[wp-meta] [Making WordPress.org] #4696: Hide profiles.wordpress.org from non-logged in users

[Making WordPress.org]

#4696: Hide profiles.wordpress.org from non-logged in users
------------------------+---------------------
 Reporter:  jdembowski  |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect      |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal      |   Milestone:
Component:  Profiles    |  Resolution:
 Keywords:              |
------------------------+---------------------

Comment (by jonoaldersonwp):

 Let's separate out these concerns.

 **Firstly**, on principle, we shouldn't be making decisions which
 negatively impact the experience and quality of life of our users, based
 on frustrations we have with spam and abuse. As a user, if I've completed
 my profile, I expect to be able to see my profile. Given that new users
 won't be able to, that's a potentially confusing experience. We should
 signpost that and explain the situation, or risk alienating new users.

 **Secondly**, the profiles pages are for whatever users decide they're
 for. If they want to use them as their personal homepage, that's fine. If
 they want to use it to advertise their consultancy services, fine. With
 the exception of overtly 'spammy' scenarios, if they want to try and sell
 their lemonade from it, that's fine, too. We should encourage flexibility
 and ownership of use cases. That's good for our users, and good for
 wordpress.org.

 **Thirdly**, if our issue is the creation of spam accounts, we should take
 steps to resolve that, rather than working around it at the expense of our
 users. Why don't we use honeypots, or, e.g., Google's invisible Recapcha
 system (with a ham/spam feedback mechanism, and a score threshold for
 instigating additional requirements such as an image captcha)? There are
 myriad options here to bag and tag these registration attempts before they
 ever get anywhere near having a profile.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/4696#comment:12>
Making WordPress.org <https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/>
Making WordPress.org