News: Guests Are No Longer Allowed To Post

[VB]

You'll have to register now if you want to reply or start a new thread.

Why ?

- stupid guests post
- it's easier to start a new thread than to use the search function :rolleyes:

Registration goes very fast and easy .. doesn't hurt. And many question are answered many times ..

check the search function ;)

But perhaps we construct an extra forum for guests .. where they can post comments fast.

[the flinger]

cool. now mebbe we move on to deleting posts which are answered before....or in the faq.....

[deckard]

I would have not have said this when I started a month ago...with one unregistered reply (under this name I continue to use) (and then immediately registered)...

But YAY! :lol:

PS I assume that this will be HUGELY displayed somewhere around the initial screen? It really should be...

And yes, an extra forum for guests is a good idea...but it's gonna keep you mods fairly busy because they're gonna flood it, pretty sure that will happen...still, excellent!

[Darth Sushi]

COOL! :D

[Bender]

I completely agree with this new initiative.

Especially with a seperate board for guests and, as Deckard said, a huge notice.

Great Idea! B)

[jetje]

Hope this will keep the board clean and usefull. Think it's a good idea.

[tracydani]

Not a bad idea :)

Now I just hope those guests with something good/usefull to say will join :D

[tracydani]

Been thinking about the additional board for guests idea, and think it may be neccessary.
Otherwise we may end up with 6 or 8 thousand members soon who only post once or twice.
That would kind of defeat the purpose of cleaning out old/never used memberships.

[ShareDaddy]

Originally posted by tracydani@17 December 2002 - 10:42
Been thinking about the additional board for guests idea, and think it may be neccessary.
Otherwise we may end up with 6 or 8 thousand members soon who only post once or twice.
That would kind of defeat the purpose of cleaning out old/never used memberships.
I was doing the same as TD states and worrying about the same consequence! Is there anything that can be done to curb someone from joining over and over again? At least static IP's or something? Guest's joining over and over again may begin to get old, this is my worry also, however as I have been picked out as the Guest hater (which I am really not) this is a good idea, although I suspect we will have the guests who simply rejoin under another name to take a quick shot at someone, but who knows for sure, this just may in fact solve several issues. Thanks, good work. I did notice SoulSeek had a similar policy, where you could not interact with certian posts or vote without first becoming a member, so it is not like we are pciking on guests or being over bearing. Let us see how this plays out.

[ugluk]

Originally posted by tracydani@17 December 2002 - 16:42
Been thinking about the additional board for guests idea, and think it may be neccessary.
Otherwise we may end up with 6 or 8 thousand members soon who only post once or twice.
That would kind of defeat the purpose of cleaning out old/never used memberships.
I'm also a bit concerned about that!

also, not all guests are stupid. i bet many members here first posted as guests themselves.

but, hey, it will reduce the number of new topics!
thats good. but bad too...
it's kind of fun reading stupid flaming posts sometimes! :D

still, i'm for it. let's see how it goes. ;)

[VB]

also, not all guests are stupid.

i didn't want to say that .. just in the last weeks there were many stupid posts from guests, that doesn't mean that every guest is stupid

[Barbarossa]

Originally posted by ugluk@17 December 2002 - 16:10
but, hey, it will reduce the number of new topics!
thats good. but bad too...
I'm kind of hoping it will reduce the number of duplicated topics, They annoy me sometimes... :(

[Bender]

Originally posted by VB@17 December 2002 - 17:15
also, not all guests are stupid.

i didn't want to say that .. just in the last weeks there were many stupid posts from guests, that doesn't mean that every guest is stupid

Only the members are stupid! :lol:

No really, I think too we need a section where guests can post their questions.
I totally agree with tracidani, ShareDaddy and ugluk!

[Ardor]

Well, I was just flamed by a guest (my 1st time :( ) and support this notion :D (probably because I'm still fuming :angry: )!

[the flinger]

virgin :)

its really necessary, if you think about it.

[zapjb]

This is great. I just hope the idiots can't figure out how to register. lol. OK, now that I mention it. I suggest (& only half kidding here) that no one further explain the registration process. rotf. Peace. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Ardor]

Originally posted by the flinger,17 December 2002 - 21:01
virgin :)
Stop it :wub: you're embarrasing me ( :lol: found a new emotion :lol: )

[bowiz]

... good initiative .... :D

[deckard]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

...ah, um hee hee I'm easily amused. That last sequence just cracked me up. A master comedian could not have made the timing or the delivery better.... :lol: :lol:

(still laughing)

[the flinger]

Originally posted by Ardor+17 December 2002 - 20:07--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Ardor @ 17 December 2002 - 20:07)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--the flinger,17 December 2002 - 21:01
virgin :)
Stop it :wub: you're embarrasing me ( :lol: found a new emotion :lol: ) [/b][/quote]
lol :)

nice....

