topic Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images in Welcome and orientation

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Chris_B — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 03:57:54 GMT

Hi everyone,

The beyondblue forums are an anonymous space where we discourage the sharing of any information that may personally identify you to someone reading.

These forums are public, searchable and indexed by Google, so we ask people to consider their words and think about the level of detail they are sharing with the world before hitting 'post'.

Up until now, we have allowed the use of profile pictures that depict a member's face, but after feedback from the community we have decided to change this policy in order to keep our message about anonymity on the forums consistent.

From today, our moderators will no longer approve the use of profile picture images that clearly depict your face.

If you already have a face picture displayed on your profile, we won't be removing it, but would ask you to have a think about the privacy implications of having your face on display in connection with other personal detail you may be sharing in your posts here.

This thread will also serve as a runnning discussion around how to protect your privacy and anonymity on the forums.

Feedback is welcome.

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

startingnew — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 04:03:08 GMT

I think this is a great idea Chris. Good way to keep it more annonymous and also safe

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

less_than_human — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 07:48:50 GMT

I'll change my pic immediately, because any one who knows me, knows I'm a giant domesticated kitty cat.

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Robbie_A — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 10:49:53 GMT

Makes complete sense, and it's a great idea to keep it safe for the community which is an anonymous forum also..

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

MsPurple — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:22:21 GMT

I had a picture of me and my dog for a week and then realized I shouldn't have that clear a picture of myself up on these forums. I understand some people may not like this, but as a general rule for privacy and protecting users I think this is a good decision.

Now I need to try find another purple face if I want to change my profile picture. To go with the purple theme 🙂

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

stevexr — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:30:48 GMT

hello, this post is to the moderators I have been trying to put a pic as my profile it is a little (stick figure) dog sticker on the mud guard of my bike there is no personal info in the pic just the generic manufacturers warning labels that are on all these bikes. I could not find another way of asking if or why it has been denied or if that is even the case. I have tried twice now so I am guessing there is some thing wrong with my pic?? if this is the case and my pic is no good can you please let me know why so I can try to rectify this problem. I like this little dog a lot and would like to have it as my pic. I have checked my e mail in all folders and have not been told if I can or cant have my pic. thanks in advance for a reply...... hello

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Sophie_M — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 23:56:21 GMT

Hi stevexr, we would email you if we were unable to approve a profile picture, so not sure what has happened. We only received it once and it has been approved this morning. You should be able to see it on your profile now.

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

stevexr — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:47:52 GMT

hello, to sophie_m thank you it has come up now. I didn't know what was going on?? if it was rejected would I have got an e mail to say so??? I am very confused with this site and have been having trouble finding my way around so far. I guess il get there eventually. he is my security dog to scare away the thieves (giggle)

thank you for replying I hope you are well.... hello

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

stevexr — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:50:42 GMT

hello, sorry mis read you do send an e mail if it is no good. (face palm) silly me.

sorry again....... hello

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

geoff — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 16:11:23 GMT

hello Sophie_M, I think that I will leave my picture on it's been there for 14 years, although it has changed over the years and hope that I am allowed to change it in the future because I have been thinking of changing it soon. Thanks Geoff.

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

stevexr — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 03:37:48 GMT

how long does it take to change a picture????? i have been trying for an hour and no luck

this site is verry frustrating

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Doolhof — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 04:19:34 GMT

Hi Stevexr,

I'd just like to say that I find computers in general very frustrating. I don't know how many times I have wanted to throw our out the window or smash the screen with something!

Thankfully my anger issues have not come to that!

I would like to be able to help you and offer you steps on doing what you want to do, but you probably have more idea than I do!

I do hope you are able to sort out the issue and work out how to navigate around the forum. You can always call the support line for assistance, I have done that, they transferred me through to someone who could help with understanding the forum. They then had to speak to my husband...we got there in the end.

Hopefully someone else who understands technology can help you further! Totally understand the frustration you are feeling!

Cheers from Dools

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Sophie_M — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 21:08:17 GMT

Hi stevexr, please see the post below for information on how our forums are moderated. You may have to wait up to 12 hours for your picture to change - our moderators have to review it first. We ask that you be patient with us please:

Welcome! A post about how our forums are moderated

If you need assistance with how to use the forums, please don't call our support line as this is for counselling only. Support for forums is provided via email only - you can get in touch with us here.

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

stevexr — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 05:57:03 GMT

hello, to sophie m i am extreemly sorry for my being abrupt, i had some problems and was in a verry bad head space and did not want to share the pic i had posted any more. i am so verry sorry and wont do it again. i see you have deleted the posts that caused the problem, thank you for doing that and i am verry sorry for my part in it. at the time i did not see what was happening. i thought we were having a laugh but i now know that was not the case

my cinceer appologys steve

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Mathy — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:22:48 GMT

Hi Steve,

I wonder if your image is not the right size? Could you check the thread/topic that Sophie_M suggested and see if there is a width by length size required, or a file size limit (that would be in either KB or MB).

Then check your image’s information, you might need to re-size it.

Just a thought, this is often why images don’t work on forums, and you rarely get a message popping up to tell you what the problem is.

cheers M 🙂

stevexr said:

hello, to sophie m i am extreemly sorry for my being abrupt, i had some problems and was in a verry bad head space and did not want to share the pic i had posted any more. i am so verry sorry and wont do it again. i see you have deleted the posts that caused the problem, thank you for doing that and i am verry sorry for my part in it. at the time i did not see what was happening. i thought we were having a laugh but i now know that was not the case

my cinceer appologys steve

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

blondguy — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 14:26:37 GMT

Hey Mathy

I am only a volunteer (not a moderator) as you know

Thankyou for reaching out to Steve and helping out

Great to have you and Stevexr as part of the forum family

My Kind thoughts

Paul

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Guest_4 — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 22:47:30 GMT

Should be up to the individual.

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

blondguy — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 10:47:38 GMT

Hi Unknownuser

Thankyou for your point of view on this topic. Beyond Blue always encourages people to post their thoughts as we are all individuals as you mentioned

Management (ChrisB Community Manager) made the decision to preserve people's privacy on a sensitive mental health national forum

Your thoughts/posts are always welcome

My Kind thoughts

Paul

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

Snowman_2018 — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:21:14 GMT

Hi Chris, Not sure if you are aware of this but I only just signed up literally 10 minutes ago and the first thing your website asked me to do was upload a photo of myself. I thought the default white silhouette of a man was enough for my display name. 🙂 Snowman.

Changes to moderation policies: no more face pics in profile images

PamelaR — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 02:48:44 GMT

Hi Snowman and welcome to Beyond Blue forums

Thank you for your feedback, I'll make sure your comment about the request for a photo is passed on.

The system is being upgraded, so some of these little bugs will be ironed out I think in the newer one.

Kind regards

PamelaR