Should Location Be Compulsory?

[MountGower]

Perhaps

[Hotdog]

It would be tricky to make it genuinely really absolutely compulsory. You could set the registation and profile update process to require that you write something in the location box, and that would probably be enough to get most people playing ball but that wouldn't stop the paranoid or contrary people claiming to be from Fictionalville, NT or Madeupplace, NSW. The only way round that would be to get hold of a list of genuine Australian towns and cities and require that a place from the list has to be selected, but then you'd get complaints from people from small towns and localities not on the list.

Personally I would like to see everyone put location information into their profile, but I'm not sure what the best way to encourage/coerce people into doing it would be.

[wombatoutofhell]

maybe not compulsary-but it is interesting to see where people are. I'd like to see gender as well

[sogood]

This is a virtual world and that's not an item that can be mandated.

[pospete]

I accept I'm very curious, or nosey as some would say, but I like to know a little about the people I am chatting with. To be honest I allways think if they won't give their real name or location, then I am unlikely to want to try to communicate because to me if they can't be bothered then neither can I.

[heavymetal]

I could be on tour and using a satellite dish and not really know where I am

[europa]

I could be on tour and using a satellite dish and not really know where I am

Just put 'round the bend' - we'll know what you mean

Richard

[heavymetal]

Just put 'round the bend' - we'll know what you mean

Richard

And when I am in hospital, I'll just put Psych Ward

Kev.

[europa]

Just put 'round the bend' - we'll know what you mean

Richard

And when I am in hospital, I'll just put Psych Ward

Kev.

Where else would we look?

Richard

[mikesbytes]

With the distances that Tuco's riding now, it won't be long before he's crossing state borders.

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[europa]

With the distances that Tuco's riding now, it won't be long before he's crossing state borders.

Well, he's in a foreign country to start with

Taking the original question seriously - I can't say I like the idea of 'compulsory', but knowing where someone is from does make a difference to many replies. For example, I'm not going to suggest the Moo or Mike drop into a shop here in Adelaide to buy a tyre I've seen on special and there have been threads that I've stayed out of because the questions have been city specific. So yeah, those of you who haven't put in a location, please consider it.

Richard

[tuco]

With the distances that Tuco's riding now, it won't be long before he's crossing state borders.

Well, he's in a foreign country to start with

True, and being Victorian born I love watching Brisbane and Queensland lose at any sport.

About to click over to 3000 km tomorrow. 2000 km was only 44 days ago.

The problem with location is anything can be put in there. I've seen people put in things like "Were you least expect" or "Behind you".

[ShanDog]

I see it as a courtesy type of thing if you plan on being a regular here. Being the internet I don't expect people who are coming on here to ask one question and leave to really be expected to do it but if you plan on staying here it helps to understand the community that is growing here.

As well as that, I try not to respond with questions like 'where is a good place to buy XXX' and then they don't have any indication of where they live.

[Mulger bill]

It's nice to get an idea of where the person at the other end of the modem is, but not vital, even if it does stop the "where are you?" questions in the buying forum.

[sogood]

The fact of the matter is, we all know where our regulars are located.

[LuckyPierre]

'tis only courtesy, but courtesy is contagious.
Knowing a poster's broad location does help to judge just how to respond to some posts / requests, so I think that posting our location should be 'encouraged', rather than there be any attempt to make it mandatory.

[Parrott]

I ventured onto this site to find and share information specific to cycling. If I want to know where some one is I will ask them and they can choose to tell me or not. Most times I don't see that it matters, certainly not enough to make it compulsory.