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Author Topic: Paysite Discussion Thread  (Read 75039 times)
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Nymphy
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« Reply #255 on: October 09, 2008, 05:53:36 am »

Mm, how exactly do you mean Inge?

If you mean proving it through evidence, then there are screenshots of the actual thread here, where you can see in the first couple of posts that information of users is being posted...and if you read through it, you can see the manner that they do so. Theres talk of glee at sharing information, using trackers in files, and talk of wanting to add worms and trojans to files to catch file sharers

So, like the Reflex thread, I was wondering what you guys here thought: should they or should they not take these measures? Do paysites have the right to?
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« Reply #256 on: October 09, 2008, 05:54:47 am »

Nymphy the thread at Reflex requires you to register to view it... I won't register so what is the gist of what they are saying? Also is Reflex the one that LyricLee has ran to?
« Last Edit: October 09, 2008, 07:18:58 am by kathy » Logged
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« Reply #257 on: October 09, 2008, 06:02:39 am »

Quote from: kathy;1412528
Nymphy the thread at Reflex requires you to register to view it... I won't register so what is the gist of what they are saying? Also is Reflex the one that LyricLee has ran to?

Oh I forgot that Reflex needs you to register. Its an interesting read, the first post is as follows
 

Quote
Paysites - Should they be able to share personal info to stop pirates?
[/B]
There's been a bit of a "stirring" in the last couple of days within the community when it was discovered that FA's at TSR have a thread in their private forum for sharing personal info i.e. real names, email addresses etc..obtained via Paypal.
 
A member of Sims Cave recieved an email from a TSR FA who also has a personal paysite stating that their personal datas would be shared with other paysite owners if they shared the files they purchased from the personal paysite with other members of the community. The files were shared and this persons personal information was posted on the FA's private forum.
 
Is this on?
 
We don't want to start a huge paysite debate and if this thread gets out of hand it will be locked. We know this subject can get quite heated, but lets stick to the subject of personal data being shared rather than the legalities of paysites and pirates. Wink
 
More info and screenshots can be found at this thread and this one.
 
What do you think? Would these revelations put you off subscribing?
 
Please note that name calling and accusations without proof will not be allowed on this thread, please try to remain civil and respectful of others opinions, any threads may be edited/deleted at the staff's discretion.

(Have taken out the links to the threads mentioned as these are at pmbd, and I believe its not allowed to link to pmbd outside of the WCIF area)
 
Basically, the discussion there is split between people shocked and unsubscribing because of this, and others saying that paysites do have the right to - espically TSR as it is in the small print when you register. Its not so focused on the EULA or the fact that this is sims files, but more so focused on peoples privacy and what right a site has to share this information. There are some people in there who are worried about identity theft and etc, so many have been put off subscribing because of that.
 
And LyricLee is there yes.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2008, 07:19:37 am by kathy » Logged

Inge Jones
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« Reply #258 on: October 09, 2008, 06:03:15 am »

I guess there is a line between "official policy" of a site and what a group of individual FAs get up to.  Though as a site admin I wouldn't pass on contact details of my registered users to any contributors on my site.  Registration details go no further than me (and fellow admins if I had any which I don't).  And I am sure Kathy and Eric don't hand over such details to Squinge, or Marvine etc.

So how did these FAs find out the stuff in order to share it in the first place?

ETA: OMG just read on further and yes it's the owner of TSR himself doing it.  So how does he manage to sit there typing up a blatant denial?  There are some very strange people about.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2008, 06:06:35 am by Inge Jones » Logged

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« Reply #259 on: October 09, 2008, 06:14:37 am »

Sadly you both know this isn't the first time. There was a thread running on a certain freesite where "someone" got together with paysite owners and shared info as well. Once the person left that freesite and went to a certain paysite it was suspected that she moved her activities there and they were still sharing peoples info.
 
