New "tin foil hat" question: Your profile location?
- Thread starter tinmandan
- Start date
I have extra tin foil to send you somewhere in Canada for sure! Did you count how many times I didn't bite because of location, or the times the Feedback was not done? No matter and irrelevant to my original question.
I also educated myself again on the CGN rules again and could not find anything other than "Make sure you take a second to fill in your Profile", and the Location field is under "Additional Information", so it does not appear to be mandatory. And it is not required when initially creating your account, only a Username, Password and Email.
But as far as being tracked, CGN's account agreement allows them to tack and keep everything you say and do, and disclose to Gov or law enforcement if "required" OR if you appear to be breaking any laws. Pretty standard except for the last part, but all good in my mind.
Really my question relates to the profile of people who use the EE, because in the other Forums your location doesn't matter unless discussing local laws or something. The cost of items in the EE is not chicken feed, and it simply baffles me as to why legitimate sellers don't state at least their province or region or even city in their profile. Hence the tin foil hat question as to why not?
For those who asked about computer tracking, unless you are using software (like VPN which allows you to change your IP address to a different location), or away from home internet, just go to "WhatismyIPaddress.com" or elsewhere and you can see your location down to the first 3 digits of your postal code pretty much. Again no secret. And any website can have something like that in the background that tracks the IP address (and even computer details, operating system etc) of all visitors. I used to monitor that very thing on a personal website just for interest sake of where my visitors were coming from. Nothing sinister and completely legal. Some web tools are even more location specific. And heck some web tools even tell you what web site the user came from to get to your web site. But you cannot get IP address subscriber info without some legal backing. So if you are not using VPN or a tunnel, CGN is cataloging your IP address and every thing you do. But that's to be expected. We all agreed to it.
My posted question was not meant to be misleading or sinister. Just a pet peeve that if you want to sell something worth a thousand bucks why are you not stating your general location in your profile? Most do and it's appreciated. And obviously once the deal is sealed exact details are exchanged between parties. My two cents and the question stands.
EDIT: Maybe I will just rephrase and ask that legitimate EE users with nothing to hide please update their profiles with Location info?
Thank you.
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How can you know where to send the tin foil hat, my location isn't on my profile. My loss.
Nice try but I'm not buying it. I very much doubt there's been "many" times you didn't buy something because a location wasn't on their profile OR that feedback wasn't given. You were exaggerating.
So they can make someone with an EE score of 6 over 3 years happy. No offense but you hardly come across like a big mover.
I DO like the "what do you have to hide" mentality. You have me convinced
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How can you know where to send the tin foil hat, my location isn't on my profile. My loss.
Nice try but I'm not buying it. I very much doubt there's been "many" times you didn't buy something because a location wasn't on their profile OR that feedback wasn't given. You were exaggerating.
You have 6 interactions over 3 years. Of the sellers, one of who didn't have a location listened and two who narrowed it down to a province. Sure looks like you're complaining for the sake of complaining.
So they can make someone with an EE score of 6 over 3 years happy.
I DO like the "what do you have to hide" mentality. You have me convinced
Thanks for the reply GuiltySpark. In the spirit of keeping this civil, and since you only post Canada as your location, perhaps you could share your concerns or perceived issues with being more specific about a profile location? It appears you are offended by my Newbie FAQ question/pet peeve so I'm not holding my breath on a friendly response, if at all. But I do ask that you stop trashing me. Thanks in advance.
If I am buying, say, a high end rifle, I could care less that the location is not shown.
I'll be PMing and will find that out immediately.
If, say, it is ammunition most poster's state their location in the body of the post, preferring a face-to-face to shipping.
I have 90 or so transactions and it has never been an issue with me, but certainly you are entitled to your pet peeve.
I edited my post a few times to try and sound less scathing but I don't think it worked very well. Sorry if I come across as a ####.
In the spirit of giving you an honest answer perhaps I took your original post out of context but to me it sounded like you were ridiculing people for either trying to add a layer of PERSEC (that's personal security) OR just simply choosing not to broadcast their location. The "tin foil hat" remarks further convince me that you're not just making an observation but trying to make fun of people. I also found doing this, highlighting your "many" decisions but having bought 3 items (okay, have feedback from) also strange.
So why Canada you ask? The first response that comes to mind is 'because I want to'.
I have no illusions that someone with half a brain couldn't figure out my home town and probably even mailing address with a little work. Maybe it might be enough to cause a scammer to look else where maybe not.
There's also family and career implications, I have had co-workers punished at work for statements they've made on the internet. In one case someone was fined $1500. I know of others who have lost their job.
