S/V Iona missing, bit of a mystery. Whatsapp info needed please.

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Heckler

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Full story here Sailboat Iona, Peter Rang, Missing Bermuda to Azores - Boat Watch, International search aid for missing & overdue boats.
Peter was berthed across the way from us in La Linea and we got to know him and Tom pretty well whilst we were there. Tom was a member of the Whatsapp group there of which I am still part of. Weird thing has happened, the admin has had a message that Tom has left the group! We understand that only admin or the phone holder can remove peeps. The admin bloke hasnt so does anyone know what could have happened? His phone should be at the bottom of mid Atlantic if they have sunk!
 
So far as I know, removal from a group is only via the means you mention. Losing the phone overboard (or any other way) won't cause that.

I've set up and been added to several groups. Some have no activity for months without kicking members off.
 
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My experience is limited to continuing use of WhatsApp with the same number even though there was no activity on a particular group.
 
When you give up a phone number, it goes back into circulation and will at some point be re-allocated to someone else.
My kids have been through a number of phones and numbers so I have experienced all sorts of strange WhatsApp behaviour.

The old number remains in the group chat because only the admin or the number holder can remove it (except for innactivity time limits)

The new owner of the number doesn't know he is in the chat group when he sets up his WhatsApp on his new number.

At this point, if you have the number in your phone book you will think nothing has changed and will see the old avatar from your friends old number - because the new owner wont have your number in his address book he will not see you in WhatsApp.

As soon as someone posts to the chat group, the new owner of the number will get the message and will probably leave the chat group because he doesn't recognise it.

They might however decide to enter the numbers in the group into their address book - this will allow them to see the avatars of all the people in the group - to see if they recognise anyone - you will then also see their avatar if they are in your phone book. In my case, my sons photo changed in WhatsApp to one of some older turkish looking bloke - very wierd until I figured out what had happened.

What happens after this can involve blocking users, strange conversations because identities have changed or any other kind of shenanigans. WhatsApp has no idea who the number actually belongs to - all WhatsApp knows is who has what numbers in their phone address book and if your WhatsApp App has an active block on any numbers.

PS: Even stranger things can happen if the phone is sold with the WhatsApp database and App still on the phone and intact - the new owner of the phone could follow the WhatsApp change number process and cause absolute havoc with your WhatsApp profile.

See here for the WhatsApp info ... WhatsApp FAQ - Seeing your phone number already in WhatsApp
 
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Sandy said:
I leave WhatApps groups all the time. Being a member of a group is voluntary.
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Please read the original post, a yacht has gone missing, one of the crew has left a whatsapp group, we are trying to figure out how it was done. It now appears that after 3 months they automatically delete accounts if they arent used.
 
Heckler said:
Please read the original post, a yacht has gone missing, one of the crew has left a whatsapp group, we are trying to figure out how it was done. It now appears that after 3 months they automatically delete accounts if they arent used.
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I did read the original post. Currently, you cannot link the two events.
 
I am wondering if the 2 blokes have gone missing on purpose.. Both sitting on an Island somewhere and hes logged on and removed himself from the group... Or does Whatsapp do it automatically?
 
Sigh. Not trying to draw a conclusion, just asking does anyone know why certain things have happened! As it turns out, some of the more informed replies seem to think that after 3 months of non use the account is closed, which is the information that we were after!
 
Heckler said:
Sigh. Not trying to draw a conclusion, just asking does anyone know why certain things have happened! As it turns out, some of the more informed replies seem to think that after 3 months of non use the account is closed, which is the information that we were after!
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Sincere apologies. I thought your concern was for a missing friend - not for a piece of fekkin technology. How stupid of me - and you too Sandy.
 
claymore said:
Sincere apologies. I thought your concern was for a missing friend - not for a piece of fekkin technology. How stupid of me - and you too Sandy.
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Perhaps I misunderstood, but it seemed to me that Heckler is concerned for their friend, and was wondering whether Tom's departure from the What'sApp group was a glimmer of hope indicating an action taken by Tom (i.e. Tom is alive and well somewhere but not up for any chat) or, as it sadly seems, was in fact an auto function of technology and a false hope.

Either way, thoughts with the family and friends of those missing. Sad news.
 
Bellacruiser said:
Perhaps I misunderstood, but it seemed to me that Heckler is concerned for their friend, and was wondering whether Tom's departure from the What'sApp group was a glimmer of hope indicating an action taken by Tom (i.e. Tom is alive and well somewhere but not up for any chat) or, as it sadly seems, was in fact an auto function of technology and a false hope.

Either way, thoughts with the family and friends of those missing. Sad news.
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Nail on head, thank you, unfortunately there are some fossils on here who like to argue!
 
Claymores profile says he is very important - so he must be right. However I favour the interpretation that the OPs concerns is for a friend who may have drowned and can understand his distress. Hope there is better news soon
 
I may have been important - as my profile suggests, however that was written some years ago and was written with tongue firmly in cheek and things clearly change. My importance as well as my sphere of influence has reduced significantly since the profile was penned, However, since joining these forums in 2001 I have managed to maintain a degree of respect for others and have certainly refrained from making personal remarks or descriptions such as 'fossil' which I have to assume was directed at me.
I think times were gentler in times passed.
From time to time I impose a ban on participating in the forums, on myself - perhaps that time is here just now.
Claymore out.
 
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