Who is Seconal.....?

[Amer]

https://www.torproject.org/

[alienHunter]

That was just weird...

[Dex]

I am unfamiliar with the subtext of this conversation (apparently related to some history), but on the topic of proxies: I don't blame anyone for using a proxy. Look at other forums where trust was broken. Why should we have to share our IP addresses with people when we don't have to. Sure, the mods/admin seem quite trustworthy here, but general internet privacy practices are not necessarily suspect. Also, even if a member totally trusted forum mods/admin, maybe they would still keep using a proxy, since they might use it elsewhere (and what is the point of switching back and forth? If that's how it works?). My main point: not everyone taking measures to protect their privacy should be suspect.

On a side note, Seconal must be in a special group of Alabamans who use

favourite

and want to

want to kiss Emma Watson

Fi fi fo fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman!

That said, I don't exactly care who he/she is and, again, the subtext of this thread is over my head. I wouldn't have stepped in to share my thoughts, except that there is an air of distrust of new members which I think can be a distraction at times (and perhaps turn off potential genuine members who prefer to avoid the 3rd degree).

[Navcaru]

ook at other forums where trust was broken. Why should we have to share our IP addresses with people when we don't have to.

I wouldn't have stepped in to share my thoughts, except that there is an air of distrust of new members which I think can be a distraction at times

Dex, you have a very good point, and maybe a few people should take a page out of your book perhaps read a line or two. Very well said, I feel there are pros and cons to both side of that particular argument. Since it seems people's cages have been rattled a few times its not uncommon to find people who lack trust in others that seem to with hold information from them. So it's within their right to be cautious and curious, but a full blown attack similar to this thread (maybe not in it's entirety but it is rather aggressive.) It should be strictly up to the mods who comes and goes and lives where, we have to give that responsibility and trust to our mods. Further speculation can, Like Dex said, turn off potential genuine members.

[Dex]

Sorry to butt in here -- whatever subtext is informing this thread is over my head (must involve history), but I just want to say I have no problem with anyone using proxies.

I don't really care who Seconal is, I am only commenting here in the interest of balance and because lately there is an air of distrust of new members that may be turning off potential genuine new members who prefer not to be put through the 3rd degree. Sure, there could be people playing games (there usually are on the interwebs), but I think any negative consequences of potentially being fooled by gameplayers are outweighed by the positive consequences of consciously cultivating a welcoming atmosphere (I mean, weigh the pros and cons here). I realize that people have their guards up for legitimate reasons (most of which I don't know the details of), but I hope we can find a way to balance caution with welcome.

Added: oops, when I first posted my previous post, it did not show up, so I tried to recreate it above. Sorry for the redundancy.

P.S. These thoughts of mine are not shared in defense of any particular new members here -- I really don't care for the role cheerleader, defender, etc.

[Navcaru]

I don't really care who Seconal is, I am only commenting here in the interest of balance and because lately there is an air of distrust of new members that may be turning off potential genuine new members who prefer not to be put through the 3rd degree. Sure, there could be people playing games (there usually are on the interwebs), but I think any negative consequences of potentially being fooled by gameplayers are outweighed by the positive consequences of consciously cultivating a welcoming atmosphere (I mean, weigh the pros and cons here). I realize that people have their guards up for legitimate reasons (most of which I don't know the details of), but I hope we can find a way to balance caution with welcome.

Could have written a truer and wiser statement

[Dex]

Could have written a truer and wiser statement

Navcaru/Fester -- a word of advice to a new member who has recently been given the 3rd degree: I respectfully suggest that you stay out of this. No offense, but that is my advice. I didn't jump in here to defend you or anyone else (and I don't mean anything accusatory by that, just trying to clarify my intentions).

[Amer]

Just a question to anyone who knows about these things- what exact "trail" do we leave when, for example, we join a forum - I mean one can see our IP address-- does this mean knowing exactly where I live or just the general whereabouts. When Chico said that he suspected he knew who Truthunter was and indeed confirmed this by looking at his IP address- what was he able to glean from the IP address or other information at his disposition?

[Navcaru]

word of advice to a new member who has recently been given the 3rd degree: I respectfully suggest that you stay out of this. No offense, but that is my advice.

I respect and thank your advice, but I have opinions too and dive right in, not to be disrespectful but to vocalize an opinion.

[alienHunter]

Hi Navcaru,

I post this with no malice intended AT ALL...I think you're seconal...That is a compliment. I've always greatly admired the creative personality...something I don't come by very naturally. My 12-year old daughter has an abiding creative interest in all forms of art and I have no idea where she came by her talent. She says her mother is totally non-creative though I don't agree with her completely. I did win an art contest when I was 5 years old. As has been commented, "I peaked early".

[flower]

i think navcaru meant " could not have said"

[Navcaru]

I think you're seconal

You couldn't be more wrong, I wish I had that devious streak it seems it could of helped in my joining yesterday, lol

[alienHunter]

ok, just checking...

[Navcaru]

could not have said"

I'll be more careful with my typos, I usually chat, forums is kind of new to me. But in that case, Dex I owe you the apology, I really strongly agree with what you have been posting here!

