Forum/Cave Username Coherency

[Fuzzy_Blip]

Could a mod make a directory that listed the forum usernames of active users and then linked to their scrolls? It would make contacting traders much easier.
(Or there could be a messaging system within the cave)

[Fuzzbucket]

Many of us deliberately do NOT link the two, for many reasons. Such a directory would be a major invasion of our privacy. I - for one - do NOT want to be contactable through my scroll. or through the hub.

 

You can offer and trade on the hub, or if that isn't good enough, use the trading threads here, where you can discuss your trades.

 

There can never be a messaging system within the cave, as TJ's job does not allow it.

Edited April 16, 2020 by Fuzzbucket

[Jazeki]

I'm echoing Fuzz's sentiments and suggestions for you. A directory opens users up to harassment and unwanted contact.  If a person wants to be contacted, they'll either find you or give ways for you to contact them, like including a forum name in their trade post or on their scroll, linking their scroll in their forum signature, or asking you to PM them in their forum post. It's best not to assume every user wants to be contacted regarding trades. 

[Fuzzbucket]

To repeat:

 

There can never be a messaging system within the cave, as TJ's job does not allow it. The hub is in the cave. So...

[Keileon]

Agreed with Jazeki and Fuzz, but I wouldn't be opposed to a thread where people voluntarily gave that information. That way nobody's privacy is infringed and people are largely still happy.

[angelicdragonpuppy]

It would be nice if we could verify forum accounts and link them to our scrolls. This would, of course, be optional.

[DragonLady86]

As someone who has the same name on both, I dont care either way. However, the site is never going to link them.  Because of legal reasons.

 

If you want a voluntary way, start a thread in site in site discussion where people can post scroll names if they want.

[HeatherMarie]

15 hours ago, Jazeki said:

I'm echoing Fuzz's sentiments and suggestions for you. A directory opens users up to harassment and unwanted contact.  If a person wants to be contacted, they'll either find you or give ways for you to contact them, like including a forum name in their trade post or on their scroll, linking their scroll in their forum signature, or asking you to PM them in their forum post. It's best not to assume every user wants to be contacted regarding trades. 

 

(bolding for emphasis) 

This, so so so much. There have been so many long conversations/suggestions here over the years about the general ideas of contacting users, knowing their scroll/forum account, etc etc. And every single time, many people express many different reasons they *don't* want anything like that.

 

Using the hub is a nice simple way to trade, but it in no way implies that the trader/offerer wants to be contacted directly. In fact for many of us a huge plus for the hub is that it *doesn't* invite any direct contact (unlike posting trades on the forum). 

 

(Actually, a big issue with this specific suggestion would be that a lot of people deliberately *hide* their scrolls so others can't view them... How exactly would a list linking forum names to scrolls work in that case? And it can't just be 'don't list users with hidden scrolls' because who would be in charge of constantly updating the list? People can hide or unhide their scrolls at any time.)

[Ruby Eyes]

Those who want their scrollname to be found on the forum can post it in their profile (and most already do).

Google search (search for "site:forums.dragcave.net" + the scrollname) then helps you find them.

If you cannot find your trader this way, then well, find yourself another trade.

 

No to this suggestion.

[Fuzzbucket]

3 hours ago, angelicdragonpuppy said:

It would be nice if we could verify forum accounts and link them to our scrolls. This would, of course, be optional.

 I suspect that would come under no communication allowed on the cave - because of TJ's job.

 

If you want people to find your forum name from your scroll - it is very easy to do by naming a frozen or something at the top of your scroll.

 

1 hour ago, Ruby Eyes said:

Those who want their scrollname to be found on the forum can post it in their profile (and most already do).

Google search (search for "site:forums.dragcave.net" + the scrollname) then helps you find them.

If you cannot find your trader this way, then well, find yourself another trade.

 

No to this suggestion.

 

TOTALLY agree. My scroll is linked to my sig here. I do NOT want people to be able to track me down here in the other direction. Those who have traded with me often enough that they know who I am here can (and do) use that information. No way do I want new users to show up and demand eggs from EVERY SINGLE ONE of my prize dragons.

 

Yes that DID happen to me not long ago because my sig says I breed for free. Not only that but they said "except the ones related to ones I have." You seriously think I am going to go through all the prizes on YOUR scroll for YOUR convenience ? I have 311 prizes. Do it for yourself if you want me to add to your stable.

 

And that happened on forum. Imagine if people could ask directly from my scroll.

Edited April 17, 2020 by Fuzzbucket

[Cireth]

I have the same names in both places so I'm not really affected by this personally but I know other players get harrassed so I'm voting a big fat no. We don't need to make harrassnent issues any worse than they already are.

[Screech]

I'm entirely against this for all the reasons raised above.

