Disable "view signatures in posts" by default

[Greg1]

I just realized I don't have to keep looking at everyone's "I am not a moderator, don't send me personal info blah blah blah" at the end of every post, by going into Settings - Preferences and unchecking that option.

I think that at least should be the default on the mobile view of the forums, and I'd say those signatures aren't necessary anyways. I think a warning in the private message entry page saying 'Dont send personal info to anyone except for the moderators (list their @ names)' would replace all the random signatures with a similar message.

[SD08]

Oracles have sometimes gotten messages from random customers who mistook them for moderators, hence the signatures.  In fact, in the past month, I've gotten a few private messages asking for help, even though I'm not an oracle.  I think anyone who stays in the "Top bravoed authors" list on the home page for a lengthy amount of time will get such messages eventually.  Until there is such a warning in the private message entry page like you suggest, then there is a reason for those signatures.

[xCameron94x]

I think signatures are still necessary. A lot of users might have trouble identifying who is the proper person to send Messages too. And its really only a signature, email address have signatures. Some people still might be unclear about how to send a message to a mod. And as mentioned above, people who aren't mods get messages from people who believe they are mods. 

[Chaos_Scorpio]

Oooh (me too lazy to find the option to disable). Thanks 🙂

This won't happen by default, but nice to just shut it off. (I wish people would put a space (enter) at the begining of the sig to have a break from their post and the sig)... THAT is annoying

Oracles are the only one imo that should have "dont pm me private info" as their icons are different than the rest of us. Mods cleary have MOD next to their name (not sure how you cannot see that). I've been msg a couple times and just tell the person to message a mod, public forum should have common sense to use. 

[srlawren]

Quite honestly anyone that posts here fairly regularly and is helpful is likely to receive random private messages from folks asking for help and including personal details, which is not great.  Oracles are not the only ones affected, as noted above, though we do seem to be at a higher risk for being misidentified as a moderator.

Before setting my signature, getting PM'd for help was a regular occurrence.  It was furstrating because by not contacting the right person it just slowed down help waiting for me to be available to reply and to put them in the right direction.  It was time consuming for me and reduced help efficiency for the customers.  After putting up my signature, I still get the odd messages from time to time, but it's much less frequent with the signature.  Plus it saves me from looking up the link every time someone doesn't know how to send a PM or find a moderator, since both are listed in my signature, I can just tell people to look at the bottom of my reply. 

I would be against hiding these by default, especially for new community members.  Maybe offer up a tips notice after a few weeks with things like this in it?

[SD08]

@srlawren wrote:
It was furstrating because by not contacting the right person it just slowed down help waiting for me to be available to reply and to put them in the right direction.  It was time consuming for me and reduced help efficiency for the customers.

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Exactly right. Another thing causing unnecessary delay for the member seeking help is, the e-mail notifications for receipt of private messages is off by default for new community accounts. So when we reply to the new member, they're often not even aware they've received a response until they check their inbox, possibly days later!  Given that many members sign up for community accounts for the purpose of seeking help, if any default setting should be changed for new community accounts it should be this:
http://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Public-Lab/E-mail-notifications-ON-by-default-for-rece...

[srlawren]

Good call, @SD08.  I voted up that idea you linked the day after you posted it.  Definitely agree it's a great idea.

[ShawnC13]

I am not an Oracle and as stated that people hwo do post a lot are more likely to get these messages.  My first to months here I would say I had at least 4 people email me with either their phone number, account number, email address.  I even had one person send some CC information.  Even with that attached to my posts I will still get these messages not as often now.