[OT] Mis-attributed posts in online MS newsreader? Google?

[Fred Boer]

Hi:

Recently I was contacted by someone who had posted in the Online MS
Discussion groups. Someone named "Fred" had responded to her post. Somehow
the authorship of this post was linked to my email address. I haven't been
able to replicate how this happened because the MS Online newsgroups aren't
working for me. I tried using Google Groups, and I found the relevant post.
In Google Groups, the post was, indeed, attributed to "Fred", but connected
to my email address.

1. Are the online ms newsgroups working for anyone else?
2. Google doesn't appear to offer any email tech support so I don't know how
to talk to them.
3. Has this happened to anyone else? I don't particularly care, but I
wouldn't want to appear as if I were taking credit for posts by others!

Thanks!

 

[Fred Boer]

Oh, and to see it in action go here:

https://www.microsoft.com/office/co...&p=1&tid=69e4087b-672b-47b6-8013-ebf831392d11

This is the online group... clicking on "Fred" leads to "Service
temporarily..."

In Google Groups:

http://groups.google.ca/group/micro...+to+Many+Relationship+Question+in+Access+2007

Although I have to sign into gmail to access this feature, when I do, if I
Click on "Reply to Author", it is directed to me...

 

[Clif McIrvin]

Hi Fred Boer

I can't recall ever reading *anything* positive about the MS web portal
to these newsgroups.

I'm somewhat unclear about what / how (e-mail address removed)
resolves into your email address.

Read on through ...

Oh, and to see it in action go here:

https://www.microsoft.com/office/co...&p=1&tid=69e4087b-672b-47b6-8013-ebf831392d11

This is the online group... clicking on "Fred" leads to "Service
temporarily..."

When I click on "Fred" I get a new window ("Fred"'s profile) which
informs me that Fred has been a member since 12/5/2007 with 790 posts.

In Google Groups:

http://groups.google.ca/group/micro...+to+Many+Relationship+Question+in+Access+2007

From this link, following the "View Profile" link tells me that Fred has
3191 posts, dating from November of 2003.

Although I have to sign into gmail to access this feature, when I do,
if I Click on "Reply to Author", it is directed to me...

"Reply to Author" simply gives me
"To: Fred <[email protected]> "

I sent a post, not having any idea what might come of it.

It seems to me plausible to presume that there could be dozens of people
posting as (e-mail address removed) from the MS community forum.

BTW, every message from "Fred" that I visited on the Google site was
posted from the MS Community Forum website.

 

[Clif McIrvin]

Hi Fred Boer

I can't recall ever reading *anything* positive about the MS web
portal to these newsgroups.

I'm somewhat unclear about what / how (e-mail address removed)
resolves into your email address.

<snip>

Looking at the headers of the message in question from OE just now, I
see a line I didn't notice when i was in Google Groups:

From: =?Utf-8?B?RnJlZA==?= <[email protected]>

What that might mean; I'd only be guessing.

(I went back and looked ... this line *is* shown in the headers by
Google as well.)

On my computer, this link opens the original message in OE:

 

[Fred Boer]

Thanks for responding Clif. I, also, do not know how the connection was made
between the Online newsgroup post and my email address.

Until today, my attempts to get to "Fred"'s profile in the Online Groups
failed. But, today, I see what you report as well....

Who knows, I guess it isn't really important, although it bothers me
somewhat - mostly because I think credit should go where it is due!

Cheers!
Fred

 

[Clif McIrvin]

Thanks for responding Clif. I, also, do not know how the connection
was made
between the Online newsgroup post and my email address.

Until today, my attempts to get to "Fred"'s profile in the Online
Groups
failed. But, today, I see what you report as well....

Who knows, I guess it isn't really important, although it bothers me
somewhat - mostly because I think credit should go where it is due!

Cheers!
Fred

You're Welcome.