openness, fairness, responsiveness

I have always tried to be open with all the users of the site. And although this site is a continuous work in progress and everyone has their say, ultimately someone has to decide what's in the best interest of the site. And for the most part, that person has been me. It's not that this site is a dictatorship, it's just that in the end, if someone doesn't have the final word then we end up doing a lot of talking and not a lot of implementation (think United Nations).

That said, I try to keep everyone's ideas in the back of my head or written down somewhere, and eventually hope to get to all the ideas that are feasible and workable within the spare time I have to work on this site.

There are also other issues that come up from time to time, which aren't necessarily a request for a new feature in the traditional sense. The latest issue deals with one (or more) users feeling that the new postal code database is far too specific. You can read the message thread here in the forums. Although I'm not sure my conduct was stellar, I think it's only fair to let everyone know the complete story.

The original 'complaint', if you can call it that, was posted in the forums and worded in such a way that I actually took it literally. That is, I thought the user was happy with the new database. Then, a follow up message was posted that was full of "I think" and "the system should" but nothing in the way of a firm request with respect to that individual's data and/or privacy. And no such request was made to me directly. Instead, that use chose to email various users of the site telling them that they should all be uncomfortable with the new database, that I've mislead them (again), and he would take legal action if necessary. And this was all on the same day of the release of the new postal code database, May 19, 2006. Did I get any kind of request from this user directly asking me to take action? No. In fact, it was not until 9 days later that I received a formal request via email that something be done to prevent other users from seeing said user's location.

Personally, I don't see the big deal but that's me. Perhaps other users share the same view, but if I was THAT concerned about my privacy, I would be sure to start a dialogue immediately to ensure that the process of protecting my privacy was started. But why wait 9 days and, in the meantime, email people behind my back? All this deceit has done is caused me to discover that I have 45 days to respond to a request for a correction, which this is deemed to be. Wow, 45 days would probably seem like a long time if I'm really concerned about my privacy.

Again, I think my track record of being responsive to users is good. It's not perfect by any means, but I think it's good at the very least. Ask, BANKCOLLECTOR how much he likes the feature I added to lowercase messages that are all uppercased, for example. When people make requests, I try to implement them (except for Pooga who continually asks over and over for more and more stats g).

I don't want to rant or seem like I'm whining or looking for support. I simply want to ensure that everyone knows that I always try to accomodate people's requests. I also want everyone to know that if they have any concerns, please email me in a nice fashion directly (or talk to me on an IM) and I will try to get them resolved. It might take a few days but I'll try my best; remember this site is not my full time job and I don't come anywhere close to making any money from it.
-dr

Wow dr !!!

You have my 110% support. I would suggest changing the complaining users Postal Code to the Postal Code for the Main Post office of his home town.

LG

I already have a cool way to fix the issue in mind. But, as with any site changes, I need to code it, test it and then deploy it. I'm sure that can all be done within the remaining 42 days.
-dr

I can hardly wait to see what you have planned to solve this issue.

And sometimes, nothing happens when threats are made.

Like, did ANYTHING ever come back to you after this gentleman's threat?

wow… did i strike a nerve. it is only too bad that i am almost certain it won't be the one spur action.

since the administrator has chosen, for whatever arcane reason, to make this ultimately private matter a public debate, i must respond in kind – if only to clarify my position and to refute some of the apocyrphal (or blatantly untrue) assertions in his post.

fistly, and this may be at the crux of the matter, is his interpretation (or rather misinterpretation) of my original post. it is there, unvarnished in the thread for all to see and yes, it contained my usual sense of irony, but i think it, in toto, was clear enough to most careful readers that i did not think the new locational precision was a good thing. perhaps he was just embarrassed to learn that he had misinterpreted because when i clarified what i meant, and there was no irony involved in my second post, he responded in a brusque, dismissive and condescending fashion. this post did not exactly make me confident that he would ever soon look into my concerns… i do beleive his words suggested it would be a very very low priority. i thus took the unusual step to write to some of my colleagues on the site. the people, i had thought, i had forged some measure of respect with, and i also felt that they might hold some sway with the administrator – since it was clear from the forum thread that he wasn't going to respond with much alacrity. I did this the night before i left for an 8 day out-of-country excursion, with the hope that, in my abscence, some action could be undertaken to rectify the breach of my privacy. upon returning home, i discovered not only that none of my "friends" on the site had responded to me, but that it was status quo with the google maps. i then took the step to email the administrator directly to clarify my concerns and ask, directly and succintly that remediation be made. that is where i left it.

