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siflippant · Apr 27, 2008 , 03:51 AM

My question is in the title. I hope MacNN can delete my profile/username. Unfortunately this place just isn't as good as it used to be

Gotta love the forum police

reader50 · Apr 27, 2008 , 04:05 AM

We generally don't scrub an account away. Wouldn't it be simpler to just stop visiting?

On the other hand, if you are asking to be banned, there is a way to do that. Post some hot deals for personal enhancement. Or brag up your HUGE cell phone inventory, along with clearance prices, paid through Western Union.

hmm... then there's the weird store that tries to sell sneakers in the Networking forum every few months. I suppose it picks up the "sneakernet" keyword in there, and figures they'll sell good.

siflippant · Apr 27, 2008 , 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by reader50

We generally don't scrub an account away. Wouldn't it be simpler to just stop visiting?

On the other hand, if you are asking to be banned, there is a way to do that. Post some hot deals for personal enhancement. Or brag up your HUGE cell phone inventory, along with clearance prices, paid through Western Union.

hmm... then there's the weird store that tries to sell sneakers in the Networking forum every few months. I suppose it picks up the "sneakernet" keyword in there, and figures they'll sell good.

Wow, strong reply. Yup, you're right about the 'not visiting' as the solution (but not about being banned? Oh well). All the best MacNN, it was good while it lasted.

Take care all.

ghporter · Apr 27, 2008 , 06:23 AM

I have to wonder at siflippant's last sentence in the original post. Is this about "the forum police" trying to keep order and ticking this user off, or "the forum police" being here to help with a membership issue. I think the former, and if our not letting chaos reign is not to siflippant's liking, I guess both the forum and siflippant are better off apart.

Gankdawg · May 2, 2008 , 07:18 AM

My first username here was my email address. I know, I know, you don't have to tell me. Can I get that account deleted?

subego · May 2, 2008 , 10:50 AM

^^ I think the actual serious reason this isn't done is that they don't want to mess-up thread continuity.

If you ask super nice, they might be able to swing a user-name change though. Your situation does sound somewhat unique.

reader50 · May 2, 2008 , 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Gankdawg

My first username here was my email address. I know, I know, you don't have to tell me. Can I get that account deleted?

Deleting the account would leave the posts, with the username. The title would change to "guest" and you would no longer be able to log in and edit the posts.

Like subego says, you need a username change on the old account. Or even an account merge into your current one. However, I don't know if the latter is possible through the vBB controls - an Admin will need to comment.

Dakar the Fourth · May 2, 2008 , 01:21 PM

Wow, this place is so bad a lurker objects to it? Strange.

ghporter · May 2, 2008 , 02:28 PM

I think I can change a username on an account. If Gankdawg will PM me with the old username (precisely as it was shown by our forums) I can give that a try. Changing the name to Gankdawg will NOT merge the two accounts...

reader50 · May 2, 2008 , 02:48 PM

Glenn, according to the vBB docs:

Try the Users popdown in the admincp. 3rd option "Merge Users" sounds like it would work.

Of course, being the sneaky suspicious person that I am, I'd do an IP check on both handles. Make sure he's not trying to claim some of Ca$h's old posts with a little social engineering.

Gankdawg · May 2, 2008 , 03:06 PM

I can guarantee you that I'm not Ca$h and that the IP will not match. I've long since moved and switched ISPs. Glenn emailed me, and I told him if he can, he can change the user name and password to whatever he wants as I have not and will not use the old account and I don't really care if they are merged. Whatever is easiest, appreciate the help.

reader50 · May 2, 2008 , 03:11 PM

If you can send Glenn your login password for the old account, I'd say that would be pretty good proof that it really was yours.

besson3c · May 2, 2008 , 03:32 PM

Or better yet, the md5 hash of the old password, as I'm fairly sure vBB does not store passwords in the clear... Most web applications don't.

To do this, from your terminal:

md5 -s "yourpassword"

This hash will be what is saved in the DB table

subego · May 2, 2008 , 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Or better yet, the md5 hash of the old password, as I'm fairly sure vBB does not store passwords in the clear... Most web applications don't.

Wouldn't it be easier for him to just try and log in with the password?

besson3c · May 2, 2008 , 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Wouldn't it be easier for him to just try and log in with the password?

Yes, but that's generally a bad idea. People often use the same password for all sorts of things, which is what makes password sharing generally a bad idea. What would be best would be my idea, or else setting the account to a random password and sharing that.

I suggested an cronjob to automatically archive threads older than a certain date some time ago and the impression I got was that whomever was the admin at the time didn't have this level of access and/or know-how, so perhaps the password reset idea is the best bet.

reader50 · May 2, 2008 , 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

...
I suggested an cronjob to automatically archive threads older than a certain date some time ago and the impression I got was that whomever was the admin at the time didn't have this level of access and/or know-how ...

I assume this is to prevent bumping of old threads. If so, I'd be more in favor of a cronjob to autolock older threads. Reason: people often Search for problems/solutions in the forum(s) most likely to contain the answers. And they are likely to miss the Archives unless they search All Forums.

The Archives were started under UBB to reduce folder sizes on the server. Since vBB uses a DB instead of a file tree to store posts, the Archives no longer serve a clear purpose other than to prevent zombie bumps. If we had a way to prevent old bumps in place, I'd be in favor of getting rid of the Archives. Put the posts back in their respective forums, so Search will work as expected.

seanc · May 2, 2008 , 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by reader50

I'm in favor of a cronjob to autolock older threads.

Seconded. The feature can be added on to vBulletin via an addon from the vBulletin mods site.

Lateralus · May 2, 2008 , 08:37 PM

Can I get my account deleted too? This place really has gone to hell.

The moderators rock but the lurkers suck.

subego · May 2, 2008 , 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Yes, but that's generally a bad idea. People often use the same password for all sorts of things, which is what makes password sharing generally a bad idea.

I'd trust Glenn with my password any day of the week.

MacosNerd · May 3, 2008 , 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by subego

I'd trust Glenn with my password any day of the week.

No offense to you or Glenn but I don't trust anyone with my passwords. Besson's right on this, its just form to hand out your passwords on the intarweb. Yes I know we're only talking about a forum but still

Atomic Rooster · May 3, 2008 , 09:54 AM

It's best to delete accounts if possible. They may end up on a certain website that publishes handles for different forums. I can't remember how I came across it but there was all kinds for MacNN available for anyone to use. I decided to see if any worked and signed in and made a post with one no problem.