Thanks Katherine, can we clarify what I see as a hugely important point, namely:
In order to register, one must include date of birth in the process (e.g. for TP to identify parental consent is needed for a child)?
FAQs include good advice re privacy:
Talking Point is a public Internet forum and in such a virtual environment it is safest to retain privacy of identity - real name and contact details, address, telephone, e-mail.
Well, I consider my date of birth to be a pretty important part of my identity!!!!!!
But then one must go to their User CP to learn this: "
Your date of birth and age are displayed in several places on the forum. Only the administrator will have access to your date of birth should you choose to hide it via the privacy option below."
Obviously, I can't re-register to check this out ... but are new members 'warned' that some potentially 'identifying information' necessary to complete the registration process will be shared on the 'www' on their profile unless they expressly find the appropriate section to say otherwise?
I am sorry, but I find all this a little frightening - at the end of the day is this not a forum for dementia sufferers primarily and their carers as perhaps the secondary majority? - and aren't we supposed simplify things for them and not put them at any risk, or at least makes things straightforward for carers when little else in life is?
Please tell me there is some prompt at registration - and for existing members - that they are warned to recheck and amend their profiles /User CP if required... I know I have dared identify myself to some degree in a pretty 'general but suitably vague' way
- but I would not have wanted to confirm that identity to certain family who I suspect have been 'guesting' on the forum by having my dob confirmed to them!!!!!
I realise all members should in theory read all the guidelines ... but the 'rationale' for allowing immediate registration on TP is that people may be registering and posting at a time of crisis/urgency and surely we don't expect them to wade through all the T&Cs first?
Karen,