Become a Patron!

How Private are Private Messages?

TygerTyger

Official Lurker
Staff member
VU Owner
VU Senior Leadership
VU Senior Administrator
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
In light of discussions talking about privacy and monitoring of private messages at other forums, we wanted to let you know our stance on this issue. At Vaping Underground, your freedom and privacy are important to us, and we want you to feel free here to express yourselves or connect with each other without fear of heavy-handed moderation or fears of your privacy being compromised.

Can staff read private messages? The simple answer is no. The way that our forum is configured, moderators and admins CANNOT read private messages, end of story. While a plug-in exists to allow this functionality, we have chosen NOT to use it.

However, in the interests of transparency, we're going to peel back the curtain and tell you that technically, there is a way for a tiny few senior admins to access private messages. It's not built in, and it's not simple. It involves having access to and meticulously combing through an entire database of information. In short, it would be like hacking our own forum, and only those intimately involved in the workings could even get that far. Then, to check YOUR message would be a little bit like seeking a needle in a *row* of haystacks. Rest assured, no one has the time or inclination to read your private messages, nor do we believe they should be read. They're called private for a reason.

There is only one other instance in which a private message could be viewed, and that's if it is so threatening or offensive that the receiver chooses to report it. At that point, it becomes a report visible only to senior adminstration in order that appropriate action can be taken. To sum up, the only way someone who isn't in a private conversation will see a message is if someone IN that conversation reports it. (And for the record, if you do receive a threatening or highly inappropriate message, please do report it so that we can assist you.)

In recap, we want you to feel comfortable and safe connecting with others here, and have configured our forum and practices to support that value. Private messages ARE private, and we're not here to monitor how you choose to interact behind the scenes. So..... speak freely!

Tyger~
on behalf of the Vaping Underground Administrators and Moderators
 

lordmage

The Sky has Fallen. the End is Here.
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
the only other way someone can read the pm is if someone on the inner circle, invites someone outside in.
 

Hobby Kid

Brighton Boy
Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
My 365/dick a day dick pics are going UNSEEN?!
fraid so @xanadu0324
all that hard work for nothing!

tongue-out-emoticon.jpg
 

UncleRJ

Will write reviews for Beer!
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
Reviewer
Moderator
Not worried about it myself.

I figure since no one pays attention to the drivel I post publicly here, no one is going to take the time to read my private messages:rolleyes:
 

tombaker

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Member For 5 Years
the only other way someone can read the pm is if someone on the inner circle, invites someone outside in.
I think you are talking about the check off box called "Allow anyone in the conversation to invite others" So that side is user controllable by who starts the PM rolling. Allow or not ...you decide when you start.

The box after that I don't quite get.
"Lock conversation (no responses will be allowed)"​
Is that to shout at someone and not let them reply, or is that to lock a conversation off after it starts and winds down?
Either way, I am not sure why I would use it.
 

fq06

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Do keep in mind that your PM's to other members may jot stay private.
I have seen in other forums where someone was being and asshole bully ajd the receiving party quickly copy pasted in the thread that they had conversation in that went to PM.
The asshole was reprimanded by a mod with a month long vacation from the forum.

So just saying, if you are going to be a dick and send a PM... don't assume it will stay private. And don't be a dick anyway ;)
 

Smoky Blue

VU Donator
Platinum Contributor
Unlisted Vendor
Member For 5 Years
yes, digging thru the db.. all that is needed is notepad++ and the find function ;)
not hard.. but I highly doubt that Joe of any staff member is interested in reading any bits of mail..
yeah yeah.. how do I know? too many years of repairing databases with mergers etc..
do I trust the staff?? yeps..

i gota hand it to them all :)

always write as if someone may read it, cuz one never knows..

good example @fq06 :D
 

UncleRJ

Will write reviews for Beer!
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
Reviewer
Moderator
If you have your doubts (which I don't) and you want to be sure that you are having a private conversation.................

If you trust the other member with one of your E-Mail accounts just exchange that info here and then hook up outside of the forum.

Thus removing all doubts that I am personally taking the time to read all of the nasty things you say about me behind my back.