It isn't right, no doubt about it. There was more than just names being shared at one time but also addresses which certainly isn't safe but ya know since they were viewed as pirates and the mighty paysite owners said enough some people found it acceptable. Also, just to point out something I said a long time ago, when the whole fiasco originally happened and screen shots were posted of Rose (from RoseSims) was sharing peoples info on that freesite I, with the help of BlueSoup, figured out who to change the settings so people who are donating do NOT have to provide their information.
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Nymphy
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« Reply #260 on: October 09, 2008, 06:19:14 am »

Quote from: Inge Jones;1412535
So how did these FAs find out the stuff in order to share it in the first place?

ETA: OMG just read on further and yes it's the owner of TSR himself doing it.  So how does he manage to sit there typing up a blatant denial?  There are some very strange people about.


Indeed. Was about to answer you saying it was the site owner when you edited it in

As you can see from the screenshots, that thread has been going on since 2007 and is available for all staff and FAs to see - that is rather a large amount, as it includes FAs past and present.

Are people comfortable with that amount of people seeing their personal information? Do you think that creators on a site deserve to see information like mods and admins do? And what do people think about the fact that there are screenshots proving TSR have done this, and then they publically deny it?

Eta: I was typing when you posted. You are correct, I did know that this had gone on before..but knowing is one thing, seeing it is another. Am frankly shocked by the rudeness of it all, and as there is strong evidence this time (before there were only some screenshots, like the one of Rose you mentioned) it should be known to more people. Personal information is something that we all have, and privacy and trust are very important to members on a site.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2008, 06:26:33 am by Nymphy » Logged

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« Reply #261 on: October 09, 2008, 06:27:04 am »

Quote from: Nymphy;1412544
Indeed. Was about to answer you saying it was the site owner when you edited it in
 
As you can see from the screenshots, that thread has been going on since 2007 and is available for all staff and FAs to see - that is rather a large amount, as it includes FAs past and present.
 
Are people comfortable with that amount of people seeing their personal information? Do you think that creators on a site deserve to see information like mods and admins do? And what do people think about the fact that there are screenshots proving TSR have done this, and then they publically deny it?
 
And Kathy, am adding this on as you may be interested in it: LyricLee's involvement in the thread involved her saying that paysites have the right to share information about filesharers the same way they have the right to share information about paedophiles in the online community. She believes both are harmful in the same way and should be driven out through sharing of information.

Ok first off I think as a site owner there is certain information that you do not and should not share with other admins or moderators. Anyone with half a brain should know this.
 
Also file sharing is as harmful as a pedophile? Well that is news to me. That is the most ignorant and insulting thing I have heard in quite awhile. Since when did filesharing leave a child terrified and completely shattered because some sick son of a bitch felt he had a right to touch them?
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« Reply #262 on: October 09, 2008, 06:36:15 am »

As a moderator on a forum, the only information I have access to is usernames, email adresses and IP adresses..thats it. I have access to it, but do nothing with it outside of mod duties (eg, so IP tracking to catch multiple accounts is a mod duty). I can see it because I am a mod, so anything I do with it will be what a mod should do. The phrase 'know when to not cross the line' springs to mind here...

The whole concept of sharing personal information like that just befuddles me, but am curious if people think paysites should be able to do this.

Quote from: kathy;1412549
Also file sharing is as harmful as a pedophile? Well that is news to me. That is the most ignorant and insulting thing I have heard in quite awhile. Since when did filesharing leave a child terrified and completely shattered because some sick son of a bitch felt he had a right to touch them?

Unfortunately, the posts by Lyric containing that have been edited so those bits have disappeared. This is some of it though:

Quote
I'll be the hated devil's advocate here. But I don't think its a huge to-do in my opinion. (ducks flying stones and objects)
I think theres no difference from sharing names than when you walkin a store and you see signs like "don't accept checks from so and so_ because theyve been known to bounce.
The point actually begins with the fact that the person who shared content from TSR, when they signed up chose to agree to the terms of that site to NOT share content. They violated that agreement first. No one is sharing paypal info in order to hack peoples accounts or steal from them, theyre sharing names in order to block people who are known to redistribute in violation of the site terms and atleast it was done in a private forum.
I know several sites, a few years ago that shares emails of a known pedophile who was going from sim site to sim site posting videos depicting very vulgar acts with sim children. The sites shared his email in order to protect their sites from him. No one complained about that.
As long as someone's info isnt being spammed all over the internet, and they infact are stealing content I just don't think its a horrible problem. If you don't want your info shared (in attempts to protect sites from more personal damage) just don't violate their terms.
Just my two cents.

