A reader asked a question yesterday worth sharing.
Are you able to identify post origins from the email address attending the post or are you tracking individual IP addresses? I think people posting would like to know, or at least I would.
Short answer: The WordPress software, which powers this site, captures both the email provided by commenters and the internet protocol (IP) address.
When you register as a user, or leave a comment as an unregistered user of this site, you’re asked for your email address.
Many sites require a valid email address, and only allow comments by registered users who have provided an email address.
I think that I did that at first, but later decided to allow more open access to comments. So you no longer have to give an email address to leave a comment, and some people provide a fake email address, often one that sends a message of its own. So email addresses, although tracked by WordPress, are full of fake information.
Sometimes comments have “issues” or problems, and I’ll suggest a commenter remove offensive language. If no valid email address is provided, I’ll trash the comment. Just FYI.
IP addresses, which are something akin to the telephone number of your computer, are also automatically noted by WordPress. IP addresses can be used in defending against the most common types of spam that attack sites like this one.
Here are a couple of interesting statistics.
This site shifted to WordPress on May 6, 2007.
Since then, there have been over 9,600 comments approved, but over 75,000 comment spams, usually bland messages that have no other purpose than driving traffic to suspect web sites. I use spam-blocking software to screen the bulk of this comment spam, but also have hundreds a week that have to be manually rejected.
As an aside, that’s why your comments sometimes require moderation and don’t appear immediately. I’m having to manually approve valid comments while rejecting the spam.
One way to do this is by blocking certain IP addresses where spam originates.
Starting with an IP address, routine network utilities will reveal the network that the computer is part of and the computer’s approximate location.
For example, the ip address of this computer–66.91.193.128–can be traced to Oceanic’s Roadrunner network, and gets close to its location.
66.91.193.128 cpe-66-91-193-128.hawaii.res.rr.com
City Region/State Postal Code
LAIE HAWAII 96762
Country Name Country Code Time Zone
UNITED STATES US -10:00
ISP Latitude Longitude
ROAD RUNNER HOLDCO LLC 21.64861 -157.9256
Domain Name Net Speed IP DecimalRead more: http://www.whatismyip.com/tools/ip-address-lookup.asp#ixzz1QaOJ60uS
#
# The following results may also be obtained via:
# http://whois.arin.net/rest/nets;q=66.91.193.128?showDetails=true&showARIN=true
#Road Runner HoldCo LLC ROADRUNNER-HAWAII2 (NET-66-91-0-0-1) 66.91.0.0 – 66.91.255.255
American Registry for Internet Numbers NET66 (NET-66-0-0-0-0) 66.0.0.0 – 66.255.255.255
In this instance, my IP address was traced to Laie (close, but Laie is actually another 12 or 13 miles from Kaaawa), and correctly identified as being on the Roadrunner network.
In any case, if you’re concerned about leaving any trace of your IP address, there are ways to mask it, although I’ve never used them. I’m sure a quick Google search will turn up many alternatives.
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I don’t have a problem with my comments getting screened out on occasion. It is my choice to post anonymously and I trust Mr. Lind’s judgment in maintaining his site
The quality (rather than quantity) of the comments is what is important. This means civic leaders, media members, and some of the intellectual side of our community may actually read what is being discussed. When something commented here is taken elsewhere and it causes positive change, then that is the reward for the participants.
CivilBeat takes an alternative approach and requires people to disclose their identities. While their efforts are admirable, I think they are underestimating the pressure people feel to keep quiet.
Ultimately, a good part of the community will not say anything because there is too much risk of being put under a microscope or publicly lashed or pigeon-holed for speaking up. Most people know that on an island there are limited career alternatives. Nobody ever wants to burn a bridge or close off a path that means food on the table or a roof over their head.
An internet service costs about $45 monthly. A computer costs about $1000.
This technology is definitely not an equal opportunity for many. We help our seniors understand the power of the internet. Some are open but some just give up. We are not afraid to allow others to use our computer to voice their opinions.
There’s also the issue that some people have access only to computers owned by others, be it a friend, the public library, or their place of employment. To the extent that fear of disclosure of the origin of a comment would deter commenters from commenting or cause them to alter their comment, for fear of being identified or fear of putting the computer owner in a difficult position, I think it’s an issue worth noting. While I have no concern that Ian would violate that confidentiality, especially because of his journalistic ethos, it does give cause to pause and consider the “safety” of posting elsewhere.
Being an oldster,my wife pins a scrap of paper on my shirt that lists my IP address.
That way,when I go wandering in cyberspace and get lost, someone can direct me home.
Richard,
You drew a chuckle from me with that one. Good job!
I appreciate the limited screening that keeps the decorum level here high. Many of the regular commentators add high value to the conversation. This contrasts with many blogs where the general level of incivility drowns out the valuable comments.