Topic

A little privacy aka anti-stalker measures

currently glitch updates everyone on our minute-to-minute activities... while that's fine for people who prefer that, it provides no options for anyone who would rather a little privacy.

why not allow players the ability to limit their location, updates, contact information and perhaps even achievement, skills and friends to (1) everyone (2) friends only or (3) no one except me and my cats. plus make sure apis respect these settings as well. this would accommodate everyone's privacy wishes.

personally, i don't like that we're forced to share our business with everyone and don't see a reason not to give us this feature.

some people like to be ninjas! please and thanks :)

Posted 14 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • I don't have an issue with people knowing my address. I do have an issue with people knowing I'm online. That's why more flexible privacy options are important.
    Posted 12 months ago by Xev Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Are you online now? I can't tell.
    Then again, I'm not looking.
    Posted 12 months ago by CrashTestPilot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm not sure if you're making a joke or if you're serious. Maybe I wasn't clear in my post - my issue with being seen online isn't a paranoid, "I don't want anyone to look for me when I'm online" one, so much as one that directly affects me when I sign into the game. I get messaged frequently right after I sign on. Sometimes, I don't want to talk to people, or I only want to talk to certain people (say, people only on my friends list, or perhaps a certain "group" of friends). 
    Posted 12 months ago by Xev Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Basically, you're asking for the ability to sign on as hidden?  I can understand that and would occasionally use it myself.  People that know me well are often surprised when I say it, but I'm an introvert through and through.  I need to time to myself after being in social situations, and sometimes even the act of saying to my Glitch friends "Oh I'm just on to run some errands and distract myself" is more social interaction than I feel up to if it's been a busy day.  

    I think I've actually disagreed with some of the "more privacy" ideas in the past, maybe even in this thread, and I certainly wouldn't want it to be a current development priority.  But I get it, I see the need as real, and I would occasionally use that function.  
    Posted 12 months ago by Red Sauce Subscriber! | Permalink
  • That's pretty much it for me, you hit the nail on the head. I don't want it to be a huge initiative, but I do want more options
    Posted 12 months ago by Xev Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I wouldn't mind being able to sign on as hidden myself, mainly for the reason Xev mentioned.  Sometimes I want to log on and just do some things with anyone messaging me or whatever.
    Posted 12 months ago by Kirnan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've been stalked (at the university I attended, not online) and it is scary and paranoia-inducing.  You wonder if you're crazy while it's happening to you, because it makes so little sense for someone to behave that way.  For years I looked for this guy in all public places.  I was genuinely afraid of him.  It wasn't a sexual thing in his case, but for some reason he latched on to me when we did one lab assignment together, and he wanted to control my academic schedule, make me study with him in the places he chose and the hours that suited him--anyway.  That was last hand. But I sure don't want anybody else having to go through this, and having some control over visibility of information would make it all a little less scary.  You can't possibly underestimate the anxiety stalkers cause their victims.  (The university intervened on my behalf and he had to leave me alone or face expulsion.  And my husband called his place of employment, too.  Fortunately for me he was not so crazy as some--he did leave me alone.)
    Posted 12 months ago by So sorry Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Silky, while this is saddening, I wouldn't say this is comparable here, you can block a person in a game, and they pretty much cease to exist, whereas in real life things get a bit scarier.
    Posted 12 months ago by Kirnan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree. I would love an option of being in game but not viewable as 'online'. At least in the chats. Some days I just don't want to talk, I want to play.
    Posted 12 months ago by Saiai Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think it is comparable, Kirnan. Being able to control the information out there about us, even in a digital/anonymous space, is important.

    No, the game is not real life. Few if any of us have personally identifying information posted on our profile. But that doesn't change the fact that sometimes people in-game can get a little intense. For people who have been in scary situations before, being able to take control of their info BEFORE anything happens, is useful. 

    Blocking is a purely reactionary, last resort, severe solution. It doesn't prevent anything, and it leaves people pretty out of control of their game experience. 

    All that being said, I do think that the title of the thread is somewhat alarmist. The bottom line is privacy options, and I think we need them. 
    Posted 12 months ago by Xev Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I guess I view blocking as first response.  If someone is out to harass you, they need to be blocked, asap.
    Posted 12 months ago by Kirnan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It would be nice to be able to log on in "stealth mode" just to do chores, etc., because some days I do get inundated with IMs, party invites, etc., and BELIEVE ME, I really appreciate the kindness and friendliness that inspire these nice things, but I hate the idea that I might hurt someone's feelings inadvertently by not having the time to commit to going to a party space, or not having the time to get into a conversation of any depth or length.

    It is never personal if I turn down a party invite or am terse via IM, FWIW, I may just be trying to log on just long enough to harvest trees and animals and replant crops and keep my animals tended (or to help a friend on holiday tend his/her herd and crops and trees). Stealth mode as an option would prevent any potential hurt feelings. 
    Posted 12 months ago by ✰ Lorelei ✰ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree, 100% Kirnan. But in the event that it isn't harassment, blocking is excessive and doesn't solve the problem.

    Likewise, in the event of preventing harassment, or preventing behavior that will be upsetting to someone, having tools to control what information is available is really useful. I'm a firm believer in preventative solutions.

    @Lorelei - that's EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Stealth mode gives people who are uncomfortable with a lot of information about their whereabouts being known (even in an "anonymous" game like Glitch), as well as giving players like you and me, the ability to just play the game every once in a while.

    Yeah, it's a social game, which is EXACTLY why block is insufficient. I don't want to block my friends, or family members. I just sometimes don't want them to know that I'm online!
    Posted 12 months ago by Xev Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I too like the idea of being able to log in without anyone knowing - for all of Lorelei's reasons. I really do enjoy the social aspect of the game but sometimes I don't want to talk, I just want to play. Other times I am doing things that make it hard to IM back to a friend, e.g. using Earthshakers, Flaming Humbadas, making the most of my time in the AL, and I feel rude when I either don't reply to their cheerful greeting or my reply is short.
    Posted 12 months ago by Captain Daisy Subscriber! | Permalink
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