ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Can you force people to register in order to post. On howardforums.com, you can view posts if you're not registered or logged in, but can NOT post unless you are registered and logged in. Can we put this in play here too?

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Joe,

I and the other moderators have recommended this for ever since last year. WA has taken a stand that they want to continue to see membership rolls increase and do not mind anonymous posts.

In a way, I can see why.... They know that "newbies" will be visiting this site and they don't want to discourage them from asking questions. Really, after having been here for over a year now, I have only seen one truly "new" question here in the past 8 months. All the rest could have found answers if they only took the time to research the archives.

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Thanks for the info =)

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Allowing anonymous posts doesn't increase the membership rolls. Making users register first will.

Perhaps the idea behind "forcing" a registration will then persuade the search function to be used more.

I post on about 6 boards (not including usenet) and this is the only one that allows anonymous posts. My patience is wearing thin.

my .02

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Both arguments make sense to me. However, this is the way I look at it. It is easier to make more traffic by allowing anonymous conversations because it makes both anonymous and registered users create longer threads and that's something that brings more people to the site although it doesn't necessarily encourage people to register. However, it is also true that by forcing people to register, membership number has a greater chance to grow, but then shy people will not take the trouble to register and therefore threads that would otherwise be started by anonymous posters cannot. Hence, website traffic (website popularity) may decrease. Although forcing registration may cause more people to register, people also have the choice to leave and don't comeback anymore.

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Bobolito:

"Back to school," already?! Where did the summer go? Another season gone by and no tan.

Kevin

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Actually the reason for allowing anonymous posts is neither to increase forums membership or increase page views on the forums. We have no interest in padding the membership numbers with 0 and 1 time posters. And in terms of traffic, forums will always cost much, much more then they produce in revenue(more forums traffic = higher costs). That is why on other forums you are pestered by endless pop-ups ads or they beg for money from you. You won't see either here.

The reason we will continue to allow anonymous posts here is that a large portion of our audience are people looking for some quick information before they sign up or buy a phone. They are not the wireless 'enthusiasts' that our regulars are. We want to allow those type of people to ask and get answers for their questions with minimal hassle. When they get great answers, many of them will join and become regulars.

As the forums grow it is likely that annoying people, both anonymous and registered, will become more of a problem. We intend to combat that with an increased number of moderators. In the future, if that doesn't work we will take another look at the anonymous posting issue.

Everybody can help the situation by ignoring offensive posts and letting the moderators take care of it. It is much easier for them to delete one bad post instead of one post plus ten needless responses.

JFB

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Curious to know how one does become a moderator?

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Kev, I can't get over how fast this summer went by. Maybe I was just having a good time. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Joe, sounds like you are interested in the position or not? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

We ask people to be moderators - there is no set criteria.

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

bobolito.. No, I was just curious to know. I am a community leader on AOL which I would assume is similar to a moderator here. =)

BTW, this summer did fly! 16 days and I am in sunny HOT Orlando on vacation. =)

ATTENTION WEB MASTER:
 

Hope u enjoy it Joe.