Posting locations

[BoldHighlander]

From a recent posting in another thread:

I've noticed something that does affect the way in which questions are answered here on XMTS. Not all members bother to list where they are from (eg: USA, UK, Chile, etc.). If they did, it would make answering "location specific" questions a lot easier. I presume that Beck's-a-kilted is from the UK or a commonwealth country because the invitation used typically UK-speak ("dinner jacket" being the big tip off). Of course, I could be wrong and he could be here in the USA, in which case the invitation is a triffle more than pretentious.

So, could you XMarkers who present yourselves as men/women without a country maybe amend your profile in the interest of better communications?

I have to agree with MacMillan of Rathdown.
It would be so much easier to know how to answer one's query if a place of origin were placed upon one's profile location.
This does not have to be specific or intrusive (I have as mine "the far NW corner of Washington State" for instance), it could be one's country / state / county / city /or parish etc etc.
I just think it'd make it easier in knowing how to respond to certain queries etc.
What are others thoughts? Perhaps the mod's might consider this as a requirement?
Thank you for your consideration of this suggestion.

[thescot]

What he said.

In the US, most of my countrymen have become so boorish in their dress that "formal" and "black tie" are interchangable if people even have an idea what either one means at all.

Ask for black tie at an affair, and most folks under 40 would show up in jeans, tee shirts, and canvas shoes . . . wearing a black neck tie.

But about the invitation mentioned above, it's entirely possible that since it was for a clan gathering that it was intended to sound a bit more British than we are accustimed to on our side of the pond. I know we used to do that for our clan stuff out of a combination to respectful of the Scottishness of the event and to be cute!

But I really do love knowing where folks are from.

[SteveB]

I know this is not a new thread. This topic does come up when questions are posted. Location does help, but does not need to be specific. I chose Boston, MA because I do live in the City of Boston. There are posters that use Boston, MA as their locale as it is the nearest well known city, although one of them is only across the river in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is also a very well known city due to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology being there as well as another school that is further up the river called Harvard University. Boston can apply to anywhere in Middlesex, Norfolk, or Suffolk Counties in Massachusetts. This equates with posting Los Angeles, CA. This could be in the City of Angels, or anywhere in Los Angeles County, and that is a very large area. Still very helpful in the discussion of kilting for the climates. The Northeast corner of the United States could work for me, but those around here reserve that designation for the unsettled territories in Maine.
Also in language used. I like to post in English (the language of the U.K.) on occasion. This post is in American (the modified version of English on this side of the puddle).

[Finn]

People have their reasons for not giving an accurate location. I've had one web-stalker girlfriend.
There could be very valid reasons for secrecy/ambiguity.
Still, for questions involving climate or kilt-friendliness, location would be helpful to the rest of us.

[Jerry]

It doesn't bother me to give out my state and county of residence. I could probably give out my exact address and most wouldn't be able to find the place. I know from several experiences that DHL can't. The only time they found me, they called and I drove to the main road and met the truck.

[Jock Scot]

I think this idea could be really helpful. Whilst I know little of the security problems that may happen on a website, I really cannot see that stating,for example, NW USA, or, the Highlands of Scotland as being too much of a give away.Can it?

[McMurdo]

I would have to agree with you Jock, in 2006 the population of Toronto stood at 12,160,282, I think my listing Toronto as my location is fairly safe. It has also given me the opportunity to meet others in my area from the forum, of course out of those 12,160,282 souls I may be just about the only one that wears his kilt on a daily basis. Unfortunately we can not force someone to disclose thier location, even though it would make recommendations of where to buy the latest accessory much easier for all involved.

[Ian.MacAllan]

I see no need for posting very specific locations. City is not necessary but at least Nation if not State would often be helpful.

The one request I would like to make is that both the asker of a question and the answerers identify their locations. That would help me determine how applicable the information might be to my situation.

.

[Bugbear]

I have my location displayed in each post, and other relevant information displayed in my profile. I used to display the other information in my signature, but it didn't help.

Although, I think most non-displayers might be a little more worried about the non-member guests who visit the forum seeing their location information...

[GDub]

I have been very active on the WWW since 1994. It's very easy to gather info about me, but apparently I'm not very interesting because over those 14 years I've never had an obvious issue of privacy invasion or harassment. I keep my location "general" on forums because I look at and appreciate "types" with a kind of regional/state (and if it's a big state, what part of the state) perspective. I live in Northern California, more specifically in the SF Bay Area. I'm sure most people here from other parts of the country/world have a "hit" about California north and south, the SF Bay Area, LA or San Diego. Each has a flavor. SoCal is very different from NorCal....

Just an incomplete rabble ramble I suppose...