Sextuplate accounts

What gets your goat about a member having more than one account?

This has been raised in recent discussion and I want to know your beef with it. Where does it come from?

My 'extreme' view:
I reckon the mods should not be able to control the number of accounts at all. Even having to state your "main account" on your profile seems to be an invasion of privacy. If a person wants to be completely anonymous with their personal poetry, that should be their right as a person of the internet. It's the beauty of online submissions.

It's not stated anywhere in the owner's rules either.

I think the only concerns are really when people start nominating their own poems etc. I personally don't care about this, especially if the poems are independently judge-worthy enough to win the contest anyway.

And I also share Narph's view with a smile:
"the multiple accounts rule is silly and should be abolished. The site's struggling participation-wise as it is, if everyone divided their personalities and created duplicate (triplicate, sextupulate! -- I study Russian, don't play, you don't understand English grammar either) accounts we'd have significantly more potential people to talk to."

The current mods have been great in showing perspective and relaxing some of the old, stupid rules. Doesn't hurt to loosen up about this seeming issue as well, maybe on a trial basis? Especially for those members who have already stated their secondary/tertiary accounts, notified mods, are completely harmless, blah blah - like my Jungle Janey.

If any accounts raise suspicion or are causing harassment, they can easily be tracked on request, surely?

Yes and yes.

The major reasoning for this rule before was there were people being very misleading. Mods then didn't have access to tools they do now. Now they can stalk better ;)

Kidding. Kind of. Y'all know what I mean. Anyway, I don't see an issue as long as it's not causing harm. Use common sense as to what harm would be.

Ok...I'll go first as it was probably my previous post that you're referring to?

If a person wants to be completely anonymous with their personal poetry, that should be their right as a person of the internet. It's the beauty of online submissions.

^^^

Yes, that's fine and, I would agree with you, if that's all the person used the account for...posting poetry anonymously and not participating in anything else...they want to be totally anonymous so...let them be. I don't think they should come on here and have a 'personality'.

I think the only concerns are really when people start nominating their own poems etc. I personally don't care about this, especially if the poems are independently judge-worthy enough to win the contest anyway.

^^^

What if the judge was also the poet of a secondary account with a nominated poem...too easy to vote on it...that's not independent judging and...I do believe it's probably already happened in the past. Also...there is the nightmare of members with more than one account also being members of more then one club...more work for the mods to keep track of.

As for Narph's view...I've already given my thoughts on the other thread...if you can speak to yourself in another language then...that could be fun...for who, I'm not really sure but then again...I don't see commenting/nominating my own poem as a fun thing either.

Doesn't hurt to loosen up about this seeming issue as well, maybe on a trial basis?

^^

Honestly...this would open up an even larger Pandora's box than what the mods have to deal with at the moment I feel.

Well...you asked for our beefs....that's mine :)

Wouldn't it be nice if members only used their second or third accounts to post poetry? As far as I am concerned I had no problem with Jane's multiple personalities, that's because I know Jane isn't a menace creeping her way through the boards with a trench coat and a shadow.

The main problem is when we have with several members using alternative accounts for reasons other than posting poetry. Not all members who use this site are here for the right reasons and on occasion members do use accounts to harass and stalk other members.

As Britt said we do have the tools that allow us to find connections between accounts, sometimes they are obvious, sometimes they are not. I believe this is why we have the "no more than two accounts rule", it helps with keeping the site as safe as it possibly can be.

I would be fine with members having as many accounts as they wanted as long as they weren't used to harass, stalk, or set fire to the main boards. Though I must admit I do miss the good old days when things were actually happening around here.

In saying that though, I believe there has to be some middle ground. Let the mods know who you are, don't manipulate members into thinking you are some 40 year old Minister of magic in London, don't be a traitor by being part of two clubs and we'd be all good.

I've actually stopped commenting now because I'm always second guessing who members are or could be...

EDIT

" we do have the tools that allow us to find connections between accounts, sometimes they are obvious, sometimes they are not. I believe this is why we have the "no more than two accounts rule", it helps with keeping the site as safe as it possibly can be"

^^^

Someone could have better tools...you know..Clubs were getting hacked into, accounts..pms etc...Janis 'fixed' the problem and disappeared once again so...who's to say these hackers have not found another way to infiltrate p&q?....Hope you guys are keeping that in mind ...while looking at your tools <<<< OMG...you know what I mean :)

That's a shame, Hellon. I understand your concerns with members having multiple accounts, I know it can make people uncomfortable and even be frustrating trying to figure out who is who. It's also about fairness to all members, hence why Jane is from what I know, in the process of removing her third account.

These days nothing would surprise me with the internet and you're right people could have better tools. We do however attempt to make sure the site is as secure as possible while meeting all members needs. Sadly as you know, we always come across divides when trying to please everyone, and the thing is both sides always have some pretty valid reasons.