 

I already am on a website where forum and pet collection are linked, and it has caused me so much stress and emotional pain over the past years that I've abandoned it altogether since January because I have anxiety attacks just thinking about someone maybe having messaged me or proposed a trade on there. I've taken refuge on DC and I certainly don't want DC to turn into another... 'that unnamed site'. The prospect of having to hole myself on my scroll and isolate myself completely from any and all contact is not one I ever want to see realized. Separation of scroll and forum are my safety. Narrowed-interaction Trading Hub is my reassurance.

[Fuzzbucket]

On 4/17/2020 at 6:48 AM, Keileon said:

Agreed with Jazeki and Fuzz, but I wouldn't be opposed to a thread where people voluntarily gave that information. That way nobody's privacy is infringed and people are largely still happy.

 

WELL - those who WANT them linked and who failed to match them up in the first place can link scrolls in signatures here and put their forum name on a derg at the top of their scroll. OR - simply change forum name to match scroll name. But nothing required or automatic, please.

[olympe]

On 4/17/2020 at 8:02 AM, angelicdragonpuppy said:

It would be nice if we could verify forum accounts and link them to our scrolls. This would, of course, be optional.

Please allow people to link several scrolls to their accounts. You might get multi-scrollers reporting themselves...

[ShorahNagi]

On 4/17/2020 at 2:02 AM, angelicdragonpuppy said:

It would be nice if we could verify forum accounts and link them to our scrolls. This would, of course, be optional.

I like the idea of an optional link option (I've got no issue linking my forum and scroll [same username anyhow]).

 

If a user chooses to opt in*, there would be a set link somewhere on the profile page [as opposed to current methods of people posting the link to their scroll in their signature or profile]. If not, the set link might just say N/A or not be present.

 

*If added, I feel it best if no one is automatically added. Send out a message on the forum with a link to opt in (and the option to change at any time)

 

But on the other hand - we already have ways to link scroll/forum name (use the same name, link in profile/signature, etc). Plus, there's a lot of room for harassment (being bugged for eggs, viewbombing, just trolling, etc) if there was a more 'permanent' way to see scroll vs. Forum name.

 

That aside, it's a nice idea in theory, but the problem is finding a way to make it work with minimal issue

[Paintra]

I don't see why an optional "link scroll to forum" feature would cause many problems. It could just be a a tab at the top of someone's scroll, and again, it could be turned off/on at will. No unwanted harassment, but also people who want it enabled are free to do so   

[Fuzzbucket]

Would that count as direct communication from the scroll page ? (which TJ cannot allow.)

[Paintra]

4 hours ago, Fuzzbucket said:

Would that count as direct communication from the scroll page ? (which TJ cannot allow.)

 

I don't see why it would. It LEADS to one, sure, but it doesn't seem like direct communication from the scroll page. People also have to have a forum account to be able to message them in the first place, so it's all through an entirely different platform. Of course, only TJ can really tell us.

[Fuzzbucket]

Yes - that was why I phrased it as a question. But a link to a specific forum member profile is rather more than a simple link to a forum in general - it does effectively make contact with an individual.

[Jazeki]

18 minutes ago, Fuzzbucket said:

Yes - that was why I phrased it as a question. But a link to a specific forum member profile is rather more than a simple link to a forum in general - it does effectively make contact with an individual.

Hopefully, @TJ09 pops in and clarifies this. I mean, it would be up to the user to actually click the PM button, but still. The communication is implied. 

 

I am on Chicken Smoothie, where the game and forum profiles are explicitly linked together to facilitate communication and trading. I get many people offering on my pets without me actively doing anything to initiate communication. I'd rather not make that easier for people here.

 

As it is, users are more inclined to just direct message me on Discord because that seems to be something you do. I do breed things for people if they ask, but I'd rather not have people PM me about trades. I've had people ask me why I put "No PM's" on the bottom of my trade posts here. I'd rather not have them resort to "But your profile was linked! I thought it was OK!"

[Screech]

11 hours ago, Jazeki said:

I am on Chicken Smoothie, where the game and forum profiles are explicitly linked together to facilitate communication and trading.

 

That's the website I was trying not to name xD A definite plus on DC is that trades don't involve direct messaging, and can be played without ever having an account on the forum.

 

On the other hand, I wouldn't see an issue with having a 'scrollname' section under 'Location' or the avatar, something that could be filled in optionally by willing players. People can already decide whether they put their actual location or invent some fanciful place.

Actually, I do see a possible issue: scroll viewbombing. Or someone putting as a 'scrollname' the name of a scroll actually belonging to another user, on purpose. But wouldn't that happen with anyone who puts a link to their scroll in their signature anyway? Perhaps it's an issue if it's a direct link, but wouldn't be if it was just a bit of text without a link? Idk, just thoughts.

[camelia2]

I know things won't change since TJ built the site like this on purpose (hidden scrolls, hidden owners etc.) but I'll still give my opinion on the matter.

