Posted by Interesting, a resident of the Mohr Park neighborhood, on Jul 30, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Interesting as I have seen examples of this and wondered myself. Sometimes I get the clear impression that one of more Weekly staff joins in as an alias in the forums at times, taking sides.
If a member is a registered user and they post both signed in as a member, as well as not signed in under a different identity, then IP address and log on a logged summary of use and posts can be cross referenced easily.
If an individual is not registered and uses one or more identities to post, the logged information would only contain the IP address on the servers.
It would take someone with a connection to law Enforcement, OR quite a bit of computer skills to find the identity of a user. But not at all impossible for sure.
One never quite knows when they choose to post anything on the internet.
Posted by Privacy Policy, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Jul 30, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Privacy Policy
We respect the privacy of the personal information you give us, such as your name, street address, telephone number and e-mail address, and other personal information you may provide. The following policy is intended to explain how we treat this information. This policy may change from time to time.
Traffic data
Each time a visitor comes to our web site, our servers collect some basic technical information, including, for example, the visitor's domain name (i.e., the ISP from which the user is logged on). We use software to keep track of traffic to our sites and derive such information as the location from which the traffic originates and which particular pages within the site are being viewed. After we analyze this information, we discard it. We may aggregate information about visitors and traffic and may share the results with advertisers. We will not disclose your individual identity or personally identifiable data that you supply us without your permission. It will only be used for us to contact you.
Use of Cookies
A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. We make limited use of cookies to keep track of your visits to our site and to facilitate the logging in process for registered users.
Other companies that place advertising on our site also have the ability to assign their cookies to you if you visit their sites. This is a process that we do not control.
E-bulletins
If you sign up to receive e-bulletins from PleasantonWeekly.com, you may also receive infrequent other announcements from us. Users can choose to unsubscribe from any new mailing lists we create (opt-out) at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions found in each e-mail.
Surveys
We may conduct voluntary surveys of visitors to the site to collect certain demographic information. This information may be compiled and shared in the aggregate with advertisers and other third parties, but no personal details will be traceable or associated with specific individuals. We may use the e-mail address you provided us for the distribution of other announcements. Users can choose to unsubscribe (opt-out) from any mailing lists we create at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions found in each e-mail.
Contests
We may sponsor contests or other events from time to time that require the collection, processing and storage of certain contact and demographic information (e.g., place of residence) for use as part of the contest. Sometimes these contests may be jointly sponsored with companies. In that case the user's contact and other information will be shared with the other company only if it is expressly stated in the rules of the contest.
However, such contests will include the option to receive e-mail from our partners regarding their products or services. If you sign up for such an e-mail list, we will release your e-mail address to our partner for the purpose of such mailings, and only for that purpose. We will not release any of your other personal information to that partner. If you do not sign up for such an e-mail list, our partners will receive no information on you – including your e-mail address – even if you enter the associated contest or promotion.
We retain the right to use your e-mail address collected for the distribution of other announcements. Users can choose to unsubscribe (opt-out) from any mailing lists we create at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions found in each e-mail.
Children's Privacy
Protecting the privacy of young children is important to us. For that reason, we will not collect or maintain information at our Web site from those actually known to be under 13. The sole exception to this is our mailing lists. If a child under 13 signs up for our newsletter or any of our mailing lists, they will remain a member unless we are asked to remove them by their parent or legal guardian, or they elect to opt-out themselves.
Other Disclosure of Personal Information
We will not otherwise disclose or make use of personal information without consent of the user except (i) as described in this privacy policy, or (ii) as required by law, court order or as requested by other government or law enforcement authority. This policy does not protect information you post to any online bulletin board, chat room, newsgroup, reviews or other public forum within our sites.
Other Sites
Our sites contain links to sites on the Internet operated by others. We cannot control and are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such other Web sites.
Unsubscribe and Data Removal Policies
If you would like to unsubscribe from any mailing list, please follow the instructions at the bottom of the mailing list itself. If you want to remove your name and e-mail address from any of our mailing lists, you can send an e-mail requesting removal to webmaster@PleasantonWeekly.com. Please include which list you are asking to be removed from.
Further questions?
If you have any further questions or concerns about our privacy policies and use of personal information, please send them to webmaster@PleasantonWeekly.com.
