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Worth of quoting, that. An honourable sentiment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vargas
You'll be aware tho' that there are those among us who stick around simply for the chat. If this was a dry, technical forum - I doubt I'd have hung around much past my initial query.
manker,Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
we have tried closing to guests and having "guest rooms".
Although i dont know the stats off hand, im sure that the admin have looked at them in deciding which way to go.. especially as the options have all been tried more than once to "test" the stats with google.
Its the admins revenue.. so they must have looked at which way is better closer than i have :rolleyes:
Then that information should be made available for us to have a look at. As it stands, it looks like it doesn't exist or Brian would have posted to that effect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rat Faced
I'm okay at interpreting stats, it would be interesting and would definitely turn conjecture into a definitive.
yeah i phrased that wrong, i meant: if the only thing i COULD DO was to chat with regular members, and make fun of n00bs, i would have been gone long ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
or something like that :w00t:
EDIT: since guest can't play in the arcade, that should be enough to get them to join, there should be a 25 posts required before being able to play in effect, if there isn't
This is the way I see it.
Leave the forum opened to all. People who want to post will take 2 minutes to sign up. People who only want to read will stay guests, or maybe sign up for the future. Google will be able to index new pages, and people coming from google will not get an obnoxous (You must register) message.
Close the forum to guests, Guests can not see what is discussed, will get disgusted and then go back to google for a search. I thought the file sharing industry was about sharing with others. Why not allow people to read posts here and learn without signing up?
All in all I think leaving it opened to guests is the best way to go. Personally If I search google for something and see I have to register to read the post, I hit the back button and click a different link. On the other hand, if I can read the post as a guest then I stick around, read other posts, get interested in the topic, and usually register to give my opinions.
Brian
What you could do is limit the permissions for guests by not allowing them to download attachements (e.g:nzb's) and not letting them view/click verified hashes.
Not sure if you can do this without a hack but I think that's no more than fair.
verifieds are hidden for guests.
NZB's will be disabled for guests when that section becomes more active.
Oh,I thought they had access to the verifieds as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by {I}{K}{E}
All is good then. :)
Yup, we've all presented our anecdotes about what we'd do. Personally I'm of the same opinion. If I see a forum that I have to sign up to in order to see a post, I'll hit back.Quote:
Originally Posted by rookiecrd1
That's not what I'm trying to say. I'm trying to show that the issue isn't black and white and what muchspl proposed (which I'm not going to reiterate) is a good idea that will either work well or have no detriment to the forum.
If sign-ups increase on the day where you have to register to see the on-topic areas, keep it that way. If sign-ups decrease or stay the same, then open that day back up to guests.
Can't lose. At least it seems that way to me ... of course, if it's a hassle then don't try.
no comprise can come so just close this, you have already made up your mind#
edit
Currently Active Users: 144 (30 members and 114 guests)
I screenshotted the day we had like 45 members online, 370 guests.Quote:
Originally Posted by muchspl3
May 25th.
Lost it tho. :(
See, that was because elitetorrents was shut down and we were the third hit on google...
If the forum had been closed to guests then we wouldn't have gotten half as much traffic/signups on that day.
edit: average signups are around 45 per day.
May 25, 2005 65 signups
May 26, 2005 66 signups
Not too bad.
edit2: 9 of those members from those 2 days have stuck around to make more than 10 posts. The average numer of users from other days to stick around for 10 posts is 1 or 2.
If a big torrent site gets closed down by the RIAA on coincidently the same day as non-members cannot see some parts of the forum, then obviously the first mod/admin online should open those sections up to guests :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by rossco
C'mon, have a bit of flexibility in your thinking (not just you, Ross).
If the forums were closed to guests we wouldn't ahve been that high in teh ranks on google in teh first place.Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
edit: nvm, i kinda see your point now.
not sure what the point in it would be tho. :blink:
I wasnt aware that anyone was accountable to you although I guess by your logic it just doesnt exist so we can leave it at that.Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
We are not the only forum of this type which means if there is a link in Google that is clicked and they arrive at a signup page then most likely they go back and find another and we never had the chance to show them what we have and they are gone that quickly unless they are prone to just signing up at every forum that request them to and most likely posting at none.
Currently we have setup a number of things to get Guests to join
1. You must register to play the Arcade.
2. As a Guest you can see titles of Verifieds within the sub sections but when you click them you get a message you cannot view the content unless you register which obviosly means you cant get the hash as well. This was a "No Content" VB hack that was installed here which continues to allow Google and to crawl the titles and Guests to see them but hides the content, the best of both. This is great for this section as it seems a good number of Google inquires fall in to those sections.
3. The NZB section is viewable to Guest including threads but when a Guests clicks on attachment they also get a message to register which is also a section that has many views for the same reasons that the Verifieds section does. This is also the best of both I think.
4. If a Guest want to tell manker to fk off which is just human nature they are given a message register also.
The fact is also that in a sense Guest take care of server costs while floating around the board and possibly clicking banners and such while most regulars dont for a variety of reasons. Also if its closed Guests they may leave and never have had the intense feeling of meeting manker and being so overwhelmed to tell him to stfu which is the fact of why most Guest register anyway..,.