[----Dawn----]

Guests not allowed to post? Guests being segregated? Sounds strangely familiar - now how about burning a cross on the index page lol.

Seriously though, I posted a lot of hashes here as a guest for several months - I only joined because I was asked to. If I had just come here today I don't think I would have stayed long at all. Bet you are wishing you didn't do it sooner now lol.

As for users registering twice, the only way you could stop this is by using IPs. What about the case where several people use the same computer (like communal computers, etc.). Its impossible to do anyway with people that have dynamic IPs.

I think a good democratic forum should be able to regulate itself without such measures. Seems more like a golf club now. I'm obviously not trying to win any popularity contests here but thats my opinion - I registered so I guess I am allowed to have one.

[Colt Seevers]

It was the freedom of being able to post without having to sign up ....was what initially attracted me to this board, rather than the 'other' forums that are out there (e.g. soulseek)....I really liked the idea of an Open Community. I felt like, well "i'm just reading", and I think I posted for help with one problem, and after seeing it was such a nice community :P I thought I would like to contribute also, so i decided to signed up. So I guess I feel this is a bad move, it only serves to create a 'clique' type of atmosphear, that can only be a bad thing, and could put ppl who are genuinly interested in the community, but not willing to sign up...at least not straight away for a 1st post off......i dunno it's all BS really :lol:

Anyway enough ramblings, whats done is done, i'm dealing with it....but only because the actions of what I think were a few shady individuals and/or random idiots have now caused 'us' to effectivley close ranks. :rolleyes:

*clink,clink*

(that will be my 2 cents then :D )

[Colt Seevers]

The Guestroom is a good idea though! <_<

[El_Jefe]

Both Colt and ----Dawn---- have made good points, but the object isn't to create a clique of regular users.

The problem was that the openess of the board to everybody was creating a pretty chaotic atmosphere. Porn posts had more views than the FAQ pages! But still people would ask question after question about the samethings over and over, day after day, never reading the FAQ's and often, not reading the descriptions of the sections they were posting in.

But that really wasn't the reason either. The reason for doing it, was related to the abuse of the board by guests, i.e. posting hardcore porn images, posting So and So is gay, racists posts, and members using anonymity to bash other members or start dumb threads. Also, the board is getting too big, with the growth rate increasing. It was hard to regulate the board before.

Guests can still post, but the area is confined. Making it easier to maintain.

I know this won't change anybody's mind, but just thought I'd throw it out there for you all.

[Ðark Princ€]

i luv the idea!!!!! GOOD one!!!!! i also think that if you wana post then you sign up!!!!
alot of site require that you sign up for forums and also to d/l stuff off of the site why should this site be any different!!!!!
but Colt Seevers is also right!!! i started just droppin in and readin a lil bit and postin what i though!!!! but still a good idea though!!! i think this should be a poll that everybody could vote on!!!!!

[deckard]

I withdraw my entire comment, posted just minutes before its edited deletion.

(edited and deleted by myself.)

[logicz]

It's unfortunate that we get so wrapped up in the difficulties of being part of a community that we forget that community is the thing from which we draw our strength.

[deckard]

logicz Posted on 18 December 2002 - 21:39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's unfortunate that we get so wrapped up in the difficulties of being part of a community that we forget that community is the thing from which we draw our strength.

Brilliant. Right on.

[Bender]

Originally posted by El_Jefe,18 December 2002 - 04:11
Both Colt and ----Dawn---- have made good points, &nbsp;but the object isn't to create a clique of regular users.

The problem was that the openess of the board to everybody was creating a pretty chaotic atmosphere. &nbsp;Porn posts had more views than the FAQ pages! But still people would ask question after question about the samethings over and over, day after day, never reading the FAQ's and often, not reading the descriptions of the sections they were posting in.

But that really wasn't the reason either. &nbsp;The reason for doing it, was related to the abuse of the board by guests, i.e. posting hardcore porn images, posting So and So is gay, racists posts, and members using anonymity to bash other members or start dumb threads. &nbsp;Also, the board is getting too big, with the growth rate increasing. &nbsp;It was hard to regulate the board before.

Guests can still post, but the area is confined. Making it easier to maintain.

I know this won't change anybody's mind, but just thought I'd throw it out there for you all.

Couldn't agree more.

But a little bit more explanation for the guests would be necessary I guess.

- At first appearance there seems to be nothing changed, especially for a non-frequent visitor.

- And: if I were a guest I think I would get the feeling that this board was digging itself in, trying to stay exclusive for the members and avoiding newcomers.

This could be solved by using another color for the guests' section and a brief welcome with an explanation and the invitation to register.

BTW: This is not ment as criticism to the Boardteam, just trying to think constructive :)

[deckard]

I have to agree with Bender, the thing we want is to attract new, contributing members without the kind of gratuitous, irresponsible postings that have frequenly been received from people without any commitment...