..So theres evidence that I was not making it up (don't want to be accused of doing so!) , she did say it but the post has since then been altered to remove it. My reaction to it was the same as yours Kathy
« Last Edit: October 09, 2008, 06:46:51 am by Nymphy » Logged

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« Reply #263 on: October 09, 2008, 06:50:48 am »

First off the pedophile... Some dude posted a video on S2C that was, in my opinion and others, porn that involved children. He was registered on MTS2, S2C and here. His email address nor his ip address was shared on my end. I pointed out to either Delphy or Lyric that this guy belonged to some girllover site and after he posted said video there he was banned. I had already banned him from here since he was requesting child woohoo among other things. This guy is a legit danger to the community. This is a man that wants to have, as he admitted, intercourse with children. If other people shared his email address, which is doubtful, that is different than sharing someones real name and home address.  
 
Also the check thing made me giggle.. I don't know wtf kind of stores she is shopping at but no store I have ever been to has had such sign posted.
 
One last thing.. Lyric shared files. Constantly on msn. She sent them to me. She sent them to staff members on this site. She sent them to staff members on other sites. I would share files on msn as well. Not saying it's right or it isn't because I have long since removed myself from the whole paysite debate just saying people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
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Tenshii~Akari
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« Reply #264 on: October 09, 2008, 09:25:26 am »

(Slight paranoia in this rant, but it's stuff that could've happened y'know...)

I just finished reading the latest installment to this "info sharing saga"... while this isn't new material for me, once again, I am disgusted at what I'm seeing with the whole concept of that captured thread.  That information, regardless of how little it may seem or even if it was a "private" forum, has no right to be handed out to anyone in such a manner.  It wouldn't be a big deal if it was just user names, but they had to go in and add people's real names also... which I'm highly sure those listed do not appreciate at all.  No one beyond the administration should know that info, and for one of the co-owners of the site to use blatant disregard to that fact is quite disturbing for me.  All of this for something as simple and comparably insignificant as a few DBPF package files being shared...  This whole security issue could've been prevented had they not openly shared with their FA's... and even though the incriminating screenshots have censored the real names of those listed, the fact of the matter is this:  

Suppose Coconut was not the type of person that he/she is... and that instead of warning everyone about this happening, decided to take this list and use it as a way of taking someone's identity?  (If you're reading, Coconut, no offense to you... I have a great amount of respect for you coming out and sharing the truth about this.)  Granted, there's not that much information on that list other than people's names, user names, and a few emails, but that's all a person needs to get started on finding out more information about a potential victim.  Speaking on what a police officer once talked about in a seminar about identity theft, you'd be amazed at what you can find on a person, even by using Google these days... one could perform a search for your user name to see where you've signed up at around the web, and if you've been quite active in releasing any sort of detail about yourself, they'll do whatever it takes to find it and add on to what else they know about you.  

It's the sad, sick truth that people like that are out there in the world.  You can't just trust anyone with people's information and release it like that, private or otherwise.  Hypothetically speaking, out of all the FA's that have gone through that thread before, how many are still even active to this day?  And suppose any of the FA's that are gone had done the same as Coconut by taking screenshots of or copying and pasting those names elsewhere, only for other motives rather than exposé?  It may sound paranoid and tainting of me to say that, but you never know what people intend to do.  

