I wonder why some SO profiles display a simple addition problem as part of the profile? Are the profile questions random perhaps and different ones appear depending on when the member registered?

lol I have noticed this as well, but I don't think it's necessarily a big problem. For some reason I thought when I first registered here, and posted something on my profile for the first time, they asked me the whole addition thing, and that I purposely answered it wrong, but maybe I am wrong now for a different reason lol, in the fact that it's just something random added in. Maybe?

I though it was to signify the time a member joined the site. Like the problem changes over time but your answer stays the same.

of maybe it's to check for spammers? like a capchta or whatever they're called.

I though it was to signify the time a member joined the site. Like the problem changes over time but your answer stays the same.

Wow great assessment of it. Might be true!

It's to make sure that it's a human being registering. Some sites have those letter things where you have to write down what you see, this site has the math question. I think I've got that right.

^ Yeah I always hated those letter captchas lol. More then half the time I didn't know what the letter/number or letter combinations wear, to write 'em down :lol:. SO has a very good, legit system, and an understandable one :lol:.

Oh ok. I always wondered about that. You know how it is, curiousity and all.

You know what's strange? There used to be a feature where you could change your date of birth. :lol:

of maybe it's to check for spammers? like a capchta or whatever they're called.
Ding-dong! You got it right. :)

This was implemented sometime around 2006. (I just checked your profile, since you joined in '06 and I see it's in your profile) When it was put into place originally, it asked you what 2 + 2 was. I noticed it changed to 3 + 3 a year or so ago.

Not sure why the birthdate changing part is disabled now.

Not sure why the Birthdate changing part is disabled now
Probably to keep members from having multiple birthday threads in the same year. I'm sure that would drive Janice nuts!! Her job is hard enough already!

I have also been wondering why some members have a big red banned! under their status. Um, if they've really been banned, why are they still able to post? I wouldn't want that under My name! :eek:

I have also been wondering why some members have a big red banned! under their status. Um, if they've really been banned, why are they still able to post? I wouldn't want that under My name! :eek:

I think that members that have been banned are unable to post. I assume it's just put there to let everyone else know they're banned?

I think that members that have been banned are unable to post. I assume it's just put there to let everyone else know they're banned?
That's what I thought too, but just the other day I saw a post from someone who has posted often (a new post) and it said banned under his name. I forget the name, but I'd be hesitant to bring it up anyway. Maybe if I find it, I'll PM one of the mods. That would make sense, but the fact that it was a new thread was kind of :crazy:

I've seen that before on other websites Andrea, but never on here. I too wonder how they are banned, yet are still able to post. Something you will have to ask the MODs or TJ.

That's what I thought too, but just the other day I saw a post from someone who has posted often (a new post) and it said banned under his name. I forget the name, but I'd be hesitant to bring it up anyway. Maybe if I find it, I'll PM one of the mods. That would make sense, but the fact that it was a new thread was kind of :crazy:

That sounds odd. Maybe the person was only banned very recently, perhaps after making the post that you saw?

That sounds odd. Maybe the person was only banned very recently, perhaps after making the post that you saw?
I'm pretty sure you've got the answer right here Michelle. I think I've seen "Suspended" before too. It's to indicate to the rest of us that there's no use posting a reply to that person because they have been banned. unless they sign up again under a new name, they cannot post anymore. And if they've been banned and sign up again, the admins can tell by the IP address whether it's the same person or not and just ban them again (usually you don't see that as banned as their post(s) are just deleted - and quickly.

Thanks for posting this thread though - I wondered about the math question myself and figured it was a security thing to ensure it wasn't bots spamming.

And Kyle - I know what you mean about the letters/numbers combos - half the time they're so stylized you can barely make out the letters properly yourself!

The math question really only helps to prevent robot spam. There are still a lot of humans that are posting it.

Birthdays should now be editable if you want to shave a few years off your age. :) You have to be at least 13 to register.

You have to be at least 13 to register.

Has that always been the case? Obviously people under 13 can lie about their age and register anyway, but I don't remember there being an age limit when I registered.

Has that always been the case? Obviously people under 13 can lie about their age and register anyway, but I don't remember there being an age limit when I registered.

That's always been a rule. The first question asked is your birthday. If you read the rules it states in there that you have to be 13 to register.

That's always been a rule. The first question asked is your birthday. If you read the rules it states in there that you have to be 13 to register.

It's been a long time since I registered, I've forgotten what the questions were. I was 16 at the time, though, so was obviously over the age limit.

Has that always been the case? Obviously people under 13 can lie about their age and register anyway, but I don't remember there being an age limit when I registered.

It's a law with US websites. Even if you live elsewhere, you still have to abide by the rules.

It's called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA for short. It came to be in October of 1998 and was made official law on April 21, 2000.

http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Online_Privacy_Protection_Act

So, it's nothing new about having to be 13 to register.

Like Michelle said, people can lie about their age though lol.

And Kyle - I know what you mean about the letters/numbers combos - half the time they're so stylized you can barely make out the letters properly yourself!

Right. It's a pain in the butt to me :lol: lol ;)