Visibility of group (Page 1 of 2)

So long as those already members remain members. Just wondering why it's such an issue that it comes up with a Google search. Is anyone posting something they don't want seen? My first suggestion is for members not to post anything they don't want seen. Have you searched Google for any of the topics we've posted?

If I google my name and adjust the search criteria to exclude Literary Agent, my TNBW posts is top of the first page. Others don't have the luxury of having a lit agent with the same name to push their results down.

The current members will remain automatically.

The issue to me is, I don't want my posts in a so called secured, limited writers community to be visible so widely. Call me paranoid, but given social media as is, I think it's best to be safe than sorry. But this is me.

If the rest of the group is okay with it as is, I can edit or delete my posts that I feel I don't want the rest of the world to see. I stand by all of my comments and posts, but they were posted for TNBW, not the www and I don't want to think twice or how many times before I reply or ask something to make sure it will stand the test of all contexts. As I said, this is me.

This is one of the bigger issues. I don't need more crap, writing is already hard enough as it is. Sure, we can proof this is our original work, but why go through all the trouble if it could've been avoided altogether. I do post my works to members and connections only, but if a google search open the forum threads, it's really not hard to open an account and gain access to the site. The probability is low, but it's possible.

For most of us, it's not a big issue now. We're not published. And we're not famous. But you can never say never.

I'm trying hard to figure out how some of my posts can be twisted and used against me. But I for one never underestimate the motivation of a properly motivated individual. I mean, if you post a pic of the presents under your Christmas tree and it goes viral ... *shakes head*

njc made a pretty decent suggestion in the main forum on this subject. Sol's silence is disconcerting though. Not sure if he has taken some time off or something, but he's not really forthcoming at the moment.

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I'm also glad we have Janet TP around to give us a published author's POV.

It would be a nice thought to use a pen name, but I have already put my real name on it and there is no way to change that unless I close my account and open a new one. So it is not an easy fix.

Moreover, people can still steal drafts to our work (or parts of drafts) and find out "spoilers" via the forums. So if we tried to protect our intellectual property on the forums, we would have to avoid using character names or giving our book titles.

How can I ask if this name or circumstanced works if I trying to avoid saying the actual character name or the name of the book?

Some authors are told by their publishers or literary agents that their book can't be up public anywhere and that would include open forum discussions. So these authors now have to delete the forums that mentioned their stories. (A difficult task that might be hard to do if they did not open the thread.)

Truth is we thought the forums were a lot more secure then they actually are. And this is unnerving.

I suppose it is impossible to protect yourself from a determined professional hacker. But if the forums come up on google searches then your stuff is visible to the whole world without anyone even having to try!

The forums are made to discus the books and thus there should be privacy in place so that someone can't just type something into a search and click on one of the results and find out that so-and-so kills so-and-so, or such-an- such happens at the end of such-and-such book, or whatever.

If the groups are not private, I'd rather not be in groups.

A good reason not to have your novel in a thread. Leave that for the posts. If you need more feedback, take it private. We have that option.

Couple of issues here. The first, when I too signed up for TNBW, I was promised a certain degree of protection. That now turned out to be for x, y and z, but not a, b and c after the horse has bolted. I have the option to publish my WIP on site as I wish. I have the option to limit access to my freaking Facebook page. So why don't I have it for the forums. I know there are ways around this, but like Rebecca says, please make it a tad harder than a simple google search.

Second issue, I stand by all my comments, every single one. But, I have made comments here that is meant for here. I expected that it would take more than just a simple google search to get to it. If I wanted that, why the hell pay a fee to join this site? And if I had known, I might have decided not to post at all. But how was I supposed to weigh the risk without being given the complete picture.

Third issue, Sol does not need google searches to find our threads. Wants maybe, but not need. What he needs is for us to get published and spread the word of how great this site is and how we couldn't have done it without. Imagine sales pitch for the site when I accept my international writing award: Great site, but you can't intteract with the other writers because you know ...

