User Location: Make it mandatory or more visible

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by PapaGoose03, Jan 22, 2022.

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  1. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    There is a frequency of new members who post in the forums but their avatar box does not show their state (country?) of residence. Frequently they may ask for recommendations for beers, but invariably someone has to create a post asking where they are located so that local beers can be recommended. I don't recall the sign-up process for the BA site, but something tells me that the data field for the state must be easily overlooked because of its location, or is listed as an optional field for some reason so some newbies skip it. Can something be done in the personal information sign-up section to make the field more visible or a mandatory field?
     
    #1 PapaGoose03, Jan 22, 2022
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  2. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    Like it is on most platforms, location is currently an optional field. It was mandatory, but created too much friction with the sign up process.

    I do encourage users to add their location in the welcome thread.
     
    #2 Todd, Jan 22, 2022
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  3. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    So there's a method to your madness, after all! :wink:
     
    #3 PapaGoose03, Jan 22, 2022
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  4. Shanex

    Shanex Grand Pooh-Bah (4,960) Dec 10, 2015 France
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    What has happened to the old acronym « A/S/L? » :wink:

    While you definitely have a point, I believe that it shouldn’t be mandatory to put your actual location in your BA profile.

    Its definitely dumb to come over here and pose tons of questions that always get the same responses: « where are you from, dude? That could help us… »

    Other users have chosen a fake location, they know who they are. Not against the rules at all, either.
     
    #4 Shanex, Jan 22, 2022
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  5. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    This being a major rub, IMO.
     
    #5 steveh, Jan 22, 2022
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  6. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    That’s the problem with it. “What are the best IPA’s?” “What are the best stouts that aren’t bitter?” More than likely, there’s a BA in your town or at least close to your city that can answer this for you on a very personal level if he only knew where he was looking at. I understand the whole privacy thing, but if you’re that worried about it, maybe you shouldn’t be posing these questions at all. Cheers.
     
    #6 BigIronH, Jan 22, 2022
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  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Maybe that should be one of the User Awards? Person who created the most inventive fake location.

    Cheers!

    @BigIronH
     
    #7 JackHorzempa, Jan 22, 2022
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  8. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    Users can't create fake locations.
     
    #8 Todd, Jan 22, 2022
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  9. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I could think of a few nominations but I don’t want to upset anyone. Like you for instance. We all know you’re from the American Samoa but you claim the Philly suburbs. Very creative of you. :grin::wink:
     
    #9 BigIronH, Jan 22, 2022
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  10. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think Jack meant they can select a location that is not their own. Is that not a possibility? Cheers.
     
    #10 BigIronH, Jan 22, 2022
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  11. Shanex

    Shanex Grand Pooh-Bah (4,960) Dec 10, 2015 France
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really like this guy from Kiribati who’s a notable BA. If you’re reading this, I mean it.

    @Todd by « fake location » I meant someone pretending to live elsewhere from their actual state or country.
     
    #11 Shanex, Jan 22, 2022
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  12. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    Correct, like pretty much every other platform.
     
    #12 Todd, Jan 22, 2022
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  13. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Well, it's not like they're using ShangriLa or Brigadoon, but it's pretty obvious they aren't actually living in Jakarta -- fake to their true location.
     
    #13 steveh, Jan 22, 2022
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  14. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Completely agree. Not saying it’s unlike any other platform. Just bringing it full circle amongst the questions posed by Tom and Jack. It can definitely cause confusion in this particular setting given the location based questions that often come up. Cheers.
     
    #14 BigIronH, Jan 22, 2022
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  15. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    On sites where I can, I list my location as "Earth". It's accurate, just not exact.
     
    #15 bbtkd, Jan 22, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2022
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  16. BillAfromSoCal

    BillAfromSoCal Pooh-Bah (2,415) Aug 24, 2020 California
    Society Pooh-Bah

    well, the solution to members who fail to list actual locations is to reply to their questions with " would love to help you but you failed to include your location in your profile". If you want to modify behavior there has to be an incentive for them to change.
     
    #16 BillAfromSoCal, Jan 22, 2022
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  17. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    While it might be annoying/cause some confusion for those jumping into these threads to help, it doesn't appear to be happening frequently. If it was happening multiple times a day and creating issues, then we could explore solutions.
     
    #17 Todd, Jan 22, 2022
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  18. BillAfromSoCal

    BillAfromSoCal Pooh-Bah (2,415) Aug 24, 2020 California
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I call B.S. on this. I know guys in Jakarta and they like beer, so unusual locations does not automatically mean bogus info.
     
    #18 BillAfromSoCal, Jan 22, 2022
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  19. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Why you hate Kiribati?
     
    #19 BBThunderbolt, Jan 22, 2022
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  20. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well, what kind of country names itself after a yogurt?
     
    #20 jesskidden, Jan 22, 2022
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