Email address when making reports

[Z-tight]

If you decide to report a post on the forum it says that your email address would be revealed to the moderator, does it mean your email address would be revealed to only the moderator that handles the case? Is there a way to put it off that the moderator wouldn't see your email address, for people who do not want their email address revealed OR can moderators see your email address even without you making a report, or is it only the admin that has that power?

[OmegaStarScream]

I can't see the user's email whether it is in reports or in their profile. I'm not sure about global mods though, it might be different for them.

[Z-tight]

I can't see the user's email whether it is in reports or in their profile. I'm not sure about global mods though, it might be different for them.

And @OmegaStarScream you are a moderator yourself, that means other moderators can't see it too. Maybe only global moderators and admin can see user's email both in reports and in their profile, maybe a global moderator will tell us about it. If this is true, then i think the message users get if they decide to make a report should be changed to specify this.

[suzanne5223]

Technically, the email should be revealed to the forum global moderators since they are like the eyes and second in command after the Administrators.

Is there a way to put it off that the moderator wouldn't see your email address, for people who do not want their email address revealed

No, there's no way to put turn it off because that's how the "Report to moderator" functions but I believe it is used to track the number of reports made by each user.

OR can moderators see your email address even without you making a report, or is it only the admin that has that power?

It's only the Admin that has the power to see every user's email but the duty of the moderator is to attend to the issue member reported.

[Husires]

It is best to assume that global moderators have access to your email, and that admins has the authority to know your email even if you do not make a report.

if you read privacy page you will find that email Retention is Indefinite

Use a new email account, an email forwarding service, or similar. Do not use a "disposable" email account, as email resets to publicly-accessible disposable emails is a common cause of accounts getting stolen. It is also currently possible to use a fake email like asdf@invalid.bitcointalk.org, and we may allow signing up without an email address in the future. However, if your account has never had a valid email address, then it will be extremely difficult to recover the account if it is ever stolen.

https://bitcointalk.org/privacy.php

[Lucius]

I can't see the user's email whether it is in reports or in their profile. I'm not sure about global mods though, it might be different for them.

I can't find that post, but I'm pretty sure @hilariousandco has confirmed that he doesn't see the email addresses of users who have reported a post. I’m not sure when he became a global mod, but back in 2014 he was at least a mod or part of the staff when he wrote the following :

Only certain mods can see it - I can't for instance - but I agree that if it doesn't need to be there then it should be removed.

[Upgrade00]

I personally cannot think of a particular reason why a user's email address needs to be revealed when they create reports, it doesn't affect or influence the outcome of the reports and does not provide any relevant information for the mods.

It's however safe to assume that once you register on the forum, your details are visible to certain members of the moderating and administration team, so acting accordingly and choosing what address to use use important.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

I personally cannot think of a particular reason why a user's email address needs to be revealed when they create reports, it doesn't affect or influence the outcome of the reports and does not provide any relevant information for the mods.

I can't either, and I'm assuming that message and the fact that a member's e-mail is revealed to the mods (if that's actually the case) is a relic of the past, meaning it might have served some function back in 2009 but is only an unwanted violation of privacy in 2022.  Not a massive violation, mind you, but your e-mail address should only be seen by forum staff who absolutely need to know it IMO.

[PrimeNumber7]

I may be mistaken, but I understand that all mods who can handle a particular report will receive an email about the report, similar to how someone will receive an email when they receive a PM from someone. I assume this is a configurable setting, and there are many posts that are reported, so some mods may have these email notifications disabled. I believe the user's email address is revealed in this email.

[Xal0lex]

If you decide to report a post on the forum it says that your email address would be revealed to the moderator, does it mean your email address would be revealed to only the moderator that handles the case? Is there a way to put it off that the moderator wouldn't see your email address, for people who do not want their email address revealed OR can moderators see your email address even without you making a report, or is it only the admin that has that power?

This function hasn't worked for a long time. You can ignore this phrase (Please note that your email address will be revealed to the moderators if you use this.). It's just that theymos hasn't deleted it yet. Moderators process tens of thousands of reports every month. Imagine what their inboxes would be like

[tranthidung]

If you decide to report a post on the forum it says that your email address would be revealed to the moderator

Before talking about the next question, I would like to let you know that the forum allows users to register with dummy (unreal) email address. Some applies it to change their emails and abandon their accounts.

You can do it too but make sure if you don't want to abandon your account, you must stake your Bitcoin address with a signed message from it. That will be helpful to recover your account, just in case in future.

does it mean your email address would be revealed to only the moderator that handles the case?

Perhaps it is a warning message with old forum and theymos forgot to adjust the message to avoid confusion for members

[Pmalek]

Doesn't seem like too big of a problem to be honest. Your forum email account shouldn't be something that is connected to your real identity anyways. But I agree that there is no reason to keep logs of it. If what Xal0lex said is correct, that's no longer happening anyways. But then again, maybe Xal0lex never saw the email addresses in the first place and this is something only the admins can answer correctly. 

