Guests Viewing the After Midnight Forum?

Adder · **on:** December 20, 2010, 08:02:44 PM

I've noticed several times when I was using the last click button that guests were viewing the After Midnight forum. But when I'd log out, and past the link into my browser, it'd say I have to log in, and the guest viewing a topic in that section would disappear from the list, but when I log in again, the guest is there.

Here's a screenshot if nobody belives. Wasn't sure where to post this, so I just put in The Fridge.

I thought only members with 25+ posts could view the After Midnight Forum. I've noticed this atleast three times.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2010, 08:08:05 PM

If you choose to hide your login status when you log in I think you're displayed as a guest. Not 100% sure as I've never done it on an invisionfree based forum before, but that's how all other forum platforms I've used handle anonymous logins.

Adder · **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2010, 08:09:48 PM

I don't think they are anonyomous users, they only appear invisible to everyone but administrators with invision forums. They don't display as guests, their names don't show up to normal members. I've ran invision forums, so I know how it works. Setting up the user groups, etc.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2010, 08:18:08 PM

Well if it's not anonymous users then the guest is likely viewing the message saying that they can't access that topic. And these things aren't in real-time like you'd think they'd be. There's at least a 5 minute window in each display.

The code for Invisionfree is very outdated. It uses PHP 4.1 and was never really coded as stable as it could have been. I should know. I've downloaded the entire framework for the Invisoinfree powerboard system. We can't even use a CSS hack to stretch the background of GOF because the code is so old.

As for why it says the guest is viewing an actual topic, it was probably hotlinked form elsewhere.

Adder · **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2010, 08:24:33 PM

^It probably was linked from somewhere, but I've never linked to topics directly in the AM forum, like the one that guest was viewing. Its not linked anywhere far as I know.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2010, 08:28:25 PM

There are hundreds of members of this forum and hundreds of people that could have put a link to the topic somewhere (i.e. another forum, a blog, youtube, etc.). I've hotlinked to pages on this board lots of times. Though I wouldn't link to AM topics because I know they're restricted. But some people might forget that and hotlink them anyway.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2010, 09:06:08 PM

I agree with LBTLover. The link could have been linked in another topic and the whole "guest viewing After Midnight topic" could be just them seeing the "you cannot view this topic" message. I don't think this is something to be too concerned about. I've seen banned members viewing the board in the past, and it's just them viewing the message that they can't view the message board.

Truttle · **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2010, 03:59:06 AM

What's the After Midnight Forum?

Mumbling · **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2010, 04:16:04 AM

Quote from: Truttle,Dec 21 2010 on 09:59 AM

What's the After Midnight Forum?

http://z7.invisionfree.com/thegangoffive/i...hp?showforum=12

That's the after midnight forum. You cannot see it unless you've gathered a number of posts. (You should be able to see it though, Truttle)

The above statements are correct. Guests can visit a link, yet cannot see what's shown there. However anonymous members do not show up as Guests, that's incorrect.