Thread: The vBulletin software has been updated: Some new features available

How do you tell if a user has multiple accounts?

Originally Posted by gnomeflinger

How do you tell if a user has multiple accounts?

You probably can't. If you suspect it, you can PM one of the mods, and they can do some research.

Originally Posted by Tned

I have upgraded the message board to the latest version of vBulletin. Here are some of the new features:

• Private message sorting and filtering (at the bottom of the PM page)
• Quick reply for private messages, like the quick reply inside of threads.
• Ability to report a private message (like reporting a post). There is an icon at the upper right of PMs and you can click that to report the PM to the moderators.
• There are also some social group stuff, like adding friends, comments left on the profile, etc. We will try having these things turned on for a while, and see if they are a positive or negative for the message board.

I'm gonna love most of these features... but am wary of the "reporting PMs to mods" part. Could this mean private messages aren't really private anymore? Before, one could forward a PM to a mod... but this way means a mod can read your PM just like a public post...

If PMs aren't really private, then I for one, would prefer to just disable my PM inbox.

Originally Posted by Midnight Blue

I'm gonna love most of these features... but am wary of the "reporting PMs to mods" part. Could this mean private messages aren't really private anymore? Before, one could forward a PM to a mod... but this way means a mod can read your PM just like a public post...

If PMs aren't really private, then I for one, would prefer to just disable my PM inbox.

we get a few reports of attacks or foul language in PM .. and unless they would be forwarded we could not see them.. and then only to that one mod.. If they were not on for a couple of days then that could be an issue if you needed it to be handled. this way it goes to a Reported post are that all mods see and we all get email messages that something it there to look at.. that way it is handled or looked at quicker than going through 5-20 PM a day when we log on..

It is only an option and we would not have access to any more than the one PM..


Also it as a deterrent knowing that you can report it fewer folks will resort to attacking this way..

Originally Posted by Jrwiz

we get a few reports of attacks or foul language in PM .. and unless they would be forwarded we could not see them.. and then only to that one mod.. If they were not on for a couple of days then that could be an issue if you needed it to be handled. this way it goes to a Reported post are that all mods see and we all get email messages that something it there to look at.. that way it is handled or looked at quicker than going through 5-20 PM a day when we log on..

It is only an option and we would not have access to any more than the one PM..


Also it as a deterrent knowing that you can report it fewer folks will resort to attacking this way..

That's a good explanation and a solution to a vexing problem (I didn't realize there was a lot of that going on).

Originally Posted by Midnight Blue

I'm gonna love most of these features... but am wary of the "reporting PMs to mods" part. Could this mean private messages aren't really private anymore? Before, one could forward a PM to a mod... but this way means a mod can read your PM just like a public post...

If PMs aren't really private, then I for one, would prefer to just disable my PM inbox.

The only non private PMs are ones that are reported. Reporting the PM would be the equivalent of forwarding it to a mod, but it goes to all mods and creates a thread, just like reported posts (which you are familiar with).

PMs that aren't reported, can't be viewed. Think of reporting a PM as exactly the same as forwarding that PM. The main difference, and I think the reason vBulletin added this, was that when a person forwarded a PM, there was no way for a mod to know if it was altered, in the same way people alter quoted posts and type things like "quote corrected for accuracy".

That is why places like mania, the mods tell members to take a screen shot and forward it if they are reporting PMs. With the new reported PM function, if you report a PM for breaking the rules, an exact copy of it will be forwarded to the mods, so they don't have to worry about whether it was altered, or require the member to take a screen shot to confirm it's athenticity.

Thanks for taking the time to explain, Tned and JR

Originally Posted by Tned

The only non private PMs are ones that are reported. Reporting the PM would be the equivalent of forwarding it to a mod, but it goes to all mods and creates a thread, just like reported posts (which you are familiar with).

PMs that aren't reported, can't be viewed. Think of reporting a PM as exactly the same as forwarding that PM. The main difference, and I think the reason vBulletin added this, was that when a person forwarded a PM, there was no way for a mod to know if it was altered, in the same way people alter quoted posts and type things like "quote corrected for accuracy".

That is why places like mania, the mods tell members to take a screen shot and forward it if they are reporting PMs. With the new reported PM function, if you report a PM for breaking the rules, an exact copy of it will be forwarded to the mods, so they don't have to worry about whether it was altered, or require the member to take a screen shot to confirm it's athenticity.

I would have never thought of that.. But then thinking about it, after the explanation I could see some posters perhaps altering something for/to their advantage..

I really thought it was more of a, it goes to all mods for faster action..

Many times I may appear to be on line but could be in "sleep" mode.. I do alto of that in front of the CRT.. I hate for someone to send me a PM and I do not get it till later.. If it were truly important

Originally Posted by Nomad

Wha??? not that I would advertise! But spam sounds like advertising?? I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but I am sharp!

spam is the online equivalent of junk mail. . . .

Since I just updated the vBulletin software on Sunday, I hadn't had a chance to try out many of the new features. I simply listed some of the new features from the announcement on the vBulletin site.

Since there was some concern about what exactly happens, I tested it.

Below you see a PM that was reported. When a PM is reported, a thread is created in a moderator forum with the contents of the PM (full contents, including any quoted PMs), basically the equivalent of forwarding the PM to a mod, or taking a screen shot and sending it to the mods, which was the only 'proof' of an attack via PM before.

Like before, vBulletin doesn't give the mods or admin the ability to view anyone's PMs except their own. The one exception is a PM that is reported. That one PM is forward/copied into a new thread in the mod area, but no others.

Here is an example of what happens when a PM is reported. This is what is created in a "reported post" thread.

================================================== ================================================== ================

Tned has reported a private message.

Reason:

This bozo testyahoomail is slamming me.

Sent by: testyahoomail
Original Content:

Originally Posted by Tned

Thanks for registering at Broncos Forums - Denver Broncos Fan Forums and Live News Feed! We are glad you have chosen to be a part of our community and we hope you enjoy your stay.

All the best,
Broncos Forums - Denver Broncos Fan Forums and Live News Feed

Tned, you're an idiot.

I dug into some of the PM features, and have even played around with being able to find old PMs (my limit is up over 10k), by filtering by date or sender name. That's handy.

I was asked what it means to made someone your friend, and to be honestly, I have no clue.

This weekend, I am going to try and figure out the social group stuff, how it works, what it does for you, et. Once I do, I will post it here.

Anyone that has it figured out or have used it on other boards, it would be great if you shared some of the features and how to use them.

Friends are people that enjoy spending time in your company.


I'm told.