Hello is overrated, salutations!

[Author]

Hi, I have read the links posted by V M in this thread. I am new here, I hope I can find the support, advice and encouragement I need. I am a little worried about privacy and I have noticed that I can't use Tor here, what alternative can you recommend to me?

I had a little trouble filling the correct captcha (this is my 3rd attempt), those letters are difficult to read.

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. You are connected by a secure link that protects against outside snooping. The only two bits of information known to the moderator staff is your IP address and email address. These are blocked from the non staff members. We are not permitted to run IP addresses without the permission of an administrator, in this case, Cindy or Susan and to do so is cause to be removed from the staff position and possibly being ban from the site.

A second consideration, all of us are or have been where you are and we understand the impact of having our personal information released. Yes, I have been semi public for 34 years but I still am very aware of the difficulty I had when I started my transition.

As for the security measure, they are temporary and after you have a small number of post under your belt, you will be free of those issues.

[Author]

Thank you, I was mostly worried about external images embedded in replies and about whom from the moderation can see my IP/approximate location. Staying relatively anonymous is not easy and since I haven't come out yet I am worried about having my identity revealed on the web (you know, once on the internet it is forever on the internet). The captcha restrictions are not really a problem, I've been on more aggressive websites that forced me to fill a captcha every 5 minutes just to see the site.

[Dena]

The site is run by donations and should advertisements be placed on the site, they will not involve tracking. Your privacy is in your hands and should you place personal information on the site, we can't control that. Also beware that if you click on a off site link posted by a user, you may be tracked by the new site. I ordered large fuses at work from Grainger's and when checking an off site like for violations, discovered "suggestions" to buy more fuses. One thing you might want to check out is somebodies profile. You click on the little man symbol under the avatar (may need 15 posts). That will show what informations is available to others. In my case, I set my age and location but that information isn't displayed if it isn't set.

[Author]

Thank you very much for the advice, I didn't know about that little man link. I am sorry if I sound a little paranoid, I have had some bad experiences before (luckily nothing that ended up in me being outed).

[V M]

Hi Author 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Yes, we issue a set of site rules to all new members, it is to help people

We are generally rather busy resolving various issues, are not really all too interested in your personal information and have no intention of outing anyone

We are however interested in running a safe, secure and happy site where people can comfortably and freely express themselves

Thank you for voicing your concerns

Hugs

V M

[Mariah]

Hi Author, welcome to Susan's. All of us are concerned about privacy which is why the rules were wrote they were to help  protect and remind everyone what they can do to help protect their own privacy. I look forward to seeing you around the forums. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah

[Author]

Thank you Mariah, I'll try to participate but I don't usually create new threads (I'm a little shy and I prefer to just join conversations other people started).

[Mariah]

Your welcome, That is cool too. Nothing wrong with that. Enjoy the forums as it best fits for you. There are many members that just post on other already started threads. I was one of those early on too.

Thank you Mariah, I'll try to participate but I don't usually create new threads (I'm a little shy and I prefer to just join conversations other people started).

[Author]

I have a technical question, is it possible to subscribe to a thread and receive notifications only by PM? I don't want to end up with my email filled with reply notifications.

[Dena]

Yes, on the top of the screen, click on Profile>Modify Profile>Personal Messaging. You can turn off all the email with the setting on that screen.

[Dena]

You also should check Profile>Modify Profile>Notifications. You will get a notify list in that section where you  can review updated threads.

[Author]

Thank you, I don't seem to have those options. I only have "Account Settings", "Ignore Topics Options" and "Group Membership", none of them has email configurations (besides changing the current email). Maybe this is something that is unlocked later? I don't worry too much about this, I just unsubscribed from my thread and I go to the "Show new replies to your posts" link at the top, while it doesn't show old, read notifications it gets the job done for new replies.

[Dena]

Under Personal messaging, the option would be "Notify by email every time you receive a personal message:". This will prevent you from seeing site newsletters in your email along with PMs sent by others.

Under Notifications the option I think you need is ""For topics and boards I've requested notification on, notify me of:". I think you will still receive the notification list on that screen but that should shut down the emails. I think notification used to show up in the Show new replies to your post list but something went wacky with that after the software upgrade earlier this year. I am working on a list of questions like that I plan to send to Susan but I haven't spent the time on the list that I should have.

I haven't played with the setting because I need all that information but I have set my email program to sort the mess out for me.

[V M]

Hi Author

You need at least 15 posts to access various options and then more will open to you as you progress

Might be worth your while to look over the links again

Here is your very own set
 
Please be sure to review

Things that you should read

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)
Reputation rules	News posting & quoting guidelines	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy

Hugs

V M

[Author]

Thank you very much V M, I read those links before registering but reading them again won't hurt. I tend to forget things easily and I hope this does not become an annoyance for other users. If it is please just tell me and I'll try to write things down to avoid forgetting them.