I think people take security for granted and I have my own pet peeves such as people bragging about using a PAL instead of drivers license for ID, open SM accounts or plastering their car in gun stickers. I don't think it's very wise but I try and stop short of ridicule.
In closing I'm not offended by your Newbie FAQ question/pet peeve. I felt you were making fun of people when to me someone exercising a sense of security, placebo or not, is wise. The #### storms that happen on facebook and other social media are a great example of why more security is better than less IMO.
And again nothing personal I found it weird you talked about your many decisions to buy -with a low EE score (which in itself isn't a short coming mind you). Seemed strange to me, you know? Like someone with a month on CGN talking about how much the site has changed/been infiltrated by liberal spies bla bla.
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Only if one is wearing a Chinois and even then it has to be lined with just the right amount/size of holes to allow the good gamma rays to enter the void space.
Even the Pastafarians have yet to learn this little secret.
Best Regards,
Rob
You joined in 2006.
You have 9,716 posts
Your feedback score is 96.
2006
9716
96
The great beast!
Thank you sir! And in hindsight perhaps my OP stating "Many times my decision to "bite/offer to buy" is based on the seller's location." could have been worded better or left out of the question completely. Obviously my posted stats are nowhere near "many" compared to others. I dream a lot though, and have the bug to buy often, and spend a lot of time reading the ads and contemplating. Just not the cash to support the passion. Someday I hope.
Your candor is appreciated. I too am internet cautious, and carefully weigh what to post/share or not to. One thing though is that I trust this CGN site way more than the other gun/buy/sell ones out there. Foolishly perhaps but it appears quite respectable, as do the majority of members.
I think what set me off to post the OP question was seeing ads saying "local pickup only" but nowhere was a hint of where "local" was. It just didn't make sense to me. Kind of like posting a gun or ammo without stating the calibre, thus causing people to waste time to ask a basic question for something that should have been listed. So I decided to ask opinions on what the reason or fear was for not having a profile location and generate discussion. Personally I think the Location field should be mandatory to put at least something in on sign-up, instead of a buried field that new sellers may inadvertently overlook. (pause..oh no..newbie suggestion). And since we don't have to use a real name, and only CGN Admin knows our email address I feel that we are pretty safe on here, within reason. Of course that depends on what one may rant about or reveal in the Forums, because your "job/family security" concern is certainly valid. Thanks again for your post!
Dan
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tinmandan...
~ Most of this is moot. The typical EE ad phrasing is "shipped to the majors" or something similar to that. In which case I personally don't care where it's coming from if the seller covers shipping. I often ask what area someone is in & get prompt candid replies. On that point, all my ads include shipping as I feel it's just easier. I work the shipping into the price & offer "local sale saves shipping".
~ As for the tinfoil hats...keeping your location vague is a personal choice. Once you get deeper into the deal you learn the location anyway, so there's no real concern with what the profile lists? I've never had someone refuse to tell me their general location.
Cheers!
~ Most of this is moot. The typical EE ad phrasing is "shipped to the majors" or something similar to that. In which case I personally don't care where it's coming from if the seller covers shipping. I often ask what area someone is in & get prompt candid replies. On that point, all my ads include shipping as I feel it's just easier. I work the shipping into the price & offer "local sale saves shipping".
~ As for the tinfoil hats...keeping your location vague is a personal choice. Once you get deeper into the deal you learn the location anyway, so there's no real concern with what the profile lists? I've never had someone refuse to tell me their general location.
Cheers!
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- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Location: Costco, looking for tha foils
I think location really helps with EE buying and selling because some people prefer to pick up and inspect items. Recommend not using your home but instead meeting at a club, public location, etc unless you know the people. Google already knows where you live they have pictures of your house and could be watching you right now since your on a gun forum..... I live in the GTA so right away we know if items can be picked up or if shipping is required.
People are so paranoid. My provincial flag will fly.
- Location
- On the beach
I dont really care about your location. I'm more likely to skip past EE sale threads where people cant take the 10 minutes it takes to go to tinypic and post a photo of the item they are selling.......
Seriously..? I think tinmandan asked a valid question that many people including myself wonder.. I am easily someone who could be passed off as a "tin foil hat wearer" with my beliefs and ideology about the government and the things they are doing behind our back etc, but you sir are just paranoid.. If the government wants to know what your doing on the internet they will find out, if you think not including your location is going to stop anyone from finding you that wants too, than im wasting my time typing this because you clearly are out to lunch. Ive been a member for a while now and haven't bought anything from the EE for some of the same reasons mentioned..