the only action, it seems to me, that has been made was to block attempts at using the google maps look-up from my account, while everyone else can still look at my location on any of my inputted banknotes and zoom directly upon my house. i am no programmer but i'm almost certain that the effort it took to block this on my user account was similar to what would be necessary to change my postal code to something innocuous. i found this to be petty and vindictive on his part.

what the administrator claims was a 9 day delay in my action was unavoidable due to conditions on the site and in my life. he need not read any significance into it because it is reasonable and, frankly, not his concern. what is especially puzzling, however, is his statement that i have somehow given him a window of 45 days. i have re-read all of my correspondence and forum posts and can find no mention of this interval. indeed, i had planned to start seeking redress as early as next week – but i certainly made no mention to him of what constituted my timeline. the only mention of time being of essence was my request that he undertake his action "post haste". i stand by that. again, i wonder if my words have been unfairly misconstrued.

especially galling in the his current diatribe is the suggestion that i should have "start(ed) a dialogue". in my view… and in the view of almost anyone following this… that is precisely what i did… on the very day he deployed this new version! (viz. the forum thread denoted, the emails, etc.).

i do not expect a lot of support – at least not overtly – because everyone here walks on eggshells when it comes to even constructive criticism about the way that the site is administered. but i want it clearly stated that all titular aspects of this thread, openness, fairness and responsiveness, are extremely dubious from my perspective. the administrator's current submission only reinforces that view. it seems unlikely to change as long as he has a following of unctuous subserviants. true benevolence can't play favourites. mind that if nothing else.

rudyk

the only action, it seems to me, that has been made was to block attempts at using the google maps look-up from my account … i found this to be petty and vindictive on his part.

Ah, the lies. I have done no such thing. I have not touched the code whatsoever since the last deployment on May 29, 2006. I have noticed that Google is having issues with their mapping system. I had thought it might just be Calgary-related but perhaps that is the same issue you are reporting? Or perhaps it's something to do with your connection or your browser? In any case, it is nothing I have done. That said, how sad one's life must be to live it such that everything that happens is a conspiracy against that person.

The 45 day window comes from the government legislation that you claim to have read:
Personal Information Protection Act

Being that this site is based in Alberta, I have 45 days to respond to your request to have your information on file corrected.

And finally, rudyk, as for this being a private matter, you blew that option when you (a) posted your 'thoughts' on the forum; and (b) emailed a bunch of other users about your worries. I'm sorry for whatever trouble came up that came up in your life that caused the 9 day delay, but it does seem that you had time to construct a multi paragraph email to other users when all that would have been required to solve this in the first place was a simple email to me. Believe what you want but I have never been vendictive to anyone, and if it has seemed as such, I apologize to anyone who may believe themselves the target of such an action.

I will not respond any further. You have made your formal request and I have replied to the request. If you require further information or you wish to continue with the slander, find somewhere else to do it so the rest of us can have fun tracking our money.
-dr

If someone is having paranoid delusions that they are going to be hunted down, (someone is full of guilt out there?) then why did they enter their postal code? why did they mention their "full name" in the forum? And why did they mention where they work, in their profile? Seriously now, take a look at some of the commments left when entering bills. I put my business on them if that is where they came from. Anyone could find me. Yay!!! I'm lost anyhow. Please find me and bring lots of money! Spend it all! LOL

antics misses the point:
If someone is having paranoid delusions that they are going to be hunted down, (someone is full of guilt out there?) then why did they enter their postal code? why did they mention their "full name" in the forum? And why did they mention where they work, in their profile? Seriously now, take a look at some of the commments left when entering bills. I put my business on them if that is where they came from. Anyone could find me. Yay!!! I'm lost anyhow. Please find me and bring lots of money! Spend it all! LOL

yes, of course, antics, what is right for you is right for everyone. i have always believed that you have weighed carefully the benefits of advertising your business against potential harm than may accrue from such a disclosure, for i had always consdiered you a thoughtful and considerate person. now consider, however, if the person you are referring to is not so much concerned for his OWN saftey and security (saying where he works) but for that of his family, for whom he may have opened to jeopardy by foolishly using his home postal code (which he never thought would be divulged by the site). maybe consider, if it helps you, that he may have several children or even pets he feels responsible for. now consider that when someone clicks on where his banknote was entered, the map and satellite image centres his domicile directly… as it is zoomed in. would a reasonable person not feel a wee bit more vulnerable? now, layer upon that that the place where that information is shared is filled with people he thought were trustworthy and his friends but who actually belittle and denigrate him for his concerns. please consider that, antics, for i know for a certainty that you are a considerate and thoughtful person.

I wasn't going to get involved in this but:

since the administrator has chosen, for whatever arcane reason, to make this ultimately private matter a public debate

I have to agree with DR on this…it was made public by the plantiff before DR put up any of his own comments….public on the site and public in the form of…(should I say the word?) SPAM!!