Please do so and remove such temptations from me as I truly do not have time to read them ALL:D
 

lordmage

The Sky has Fallen. the End is Here.
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Or binary 1010010010100101010001001010001010101001010010100100101010010100101010101010010000000101010010101010101 ;)
011110010110111101110101001001110111001001100101001000000110001001101001011011100110000101110010011110010010000001100110011000010110100101101100011100110010000001110100011011110010000001100011011011110110110101110000011101010111010001100101

010000100110010100100000011100110111010101110010011001
010010000001110100011011110010000001100100011100100110
100101101110011010110010000001111001011011110111010101
110010001000000100111101110110011000010110110001110100
01101001011011100110010100101110
 

Warhawk-AVG

Silver Contributor
Member For 5 Years
011110010110111101110101001001110111001001100101001000000110001001101001011011100110000101110010011110010010000001100110011000010110100101101100011100110010000001110100011011110010000001100011011011110110110101110000011101010111010001100101

010000100110010100100000011100110111010101110010011001
010010000001110100011011110010000001100100011100100110
100101101110011010110010000001111001011011110111010101
110010001000000100111101110110011000010110110001110100
01101001011011100110010100101110

Word

VIRTUAL_FIST_BUMP.png
 

lordmage

The Sky has Fallen. the End is Here.
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years

Frawg

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Member For 5 Years
You're on the internet. Always assume since this forum is US owned, that the NSA has already read everything you've posted, and apparently finds your drivel boring and non-threatening.
 

Hobby Kid

Brighton Boy
Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
You're on the internet. Always assume since this forum is US owned, that the NSA has already read everything you've posted, and apparently finds your drivel boring and non-threatening.
they might find it interesting..

poi.png
 

InMyImage

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Member For 5 Years
Im type 0....lol. Understanding ms dos was hard enough in high school hahahaha.
Funny, partly because binary is base two, and partly because my high school programming teacher quickly figured out that I knew more about programming than he did and had me teach the class and him at the same time. :)
 

lordmage

The Sky has Fallen. the End is Here.
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
just so long as we dont start talking about pebcac and one dee ten tee issues we are all good
 

xanadu0324

Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Member For 5 Years
You're on the internet. Always assume since this forum is US owned, that the NSA has already read everything you've posted, and apparently finds your drivel boring and non-threatening.

Not true. I'm very exciting, and they sit outside my house with cameras and take photos every time I go get the mail.
 

Warhawk-AVG

Silver Contributor
Member For 5 Years
You're on the internet. Always assume since this forum is US owned, that the NSA has already read everything you've posted, and apparently finds your drivel boring and non-threatening.
You can always invite them in with a list of a few choice words :p

