[RFC] Avoiding Confusion in Who Is Online

[Pony99CA]

Who Is Online sometimes confuses users by showing that guests (and sometimes other users) are doing things that they shouldn't be able to (example). This has led to phpBB adding an According to viewonline a user is doing/reading something they should not be able to! FAQ, but people still ask about it despite the FAQ.

My proposal should help eliminate the questions and is quite simple. Either split the messages into two, like:

1. User Blah is doing something.
2. User Blah is trying to do something but was denied due to lack of permissions.

Or at least add an optional "(but was blocked due to lack of permissions)" at the end of the message if they don't have permission to be there.

I'm not sure how difficult this would be to do, but it would save a lot of user confusion (and numerous support queries). If it's possible but expensive, it could have a Load Setting (but my guess is that very few people click the Who Is Online link compared to other board activity).

Steve

[Senky]

+1

[ameeck]

What informational value does it give and why should a regular user know? Either leave the current behaviour or just omit that online entry altogether.

[*Daniel]

What informational value does it give and why should a regular user know? Either leave the current behaviour or just omit that online entry altogether.

What about admins and other staff?

[DavidIQ]

IMO this guest information is rather useless. Should just get rid of it.

[*Daniel]

IMO this guest information is rather useless. Should just get rid of it.

Rogher than get rid of it, make it more useful: http://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/t ... is_online/

[callumacrae]

IMO this guest information is rather useless. Should just get rid of it.

Rogher than get rid of it, make it more useful: http://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/t ... is_online/

-1, privacy

[Senky]

Well, I do not know what is behind of not showing in which topic user is, or (for example here below the topic) who is viewing currently shown topic, but... what? Privacy? Are there any arguments why phpBB decided not to show topics "who is online" lists, but just in which forum user is?

[naderman]

The decision was made that it invaded privacy too much to display wich particular topic users are currently reading. Hence Who is online is a per-forum feature.

[*Daniel]

Well, I do not know what is behind of not showing in which topic user is, or (for example here below the topic) who is viewing currently shown topic, but... what? Privacy? Are there any arguments why phpBB decided not to show topics "who is online" lists, but just in which forum user is?

I was thinking the same thing, and I should add that users do have the option "Hide my online status" in the UCP as well.