Checking others' profiles privately isn't a sure thing.

I'm primarily a forum surfer. I like to visit a person's profile before I comment on their posting. It's better to know your audience, and their profile may give an idea of where they're coming from.

Unfortunately, VIPs know when you've checked them out, yet they have the ability to mask their VIP status. Also unfortunate is that they may take my looking as more than it is. So I get cold-call messages from them hopeful that I'm up for chatting, friendship, or something other than just me prepping before making a forum comment.

This makes me reluctant to click on profiles altogether, which makes me less likely to post comments. Lose-Lose.

SW officials: is it really a good idea giving VIPs this ability to monitor the rest of us in this way--secretly, no less?