Confidential Information being shared from bogus account

[Vigilance]

I don't think you're at fault. I think the person who sent you this is at fault. What you seem to be doing is demanding that EN World do something about this when, legally, they have no grounds to do anything. You've been told that but you continue to make the same demands.

As I said, you need to talk to RPGNow. It's their information and they are the ones who have the legal recourse to try to catch this person, if they choose to do so.

I guess I really am confused.

Here's my sum up of what you guys seem to be telling (at least one of whom, as near as I can tell, is actually a mod):

1. Someone can create a false account to send you PMs because they KNOW what they are sending you violates the rules of ENWorld and RPGNow.
2. There is nothing the board can or will do about this.
3. If someone gets upset by something they receive in violation of said rules, they just need to deal with it.
4. If they are really really upset, dont come to the Mods, they will tell you they are powerless, and mostly wont care and stuff.
5. Dont forward the email to any mod because it will be treated as NEWS and posted on the front page if newsworthy.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Vigilance, you can also feel free to contact me over my AOL instant messenger, if you'd like to discuss this more privately.

 

[reveal]

I guess I really am confused.

Here's my sum up of what you guys seem to be telling (at least one of whom, as near as I can tell, is actually a mod):

1. Someone can create a false account to send you PMs because they KNOW what they are sending you violates the rules of ENWorld and RPGNow.
2. There is nothing the board can or will do about this.
3. If someone gets upset by something they receive in violation of said rules, they just need to deal with it.
4. If they are really really upset, dont come to the Mods, they will tell you they are powerless, and mostly wont care and stuff.
5. Dont forward the email to any mod because it will be treated as NEWS and posted on the front page if newsworthy.

I don't speak for the mods.

1) I'm telling you where the board stands legally. It is illegal to look up the IP address of the person who sent you the information without a court order. What you are asking cannot be done legally without that order. So, in short, yes, someone can send PMs that violate the rules and ENWorld and RPGNow if they are not doing anything illegal.

2) See #1.

3) You need to go through the proper channels. Once informed of the proper channels, you need to follow them to get the results you're looking for.

4) No. They will tell you the truth, which you don't seem to want to except.

5) I doubt that would happen.

I am not a lawyer but that is my understand of computer law. I learned a lot from the AOL debacle in which they just handed over usernames to the Feds with no court order. They got in a LOT of trouble for that.

 

[Michael Morris]

First, vbulletin doesn't maintain a log of e-mail sent through the emailing macro, so there's no information for me to look up.

Second the IP address that would appear on the email sent from that macro will be EN World's, not the sending computers. IP's using that macro are not logged. The functionality to log it could be added, but it brings up snooping and big brother issues I frankly am not comfortable with. I don't want to know what people email each other about nor do I have a right to know.

Third email addresses and IP's are very easily forged and cannot form the basis for the disciplining of a user. The mods have a big enough job covering the boards themselves without adding the PM's and emails associated to the board to the list.

 

[DanMcS]

I guess I really am confused.

Here's my sum up of what you guys seem to be telling (at least one of whom, as near as I can tell, is actually a mod):

1. Someone can create a false account to send you PMs because they KNOW what they are sending you violates the rules of ENWorld and RPGNow.

I think here's where you and others are miscommunicating. This PM doesn't violate the rules of enworld in any way. I understand that it bugs you, but what rule was broken? If they really did breach a contract between themselves and rpgnow, it not illegal, it's a breach of contract, and enworld is not a party to it.

The news thing, by the way, wasn't referring to your PM, it was referring to the original thread.

 

[diaglo]

and to get PM or send PM via ENWorld you have to be community supporter. which means Morrus added you to the system after you paid for your subscription.

seems like an awfully elaborate way to go about spamming so very few people.

but i do agree it is ban worthy.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Diaglo, it's not banworthy by my understanding. It's at worst an unwelcome e-mail that does not break any rules (and isn't "spam" by our definition, since it's not a marketing thing, either--no attempt at selling something was attempted.)

 

[Justin D. Jacobson]

This may be a minor point, but...

Even if the offending party had a confidentiality agreement or some such, it would not be illegal for him to violate it. It's merely actionable, i.e., able to be sued on in civil court for damages.

 

[diaglo]

Diaglo, it's not banworthy by my understanding. It's at worst an unwelcome e-mail that does not break any rules (and isn't "spam" by our definition, since it's not a marketing thing, either--no attempt at selling something was attempted.)

that's why they pay you the big bucks and not me.

i've got about a hundred or more people i'd ban.

diaglo "promoting be an Admin for a day" Ooi

 

[Eosin the Red]

I want to be sure that I understand what the mods and Spoony Bard are saying --
Let's say I send a PM using foul language ENWorld (or any other forum admin) can't take action on said PM?

What about if unethical propositions were made (get free e-books)?

What about PMs that involved flat out illegal activity like threatening behavior or offers of illegal substances.

***Disclaimer - I run a vBulletin so I am just wanting some clarification.