According to an online dictionary source, a “profile” is a formal summary or analysis of data representing distinctive features or characteristics of an individual. Since 9/11/01, “profiling” has been much in the news, often in conjunction with the helplessness of those being “profiled” to control it. In the ICON Forums, unlike in the real world, you have total control over how much other Forum members know about you. Only other ICON Forum members can view your profile, but remember that the ICON Forums are open to the world, so all members of the Forums are not necessarily ICON members.

At the time you register as a forum member, you are required to supply a User Name, Password and a valid e-mail address. You also have the option at that time to supply other information about yourself. To edit the information you supplied, or to change your Password, simply log into the forum, and click the “Profile” link at the top of any page. You will be asked to re-enter your password (this for your protection), and the following window will appear.



At a bare minimum, you should keep your e-mail address current, so that you can receive e-mails about posts you have subscribed or so the Forum Administrator can contact you if one of your posts has been moved to a different forum. So, if you registered using a Hotmail address that you no longer use, you should update your profile now. Remember that forum members cannot see your actual e-mail address, even if you click “Yes” in the Allow Forum Members to Send you E-Mail box. Clicking “No” will prevent forum members from being able to contact you via e-mail. This is also the place where you may change your password. As with most password screens, you must type the password twice, and both times must match in every respect in order for you to change the password.

The remaining information in this window is fairly self-explanatory, and completing any of the fields is totally at your discretion. If you complete the AIM, ICQ, MSN or YAHOO IM fields, forum members will be able to instant message you with one click. The Signature field is where you should designate anything you would like to automatically appear at the end of your posts to the forum. You might include a favorite quote here, or details about your system configuration. You may include “smiley” faces or links to images. (There will probably be an entire article on signatures in the near future). The “Signature checkbox checked by default?” box determines whether the checkbox adding your signature to a post is automatically checked or not at the time you make your post to the forum.

One of the great advantages of the Internet is its anonymity. One of the great disadvantages of the Internet is its anonymity. If you spend much time online at all, you will have multiple options to provide profiles. Never provide any information in a profile that you don’t want the whole world to know. And never believe what you read in anyone’s profile. Just because it’s online doesn’t make it so! Thanks for reading; see you on the Forums!

Coming next month: Formatting your posts