As I said before, this site is full of ghosts. So many useful features won't be implemented just to protect someone's 'precious' privacy (increasingly ironic since TJ works for facebook)

All to prevent *potential* unwanted communication... communication where?! There is no (and will not be) message feature in DC and you have a nice pretty ignore user on forum which you can use if 'hey would you trade this?' bothers you so much.

Acting like you'd pe spamed with the constitution for the rest of your days if DC and forum names would be linked is amusing.

On any other adoptables site you know who you're messaging and who owns what (unless you're blocked) while you have to make *another account* to message on DC (which pissed me off from the very begining) and all think it would be a tragedy if DC would work as you'd expect.

[Jazeki]

Peeps (collectively), I've been using the forums for over a decade now and have communicated with users about trades on here and offsite(via email, chat, whatever) before. When you play or are active enough or have valuable things, you're a person of interest to users who are looking to trade for what they don't have. Yes, I can (and have) block/report users.

 

Rarely, if people get upset enough, they'll try to ruin your game experience or they'll find ways to reach you outside of the forums.

 

Sure, I probably won't be spammed the rest of my days, but I've been spammed enough to know that there's a good side and a bad side to this suggestion. Just because you haven't experienced it, doesn't mean it's not an issue. 

 

I don't really care if this is implemented optionally and if you want to volunteer to link your stuff directly, more power to you. But I'd rather not have users just assume they should be able to freely access my dragons for a trade. 

[Fuzzbucket]

7 hours ago, camelia2 said:

I know things won't change since TJ built the site like this on purpose (hidden scrolls, hidden owners etc.) but I'll still give my opinion on the matter.

As I said before, this site is full of ghosts. So many useful features won't be implemented just to protect someone's 'precious' privacy (increasingly ironic since TJ works for facebook)

All to prevent *potential* unwanted communication... communication where?! There is no (and will not be) message feature in DC and you have a nice pretty ignore user on forum which you can use if 'hey would you trade this?' bothers you so much.

Acting like you'd pe spamed with the constitution for the rest of your days if DC and forum names would be linked is amusing.

On any other adoptables site you know who you're messaging and who owns what (unless you're blocked) while you have to make *another account* to message on DC (which pissed me off from the very begining) and all think it would be a tragedy if DC would work as you'd expect.

 

WELL - when you block someone who spams you with PMs, they were, at the time the biggie happened, able to harass me by email - luckily that doesn't work any more. SOME people then took to viewbombing because I had blocked them from messaging.

 

1 hour ago, Jazeki said:

Peeps (collectively), I've been using the forums for over a decade now and have communicated with users about trades on here and offsite(via email, chat, whatever) before. When you play or are active enough or have valuable things, you're a person of interest to users who are looking to trade for what they don't have. Yes, I can (and have) block/report users.

 

Rarely, if people get upset enough, they'll try to ruin your game experience or they'll find ways to reach you outside of the forums.

 

Sure, I probably won't be spammed the rest of my days, but I've been spammed enough to know that there's a good side and a bad side to this suggestion. Just because you haven't experienced it, doesn't mean it's not an issue. 

 

I don't really care if this is implemented optionally and if you want to volunteer to link your stuff directly, more power to you. But I'd rather not have users just assume they should be able to freely access my dragons for a trade. 

 

This - 100%. It's not just privacy - you don't really think fuzzbucket is actually my NAME do you ?   - it's not wanting to have MY way of playing spoiled because someone else is pissed off that I won't do what they want.

[HeatherMarie]

13 hours ago, Jazeki said:

 

I don't really care if this is implemented optionally and if you want to volunteer to link your stuff directly, more power to you. But I'd rather not have users just assume they should be able to freely access my dragons for a trade. 

 

Thiiiiiiis. Seriously. DC is not a social media site, not a communications site, etc etc. It is 100% up to you if you want to put a link to your scroll in your sig or whatever, and I know many people have their contact info as dragon names on their scroll so people can contact them like that as well. There *are* options, already. But the big thing here is that *not* everyone *wants* to be contacted! Or even linked that way.

 

There have been so many suggestions similar to this over the years and they all seem to *want* to operate under this assumption that it's just totally logical to have forum/scroll connected, to be able to see a user's contact info, that somehow DC isn't working right because we don't have those things. Some people may feel that way, sure, but certainly not everyone. There is a fairly large group of people on this forum that I've seen specifically post about how the lack of contact is *why* they choose DC over other similar sites. A lot of us just want to play the game, by ourselves, be left alone. Not everyone *wants* to be social on a dragon-collecting game. 

 

(I also must point out, the OP specifically mentions this in the context of trades, just in case anyone is all 'linking accounts doesn't necessarily mean lots of contact!' or whatever. The whole point was to make trades 'easier'. So concern over unwanted contact is perfectly understandable here.)

 

(Yes, I'm active on the forums. Yes, I have my scroll linked in my sig. Even so, I do sometimes have to avoid the forums for awhile when my anxiety gets bad. And that's my choice, that's something I can do. If I just want to play the game without dealing with other people, I can do that. Thank goodness.)