/me thinks to insert smileys along the way next time so as not to appear so dry perhaps.
Whoa! As Manker lays on the floor of the ring cloudily pondering his next move Reality has taken the fight to a new level! This VERY entertaining!! The way I see it, there's nothing to gain by closing this forum to guests at any time. In essence, this forum is educational in nature. Most people just lurk and in the process get educated. If they have specific questions they have to join to ask those questions. This separates the casual P2P weekend warrior from the hard core, needing to know more, dedicated P2P'r. I am still in the newb stage and it probably shows in my few posts, but this forum is essential in the whole process of opening doors to the uninformed. If it is closed, even for a day, it is not in the best interests of promoting file sharing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by colonblow87
Well said , love your member name by the way. :D
Like i said before, lock the "Worlds" (hardware, software ect) off from guests, but let them see the rest, so they want to join to get our expert opinions about the subjects.
Or other way around, lock of the lounges and let them only see the worlds.
lmao
locking the lounge might encourage more sign ups if they don't see the lounge
:frusty:Quote:
Originally Posted by TheCanuk
I think it's great how it is now...
how about something like this
http://www.megatopics.com/index.php?showforum=162
looks like a great way to gain more sign ups
Hi, newbie mod.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
Thanks for all that information which is entirely irrelevant. Those things will still be in place and the rest has been posted, more eloquently, by other members of the team.
What I suggested will either be good for the forum or it won't damage the forum. The forum as a whole can't lose.
Hang on, I've already written that - several times. Would you like to contend the point? Thought not.
I really don't expect it to happen, and in truth it doesn't matter because, even at best, it will only pick up a few extra participating members per month. Meh, I can live without 'em.
I joined in the thread because muchspl had a point and you saw fit to dismiss it on behalf of the entire board. I'm good like that, as you're no doubt aware.
No really - leave them out, in future posts too. It appears to have a beneficial effect because you've substituted smileys for punctuation and paragraphing :happy:Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
I actually understood what was being said :ohmy:
A good effort http://www.recordingwebsite.com/foru...ult/smiley.gif
5 teammembers already posted saying they dont like the idea of closing sections once in a while.
Its good that members are trying to help us by posting ideas on how to improve this website. but we just don't think this is an good idea.
That's cool with me. I do get arsey sometimes but that doesn't mean I'll strop if I don't get my way or won't express appreciation when things like this are considered in a proper way by you lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by {I}{K}{E}
Thanks, IKE :)
That's more just forcing them to signup.Quote:
Originally Posted by muchspl3
That popup disgusted me, i didn't even bother to see what the site offered.
Hi IKE,Quote:
Originally Posted by {I}{K}{E}
thanks, it takes some time to allow members to give their thoughts
sometimes the ideas are brilliant and sometimes not...but you must
allow the discourse. if the members think that their opinions will always
be flamed...you will lose the heart of this forum. Changes should not
be made till some debate from all sides are heard.
You should be commended.
Maye you dont follow as I simply think this is a bad thing and could and would most likely create less signups and just unnecessary considering all the things we already have effectively in place to encourage signups which is why I posted them. It seems maybe you dont follow what were trying to do by creating a nice balance for the board between the two so that the need to close any additional areas of the board for any period of time become entirely unnecessary. I thought you or others might not be aware of the things that are in place which is why it is relevant that I post them and quite obnoxious of you to state it isnt.Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
I guess my first point which was matter of fact offended you somehow giving you the need to start some sort of petty insulting which you continue which seems unnecessary as you seem to be able to make your point quite well without it.
I have but you only choose to read what you want perhaps because this isnt going your way.Quote:
Hang on, I've already written that - several times. Would you like to contend the point? Thought not.
I dont think it will pick up any members and actually think it will lose and with all the changes recently that have been put in place member signups are actually going rather well. The fact is of course if you were right in the assumption that it would pick up a few members then youde be correct in the fact that you wouldnt miss them as there are already enough members here that tell you to STFU all the time.Quote:
even at best, it will only pick up a few extra participating members per month. Meh, I can live without 'em.
/me dosent insert any smiley as requested.
Yes Im sure you are although Im a bit surprised at your need to spit out petty insults. I doubt you know what I do for the board nor do I care nor does it seem you do. If truth be told at one point I wouldve agreed with this point also which is why I have been involved with the Team in creating all the things that are now in place to encouarge signups as I think thats a better option rather than just closing things and force feeding signups which I dont think works anyway. You should also keep in mind that not only all mods in this post have spoke against it but the site owner has also...Quote:
I joined in the thread because muchspl had a point and you saw fit to dismiss it on behalf of the entire board. I'm good like that, as you're no doubt aware.
I didnt say i disareed.. as such.
I said i couldnt see the point, and that other things have been tried before and looked at.. (although granted, turning guest rights off one day a week hasn't)..
I do think though that the potential gain (and i'm not convinced there is any), just isn't worth the extra admin time either.