Posted by Privacy Policy, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Jul 30, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Key Points in Privacy Policy as follows:
Key Point to the Privacy Policy:
We respect the privacy of the personal information you give us, such as your name, street address, telephone number and e-mail address, and other personal information you may provide.
Each time a visitor comes to our web site, our servers collect some basic technical information, including, for example, the visitor's domain name (i.e., the ISP from which the user is logged on).
We use software to keep track of traffic to our sites and derive such information as the location from which the traffic originates and which particular pages within the site are being viewed.
We may aggregate information about visitors and traffic and may share the results with advertisers.
Use of Cookies a.k.a. (Tracking Cookies)
A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. We make limited use of cookies to keep track of your visits to our site and to facilitate the logging in process for registered users.
Other companies that place advertising on our site also have the ability to assign their cookies to you if you visit their sites. This is a process that we do not control.
This policy does not protect information you post to any online bulletin board, chat room, newsgroup, reviews or other public forum within our sites.
Posted by Scary, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jul 30, 2009 at 1:16 pm
So, the Weekly Forum has a sleep over in your Hard Drive!
Use of Cookies a.k.a. (Tracking Cookies)
A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. We make limited use of cookies to keep track of your visits to our site and to facilitate the logging in process for registered users.
Posted by Wild West End, a resident of the Willow West neighborhood, on Jul 30, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Even though the Weekly knows what IP address is being used, they don't know who specifically is writing the message.
For example, we have a large family. We all use the PW Forum. We often use the same computer (the same IP address). The PW can only see the big picture - the single IP address used. Unless someone is watching, which is possible on some web cams (I think some Apple computers allow remote monitoring of one's laptop and there are probably hackers that can break a security wall), you don't have much to worry about. The PW could make assumptions based on multiple user names posting with the same IP address in a compressed time period. As a private business, that's their prerogative.
Posted by pw not telling whole truth, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jul 30, 2009 at 2:05 pm
The PW is not being honest about the privacy policy, specifically their violations of it. Just go back to Jeb outing Kathleen during the posts about Measure G. He clearly violated the policy, he had no regard for her safety/security and the publisher took no action other than "oops, my bad".
When people without integrity run the paper you have little protection for privacy. Once you post here you put your online security and identity at risk, just keep that in mind.
Posted by Outted, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jul 31, 2009 at 8:29 am
Both the president and editor of the Weekly were e-mailed at the beginning of the week regarding the apparent disclosure of personal information and ZERO reply’s to the e-mail.
Posted by WeeklyMole, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 4, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I am not sure? One Weekly "staff" said that the only time they "trace" is during contests and another Weekly "staff" said they can't and don't "trace" and only have the ability to see what town a post comes from at best.
Posted by 2ME4U, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Aug 5, 2009 at 10:59 am
pw not telling whole truth - I understand if this post is talking about the single past incident with Jeb going crazy for a minute and outitng Kathleen. I also agree there was no real coinsequence of the action unless some private settlement with a gag order was agreed upon. Anyway Jeb's still here, and wouldn't make the mistake again unless he was going out in some blaze of glory.
Anyway, I read this post and RE(many seem off topic) but am unclear of any other incidents. Is this just a post with no basis? Examples please?
Posted by WeeklyMole, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 5, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Their was an incident where a person posting, referred to another person by name specifically, recently and blatantly. First name only was used by very directly.
In the opinion of the person who had never used their first name on the forum, they feel that the only way the other party could have used (revealed) their name, was if they had access to the Weekly Forum Registration records and or tracking statistics.
The Weekly was diligent in looking into the matter and their will be no final resolve, except the piece of mind that the Weekly took this seriously and did what they could to try and figure the issue out.
Posted by WM good try, a resident of the Deer Oaks/Twelve Oaks neighborhood, on Aug 8, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Well then I think it didn't happen as you said. If I don't have the facts, and you aren't giving them, I will side with you being wrong. Nice post to get people pissed though.
Posted by WeeklyMole, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 8, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I was very concerned and the Weekly did what they could to figure things out. I am NOT playing games here, so since it has nothing to do with you, move on Please!
Posted by 2ME4U, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Aug 17, 2009 at 9:48 am
If it doesn't concern me or anybody else don't post about it. Posts get responces and questions. Nobody could possibly figure out who has a camo trailer in their front yard here in Pleasanton. There must be thousands.
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