We do however attempt to make sure the site is as secure as possible while meeting all members needs.

^^^

Yes..I totally understand but...I also know that when Janis refuses to maintain this site you (the mods) have you hands tied to a certain degree...leaving the door open to people who have access to the ever developing methods of hacking etc...for what reasons they wish to utilise them on a poetry site is beyond me and yet...I'm still concerned about the possibilities...

If someone is upfront with his/her accounts why not. If there is a good use for them. So leave Jane's account alone.

The only reason I had multiple accounts 7 years ago ( that still everyone talk about it) was the fact that every time I hade an argument with anyone in the main board some suspicious accounts suddenly popped up and insulted me out of nowhere. I thought I never seen or talked to that person, why should s/he be so mad at me? Then I realized it is the guy who could not win the debate. They did not even hide it very well. So I used their own remedy against them. Than they got the IP tracking device( only because of me) then those who had all those multiple accounts all over the place suspended all my accounts shamelessly. Talking about hypocrisy and double standard!! If you were one of them they granted the multiple account, if you did not kiss asses Like I didn't, they exposed you and made you feel shame for the crime of their own!!
I never used my accounts to compliment my own works and slimy things like that I used them to protect me in the jungle of the main board.

So officially I am requesting to reinstate my Aria and Neema accounts. I want to see my old poems . I miss them.

Awe Ddavidd I don't think you can reinstate them if they got deleted Ddavidd but I quite agree with people keeping their second/third accounts or more for the main account I use is this one

You know better you are the boss

That is true and that same mod used his mod power to intimidate and then admitted that the highlight of his modship was believing he made us look like fools

Ddavidd no I'm not the boss I just simply use my accounts

Haha Michael good old bad days!!

okay my bad. But you boss around so much I thought you were one.
either way we love you!!

*rolls eyes* o I boss around Ddavidd? Really? I am simply a member and unlike the wonderful Mods here I only have the ability to nominate poems for the weekly contest, and am able to praise comments for those that comment wonderfully by poets that don't praise (that's if they don't know how to), but I'll say it again not a boss I rather not have stress about anything. I am happily in my trade and enjoying it going at my own passé. :)

Phoenix Rising Club has been the "victim" of several people creating multiple accounts and using them for reasons other than posting poetry. I believe there was at least 3 times this happened and 2 of the 3 involved the same person. That is the reason I am against site members having more than one account. Most members are honest, but you have the few who are not and those few people produce results that harm or injure other emotionally.

You are wonderful the way you are.
we are just having fun

so now you say it is okay for me to have three account , thanks
but now I want 8

Sylvia some people don't but I know it has happened in other clubs not just yours but the sometimes people create other accounts because like Ddavidd here for example have multiple personalities or they just forget their passwords. Some even forget the email that their account was in like if I somehow forgot my password for my account (this one) I would be unable to log in ever again since my yahoo has locked me out and I created the questions for if I ever to loose my password I would just answer three questions and to be honest I do NOT remember my password so that's why people have more than one account. Or they have grown bored of their clubs and what I just said happened don't be surprised if a member has more than one account or two since people do forget their passwords and not all know where they signed up with which email account

Ddavidd quit using that logic hun we can only have 2 accounts I have yet to transfer all my poetry to my pin drive o joy<- notice the sarcasm? yea I won't enjoy it -.-

You contradict yourself
You said: "but I quite agree with people keeping their second/third accounts or more "

Now is 8 for sure.

Yes I did but I only said the limit which is 3 Ddavidd

My two (or more) cents on the issue

I agree that its good that people can be anonymous, and people are free to do this as at the moment 2 accounts are allowed, remember.

I do think though that there are potential problems with multiple/infinite accounts.

- If people start nominating their own poems it makes the workload bigger on the judges and it is tough enough to get judges as it is without having them trawling through dozens and dozens of poems each week.

- Regards Narph's (well-put!) point about activity: I'm not sure if it really increases activity if its the same people just posting under different accounts. In fact this might have an opposite/negative effect and make others more hesitant to participate as they don't know who they are communicating with.

- Contests hosted by members could become unfair and very difficult to regulate if you have people posting 5 or 6 poems in under different accounts, when most contests are one poem per person (not one poem per account).

- Clubs are a safe haven for many people and allowing multiple accounts can damage this. In the past there have been people 'infiltrating' other clubs and relaying back from other accounts. (As it is a person can only be in one club I believe even if they have two accounts). Clubs might become even more closed off from mainland PnQ for suspicion or fear of something similar happening again.

- The top rated poems for each section (also appears on the homepage) could effectively be controlled by one person with multiple accounts.

