Off topic - Yes, Scott, I know why.
SI has a public server and private servers. The public server, www.techstocks.com, has advertisements, and does not require a login & password to browse -- though if you want to post a message, you'll be prompted for your login/password.
One of the private servers is www.exchange2000.com, which requires a login/password even to browse, and excludes the advertisements. I think there is a second secure server, and if you are logged onto one, and follow a link to the second one, you might be prompted again for your login/password.
Perhaps you were on the public server, and followed a link to one of the secure servers; or perhaps you were on one secure server, and followed a link to the second secure server.
I was using the public server, and thought I was "logged on" after being prompted for my login/password upon posting a message. I was surprised that I was "logged on" and was still seeing advertisements, and upon writing the gentle webmistress, she clued me in to the way the servers work.
I only use the secure server now, so I never see the advertisements on the public server.
However, when I post a link to a message on SI, I try to remember to call it out using the "techstocks" public browser. That way, if a non-member of SI is following the thread on the "techstocks" browser, he will be able to follow the link, without being prompted for a login/password that he doesn't have. |
