Bug Online Status Bug with Member Squares?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Psinter
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The discussion revolves around a bug related to the "Members Online Now" feature, where users experience inconsistencies in seeing online status when logged in versus logged out. Initially thought to be a caching issue, it was later confirmed as a bug affecting visibility settings. Users noted that while logged out, they could see all members, including those who appeared hidden when logged in. The conversation highlighted confusion regarding privacy settings, suggesting that these may not function correctly for different user types. Ultimately, the issue seems to stem from a flaw in how online statuses are displayed based on user login status.
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There is this square that says Members Online Now where pics of Mentors appear. I noticed that at times, I log out and a picture of a Mentor appears immediately there. I log in and it's gone. Log out again and it appears. Log in, gone. Log out - it's there!

Is that a bug? :oldconfused:
 
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Sounds like a caching issue. One version is slightly outdated.

Edit: No, turned out to be a bug, see below.
 
Last edited:
mfb said:
Sounds like a caching issue. One version is slightly outdated.
I see. I wonder whether it is on my side or server side.

I just tested at two separate web browsers and at this very instant you appear online in another web browser I have open and me not logged in, but on this one in which I am logged in you don't appear online no matter how much I refresh the page. :confused: I deleted the history and cache on this browser where I am logged in except the cookies of course (because otherwise I would go offline), but still.
 
Oh, then the bug could be more interesting, because I should not appear as logged in. Maybe logged out the invisibility setting gets ignored.
 
I thought that it was that some folks (like me, mwhahaha) hide their status from logged in members. Once you’re logged out though, you can see all the hidden members. That’s why some members’ names are greyed out.
 
mfb said:
Oh, then the bug could be more interesting, because I should not appear as logged in. Maybe logged out the invisibility setting gets ignored.
Maybe. I thought that too.

I thought that maybe some members were using invisible setting, but that such setting (because of the bug) only affected logged in users so that they would not see online users with the setting. For those that are offline, they could see everyone online. And thought that if it wasn't a bug in one way it was in another. :smile:
 
ProfuselyQuarky said:
I thought that it was that some folks (like me, mwhahaha) hide their status from logged in members. Once you’re logged out though, you can see all the hidden members. That’s why some members’ names are greyed out.
lol. I noticed too that some were greyed out. But I thought they grey color was just to make it easier to read in between all the cramped text.
 
A privacy setting might affect what you are seeing
https://www.physicsforums.com/account/privacy
 
  • #10
Greg Bernhardt said:
A privacy setting might affect what you are seeing
https://www.physicsforums.com/account/privacy
I don't get it. :oldconfused: Does it means it's not a bug?
 
  • #11
Psinter said:
I don't get it. :oldconfused: Does it means it's not a bug?
You can set some privacy for what members and guests see of you. mfb might have it set where members can see him online, but guests can't. This might explain what you are seeing.
 
  • #12
Greg Bernhardt said:
You can set some privacy for what members and guests see of you. mfb might have it set where members can see him online, but guests can't. This might explain what you are seeing.
Ohhh. I see him when I'm logged out (as a guest), but not when I'm logged in (as a member). That is the opposite of your example. I'm not sure if that can happen with the settings you mention.

But you know better how it works :smile:, I have no idea what are those settings.
 
  • #13
Greg Bernhardt said:
You can set some privacy for what members and guests see of you. mfb might have it set where members can see him online, but guests can't. This might explain what you are seeing.
You cannot set it separately for different visitor groups. Either you show your online status or you don't. But apparently guests are able to ignore that setting - a right that they should not have.
 
  • #15
Now it looks really empty. :DD
 

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