Now that I think about it, I guess if you made OT posts visible only to active members, I could just peruse the site while not logged in, and only log in if I wanted to specifically reply to something.

I don't mind the occasional lighthearted OT post (like the one about gift wrapping) but I think maybe the personal ones need to be reevaluated. I am as guilty as anyone of posting quite a few of them, but I think I'm going to be more mindful and keep my personal junk off the forum unless it relates to fashion somehow. I feel I have gotten a little too cozy here and should step back a bit. I would personally prefer not to see any new featues that will encourage more OT posts.

From a user standpoint, I don't see how only the OT posts could be private. The user would have to classify the post and could just as easily classify a fashion post an OT and therefore private post.

ah, my mistake Angie... I interpreted this statement incorrectly in your blog post (11/24) introducing the YLF store...

"It will support YLF though, helping us to offset some of the expenses of running the site and taking us closer to the day that we can make YLF a fulltime pursuit."

anyhow... I really do love the fact that people share a bit of themselves here... job frustrations, family happenings, etc... I think it's a strength of this blog and makes me think of you all as friends in a way. I just meant in my statement that when we choose to share these things, it is at a "risk" of sorts given that there are more passing through than members and we needn't ask Angie and Greg to accommodate for that for us. Am I making any sense? I know I often don't... LOL

Ana, I often do the same thing now (not logging in while checking out the site), and the downside is you miss out on utilizing any of the other cool new features Greg has recently implemented, like being able track which posts you have read, which have new comments, etc.

This is a tough one. I think that, if I hadn't had the chance to "lurk", I might have written this forum off as something that wouldn't have much to offer for someone in her 50s and 60s. That would have been a mistake.

I think everyone's openness and willingness to share and support is one of the nicest features of this community. Angie and Greg have created something quite unusual in this site. Their commitment towards ensuring that comments and conversations are lively but respectful make this forum a rarity on the web. Creating an "inner" and "outer" group seems counter to the sense of community that they have created here.

Maya! I love that you are "cozy" here - your openness and willingness to share have made me feel like I kinda-sorta know you... and I like what I've come to know. : )

On the other hand, I have myself been reticent to share a lot because in a past life *cough,* I was a bit of an internet stalker myself for a few years. Not in a crazed way, but if a friend mused about "whatever happened to Ex-Boyfriend XYZ," I'd get on the computer with her and you'd be ASTOUNDED by the stuff we could find. I stopped, since a) I realised it was pathetic b) it didn't feel like a very nice thing to do to unsuspecting people c) it sort of creeped me out, even tho' we were the ones being creepy!

As a result, my FB page has no photos of me, I will never post a photo of my face here and I try not to share too much identifying information about myself. I did send Angie a private email with a photo of my face, partly because I felt sort of rude that she'd posted so many photos of herself while I hid behind a veil of total anonymity (not that she cared but I felt impolite) and partly because I wanted her to see that I am who I say I am - a middle aged female (ever wondered how many of the "female" posters here are actually men who get their jollies by being part of a chatty female community? I'd bet my nose that there's at least one)

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that even though I love love love your openness, Maya, I'd completely understand if you decided to become a bit more private. I'd miss the photos and the frank talk, but I would absolutely support your choice.

And back to the original question: I know that there's no such thing as real "privacy" on the internet, but I would support an effort to make certain posts a little less viewable by passers-by.

I'm with Ana's original post. The internet is not a private place. Plus you have a private messaging system for people to communicate more privately. I think outfit picture posts are just as personal as OT personal posts so where would that lead us? Each poster has to assess his comfort zone and I think what Angie and Greg have provided is completely appropriate.

Oh Mac, I so appreciate you appreciating me I will probably start blurring my face again but I wouldn't stop posting all together. I don't think I could--my decision making skills are crippled without ylf!

I will also probably keep my job drama more to myself, or just PM those who are interested. Stupid as it sounds, I just realized now how bad and risky it is for me to talk so much about work and coworkers.