This leads me to think I won't belong to any groups other for general discussions and to limit any discussion on my writing to the reviews section. That is effective to fade into the background of the dark interwebs, but in terms of getting feedback and having a discussion involving multiple people, it's horrible. And here I thought that was what this site was all about.

Typed on my phone, sorry for any nits due to thick fingers.

You'd think accessing a site with a password would require access to the whole site with a password ... It's not on IMO.

Sure, someone can open a fake account etc etc, but again, a simple Google search. I'm not sure what the new site developers were thinking.

It's a good thing this was mentioned. As I said, I doubt Sol is going to change anything despite njc suggesting it's doable, but at least we now know and can work around it, even if it's less desirable.

I can imagine you accepting first place and saying that! Haha! I would to! People need to know that their word is not as secure as they thought.

I got this logged out and putting "Love vs Lust" in google

Poker
They sat on the bed, and Drew opened the new cards, removing the jokers.
Jana touched his hand. "Leave the jokers. If you get a joker, it's an automatic win. Five card stud, no folding."
"Why don't we just get naked?"
"That wouldn't be as much fun. This builds anticipation."
Drew shuffled and dealt. Jana looked at her cards. "I'll bet you have to take off that horribly hot coat."
"Oh, you play differently." He smirked. "Should I go directly for the dress?"
"It's your prerogative."
"In that case, I'll bet you have to let me take off your panties."
"Wait a minute."
"That's my bet."
Jana blushed. Drew's smirk became more devilish. "You're bluffing," he goaded.
She raised an eyebrow. "Read 'em and weep. Two aces."
He grinned. "Your rule. One joker."
"Did you cheat?"
"No. Never." He shook his head and put on a pout. "How could you think such a thing?"
"Liar."
"I swear."
Drew ran his hands up Jana's legs to her panties. She closed her eyes. "Hand check, buster!" she scolded as his fingers brushed her skin. "We haven't got to touching yet."
He laughed and slipped her panties off, dropping them on the floor. "What if we both have a joker?"
"Next highest card."
"What if I get both jokers?"
"You're cheating."
"Mmm. I say if one of us gets both jokers, we move directly to touching."
"All right," she agreed. "My deal."
Jana dealt. "You get the opening bet."
Drew looked at his cards. "You dealt. That dress has to go."
Jana smiled. She opened Drew's fly and slipped her hand inside.
With a slight jump, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Your rule." She flipped her cards over. "Both jokers."
"No way. I have four aces."
"I don't think you'll need your Viagra." She sat back. "Your deal."
"Did you cheat?" he asked.
Jana smiled a Mona Lisa smile, but said nothing.
Drew exhaled. He shuffled and dealt.
Jana made a face. "I bet both your shoes."
"Must have a bad hand."
"Not necessarily. Those pants can't come off if the shoes are on. It's like chess. I'm planning my next move."
"Okay. That dress has to go."
"No joker?" she teased.
"No, damn it." He turned down the corners of his mouth.
"Show your hand. I have a flush."
"You win. A pair of fives." He kicked his shoes across the room
Jana dealt. Drew huffed. "I'm gonna get rid of that damned dress."
"Not this hand. The pants go."
"I have a pair of jacks." He laid his face cards down with a grin.
"Ah, but the ladies talk louder. Two queens."
"You're cheating!" he accused.
"Whiny baby; sore loser," she retaliated.
He slipped his slacks to the floor before he snatched the cards and dealt. Jana tilted her head back and forth. "You look miserable in that jacket."
"I am. Those petticoats must itch."
Jana laid down her pair of twos.
"Not a damned thing," snarled Drew, throwing the coat across the room to join his shoes.