[SFR10]

But then again, maybe Xal0lex never saw the email addresses in the first place

Considering that Xal0lex moderates the Russian board and what "mitzie" said back in 2015, if that was still the case for some of the moderators/staff, Xal0lex would've gotten those:

• Only the specific board moderator(s) can see your email when you report a post.
  
  For example if you report a post in the Greek board (in which I'm the board moderator), I receive an email from the forum saying that you reported a post, and that's when I can see your email (in my mailbox, not in the forum)
  
  Also, if you report a post made by a newbie, your email is not known to all the patrollers, but as I said only to the board moderator (if there is one)
  

[Smartvirus]

If you decide to report a post on the forum it says that your email address would be revealed to the moderator, does it mean your email address would be revealed to only the moderator that handles the case? Is there a way to put it off that the moderator wouldn't see your email address, for people who do not want their email address revealed OR can moderators see your email address even without you making a report, or is it only the admin that has that power?

It's a very sensitive observation and question your asking with the fact that, our mail addresses are hidden by default except you chose to make it public and that's entirely up to you. Having the knowledge that some actions can lead to exposure as a privacy concerned individual can result in mixed feelings. Although, you've got to have faith in the forum and it's moderators to be of integrity and I can't say any have given us cause to be alarmed yet and that's to the best of my knowledge.

A moderator is the best to answer this question and I can see a few have responded yet from what is obtainable at there end. Perhaps this counts towards that notation in trying to file a report because, its sure not to apply in every case. Just my thought though  but, this works to the later.

But then again, maybe Xal0lex never saw the email addresses in the first place

Considering that Xal0lex moderates the Russian board and what "mitzie" said back in 2015, if that was still the case for some of the moderators/staff, Xal0lex would've gotten those:

• Only the specific board moderator(s) can see your email when you report a post.
  
  For example if you report a post in the Greek board (in which I'm the board moderator), I receive an email from the forum saying that you reported a post, and that's when I can see your email (in my mailbox, not in the forum)
  
  Also, if you report a post made by a newbie, your email is not known to all the patrollers, but as I said only to the board moderator (if there is one)
  

These responses are actionable by default and the exposure counts to why moderators and positions in the forum aren't just given off anyhow. Best advice, you don't have to use an all too official mail in your detailing on the forum. Mail addresses are editable and should it be of concern, you can edit to a less official but active mail address.

[Halab]

I did a little search in the Staff section, and for the record the ability to send an email for each report was removed in January 2018.

So if you did a report in 2017 or earlier, it's possible that a mod has your email address somewhere. But if I believe this answer from a mod (I won't name him ) following this change, you don't risk a lot :

I had a filter set up as well though I recently changed it to move all the messages to the trashcan. Guess that's no longer needed.

[Poker Player]

Only certain mods can see it - I can't for instance - but I agree that if it doesn't need to be there then it should be removed.

Sorry for this slightly off-topic question, but how are you able to find a specific quote from so long ago?

Sometimes I see some forum members do it and wonder how. Some use them so much that it looks like they have them saved somewhere.

[Z-tight]

Doesn't seem like too big of a problem to be honest. Your forum email account shouldn't be something that is connected to your real identity anyways.

For some people it could be, i know people that create email accounts with a combination of all of their names, not that it can affect them too much, but it is somehow connected to their identity in real life.

Although, you've got to have faith in the forum and it's moderators to be of integrity and I can't say any have given us cause to be alarmed yet and that's to the best of my knowledge.

I do have faith in them, i asked this question to be sure, i wanted to know the reason why, and to know what function it serves, and to also know if it doesn't serve any function at all, of which we can then suggest for it to be removed, so it doesn't stop people who do not have faith like i do from making good reports.

I did a little search in the Staff section, and for the record the ability to send an email for each report was removed in January 2018.

There we have the answer to the question, it is all good then.

Sorry for this slightly off-topic question, but how are you able to find a specific quote from so long ago?

Sometimes I see some forum members do it and wonder how. Some use them so much that it looks like they have them saved somewhere.

That would be the search button wouldn't it, some other people would use this too: http://ninjastic.space/

[tranthidung]

I did a little search in the Staff section, and for the record the ability to send an email for each report was removed in January 2018.

It is what I thought of.

From your checking, the problem now is only from the outdated message that should be adjusted to be more relevant with the report procedure on the forum since January 2018.

[Poker Player]

That would be the search button wouldn't it, some other people would use this too: http://ninjastic.space/

Maybe my mistake when I was trying to look something up is that I used google. I will try those next time.

[Welsh]

I do have faith in them, i asked this question to be sure, i wanted to know the reason why, and to know what function it serves, and to also know if it doesn't serve any function at all, of which we can then suggest for it to be removed, so it doesn't stop people who do not have faith like i do from making good reports.

Right, so the reason why is likely this is a default Simple Machines Forum implementation, and just wasn't addressed until a couple of years ago. Although, it's probably best to assume that the email you have registered with will be seen, and to be cautious with that, since the forum could be attacked, and data leaked, like a few years ago or simply admins might be able to see your email. The good news is you can prevent the former by changing your email now if it connects you in anyway to your meatspace identity.