[Dex]

Just a question to anyone who knows about these things- what exact "trail" do we leave when, for example, we join a forum - I mean one can see our IP address-- does this mean knowing exactly where I live or just the general whereabouts. When Chico said that he suspected he knew who Truthunter was and indeed confirmed this by looking at his IP address- what was he able to glean from the IP address or other information at his disposition?

I will let the mods/admins answer that more technically, but the answer boils down to: an awful lot more than you might feel comfortable with.

[Amer]

......... how long are we going to be so suspicious about everyone.... so and so is Chico...... so and so is Pila ....... so and so is Seconal ..... so and so is Truthunter ......
A sad debacle with a sad legacy.

[flower]

Theres a Guy at ATS.. who says this other guy, is me...

lol


Ive been reading it cuz it has to do with Kerry.

Its funny.. and its not a NeXus thing.. its a alt medi community thing

[Amer]

an awful lot more than you might feel comfortable with.

Gosh Dex I'm so naive/uneducated about these kinds of things

[alienHunter]

Hi Celine,

ATS...is that another place I could cause trouble?

[InCiDeR]

Just a question to anyone who knows about these things- what exact "trail" do we leave when, for example, we join a forum - I mean one can see our IP address-- does this mean knowing exactly where I live or just the general whereabouts. When Chico said that he suspected he knew who Truthunter was and indeed confirmed this by looking at his IP address- what was he able to glean from the IP address or other information at his disposition?

In most cases your IP address is very easy to determine. But how much it says about you, specifically, depends on your ISP and what kind of IP address you have.

•

Finding someone else's IP can be as easy as looking at the full headers of email that they've sent you or monitoring network connections for certain types of instant messaging and chat applications. Web sites routinely get IP address information for all visitors. The very nature of how the internet works dictates that when two computers talk to each other, they know each other's IP addresses.

But once you've received an IP address, what can you tell about it?

Some IP's are easy - they're static and have a DNS name associated with them. For example, in a Windows XP Command Shell, enter the following command:

ping -a 17.254.3.183
"What if the ping doesn't work or doesn't return a domain name?"The "-a" switch tells ping to do a "reverse DNS lookup" and print the first domain name it finds associated with the IP address you've specified. In this case, ping should include "apple.com" in its output, which is a domain name assigned to that IP.

With that domain name you can then do a "whois" lookup using whois tools. That information will often include the information about the individual or organization that owns the domain. In this example it does not, but it includes the name of the registrar, markmonitor.com. Visiting that site there is a small "whois" link which when run against "apple.com" returns all the information that you might want. Apple.com is owned, not surprisingly, by Apple Computer, Inc. and full address and contact information is available.

What if the ping doesn't work or doesn't return a domain name? Then things get less precise.

In this case, we go to ARIN and use their IP "whois" tool. If we enter an IP address such as 206.124.145.17, we'll find that it's part of a block of addresses assigned to an ISP. In order to determine who actually is using that IP address, if anyone, the ISP would have to get involved. Note that without their involvement, the physical location of a machine at a specific IP address can not be determined.

Now, it's important to note that an IP address may or may not identify a specific computer. In many cases, such as large corporations, it identifies a gateway of some sort that acts as a router or proxy for any number of computers. Behind the gateway, the computers can all see each other, but from the internet the individual machines are indistinguishable from each other. They all look like they come from the same IP address.

The same is true when you use a router at home. You might have any number of computers behind it, but from the internet, it appears as if you have only one IP address. Your individual computers are not directly accessible by default.

And that leads to my final point: use a router or a firewall. If you connect directly to the internet, then your IP address can be used by others on the network to attempt to connect directly to your PC and exploit any vulnerabilities. By using a router, your computer cannot be contacted directly. Alternately, a firewall blocks the intruders from gaining access to your machine even if they do reach it.

http://ask-leo.com/what_can_people_t...p_address.html

(I was to lazy to write it myself...LOL)


Then, of course, you have the hackers that can find out a h-ll lot more and even use your IP-address/computer for their own cause if they decide to...

[Amer]

Thanks a million InCIDeR for the response- just posted a thread here http://nexus.2012info.ca/forum/showt...ecurity-Issues to give the question a clearer context.

[alienHunter]

Actually Celine, it would categorize as more of a 'forum' thing. It's all about the vibes...I wouldn't say I was suspicious, more just curious and following up the vibe. It's like a fun game to me. And since things can't really be proven from a 'user' standpoint, I can never be wrong...

[Dex]

It's like a fun game to me.

If you mean hunting down impostors is a game to you, I think you need a new hobby! I do appreciate the intention, but I think hunting (for wabbits, witches or others) on forums can feed an atmosphere of distrust and potential new member apprehension. As I stated, I hope there is a way to balance caution with welcome.

[Richard]

why is this thread still alive?

The namesake has been given the plank.

Seconal a dead horse now?

[alienHunter]

nyah, nyah, nyah...

of course not...I plainly said it was all about the vibe...period.

ok Dex, i see your stake in it...more precisely what I meant was that 'following up the vibe' was the game for me...it has nothing to do with impostor hunting.