- With regard predators and/or people with malicious intent: I know for a fact that it has happened in the past on here that a person with multiple accounts gained the confidence of others by having these multiple accounts and using them to back up each others story (e.g. Account A was validated by accounts B and C because they 'knew' and spoke to each other etc). This can be surprisingly difficult to moderate: as it is practically impossible to track or moderate accounts if there is no limit to them and if people don't complain about pm's (which not many people do), especially if they couldn't make the connection between accounts. I've explained that terribly but basically I think its good to have the 2 account rule to fall back on and limit the manipulation by the few who are so inclined and its also a black-and-white rule by which to give penalties for infringement if the need arises.

- I agree that most people are harmless with their other accounts but the rule has to be the same for all and opening up multiple accounts to the good decent folk around here means opening it up to the dark side too (sorry, was watching Star Wars recently) and I think the potential negatives outweigh the potential positives.

EDIT: Sorry I didn't get the chance to read through the full thread and was responding to Abby's initial post so apologies if I repeated what had already been said

Thank you Colm.

There you go Ddavidd the Mod has the final word on how may accounts you may have

Who cares about mods YOU said Three or MORE
now you can not turn back.

Colm is another account of mine.

going nine now

Ddavidd I'm sure that's not true since two accounts can't be on at the same time by a user. Also that being said I said 2 or three but that's the business of the poets and yes there should be a reason to have multiple accounts but that's because they either feel paranoid or they feel threatened and don't trust the Mods we will never know.

You said three or """""MORE"""""

I use to manage five amount at once arguing with myself for awhile.
Shar would say if you be abusive to ...( my the other account) I suspend you.
And I wold laugh to myself because I loved myself too much to be abusive to myself.

Stop arguing
now is ten

You know what Ddavidd? You can have as many as you want but in the end they can (The Mods) delete your accounts if they find out and they probably will Ddavidd

I'll deal with them don't worry . I just wanted your consent.
So thank you

What's so dang important about my consent? I'm not your mother Ddavidd I'm just a woman the Mods have the power and justly so to delete your account

You are not my mother I know you are too old to be my mother.
Don't worry about mods I said they all are me.
I am omnipresent: Remember the song "you are everyone and everyone is you" ??
Individuality is only a distraction to collective consciousness.

Still arguing?
gone 11

You mean "younger" right Ddavidd? I am no one's mother except in my heart and they are the ones that keep me from going heartless. That being said Mods have different personalities I don't think you can manage all that much work each of the Mods have if you were just ONE person and no I can say I haven't but I'll look it up

I have multiple personalities. I could manage.

12 now

I don't think you could do what they do on a daily basis and count all you want that's how many minutes you'll be in the "corner" since you apparently think I'm old enough to be someone's mother!

LOL... this whole exchange is cracking me up. Thanks for the laughs, peeps!

No problem Britt *looks towards the heavens* I'm apparently too OLD to be Ddavidd's mother but I'm younger than 30! O yeah that's so fair NOT

You are older because you're wiser.
But younger because you're prettier.

Thank you Ddavidd but I didn't get this wise just because I've lived a joyful life (although I do have a joyful life now) but because hardships have fallen on me and I have fallen but I have gotten up and came out stronger.

And I'm as average as any woman out there beauty is in the eyes of the beholders. Everyone has beauty they could be a plain woman but with their personalities they are irresistible.

Sorry to hear about your past my dear. All the good people come with a bad past don't ask me why. Life is a paradox perhaps!!

Life is pain, you got to pay the price to live some pay it when young and some pay for it later in life it costs to live but so far I have almost healed I had a nice childhood for the most part, but not everything was unicorns and rainbows because it's real life and real life there comes a time where you got to be mature (although I pefer not to be) and sometimes you have to be childish. I know when I have kids of my own one day I will spoil them rotten and may God forgive me for cursing afterwards when I get calls from the teachers saying she's way too pampered lol

Haha I guess this is what your mom did. We all learn from our parents.

Too much maturity is bad even for matures. But too much candy and immaturity also spoils us and rots you teeth.
Moderation my dear: both sides have to be equal like butterflies, like birds, in order to fly. Like a boat, if one ore go faster, the boat turns around instead of going forward. This is why some of us never mature because we are turning round and round stuck in our childhood.

If I have to be childish so be it I had a horse as a kid (and ridding it), I had attitude back then (whoops I haven't given that up yet lol), a bunch of animals (dogs, cats, a sheep or was it a goat?) and of course let me not foget the freedom of getting what I wanted! lol God I miss those days I would whine to my mom and say I was cold and I didn't go to school that day we would instead go shopping lol like I said I was spoiled rotten as a kid in fact I know my mom or was it my dad got a call from my teacher saying I was too pampered my parents said "so what?".

When we grow up too pampered it is like a child who most of his/her bones are broken and no one bothers to cast them. They all heal, though join crooked and wrong. So in adulthood, life has to break them all one by one through the utmost excruciating pain in order to cast them right. The difficulty is multiplied by thousand. And believe me it is too hard, noone ever would take that job, they let the poor man or woman go on crawling all his/ her life in that uneven body.