Invisibility...Why?

**Zinjanthropos** · Jan 28, 2021 02:18 PM

Curious as to why some members choose to be invisible when it comes to their presence on the forum? When you post, people know you’ve obviously been reading thread beforehand. So is it psychological, like a phobia? Personally I couldn’t care less if someone knows I’m online or watching. Is anonymity not enough?

**Syne** · (This post was last modified: Jan 28, 2021 07:30 PM by Syne.)

On many forums, some people will use that knowledge to troll, bait, or harass people they see online. They might try to reply quickly, knowing you might see it immediately, which is usually detrimental to the quality of their posts and the discussion in general. Even on more innocuous forums, like ones for tech help, some people will try to monopolize your time asking questions, if they know you're currently online.

So for some of us who've experienced that, it becomes a habit on every forum.

**confused2** · Jan 30, 2021 01:56 PM

I assume forums log you out after a while if you don't do anything on the assumption that you've either fallen asleep or died. This particular forum seems to log me in automatically so whenever I look I'm visible so I don't actually know what happens when I go to sleep. Am I always visible?

**C C** · (This post was last modified: Jan 30, 2021 08:18 PM by C C.)

(Jan 30, 2021 01:56 PM)confused2 Wrote: I assume forums log you out after a while if you don't do anything on the assumption that you've either fallen asleep or died. This particular forum seems to log me in automatically so whenever I look I'm visible so I don't actually know what happens when I go to sleep. Am I always visible?

It's tempting to feel that as long as your browser has a tab or window open with Scivillage in it, and your PC or device doesn't go to sleep, that the forum will register you as "present". But surely it does go by how much time has transpired since the last sign of activity.

**Leigha** · (This post was last modified: Jan 31, 2021 06:48 AM by Leigha.)

It started for me back on sci-forums, and I can't remember the reason why exactly, but that 'habit' followed me here. Interesting that some forums automatically log its members out after ''x'' amount of time, but there are some that I've returned to after a month, and I'm still logged in. I happen to think that invisibility would be the coolest of superpowers.

**Syne** · Jan 31, 2021 07:03 AM

(Jan 31, 2021 06:43 AM)Leigha Wrote: I happen to think that invisibility would be the coolest of superpowers.

The only problem with invisibility is that it would only allow you to do illegal/unethical things. I mean, there's nothing legal/ethical that invisibility would allow you to do that you can't already.

**Leigha** · Jan 31, 2021 07:12 AM

(Jan 31, 2021 07:03 AM)Syne Wrote:
(Jan 31, 2021 06:43 AM)Leigha Wrote: I happen to think that invisibility would be the coolest of superpowers.

The only problem with invisibility is that it would only allow you to do illegal/unethical things. I mean, there's nothing legal/ethical that invisibility would allow you to do that you can't already.

Yea, it might lead to temptations better left alone. I think of Harry Potter with his invisibility cloak, who believed that he had to break the rules sometimes, in order to bring about justice. It worked out for him, but of course, that's fiction. lol

**Zinjanthropos** · Jan 31, 2021 04:10 PM

Used to read the National Lampoon magazine when I was younger. I remember one story titled Invisible Robkin, a story about a young high school guy who could make himself invisible. His goal was to get into the girl’s shower room at school without being discovered. One problem.... whenever he became aroused the invisibility would wear off. I’ve tried to find that story on the Web but no luck.

**Secular Sanity** · Jan 31, 2021 04:44 PM

(Jan 31, 2021 04:10 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Used to read the National Lampoon magazine when I was younger. I remember one story titled Invisible Robkin, a story about a young high school guy who could make himself invisible. His goal was to get into the girl’s shower room at school without being discovered. One problem.... whenever he became aroused the invisibility would wear off. I’ve tried to find that story on the Web but no luck.

I'm not going to link it but you can just google "Invisible Robkin in the Girls' Locker Room, 69. By Chris Miller."

**Zinjanthropos** · (This post was last modified: Jan 31, 2021 05:06 PM by Zinjanthropos.)

(Jan 31, 2021 04:44 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote:
(Jan 31, 2021 04:10 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: Used to read the National Lampoon magazine when I was younger. I remember one story titled Invisible Robkin, a story about a young high school guy who could make himself invisible. His goal was to get into the girl’s shower room at school without being discovered. One problem.... whenever he became aroused the invisibility would wear off. I’ve tried to find that story on the Web but no luck.

I'm not going to link it but you can just google "Invisible Robkin in the Girls' Locker Room, 69. By Chris Miller."

I Google and all I get is porn video sites. Even with your clue. Chris Miller was my fav writer. I collected and had all the Natlamp mags at one time. Went to get them in my moms garage few years ago and she’d thrown them all out 5 days previous.