Waihopai, INFOSEC, Information Security, Information Warfare, IW, IS, Priavacy, Information Terrorism, Terrorism Defensive Information, Defense Information Warfare, Offensive Information, Offensive Information Warfare, National Information Infrastructure, InfoSec, Reno, Compsec, Computer Terrorism, Firewalls, Secure Internet Connections, ISS, Passwords, DefCon V, Hackers, Encryption, Espionage, USDOJ, NSA, CIA, S/Key, SSL, FBI, Secert Service, USSS, Defcon, Military, White House, Undercover, NCCS, Mayfly, PGP, PEM, RSA, Perl-RSA, MSNBC, bet, AOL, AOL TOS, CIS, CBOT, AIMSX, STARLAN, 3B2, BITNET, COSMOS, DATTA, E911, FCIC, HTCIA, IACIS, UT/RUS, JANET, JICC, ReMOB, LEETAC, UTU, VNET, BRLO, BZ, CANSLO, CBNRC, CIDA, JAVA, Active X, Compsec 97, LLC, DERA, Mavricks, Meta-hackers, ^?, Steve Case, Tools, Telex, Military Intelligence, Scully, Flame, Infowar, Bubba, Freeh, Archives, Sundevil, jack, Investigation, ISACA, NCSA, spook words, Verisign, Secure, ASIO, Lebed, ICE, NRO, Lexis-Nexis, NSCT, SCIF, FLiR, Lacrosse, Flashbangs, HRT, DIA, USCOI, CID, BOP, FINCEN, FLETC, NIJ, ACC, AFSPC, BMDO, NAVWAN, NRL, RL, NAVWCWPNS, NSWC, USAFA, AHPCRC, ARPA, LABLINK, USACIL, USCG, NRC, ~, CDC, DOE, FMS, HPCC, NTIS, SEL, USCODE, CISE, SIRC, CIM, ISN, DJC, SGC, UNCPCJ, CFC, DREO, CDA, DRA, SHAPE, SACLANT, BECCA, DCJFTF, HALO, HAHO, FKS, 868, GCHQ, DITSA, SORT, AMEMB, NSG, HIC, EDI, SAS, SBS, UDT, GOE, DOE, GEO, Masuda, Forte, AT, GIGN, Exon Shell, CQB, CONUS, CTU, RCMP, GRU, SASR, GSG-9, 22nd SAS, GEOS, EADA, BBE, STEP, Echelon, Dictionary, MD2, MD4, MDA, MYK, 747,777, 767, MI5, 737, MI6, 757, Kh-11, Shayet-13, SADMS, Spetznaz, Recce, 707, CIO, NOCS, Halcon, Duress, RAID, Psyops, grom, D-11, SERT, VIP, ARC, S.E.T. Team, MP5k, DREC, DEVGRP, DF, DSD, FDM, GRU, LRTS, SIGDEV, NACSI, PSAC, PTT, RFI, SIGDASYS, TDM. SUKLO, SUSLO, TELINT, TEXTA. ELF, LF, MF, VHF, UHF, SHF, SASP, WANK, Colonel, domestic disruption, smuggle, 15kg, nitrate, Pretoria, M-14, enigma, Bletchley Park, Clandestine, nkvd, argus, afsatcom, CQB, NVD, Counter Terrorism Security, Rapid Reaction, Corporate Security, Police, sniper, PPS, ASIS, ASLET, TSCM, Security Consulting, High Security, Security Evaluation, Electronic Surveillance, MI-17, Counterterrorism, spies, eavesdropping, debugging, interception, COCOT, rhost, rhosts, SETA, Amherst, Broadside, Capricorn, Gamma, Gorizont, Guppy, Ionosphere, Mole, Keyhole, Kilderkin, Artichoke, Badger, Cornflower, Daisy, Egret, Iris, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Juile, Vinnell, B.D.M.,Sphinx, Stephanie, Reflection, Spoke, Talent, Trump, FX, FXR, IMF, POCSAG, Covert Video, Intiso, r00t, lock picking, Beyond Hope, csystems, passwd, 2600 Magazine, Competitor, EO, Chan, Alouette,executive, Event Security, Mace, Cap-Stun, stakeout, ninja, ASIS, ISA, EOD, Oscor, Merlin, NTT, SL-1, Rolm, TIE, Tie-fighter, PBX, SLI, NTT, MSCJ, MIT, 69, RIT, Time, MSEE, Cable & Wireless, CSE, Embassy, ETA, Porno, Fax, finks, Fax encryption, white noise, pink noise, CRA, M.P.R.I., top secret, Mossberg, 50BMG, Macintosh Security, Macintosh Internet Security, Macintosh Firewalls, Unix Security, VIP Protection, SIG, sweep, Medco, TRD, TDR, sweeping, TELINT, Audiotel, Harvard, 1080H, SWS, Asset, Satellite imagery, force, Cypherpunks, Coderpunks, TRW, remailers, replay, redheads, RX-7, explicit, FLAME, Pornstars, AVN, Playboy, Anonymous, Sex, chaining, codes, Nuclear, 20, subversives, SLIP, toad, fish, data havens, unix, c, a, b, d, the, Elvis, quiche, DES, 1*, NATIA, NATOA, sneakers, counterintelligence, industrial espionage, PI, TSCI, industrial intelligence, H.N.P., Juiliett Class Submarine, Locks, loch, Ingram Mac-10, sigvoice, ssa, E.O.D., SEMTEX, penrep, racal, OTP, OSS, Blowpipe, CCS, GSA, Kilo Class, squib, primacord, RSP, Becker, Nerd, fangs, Austin, Comirex, GPMG, Speakeasy, humint, GEODSS, SORO, M5, ANC, zone, SBI, DSS, S.A.I.C., Minox, Keyhole, SAR, Rand Corporation, Wackenhutt, EO, Wackendude, mol, Hillal, GGL, CTU, botux, Virii, CCC, Blacklisted 411, Internet Underground, XS4ALL, Retinal Fetish, Fetish, Yobie, CTP, CATO, Phon-e, Chicago Posse, l0ck, spook keywords, PLA, TDYC, W3, CUD, CdC, Weekly World News, Zen, World Domination, Dead, GRU, M72750, Salsa, 7, Blowfish, Gorelick, Glock, Ft. Meade, press-release, Indigo, wire transfer, e-cash, Bubba the Love Sponge, Digicash, zip, SWAT, Ortega, PPP, crypto-anarchy, AT&T, SGI, SUN, MCI, Blacknet, Middleman, KLM, Blackbird, plutonium, Texas, jihad, SDI, Uzi, Fort Meade, supercomputer, bullion, 3, Blackmednet, Propaganda, ABC, Satellite phones, Planet-1, cryptanalysis, nuclear, FBI, Panama, fissionable, Sears Tower, NORAD, Delta Force, SEAL, virtual, Dolch, secure shell, screws, Black-Ops, Area51, SABC, basement, data-haven, black-bag, TEMPSET, Goodwin, rebels, ID, MD5, IDEA, garbage, market, beef, Stego, unclassified, utopia, orthodox, Alica, SHA, Global, gorilla, Bob, Pseudony

