Following

[Chasing Embers]

What is the purpose of Following in a forum space? Why can members do it without asking permission from the member they wish to follow and why can't the option of being followed be something one can turn on or off? It's unnerving knowing someone is getting updates on all of my forum activities and I find myself increasingly apprehensive of posting.

 

[scloyd]

How do you know someone is following (stalking) you? I'd like to know if I have any stalkers. I doubt I do...I don't have much to offer here.

 

[Chasing Embers]

How do you know someone is following (stalking) you?

Notifications informs you that you are and by whom.

I don't have much to offer here.

Neither do I.

 

[mityahicks]

Yeah, that's odd.

 

[Casual]

After you click “follow”, is there a “look through bedroom window” button? Then a “place creepy call to workplace”, ending with “fatally confront in parking lot”?

I’ve seen this after school movie before.

 

[scloyd]

Notifications informs you that you are and by whom.

Seems like you should be able to block the "following". Maybe one of the moderators can jump in with an explanation.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Seems like you should be able to block the "following". Maybe one of the moderators can jump in with an explanation.

Checked, no block feature on this template.

 

[jpmcwjr]

A few folks are "following" me. I took it as a compliment, but then maybe I should keep my blinds closed at night.

 

[saintpeter]

 

[mso489]

I think the intention is to allow members to follow particular members who post material of special interest to them -- particular brands of pipes, specific craft or historical expertise, etc. Like so many of these online functions, misuse seems to hang over these capabilities. If you feel these are being misused, complain loudly is all I can say.

 

[Chasing Embers]

follow particular members who post material of special interest to them -- particular brands of pipes, specific craft or historical expertise, etc.

Isn't that wht we have the option to post questions and topic threads?

 

[brian64]

It must be because you were giving away Esoterica blends.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It must be because you were giving away Esoterica blends.

Started almost immediately after the forum changeover

 

[brian64]

Try sending CB Grape to everyone following you.....

 

[Chasing Embers]

Try sending CB Grape to everyone following you.....

Then they'll find our it's actually good and I'll never find it in stock again.

 

[jpmcwjr]

So, how many are following? Can't you just ask them to cut it out?

FWIW, I like the guys who follow me.

 

[condorlover1]

@chasingembers I knew I should never have invited Christopher Walkin to join the forum!

 

[cshubhra]

I think the followers are aliens. They would soon abduct you to a secret laboratory in space and conduct experiments to find out how you can taste aromatics

 

[olkofri]

It's kinda like Flickr, methinks. Following allows members to have any new content authored by you to pop on their feed so that they don't miss your great work. When you're outputting something, the point is that people see it—the more the merrier; why light a lamp and hide it under the bed?

At least that's the rationale of those who designed these software platforms. Trying to control who follows me would be like giving passersby control over when I can look outside MY window.

I'm not worried about people I know are following me. The real scary ones are those who follow you without letting you know.

 

[dmcmtk]

Stop! Hold on. Stay in control. Paranoia, the destroyer.