Also, several people have offered reasonable and simple solutions to those who are worried, the simplest of which is USE A DIFFERENT POSTAL CODE!!! Did everyone hear that? Instead of using your home postal code, use your office, use a store or mall down the street, use a nearby post office or bank. What is wrong with those options RUDYK? They are simple and effective security measures. To use a term that most people should be familiar with, this would be a simple form of mis-information . Some people who don't have home security systems still have the signs that they do, some businesses have phoney cameras. The use of misinformation for security reasons is acceptable. So if you are really concerned, why don't you use a different code?

I think a court would ask if you took any preventative measures. So think about it. Go eat some cheese.

sarge joined the mob mentality:
(should I say the word?) SPAM!!

you seem to have a rather broad definition of "spam"… i usually don't consider an email to about 8 people – all of whom i have corresponded with previously and some i have met in person. all of whom seemed relatively friendly and understanding in those earlier times. i believe it would have been "spam" had you asked me to desist and i had sent a subsequent similar message. i'll take your current comment as your request now and will not repeat such an occurrence, i assure you.

Instead of using your home postal code, use your office, use a store or mall down the street, use a nearby post office or bank. What is wrong with those options RUDYK?

what you and quite a few others here seem to have difficulty understanding is that the postal code i used, my home postal code, was, is and will always be "personal information" that is subject to privacy regulations. it is protected by the privacy policy of this site and by the privacy statutes of this country. i assumed, in using it, naively trustingly, that it would not be divulged. indeed, when i check entry location in earlier versions of the software, the entry location was based on the "FSA" of the postal code… the first three characters. that is suitably non-descript. when i entered them, i had no idea nor prediction that the site software would someday draw a target on my individual house, as it does today. i have over 6000 entries with that postal code… one i was led to believe would be secure and private. i cannot change them now. i have not entered another one since i learned of this change to the workings of this site.

and so i have sought petition to have those entries altered so as to rectify the problem. i have DONE all that i am empowered to do. the rest is out of my hands.

except, it seems, having to explain my legitimate concerns to those unable or unwilling to understand the simple vagaries of this situation.

does anyone else have a complete misunderstanding of this scenario that i may be able to help clarify?

in earlier versions of the software, the entry location was based on the "FSA" of the postal code… the first three characters. that is suitably non-descript. when i entered them, i had no idea nor prediction that the site software would someday draw a target on my individual house, as it does today

That is one point that I have to agree with rudyk. The current precision was never considered or contemplated "in the early days". Hindsight is 20/20, but perhaps a warning or some advance notice should have been given before the modification was made.

It's all very well to say "use a different postal code", easy enough for all future entries. It's the ones already in the system that are causing concern.

If I remember correctly, many years ago several of us asked dr to make the province of residence viewable by all so that we wouldn't have to guess where they lived. At that time dr told us he wouldn't do it for privacy reasons. My how things have changed!

dr, I was wondering if you've had any contact with Hank at WW lately, and if he has dealt with anything of a similar nature?

One thread….

And check out the last paragraph in this message:

At that time dr told us he wouldn't do it for privacy reasons. My how things have changed!

I eventually compromised and put the user's province on the view user page, and if the user allows people to see their details, you can also see their actual city. Of course, it's a bit of a moot point since you can like compute where they live based on their entries anyway.

But don't get me wrong; I am 100% in support of people's privacy. However, one man's garbage is another man's jewels (sorry, don't know the actual expression). What I'm saying is that while some people get concerned when you can zoom into their house within a block or two, for some people the FSA only might be too revealing.

RudyK has made his request formally and I will be implementing a solution that hopefully will be satifactory for all. Let's just leave it at that. But for future reference, if you have a request of this nature don't post sarcastically on the forums or email other people or go to a lawyer or whatever. Just email me. Seriously. We're all friends here so there is no need to pick sides. And throughout our lifetimes we all make mistakes and as long as we learn something, all should be reasonably forgotten (unless you're married, in which case you'll hear about your mistakes over and over and over g).
-dr

St Rudyk, maybe you should work for the Privacy people… Someone from the US had called my husband at work, and he was off for a while, the guy tested the person who answered the phone and said "whats his home phone number?"… The idiot gave them our phone number… This american calls at home and says.. "What if I was the unibomber?" At times, our hands are tied.. Can't say anything, especially if you live in a small town where EVERYONE knows if you lose a button on your pants.

(unless you're married, in which case you'll hear about your mistakes over and over and over g). - dr

Ahhh, the joys of marriage, eh dr