Private/members only space ?

Having read Cardiff Gareth's comments on SmutjeUK's terrorism thread I think he makes a very valid point .

Would it be possible to make a secure area - only accessible by PUF Members, where , in times like this we can make what we hope are helpful remarks/ responses to a member when face with something like this ?

What think you all ?

Should this be in the form of a Poll ?

There are no cliques or private groups on Pentax User, which is open to all.

That shouldn't mean things can't change if the majority of members wish for it (which I doubt they will).

I understand that John ,

Here we have SmutjeUK - badly shaken by his experience , who needs to offload on people who understand .

But there are things which should not be talked about in public in his case , yes he will be conversing with a Lawyer about this - but as a result of that interview there could be useful information which could be passed on to us .

Obviously conversation about it would still be guarded .

This would not be a clique - it would be open to all members of PU but not available to those who have just happened on the Site and are 'having a nosey around'.

Yes we want to keep PU as a family friendly place [ which it normally is ] but there have been so many instances of this sort of behaviour [ I'm being very careful choosing my words at this point ] that the members of PU , out and about with their cameras , should be aware of their rights - what they must do to comply with legal requirements , and what the other side must do.

In this case there does seem to be reasonable doubt about the 'legality' of the way he was treated.

I don't think that was the point techno was making.

It was for a section where non-registered forum viewers cannot see, but every member could.

Pentax User is a support site for users of Pentax cameras and as such is an open forum, so nobody is treated any differently to anyone else.

I understand the point, but it's not what the site is about.

And as with any forum on the net, it's not unreasonable to expect to have to register for full access.

I agree with John on this.

Regarding Smutje's experience with these rogue police then I think anything he can't say which is confidential shouldn't be said to any of us.


techno-terminator - I'm also not sure of the link between "photographers rights" and 'family friendly' . Or did you mean you want somewhere ion the forum where you can call these nasty policemen names using words that might maim or kill a child.

John - they are at present

Everyone can read - BUT only registered members may post

I'm asking for an area where only registered members may read AND post . It's not anticipated as being a busy area - and as Cardiff_Gareth has [ I think it was him ] already said - what has happened to SmutjeUK is now out in public on the Internet and probably should not have been.

The easiest thing to do is set up a Google Group to discuss anything you want behind closed doors it only takes a few minutes. You would probably need email addy's to send out invites.

I'd vote for somewhere that I could use industrial language.

Mr Pants

You've got me wrong .

The Members only area I would like to see would not be as a place where we can let rip with language not fit for innocent ears to hear , nor would it be an area where we can call people [ not matter what their job is ] nasty names.

It would be a safe haven where in time of need [ as in this case ] a member could post asking for advice as to how to handle a situation like this .

I know what you are saying techno but on a practical note how are you going to prevent anybody registering just so they can read and post, given that the site is open?

Don't forget that similar things have been out in the public arena on YouTube and it doesn't affect the outcome. It still goes to court or out of court settlement where the will to take it there exists.

All posters on Pentax User, and any other forum, should always remember that what they are saying is being said in front of the whole world. Facebook posters often forget this.

My son does that's for sure, I don't think he realises I can read everything he has been up to.