.... but in reality that is what happens.

In the Pattaya subforum we have a section named "Pattaya News Clippings" click here for the link. I have been concerned about several things with this forum but the major one is that it discloses names, addresses, nationality, and reported as suspects in often serious crimes. This to me is an invasion of privacy and against the forum rules but because the news items are cut and pasted from another source (Pattaya One News) the normal rules of the forum do not apply.

One of my concerns about living in Pattaya is if I have an accident or am killed. The appaling standard of journalism will have it that I was on my way home from Jenny Star bar, drunk and in possession of a loaded bar girl/lady boy. Ok it won't affect me in death and may be pretty close to the truth (not that it will be of course ) but I really don't want my friends and family reading this crap.

CB

CB, (I think we know that would be pretty close to the truth)

"But I don't want my friends and family reading this crap"

C'mon man! If you don't want them reading this crap, then don't do it.

Or don't do it on your doorstep, where everyone who has known you in Patters knows the lifestyle you have chosen to lead. How else is anyone going to remember you?

If you were, for example, some dude living out working with monks or something, then that's how you'd be remembered.

If you are, for example, some dude living the "good life" in patters, then that's how you'll be remembered.

What do you want?

I think that CB is more concerned about being misrepresented by the press.

And I completely agree with him about them giving out personal details.

I am a fervent believer in respecting the privacy of others. We all have our favorite idiots that we have experienced here in TV and in other forums. I would prefer to ignore them than actually know them.

Yes, I take the view that privacy is foremost for all sorts of reasons. I couldn't care less if someone identified me in the forum (it wouldn't be hard, since my user name is also my nickname in real life), but there are plenty of people who have good reasons to wish anonymity. I also agree with the objections to the scandalous reporting that can occur in this country.

What Peter says about Paul says more about Peter than it does about Paul. Once you come into a forum you open yourself up to the public. What this post tells me is not to pi_s the original poster off because they will come gunning for you.

Its very hard not to be affected by someone that has a good turn of phrase. I have also seen some comment on this board that shows complete lack of understanding and empathy. You cant put an old head on young/old shoulders.

You are going to disagree with people and it is how you deal with it at the time that reflects your integrity. Its not worth getting a lynching party together.

I saw a post in a forum and it was implying to do something against the rules of the forum. I reported it and the topic was removed.

I think the best thing to do when something bothers you hand it over to the people running the forum. Let them make the decision.

I sympathise with the original poster, but I would suggest not to waste to much energy and aggravation.

Just my thoughts

From the forum rules:

2) Posting another members personal details, photos or web site details is forbidden and will result in being banned.

I for one believe that this rule has to be in place as otherwise you cannot ask touchy questions in the visa section for instance.

Speaking of which...I am fairly well known as raro and my real name in Pattaya area. I had some touchy visa stuff going on earlier this year (sorted luckily) and inquired about this on the board with a different nick name - NB this second nick was agreed upon by George before I started using it as usually you cannot have two nicks.

Personally, to me it was just an exercise in internet surfing and I wanted to show off how clever I was, but if someone here was continually abusive to you and seemed to be bullet proof with the Mods, would you post a pic if you had it?

I hope that the kind of poster you mention would never be 'bullet-proof' with us Mods. We aim not to take sides and if you're getting crap from any other members we're happy to try and sort it out.

I wasn't suggesting favoritism, sure you have your friends, just like any member, and if they were abusive and disruptive they wouldn't be your friends.

But you certainly have your hobby horses, it took you a month to respond to this topic yet you were onto the Gay Rights topic the very next day, and almost as quickly we were fired upon by the heavy artillery in the form of Ijustwannateach who only rarely passes through the gates of Bedlam.

OK, it's a subject dear to your hearts, and rightly so.

One of mine is the Thai bashing threads that go in General ad infinitum to the point I rarely go there anymore. One of the busiest sub forums on the board is denied to me because I have to read posts racially abusing the people we have chosen to live with.

Go figure.

Sceadugenga, you lost me on that last post, I am afraid. I guess I don't see the correlation between subjects mods like to post in as normal human beings and someone flouting rules with abusive behavior?

As for the outing thing, well, there is a reason we have a rule against that, isnt' there? Just curious how you would feel if someone took a dislike to you and made a personal effort to "out" you on an open forum?

And no, I didn't respond to this thread until now because, as a mod, I deal with abusive and threatening PM's and posts on a regular basis. I long ago ceased to take it personally so the idea of seeking vengeance just wouldn't occur to me.

I have some small experience in that field myself.

I suppose a lot of topics are presented as a hypothetical, this was one that I just decided to run past members to see what they thought.

If my logic and presentation is a bit skewed it is Bedlam after all. (Or a sub-forum there of).

The reason that I didn't respond to this thread earlier was that I've not looked into Bedlam for a long time - the first time being when I responded to Moss's question about gay rights. As it's a subject I know something about I answered his questions - hardly riding my hobby horse.

I responded to Moss's question

OI!! I get the blame for everything around here

Moss

I responded to Moss's question

OI!! I get the blame for everything around here

Moss

As for the outing thing, well, there is a reason we have a rule against that, isnt' there? Just curious how you would feel if someone took a dislike to you and made a personal effort to "out" you on an open forum?

Agree,

Or how would you feel if your personal whereabouts were relayed by an idiot on this board to an idiot on another board so that it could be immediately posted?

This too will be addressed in the Forum Rules when they are re-written/revised.