For many years SomeWhereToWrite has existed supporting anonymous posts. Sadly since 2010, when the site was created, the world has changed a lot. Items such as GDPR, CCPA and many more privacy laws, have all since been introduced. This site is very much at risk of these laws. The only way it can come compliant is to shift to a system whereby you would have to login to post.
So the question I have is would you still use this site if you had to login?
Many people create accounts on this site, however many people post anonymously. Sadly some anonymous posts, go to far. I’m looking to bring this site up to date, supporting proper protections for minors (there is some pretty vivid posts on this site), as well as a community moderation system allowing readers to help classify a post/comment and report it if needed.
All of this is dependant on you, the poster/reader. Would you still visit, post, participate if these systems were in place. With only a single donation ever received (many thanks to that person), I’m at a crossroads with this site and need feedback. Let me know what you think.
#Creator
If I had to create an account I would not post on here.
Having a login invades the posters privacy?
I have not seen any offensive posts unless they are deleted quickly?
How is having a login a system?
The world has not changed at all really, just governments became more corrupt and invasive.
This is a great website but unfortunately everything great always turns to crap.
If its money you are really after just say so.
Why is a login required to comply with GDPR, shouldn’t it be the opposite?
I have used this site for many years and would love to have it still be anon rather than having to log in.
Grateful to all your work by the way. Thanks for keeping the site running so long
Guess i’d still use it…anyway why is searchbox isn’t working Nymore?
I tried search the other day was working for me.
yep, i’d totally still post here. I love it, and anyways, signing in isn’t a huge deal. thanks for asking!
@ willy smith:
don’t be an a******. the amazing person who created this site is only trying to help.
Answering questions here, the GDPR has a clause for a ‘right to be forgotten’. In order for this site to ‘forget’ someone it needs to remove all comments & posts by that someone. Unless I know what belongs to that someone I can’t remove all content by that someone, a single post not removed is enough to be prosecuted over.
As for money, I’m not in it for the money, this site has never been about the money. It does cost to keep this site running however. In the past I’ve been able to run ads on the site but the content is very varied and quite explicit at times, so much so I’ve had to remove the ads. I’d like to say I receive lots of donations but to this point, only 1 has been received.
In the end I want to keep this site alive, however unless it starts complying with many regulations that simply won’t be possible, hence the question posted.
For those that won’t post if they have to create an account. What if upon first post/comment a random account name was created for you and you were automatically logged in each time you visited the site (via a browser cookie). There would be no ‘logout’ button visible at the top, and a dedicated separate page where you could ‘upgrade’ your account with a password & optional email so you could login via other devices if you wanted. Additionally you would have the ability to ‘forget yourself’ which would remove all content you have posted.
Just looking for ideas here – feel free to post things you would like…
sounds awesome!
What about instead of associating with an email, just have people pick any username and password they want? I would be okay with that and as per my understanding it would comply with GDPR. Btw, love this site and have been using it for years. Thank you for trying to keep it running.
I think that a login would be alright if you didn’t need to add an email address. If the log in just asked for a username and password that wouldn’t be as intrusive.
Or something like the creator mentioned, but without the email.
Yeah, those ads are becoming annoying.
Can they be deleted?
I guess,posting anonymously works for me. I don’t know if the creator has been this function on many websites that, you do need an account to log in, but you still can choose to post anonymously or not.
😉 I’d like to post anonymously, while, also, I’d also wish the creator to live an easier life,without getting into any trouble because of this site.
…And, if the creator would allow bitcoin donation….
I don’t have a paypal account yet.
Is there any way to delete what you have written anonymously?
I agree with what others have said about having a login and not connecting it to email.
Everything is connected to email these days and that seems traceable (not that I know much about data and privacy), but it is concerning on a site where you can post anonymously because the fact that your email is associated with it makes that anonominity not as anonymous anymore.
I especially like the idea of the users being able to report posts and hold each other responsible and that would be much easier with a login.
If you don’t come to a conclusion, this is a nice site and I have appreciated it for posting random thoughts occasionally. Thank you for doing all that you can to comply with the new protocol.
I suppose I would still visit…but I would be pretty disappointed. However, I understand where you’re coming from. Those weird ads, especially, take away from this wonderful site.
Like many of the others, NO I WOULD NOT ever Log IN as to identify myself!
The whole purpose of concept of being anonymous is not to be identified (identifiable), traced or tracked.
If you have to log in, be tracked, etc then might as well drop your pants and bend over as you are no longer anonymous. It would be an illusion and a lie.
In order to log in you would be identifying yourself in some manner which could be traced back to a log, a server, an IP, and possibly your own pc. Not to forget to mention an Identifying email address as to confirm your new log in accounts. A digital Paper Trail.
Its another “we are watching you! Watch what you say and do or we will come after you”… attack on my rights to freedoms.
Screw the gov mandates and Nazi dictators if you can! but dont go to jail or get fined for doing so. Government loves your money and control over all the peasants of society.
I would surely miss this site if it went down, and I would not want to see the creator/owner in trouble for non compliance, but fight the dictators if you can as long as you can without getting in the frying pan or hot oil bath. Else you are just another sheep and brain washed zombie doing as what you are told to do.
I don’t think I would use this site if I had to login. This site is great to just clear your mind and write on, but I feel that the anonymous part is critical.
it is a fine line between being anonymous to spare feelings of either side, but then there are also times when it is of the nature where a crime has been committed or is about to be, those people shouldnt be protected. Cant you require a user name &psswrd, then have the registered users real name protected somewhere else. Then theres access to it under subpeona?
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