Morning everyone and evening to those to whom it applies, a new week begins. We are frantically working on the new community, getting everything designed and trying to make sure everything you use every day or every week can be found quickly and easily. Though we're excited about the new look (you can see our new logo on our twitter account, @thwack), we want to make sure you don't lose any of the reasons you come to the site today. We want to grow those reasons.
As we migrate all the posts and data from the current incarnation of thwack, we will not be able to capture and transfer your passwords. You'll notice a request for you to update your email address in the site-wide announcements. When we move to the new platform, your email address will be used as your point of contact to reset your password. At first, I have to admit I was a touch annoyed by the impact this will have on the community, on you. But, when I really think about it, it strikes me as a very good thing. These are your passwords. If they were easily cracked during our migration, I really wouldn't feel good about it.
I understand that there is very little shared on our site that needs to be private. But, I still think the notion of your account being yours and your password being your token into your space in your community is one we should value. Your identity in the community, your interactions, your communications should be protected. While I understand more and more of our lives are being lived online, retaining some privacy, some aspect of what's-mine-is-mine makes me rather happy.
I digress... Please update your email addresses in your profiles. While password reset may be annoying and inconvenient, remember we don't have your cipher, we can't speak your shibboleth, we are only the gate, not the lock. I'd really like to know, though, now that I breached the topic: How do you feel about web privacy? How do you feel about search providers retaining search histories and retail stores knowing how to market to your mailbox based on what you search on their site?
See you on the boards,