At the same time I'm not certain of the right way to do that...and I'm not at all sure that a 'guest corral' is the right way to do that...as if we could jump the fence and ride them until they are broken...

No, I think that the way to do it is just maintain the rule. Register and post.

As Paul (or was it VB) said, it's not that big of a deal.

It really isn't.

[Bender]

Originally posted by deckard,19 December 2002 - 04:46
At the same time I'm not certain of the right way to do that...and I'm not at all sure that a 'guest corral' is the right way to do that...as if we could jump the fence and ride them until they are broken...

NOW I'm sure your from Denver, Colorado! ;) :lol: :lol: :lol:

[deckard]

Naah, we've just always had horses. Not recently. Everybody in Denver lives in houses and apartments, just like you.

I am by no means a cowboy. I have acquaintance of some ranchers, though, and they're a rough bunch.

Just out of curiousity, ever heard the expression, "You look like you've been ridden hard and put up wet?"

[Bender]

That was for laughs, didn't want to hurt your feelings. :huh:

But please do explain that expression! :)

[Skweeky]

Originally posted by logicz@18 December 2002 - 21:39
It's unfortunate that we get so wrapped up in the difficulties of being part of a community that we forget that community is the thing from which we draw our strength.
....and our weaknesses...

[Bender]

Post whoring again honey? :lol:

Ouch! Don't hit me! Ouch! That hurt! I wont do it again! Ouch!




EDIT: (and this from the man who just got his 3rd star with THIS reply...)

[chloe_cc2002]

It's unfortunate that we get so wrapped up in the difficulties of being part of a community that we forget that community is the thing from which we draw our strength.

.Bender's girlfriend...and our weaknesses...

how does the concept of community work in the arachnid world, where there is a diminishing male population to breed with?

[somegrrlz]

good idea. i dunno how much trouble this is, but how about some form of moderation, a la slashdot?

i use search, but find it to be a pain to find info that way. maybe i just haven't practiced here enuf with your engine, but i have no troub searching on google or /.

what about consolidating repeat threads? i use the search function, but find it hard to use and time consuming. right now there are endless `nobody is uploading from me with k++ threads, and since i am having this prob, i go thru them, but it's a pain, wish there were one place for that topic.

would like not only consolidated threads but also after 1 week or 1 month or something, posts that don't add info get removed so people don't have to go thru them.

what about users having to not only register to post, but also get extra board points (not newbie) before they create a topic? instead they could create a public `proposed topic list' that board gods and others with high cred points could either sort to existing topics, publicly reply by pointing to the FAQ and reducing said user to `less than newbie/idiot who didn't read the FAQ' status, veto topic, or start new live topic for. (not trying to make work for board gods, dunno how much work this would be vs the current chaos.)

would also like (personal pref, nothing more) to see some size limit on font and image size in personal sigs. reason: i check this board freq from boxes with large fonts (for the normal daily user's assistance) and large images/fonts in sigs take up a lot of screen space even on a nice 19in monitor at high res. if other people think this 'sounds like a personal problem', i understand. (wish my users, otherwise sweet people who don't mess up their machines, weren't nearly blind.)

thanks be to all board gods, people with good suggestions and info, and esp the programmers!

[Barbarossa]

Originally posted by somegrrlz@19 December 2002 - 23:49
what about users having to not only register to post, but also get extra board points (not newbie) before they create a topic?
I don't agree with this!! :angry:

A newbie should have equal rights with an existing member. Just because you've been a member longer, or posted more, doesn't make you a better person than anyone else.

I should think that a newbie has more NEED to start a topic than anyone else, presumably they've come here for help or guidance in some way, to not allow them to create a post is going to alienate them and they won't become a regular poster.

I hate boards that turn into a little "clique" of people, the more wider views and more varied opinions the better, lets try and keep it that way. :)

But if that's what people want so be it, there are OTHER boards.... <_<

That's what makes the Net unique, freedom of speech, freedom of choice, and freedom of movement. :rolleyes:

[Barbarossa]

Originally posted by somegrrlz@19 December 2002 - 23:49

would also like (personal pref, nothing more) to see some size limit on font and image size in personal sigs. reason: i check this board freq from boxes with large fonts (for the normal daily user's assistance) and large images/fonts in sigs take up a lot of screen space even on a nice 19in monitor at high res. if other people think this 'sounds like a personal problem', i understand. (wish my users, otherwise sweet people who don't mess up their machines, weren't nearly blind.)

In the "My Assistant" area of the board is an option to not show sigs...

I find it a necessity! I'd block avatars if I could too! :rolleyes:

[mobboss01]

My opinion is for it. Good decision. There are way to many guest in the first place.

[Nobody1234]

@barb

I find it a necessity! I'd block avatars if I could too!

You can block avatars too, if you want to.

Go to My Controls (top right)
in Options select Board Settings

You will see: "Do you wish to view members avatars when reading treads? Yes or No"

Hope this helps :)