Im all for everyone continuing the debate though... its obvious that some people have strong opinions.
And others, like myself, havent.
I think we would have problem if some members like Manker, were "not" so passionate about this forum. At least we have the tools here to voice our opinions . But just my thoughts. :)
If we didnt allow members to voice their opinions only mods could post here or perhaps this would have just been closed long ago on other boards. The fact that some may not agree is hardly a reason to start name calling though. As for being passionite some of us including myself know that feeling all to well with the hours we put in here simply because we feel just that way...
Indeed. I sometimes take umbrage when decisions are made on behalf of many people by someone who has no right to do so. This time particularly irked me because it was a flat refusal with no reasoning made by a bloke (I think you are) who'd recently attained mod status to help with the Newsgroup section of the board.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
I felt you needed to explain your position. Which was actually done on your behalf, quite reasonably, by different members of the team.
Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
No, if you put my comment back into context, you haven't touched upon it. As to it not going my way - has your position been explained or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
Yup, I've said that opinion, expressed by RF I think, has merit and should be considered. Well done for posting it again. It makes it look like you're actually contributing to the thread and not just bashing the keyboard in a random manner.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
So, you've called me obnoxious, said that people tell me to shut the fuck up on a regular basis and implied that my reading comprehension diminishes when threads aren't going my way. Yet I'm the petty one.Quote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
I can't disagree with the obnoxious comment. I can, however, tell you that this thread has gone fairly well for me, sure my proposal didn't get taken up. In fairness it wasn't my proposal - it was muchspl's but I did take up the mantle in order that instead of getting a flat refusal from some minor team member, it was discussed properly in team chat.
This has happened and I've posted my appreciation twice previously in this thread to the team as a whole.
As I say, I can live without the new members that it might have brought. I'm happy that it was discussed and rejected by the team. What I refuse to accept, now and in the future, is one team member getting a bit big for his boots and making statements on behalf of everyone.
Consider your feet shrunk.
True enough. The proposal itself has little merit, altho' it did have some and could have increased the participating member base a little. I really don't have a strong opinion about it either, truth be told.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rat Faced
I was mainly concerned about the team's decision making process. You'll know all about the devil's advocate position from you occasionally taking it up in t'drawing room, RF ;)
Well it seems youve made your point and I have as well. I really dont have anything to add to this as I dont see any point continuing this with you. I think Ive well made my point as to the time and energy that has been put in here to have the best of both and not need to lock additional sections of the board which as Ive stated I think would be unproductive. The topic starter I think as of yesterday had requesteed this to be closed. The fact of the matter is and still remains that you chose to throw the first insult...
Reality is NOT a minor Team member. He has spent a LOT of time working to improve this forum, to increase google hits and to draw new members over the past couple months (all the time i've been able to see what's going on).Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
Since working on this we've seeing an increase in registrations and guests viewing the forum. It's a good balance of opened/closed sections on the board in my opinion and I don't really see any reason to change what we've spent to much time tweaking.
EDIT: Also for your info RealitY has Admin and FTP on the site as well...
I agree on this.Quote:
Originally Posted by rossco
I'd say Reality has outdone what I have done to FST as a
moderator.
:)
Okay then.
RealitY > Cornerpocket.
===
Seriously tho' - any statement coming from a team member means little if it's not backed up by the weight of reasoning behind a team decision and, as such, it is minor.
However, I can see the ambiguity in my prose that may have caused confusion - it might have looked like a slight on RealitY's moderatorship.
Perish the thought :D
I would also like to echo the sentiment,that Reality has done excellent work as a mod on our board (besides the deleting of post... mods censure far to often in my opinion. However, our forum is more lenient, then most.) Reality should be commended on the work he had done,regarding NZB files (I see you looked into them..;) ) and NewsGroups in general. Not bad...for a respective newcomer to Usenet.
I however, took umbrage to this reply by Reality...as manker did.
It reeks of contemptuousness and pomposity.There are membersQuote:
Originally Posted by RealitY
here who like to think for ourselves. Everyone likes to feel respected
and when were not...we react (sometimes with a little to much bile...)
So, please try and remember respect is a two way street...the emphasis
is on the mods (position of authority...and all) and, not on the poster.
Aloofness is not a quality desired in a mod.
Peace bd
I thought that Afronaut = Guitar Slinger.Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
I'm confused now.
And no this isn't off-topic.
Couldn't he have done that notbeing a Mod, just wondering cause his section was suposed to be Newsgroups and as far as i know the only change has been an NZB posted designed by Rossco.Quote:
Originally Posted by rossco
Drawing new members include seeding stuff with our URl name and seeding stuff we have done on sites, last time i checked you don't need to be a mod to do that.
Not trying to be harsh towards him just asking what he's done that he couldn't have done if he was just a normal member who had the ftp axx and the ability to seed,.
Afronaut is GS :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Guillaume
Reality isnt CP
:huh:
He wasnt only added to the team because we needed someone for the NG sectionQuote:
Originally Posted by Peerzy
We dont need to post everything he has done so far. :huh: believe me he does a lot.