pgt: What an unnecessarily nasty word "peek" is in this context!

And "hide" isn't?

There are all sorts of reasons why it is nice to know whether somebody is actually playing games, or just browsing bulletin boards.

Just because I'm browsing bulleting boards, doesn't mean I'm not actively playing a game. In a REAL backgammon/chess/bridge club, just because I look out the window, go to the bathroom, or order a drink, it doesn't mean I've stopped playing. As I explained yesterday, you cannot draw any conclusions on which games I'm actively playing based on the which page I've visited last. If I'm actively playing, I'm usually actively playing many games - unlike a REAL backgammon/chess/bridge club. I also might visit a page of a game I'm playing, and then the phone rings, my compilation is finished, dinner is served, or what else, and it will be my last active page for a long time, while I'm not playing any game actively anymore.

If you want to know I'm playing games, I make moves. If I don't make moves, I'm not playing. It's simple as that.

I've said it before: if you go to a REAL backgammon/chess/bridge club, you don't wear a cloak, Everbody knows whether you are playing games, or reading the notice board in the lobby.

Go to a REAL backgammon/chess/bridge club, and keep tabs on the whereabouts of your opponents. Follow them to the lobby to see whether they read the notice boards, or visit the restrooms. When asked, say you're afraid they're getting their coats and leave. See how long you last.

Cloak mode is a totally unnecessary cop-out!

Privacy is never unnecessary.