Oh high agent Black, how was your day? :D
 

InMyImage

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Member For 5 Years
How come I can't edit no more?

Oh I hear helicopters...I'll be right back....
I noticed that too, but it just seems to be on this thread, although honestly I wish that the ability to edit a post after about 30 minutes should be locked down. That is the way it works on other forums I frequent and it prevents people from going back and changing what they said to make people look bad or themselves better...
 

lordmage

The Sky has Fallen. the End is Here.
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I noticed that too, but it just seems to be on this thread, although honestly I wish that the ability to edit a post after about 30 minutes should be locked down. That is the way it works on other forums I frequent and it prevents people from going back and changing what they said to make people look bad or themselves better...
that was how it was, but some wanted a time they could correct themselves so the boss man decided a small window after that they lock down.

that only applies to non-staff
 

InMyImage

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Member For 5 Years
that was how it was, but some wanted a time they could correct themselves so the boss man decided a small window after that they lock down.

that only applies to non-staff

Um... how long is "short time"? I can still edit the first post I ever made back on Sep 9th...

Sitting around vaping my first try at DIY, a Vanilla Almond Cappuccino. Tastes fine, but to much almond, and not enough Vanilla or Cappuccino. Will be working on that again after I finish what I mixed up this time. Did learn about "steeping" though. The almond was really the only flavor after it was mixed. After sitting a week it is more mild and I can taste a hint of cappuccino.

Definitely related on the back problems now, as well as the CMT mentioned very early in the thread. Diagnosed with degenerative disk disease at 20 and after a couple of compressed, herniated, and exploded disks I have had 2 back surgeries with more in my future and am on disability now and hate it when someone hears I'm disabled, takes a look at me and asks why. Especially after I get out of the passenger side of car parked in a handicapped spot even with the permanent plates on the back.

Wishing I had a few bucks to spend on the sale right now too, after seeing the WTF??? flavor I'm intrigued and want to try it along with the 12:50. I'll just have to lust over that new Jail Bird "The HAM" mod...

Bill
 

lordmage

The Sky has Fallen. the End is Here.
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Um... how long is "short time"? I can still edit the first post I ever made back on Sep 9th...
the window must have been changed or the boss decided to do away with it.
 

Hobby Kid

Brighton Boy
Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I noticed that too, but it just seems to be on this thread, although honestly I wish that the ability to edit a post after about 30 minutes should be locked down. That is the way it works on other forums I frequent and it prevents people from going back and changing what they said to make people look bad or themselves better...
If you're concened about members editing their threads long after they've posted and appearing to say something else then when you replied, remember to click their reply link to include their comments in your post. Then you have the original record of what they actually said.

Having said that, I think it's a good thing members can edit their own words whenever they want for an array of reasons. That's the freedom of speech.
 

Celtic Fog

Tir Na Nog
Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Member For 5 Years
If you're concened about members editing their threads long after they've posted and appearing to say something else then when you replied, remember to click their reply link to include their comments in your post. Then you have the original record of what they actually said.

Having said that, I think it's a good thing members can edit their own words whenever they want for an array of reasons. That's the freedom of speech. I also wanted you all to know that @Celtic Fog is a really swell fellow

I happen to agree fully with Mr. Kid.
 

VU Sponsors

Top