Jana laughed and dealt. "Joker!" she squealed. "Take off the boxers."
Drew dropped his boxers by the bed. Jana eyed him.
"What?" asked Drew.
"Definitely above average."
"Thank you."
"Did you take the Viagra?"
"No." Drew glanced down. "I don't need it. You're doing a fine job on me."
"Stop pouting and deal."
Drew dealt. "Bet already," he growled.
"Damn! I have to take off the tie."
"The dress; three aces," he gloated
A sly smile crossed Jana's lips as she laid her cards down with exaggerated care, one at a time. "My four little twos beat that." She tipped her chin into her chest and batted her eyelashes coyly.
"Damn it! I should cheat," he grumbled.
Jana pulled the tie off Drew. "My deal," she reminded.
Drew sighed when he looked at his cards. "The dress."
"The pocket watch," she countered.
Drew laid the pocket watch on the nightstand.
He dealt.
"The vest," said Jana.
"The damned dress."
Jana won. The vest hit the floor.
Jana dealt.
Drew rolled his eyes. "The dress. I don't give up."
"The shirt," said Jana.
"Nothing, king high."
"Nothing, but I do have an ace."
"Woman!"
Jana laughed. "Shall I unbutton it?"
"Does that constitute touching?"
"I don't know, counselor. I'll do my best not to touch skin."
Drew's shirt joined the rest of his clothes. He dealt. "Joker! Joker!" taunted Jana. "Off with the socks!"
Drew dropped the socks off the bed. "Very nice," breathed Jana with anticipatory approval.
"Deal," he muttered
"Stop sulking." Jana dealt and screamed. She reached over and fondled Drew.
"Both jokers?" he groaned.
She showed them. Drew reached out and pulled her face to him and kissed her.
Jana pulled back. "You're breaking the rules. I'll allow you one infraction. Deal."
Drew shuffled the cards. "New game," he proposed.
"What?" she asked with skepticism.
"Fifty-two, no, fifty-four card pick up." He threw the cards into the air and pulled Jana to him, falling back as the cards showered them.
He fought with the buttons on the dress. "Oh, turn around," he moaned in frustration.
As Drew unbuttoned the dress, Jana doffed the shoes. Drew slid the dress to the floor. He kissed her neck and caressed her breasts. He rolled her nipples between his thumbs and index fingers.
"Oh," breathed Jana.
He ran his right hand down her side and glided fingers into her.
"Stop, Drew," Jana said in a whisper.
"No," he barely breathed.
"For a minute. Please?"
Drew stopped. Jana opened her case and took out a small pink compact. Drew smiled and nodded. She quickly inserted her diaphragm. Drew kissed her again. "Do you want me to wear a condom, too?" he asked. "I'm clean."
"I know you are. Me, too. I'm scared, but I want to feel you. Don't wear one."
Drew picked up with his fingers. "You're so tight," he murmured.
"It's been a long time."
"Tell me to stop if I hurt you. Like you said, I'm above average."
Drew started into her. "Oh." Jana tensed. She tightened her grip on his shoulders.
"Relax," he coaxed.
"It hurts," she said with a catch in her voice.
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No."
Drew pulled out. His mouth found her breasts before he kissed and nibbled down her torso. Her breath came gasps. His tongue probed her until she groaned. Then, he slid inside her after a couple of thrusts.
"Oh," Jana moaned and dug her nails into Drew's back.
"Okay?"
"Better than okay. Mmm."
They found their rhythm and erupted as Jana bit Drew's shoulder. "Oh, my God!" she mumbled into his flesh. "Oh, my God!"
Drew nibbled her neck and ear. "Amazing. Oh, my God! You felt like a virgin. Did I hurt you?"
"No. It was wonderful. Do it again. It's a tie. We both have royal flushes."
"Low hand wins," he argued. "I'm holding onto the queen of hearts."
She laughed slightly. "Woe is me. I 'Drew' the joker."
Drew laughed in her ear and began a perfect rhythm. He had no need for his prescription

This is a great scene. And anyone an steal it.

The Thread in the Romance Group. Could you get rid of it, please? I don't want it hanging about.

Thanks!