User details

[pepper38_cnd]

I love this forum, it is great, but when I share info or receive info I like to know who or whom I shearing it with. I would like to see more info in the profiles. I am at the point of saying if your email is private I aint sharing.

just a suggestion!

[Cipher]

Not really a good idea to reveil to much information about yourself.

I have it on good authority that the powers above don't like places like this.
They see it as helping competitors and over educating the end user.

[unisys12]

I had someone at Xerox tell me once that they actually had people surf the net looking for sites like this. Then they just watched the posts. If a X Tech posted something about one of their machines, technically speaking, they would contact them. That was only if they could prove who you where. At Xerox though, they teach you to share and gather information while doing everything! It did get bad enough though that they decided that if the techs wanted an online place to hang out and share ideas, then they would give them one. Hince the birth of the GSN website. Man! I used to love that place!!

Notice that I have a little more info listed than others. But that is because I work for an independent Savin dealer. If I were a direct Ricoh tech... that would be another story. Ricoh has an online BBS that we can post to, but it literately states that you shouldn't expect a response for a least 2-3 days. I have actually had responses take up to a week or more.

If I have a problem with a machine that is not serious enough to call the hot line, what do you do? The first thing I do is pick up the phone or walk into another room and ask another tech, that works at our dealership, for his opinion. Outside of that, that's about all I got. I can of course call my regional tech specialist, but he can get tied up with other things since he covers such a large area. Also, he comes by our shop about every three months anyway, and keeps up pretty informed about recent stuff going on. So, for the little issues, I resort to a site such as this.

I wish other companys would take a page from Xerox and give their techs a little more open way of exchanging information and ideas. A bbs such as this, monitored by engineers, would be awsome. But then you have the smaller independent shops that are not really tied to any one company or manufacture. What do they do? That is were the internet can be your friend. For the rest of us though... the vail of darkness will be our shadow.

[blackcat4866]

There was a time when I managed a database of fixes for one of the larger dealerships. DaZ is right. It was often pointed out to me that it was important that the database not fall into the wrong hands. Someone might find out that copiers require service. What a surprise?

[diogenisS8]

After reading these posts I added more information in my profile, even though I think that the internet is not a great place to share private information. Many people out there are afraid to post private info because of abuse and spammers. But on the other hand pepper38_cnd is right. When I put effort in helping people that they are hiding behind the monitor at least they can show me their email address.

[Copier_Guy]

I, as an independent contractor do not worry as much about anonymity as some others that work for OEMs or Resellers should. There are eyes on these sites and information is being gathered. Companies are worried about industrial espionage and the little guy taking business. That's why most companies are very propriotorial about their products and services. There is a lot of copyrighted information and materials that change hands on these sites and Big Brother is watching and concerned. I think the specter of anonymity is prudent until you know whom you are talking to. The legal ramifications are something an independent contractor, small business owner or employee, or even a large corporation or their employees don't want to deal with. The fact is we all want to make a living and most guys and ladies I know in the business, do it for the Love of the challenge and enjoy sharing their knowledge. I know I do. I don't have a problem sharing my identity as long as I know you're a tech like me that does this to feed your family. Until I know that, Just call me Copier_Guy!!!

[knightfall]

Pepper I'm not sure what knowing their email will tell you, I can't tell who is a technician and who is not with all the free email out there but to quote the Copier_guy "There is a lot of copyrighted information and materials that change hands on these sites and Big Brother is watching and concerned"
if they (Big Brother) want to find you they can, in the internet anonymity is definitely desired. This site is to help any technician who needs information or shares ideas and those who are in a position to help out our fellow technicians should feel obligated without fear. I also see at the time of this writing you have also set your email to private, pot calling the kettle black?

[JustManuals]

Not really a good idea to reveil to much information about yourself.

I have it on good authority that the powers above don't like places like this.
They see it as helping competitors and over educating the end user.

Who are the powers above?

[Cipher]

The same guy's that could take a shit on you for selling their manuals.

[JustManuals]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[pepper38_cnd]

Well I read all this and find myself a little amused, all this cloak and dagger secrecy! Well I better get my details out of here. Big brother and all. There's always a story about someone at brand X, or a friend of a friend of mine, some one knew a guy ect... I would like to hear from 1 tech who actually got canned for using an online forum and I'm not talking about the fools who post direct links to manufactures privates sites including passwords ( I'd fire them too!)

I can tell you my experience. Once I was on a forum just like this and because my details were available I received a call from the people at CNET and 3 weeks later I was in Sanfrancisco as the special guest for a Web Cast on ZDnet featuring myself as a product expert on MFP's. That was truly an experience.

Lets face it guy's big brother has better things to do! After all whats the worst thing that is gonna happen, Maybe another piece of their equipment will be up and running again! Another satisfied customer heaven forbid.

[Cipher]

Personally it makes no odds to me if someone wants to publically display their real name and email address.

The important thing for me is each user has the choice to decide that for themselfs.

[diogenisS8]

Well I read all this and find myself a little amused, all this cloak and dagger secrecy! Well I better get my details out of here. Big brother and all. There's always a story about someone at brand X, or a friend of a friend of mine, some one knew a guy ect... I would like to hear from 1 tech who actually got canned for using an online forum and I'm not talking about the fools who post direct links to manufactures privates sites including passwords ( I'd fire them too!)

I can tell you my experience. Once I was on a forum just like this and because my details were available I received a call from the people at CNET and 3 weeks later I was in Sanfrancisco as the special guest for a Web Cast on ZDnet featuring myself as a product expert on MFP's. That was truly an experience.

Lets face it guy's big brother has better things to do! After all whats the worst thing that is gonna happen, Maybe another piece of their equipment will be up and running again! Another satisfied customer heaven forbid.

It happened to me too. It was after I graduated my masters degree from NYIT and I had my thesis online. I was invited to make a presentation of the project at a nationwide seminar in Greece. They even requested for my permission to publish certain parts of it. As pepper38_cnd said it was indeed a great experience. But lately here in the States we hear so many things about identity theft, that makes you afraid placing personal information on the net. Michael Moore said in one of his documentaries, that the average american is afraid, but the average person in other developed countries is not. May be he is right?

[Mr Spock]

Unfortunately I have had my email address spammed from another site so I do not post that info to the public. I do enable pm's and will respond by either pm or email. I also have several managers that browse the website so I cannot post my name either (they do not want us to help the competition). I do not mind helping but I do like to have a job at the end of the day.

[knightfall]

I guess to each is own if you claim it is better to leave your personal information so it is available to anyone then by all means more power to you, but for those who do not wish to give their information they have that right. In this great country of ours we practice something I call freedom of choice, and for those who don't feel they want to share information because they cant see personal information of others you also have that right, selfish and juvenile as it maybe but still your right. But remember what this forum is about for technicians to gather information and share ideas.