They may think it's fine to cover up such a fact by deleting dissenting posts about their actions, but seeing it the way that I've mentioned, this could've been a lot worse for everyone than what it is now had there been someone like that in their ranks.  I truly wish the best for those on that list, and however many other "blacklists" there may be.  It's ridiculous how bent out of shape people can get over sharing a bunch of stuff for digital people... whatever happened to the concept of just playing the game and having fun?  Yeesh... :angry7:

(I sorry if this stings people, but this is just how I feel deep down in my heart about the whole thing.  I've always believed we, as a community, were supposed to be having fun instead of having to deal with and worry about safety risks such as this... and it's frustrating when I see it happening, and feel that no amount of what I say will matter much in how certain people will continue to act in the example that has been shown to us...)
« Last Edit: October 09, 2008, 10:24:57 am by Tenshii~Akari » Logged

Inge Jones
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« Reply #265 on: October 09, 2008, 09:43:51 am »

I am completely astounded by it.  I have always thought of the owners of TSR as polite, respectable people, whatever the community may think of the fact they run a Sims paysite.  I was really inclined to believe the recent statement on that basis, until I saw this.
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« Reply #266 on: October 09, 2008, 12:37:41 pm »

After being pointed to some evidence, I have made screenies and bookmarked it in case it's needed to prove that this garbage started back in 2006. This kind of thing makes me sick, to read what was in those posts and see them slavering and panting for any new information that jerk would drip down to their open maws... Pack of rabid hyenas, really. I won't say wolves, because wolves are respectable creatures that don't live in their own filth. You can guess what I think about the site in question.
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« Reply #267 on: October 09, 2008, 12:48:47 pm »

My only thought on this is that almost EVERY site is a form of paysite including this one
People here donate (pay) so that everyone can download all the content freely
If No one donated then i bet this site would be a lot lot smaller IF it even kept going
And as for other sites that charge a fixed fee to everyone its simple . If you like their downloads enough to pay then do so if you don't then don't .
No one is forced to be a member of a paysite and the game will still be here whether people join paysites or not .
Finally I personally do NOT pay money to any site simply because (1) most of them dont have enough stuff to interest me and (2) because i am permanently disabled and what little money i have is used on things i consider more important in my life
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:wav: Ok so i cant design anything worthwhile .But i can sure as hell download custom content as fast as the next person:slap:
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« Reply #268 on: October 09, 2008, 01:08:24 pm »

The difference between a free and pay site is simple. All content on a free site is up for download, whether you pay a fee or not. You don't have to give a red cent to be able to get any item that you may want. There is no dividing line between people who can give money and people that can't, it's all the same for everyone when it comes to downloading any item.

On a pay site, if there is a certain item that you wish to have, you may have to give them a hefty chunk of change to get that collection of pretty pixels that your heart desires. Plus, they don't wish you to share that content with anyone else. They want other people to have to pay to get it, too.

I could go into this chapter and verse, but won't. My views may not be yours, your views may not be mine. I disagree with charging for the custom content because I know darn well that many sites that charge make a hefty bit and it's not all used to pay for the bandwidth. The money that goes to this site, the Wicked Nouk Family or the Sublime sites all goes to pay for the servers and bandwidth. By contributing to them, people enable them to stay open not only for themselves, but for every player of the game that wants to use their stuff. Hope that helps clear some confusion.
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« Reply #269 on: October 14, 2008, 06:43:19 am »

Quote from: Inge Jones;1412681
I am completely astounded by it.  I have always thought of the owners of TSR as polite, respectable people, whatever the community may think of the fact they run a Sims paysite.  I was really inclined to believe the recent statement on that basis, until I saw this.

Well am glad to enlighten you on that Inge. We would all rather hope that such a thing was not be done, but it clearly is. TSR are sharing personal information of their members:

If you read more of the LJ account I linked to, you will see that not only do they share info of people banned, but also people who had donated to other sites (the owner of Habitat43 shares information of a subsrciber of hers in the last LJ update). And Paleoanth, an exSA, has recently shown PMs where TSR staff share information they suspect of being sharers - people who are just anti pay, who do not even have subscribtions to share TSR's files. Its crazy :/
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