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CalmLogic · 01-05-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

The person who got the phone call from ETS had disclosed the actual question...

Allegedly. I remember that poster. Ironically, the poster may have done ETS a favor since s/he may have mentioned a question that was unfairly ambiguous. The poster just wanted to know if ETS made an error. For example, in 2003, ETS withdrew 5 questions from a single subject test (7% of the 70 questions asked) because the questions were unfair or ambiguous.

knok · 01-06-2007, 02:07 AM

Okay! Now ETS spend money on catching test takers but do not have money to spend on improving the test centers for TOEFL iBT. They just spend my money I paid for them in such a .. way. What is going on with this big organization? Do they try to make people more angry and frustrated?

I am sorry to get out of the topic. I have to take the TOEFL iBT at CompUSA where test takers can hear an announcement from the store. I wish that ETS can be wiser by spending their money to make candidates love them more.

Tseprep · 01-06-2007, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knok

Okay! Now ETS spend money on catching test takers but do not have money to spend on improving the test centers for TOEFL iBT. They just spend my money I paid for them in such a .. way. What is going on with this big organization? Do they try to make people more angry and frustrated?

I am sorry to get out of the topic. I have to take the TOEFL iBT at CompUSA where test takers can hear an announcement from the store. I wish that ETS can be wiser by spending their money to make candidates love them more.

More people take the test, better for them. They don't need the test takers to "love" ETS, just make the test impossible to pass and people will take it no matter what.

Tino · 01-06-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Regarding aliases: In the last week, ETS called at least 2 posters who posted in a GRE Subject Test forum, and at least one of the posters used an alias. For ETS, it doesn't take much to discover the identity behind your alias. An e-mail address, an unusual first name, or a link to a personal homepage could be enough for ETS to identify you since not many people take the subject exam.

I am sorry, but I cannot believe this. ETS called someone? Just try to call ETS, you can never get through..... :-)

Seriously, I cannot imagine ETS is stupid enough to waste money on detectives to do all the work necessary to do what was described. But who knows?

Knok is right though.... why not spend some of that effort to improve what is a horrible test experience for many people (hey ETS, instead of looking for who I am, read the TOEFL forum..... you will be quite embarrassed!)

Tino

**Erin** · 01-06-2007, 05:48 PM

Tino, I believe these accounts of people receiving calls from ETS. I actually spoke to somebody on the telephone about this and have no reason to disbelieve what s/he told me.

CalmLogic · 01-06-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Seriously, I cannot imagine ETS is stupid enough to waste money on detectives to do all the work necessary to do what was described. But who knows?

I doubt they use detectives. It's pretty easy to find a possible match if a poster left a few clues in their posts.

knok · 01-06-2007, 07:24 PM

Come on! To get a real name from a poster, detectives may have to hack the system to get an IP address from the site in case that the owner of the site does not disclose the IP addresses of the users.

It is illegal again to hack the computer system. Remember that all eletronic files or internet system is traceable. Usually, any forum discloses IP addresses. Therefore, it is easy to trace by using IP addresses to tell who you are and where you log on.

**Erin** · 01-06-2007, 07:48 PM

First, for the record, I have never been asked by an organization about specific members. If I were asked, I'd talk to our lawyer for legal advice before I did anything.

Second, not only is it illegal to hack into modern forum software, it's extremely difficult. I really don't think ETS or those it hires would do that. Remember what happened to HP after it admitted that they tapped their employees' phones?

In the case I'm familiar with, the user left some obvious and easy clues in her/his posts. And even if someone doesn't leave clues, it's not that hard to get info on people, especially if they have unusal usernames, or if they use their email addresses as their usernames, which some people unfortunately do.

CalmLogic · 01-07-2007, 02:18 AM

Quote:

I am sorry, but I cannot believe this. ETS called someone? Just try to call ETS, you can never get through..... :-)

Ha ha

Tino · 01-08-2007, 06:34 PM

Hey Calmlogic got the joke! Good on ya'!

Yeah Erin, I am sure the stories are true, and I believe you..... I was just making an ETS joke.

Tino

01-06-2007, 02:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
knok TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,045	Okay! Now ETS spend money on catching test takers but do not have money to spend on improving the test centers for TOEFL iBT. They just spend my money I paid for them in such a .. way. What is going on with this big organization? Do they try to make people more angry and frustrated? I am sorry to get out of the topic. I have to take the TOEFL iBT at CompUSA where test takers can hear an announcement from the store. I wish that ETS can be wiser by spending their money to make candidates love them more. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Every reason that tells you that things will never change disappears." "I did what I had to do because it is the right thing to do."

01-06-2007, 05:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
Erin So many things to do... Forum Admin Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: USA Posts: 8,208	Tino, I believe these accounts of people receiving calls from ETS. I actually spoke to somebody on the telephone about this and have no reason to disbelieve what s/he told me. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ [Say 'hi'!] [Google Interviews Erin] [San Francisco Chronicle Interviews Erin]

01-06-2007, 07:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
knok TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,045	Come on! To get a real name from a poster, detectives may have to hack the system to get an IP address from the site in case that the owner of the site does not disclose the IP addresses of the users. It is illegal again to hack the computer system. Remember that all eletronic files or internet system is traceable. Usually, any forum discloses IP addresses. Therefore, it is easy to trace by using IP addresses to tell who you are and where you log on. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Every reason that tells you that things will never change disappears." "I did what I had to do because it is the right thing to do."

01-06-2007, 07:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
Erin So many things to do... Forum Admin Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: USA Posts: 8,208	First, for the record, I have never been asked by an organization about specific members. If I were asked, I'd talk to our lawyer for legal advice before I did anything. Second, not only is it illegal to hack into modern forum software, it's extremely difficult. I really don't think ETS or those it hires would do that. Remember what happened to HP after it admitted that they tapped their employees' phones? In the case I'm familiar with, the user left some obvious and easy clues in her/his posts. And even if someone doesn't leave clues, it's not that hard to get info on people, especially if they have unusal usernames, or if they use their email addresses as their usernames, which some people unfortunately do. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ [Say 'hi'!] [Google Interviews Erin] [San Francisco Chronicle Interviews Erin]

01-08-2007, 06:34 PM	#20 (permalink)
Tino TestMagic Guru-in-Training Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 704	Hey Calmlogic got the joke! Good on ya'! Yeah Erin, I am sure the stories are true, and I believe you..... I was just making an ETS joke. Tino _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ Housing for International Students in California

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