What's the deal with the "hidden" user?

[go12_3]

Everytime I login, there is usually a "hidden" user.  Is the user's life on the line with anybody here?  Or is this user happen not want to be noticed?  What is the  purpose of being the "hidden" user?   Perhaps, it is a mystery celeberity........oh, my gosh!!!!!!   

[american_girl]

usually a hidden person is someone who doesn't want pm's or anything, they just want to read posts and move on with life

[go12_3]

usually a hidden person is someone who doesn't want pm's or anything, they just want to read posts and move on with life

Ah, I see, or not see----anyhow, thanks, americangirl, for clarifying that... 

[hornblower]

I actually think it's the people who run this place, I haven't seen an option that makes us invisible, anyone know where it is? Though, if one wanted to lurk unseen, I suppose they just need to browse as a guest.

[Bob]

It might be admin now.  I'm not sure.

At one time you could change your settings and make yourself hidden.  Then that option went away with a forum update, so some people got stuck as hidden.  Then Nils changed everyone to visible I think. 

There was also a "Who's Online?" page that was done away with about a year ago.  You could see what page everyone was on with their name.  If you were hidden, you only appeared as "guest" on that page.  If that page is gone, it makes sense not be a hidden.  But I guess people can still tell whether you're online or not. 

[go12_3]

It might be admin now.  I'm not sure.

At one time you could change your settings and make yourself hidden.  Then that option went away with a forum update, so some people got stuck as hidden.  Then Nils changed everyone to visible I think. 

There was also a "Who's Online?" page that was done away with about a year ago.  You could see what page everyone was on with their name.  If you were hidden, you only appeared as "guest" on that page.  If that page is gone, it makes sense not be a hidden.  But I guess people can still tell whether you're online or not. 

Yes, by the profile's member's "online" little box, it lights up to a blue when you are "online"

[Bob]

Yeah, that was another part of it.  If hidden, you appeared a hidden in the online list on the front page, offline on the post names part, and as guest in the Who's Online page.  But you could still tell if someone was online if they kept posting. 

I would guess it's an admin.  I though they made everyone visible before.

[go12_3]

Yeah, that was another part of it.  If hidden, you appeared a hidden in the online list on the front page, offline on the post names part, and as guest in the Who's Online page.  But you could still tell if someone was online if they kept posting. 

I would guess it's an admin.  I though they made everyone visible before.

You are online whether or not you are posting....as long as you are "logged in" as a member.  Now the hidden user, we don't know who they are, whether they are a guest or a member.  On the home page, there is a list of the number of members that are already logged in and the names are listed at the bottom of the piano forum page; then the number of guests, and they aren't listed at all, because they are not members?  or could they be members anyhow?

[hornblower]

You are online whether or not you are posting....as long as you are "logged in" as a member.  Now the hidden user, we don't know who they are, whether they are a guest or a member.  On the home page, there is a list of the number of members that are already logged in and the names are listed at the bottom of the piano forum page; then the number of guests, and they aren't listed at all, because they are not members?  or could they be members anyhow?

If you log out of PianoStreet, but continue to look through the forums, etc. you would be classified as a "guest".

[go12_3]

If you log out of PianoStreet, but continue to look through the forums, etc. you would be classified as a "guest".
[/quoteThank you for that information!  So as a guest, they cannot post nor enter the chat room unless they login?

[loonbohol]

But my name is still there.

[go12_3]

But my name is still there.

It's there for 45 minutes after you log off. 

[morningstar]

It's there for 45 minutes after you log off. 

Yup, down the bottom it says: "users active in last 45 minutes"