Just a quickie: How is it that some posters seem to be able to log in and post without having an accessible profile? Are these ghost-like apparitions beyond the realm of mere mortals? It's a little disconcerting - especially if there's no right of reply. Or am I imagining things . . .

sorry, make that two quickies. Is there any way of deleting messages in personal "inbox"? I need a spring clean (do people still do that?)

Can't help with the two first questions but on the third - yes, definitely. In Yorkshire I am proud to say that we changed our straw bedding every April without fail.

You can join up without having a profile, as a sort of "guest" I suppose. If any of these "guests" do something untoward I guess contact admin.

Just to muddy the waters, when I returned to the site, I wasn't allowed access to comment etc, until I had posted a photograph of myself (scary) and been a little more expansive with my Profile.
To be fair, I can't see why anyone needs to see a photo of the member, but I was told it was to make it feel more of a communal thing (or some such). Who's to say that the photo is actually the person who's blogging/commenting?
Perhaps if the member becomes abusive there could be a problem, but they would be deleted from the site anyway

It's a long time since I joined so I don't remember the option to join as a guest rather than a site member. I suppose it does give the opportunity for non poets to comment and share their likes/dislikes of poetry on discussion and news articles. It's to be hoped that that doesn't extend to derogatory remarks on blogs or profiles, but I can remember seeing some...

I don't think it is or should be a requirement to put up a personal photo. I think some identifying image is nice though. It adds more of a personal touch, can even be humorous and is identifiable at a glance. I always look for your big chair Anthony!

Wrong thread for "photos of members" Steve, I think it's THE "GRAND WIGAN TUDOR BUM NIGHT" (extension thread) you're looking for. John Coopey will point you in the right direction.

What I didn't understand (and still don't) is that there seems to be two classes of member, i.e. members who can't do anything until their profile is approved (therefore they have to have a profile - be visible) and "guests" who don't have to have a profile (they're invisible and uncontactable) but can post to blogs etc. I understand how one becomes the former - but the latter? And, if I wished, would it be possible to join as a "guest" (ghost) - or be in both "member" classes simultaneously? I don't really mind, but it makes one feel so conspicuously inferior.

Any joy with my Q2 - before my inbox bursts and spills its foetid contents all over WOL? You have been warned . . .

Regards,
A.E.

p.s. I need a big chair for my fat a**e!

I see what you mean about comments. You can delete them individually but not en masse. That probably explains why poets who delete all their work, leave comments sitting there. You'd have to be on a serious downer to go through deleting comments.

I suppose there should be a mass comment delete button. Admin - be advised...

I'm going to see what the guest procedure is now - just out of curiosity.

Are you suggesting a member thread Steve/Anthony? That sounds painful and a little bit yukky too...

Uh Uh - not comments - the WOL "internal" email inbox. (I never read comments.)

You are right - I hadn't got round to even thinking about deleting messages - no facility at all I see. I suppose it is a WOL problem really. If they are wanting to reduce storage, free up space, these are areas they will have to look at...

. . . and still they keep appearing, the faceless, profile-less, largely anonymous, mystery posters . . .

How do they do it?

No definitive answers yet then? And here's me thinking this was the feedback thread.

I think you can blame it all on Fiona Sampson! She is obviously inspiring people to somehow find a way under or over the wire...

If she invited the last one in I'll bet she's kicking herself now!