I also don't know if everyone I know IRL needs to know I'm a bra fanatic, giving strangers on the internet advice about their boobs...

Angie & Greg, I know you don't like to micro-manage but since the forum is growing so quickly, I would like to make a suggestion.

Perhaps, it would be worth having a sticky post in which you specify your expectations and suggestions for the forum ( respectful language, inclusivenes, guidelines for body type posts, etc) and include a tidbit about your preference for fewer OT posts.

I wanted to second those who are arguing that needing to be a member to look at photos would put up a barrier to those who were new. I lurked for about 3 months before I got up the courage to post and this is the only internet forum I post on. If I had had to log in I think I just wouldn't have bothered.
Which is why I don't read articles from the NY times for instance, because they want you to register.

Angie and Greg, thank you so much for being so open to suggestions from members. I really appreciate all the hard work, energy and love that you put into this website. As for myself, I would prefer to see the forum remain as is. I lurked for almost a year before I got up the courage to join in. I think I would have been a little put off by a "members only" option. I love the openness of the forum, but feel that ultimately the poster is responsible for how much or how little she feels comfortable in revealing. I have used the PM feature on several occasions to answer questions and give out additional information to forum members privately that I didn't feel comfortable revealing on the more public forum. Like Mac, I have also shared some identifying information with Angie in private emails. Ultimately, I will support whatever decisions Angie and Greg come to because I know that they will be made with much deliberation and the forum's best interests at heart.

I understand a need to keep information private, but I think there is enough control now to do that. If photos and posts were members only I'm not sure I'd wait it out until I could view them. The access to photos is what drew me into reading YLF daily.

I'm 100% with both Deborah and Ana on this subject, the level of privacy and need there of should begin and end with the poster. I am both open and honest on the forum, if it bites me on the bum it will be nobodies fault but mine. Personal responsibility is so important.

Thank you Greg and Angie for listening so thoroughly to our opinions.

De-lurking here to give my 2 cents. I have loved this blog since I discovered it last year and check it every day. A couple of times I have posted but have had a really hard time with resetting my password and have to go back through old emails for my starter password so it is not worth it. I just lurk. I think I would also feel a little uncomfortable posting in a way b/c, no offense, it seems kind of clique-y here. The same people all seem to know eachother and like any other clique it is hard to get in. And now that it gives your member status it has just solidified this feeling. This may be just my perception but it is still how I feel. Everyone seems super nice here though so I am not insinuating that it is a "mean girls" kind of thing at all.

I think if you include the option to go private then most of the regulars would automatically click that so it they could just keep it amongst themselves. Not saying I blame them b/c why wouldn't they want to keep it amongst themselves and private if they could. I think you would definitely lose readership over this-I know I would probably not visit every day. Maybe once a week or so just to get the Angie Posts.

My suggestion would be for all of the regulars who want to keep in touch and talk personal to get a Yahoo group going. This way you could talk as much as you want on any topic you desire without worrying about your privacy. This would also help keep to a limit some of the more off-topic and "offensive- to- some" posts. (I have to admit being taken aback and somewhat offended at some of the discussions that I felt were political and/or anti-American. There is a place for those discussions-you don't expect to find them on your favorite fashion blog )

Jaime, Hi and welcome I'm by no means one of the most active members here, but I just wanted to comment on something you mention - "I think I would also feel a little uncomfortable posting in a way b/c, no offense, it seems kind of clique-y here. The same people all seem to know each other and like any other clique it is hard to get in."

Actually, it is quite funny because even though I "feel" like I know everyone well and on a first name basis (I like that we use people's names, it seems so much more personal) I have not spoken to nor met a single YLF member in person. IMHO it is, in fact, a testament to the all-embracing nature of this forum and its members that it comes across as everyone seems to know each other. The member roles and status don't really mean much in the context of everyday posting and participation and I certainly haven't noticed anyone racing to achieve "badges" as such.

I hope that this discussion will convince you to actively participate in the forum and blog as often as you can, even if you don't post outfit pictures etc.