Should unregistered users be allowed to post?

[ayasin]

To prevent unregistered users from flooding the poll, please post your vote as well :)

[rldunn]

Unregistered users can't vote in polls.

[St. Magnum]

Registration is easy, free, painless. Besides, I'm leary of people who refuse to register. Don't trust someone who won't say anything without the shield of anonymity.

[nx70]

IF they are registered, they are also in anonymity. The IP is logged anyway, so what?
If I need some quick answers in some forum but are not eager to give my email should I bother to register?
YOu are not preventing somebody to post crap when he is registered.

I post: CRAP.

See? It works also when I am registered. I mainly subscribed because of the ease of use, 'cause of PM's and notifications..

[jedix]

I think registering limits the "crap."
For example, now some unregistered is posting several threads about warez. He/she is trying to get everybody worked up and in a frenzy. I think that this wouldn't happen as much if that person was registered.

[nx70]

Hmm, I would better report that. The IP is logged.
I don't agree. For it is only a timekiller.

[Reggie]

Sorry I just saw all the reported posts just now and was able to delete all the other posts that other moderators haven't deleted yet. The IP (actually a range of IPs) of the unregistered user has already been banned.

Thanks to everyone who reported the warez posts.

[Molerat]

I am emphatically against required registrations, for reasons stated in this thread:

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3853

[nx70]

Oh and see how fast they are reacting?!
This is a real staff member..!

[Rizal]

Being registered doesn't prevent you posting crap and if registration is required to post then all crap posts will be by registered users except then registered users won't be able to blame the decline of Cliesource on unregistered users instead will turn on each other and chaos will ensue. Keep unregistered posts and registered users will be able to feel superior, otherwise...oh I don't even want to think about it.

Anyway, we'll also lose scoops by unregistered users who are also under the mistaken impression that they are more anonymous than registered users. I remember an unregistered poster who claimed to work for Sony who posted some very accurate specs for an upcoming clie a while back.

[nx70]

Oh yeah this is a good point. Our V-Men. how could they post if they had to register? They would loose their status.
Its like in the movies. I couldn't imagine a registered V-man.
Anybody else??

[ayasin]

Originally posted by Rizal
Being registered doesn't prevent you posting crap and if registration is required to post then all crap posts will be by registered users

Right, but I can put them on my ignore list. Also as for reg being a time killer, are you really in such a hurry that you can't spend 5 min registering when your going to have to wait for the community to answer your question anyway?

[Unregistered]

To see registered users "crap" all you have to do is go to the Off-Topic section.

You don't know any more about me registered as Cliexyz than unregistered.

Your point regarding the ignore list is well taken, tho. I wonder if there is a limit to the number of people one can put on ignore. My list is growing rather large :).

[jedix]

So a "V-man" couldn't e-mail cliesource to post as news with his info instead of posting it as unregistered? Cliesource seems pretty good about honoring peoples wishes, and if the poster didn't want to be known, I think they wouldn't mind. It's not like cliesource doesn't already have their IP when they post unregistered, anyway.

[St. Magnum]

Registering , I think, does help limit the crap. By the time the register, some of these clowns will have forgotten what they wanted to say. I'm just saying that if a person doesn't want to take the few minutes it takes to register in order to add to their comments to a thread, how valuable are they going to be to the conversation? It's too easy to fill this place with crap if you don't have to register.

[Unregistered]

but not everyone uses static IPs. People posting from AOL, for instance will have numerous IPs listed in one session posting to several forums. I suppose the AOL people could track down the member.

[jedix]

Originally posted by Unregistered
To see registered users "crap" all you have to do is go to the Off-Topic section.

You don't know any more about me registered as Cliexyz than unregistered.

Your point regarding the ignore list is well taken, tho. I wonder if there is a limit to the number of people one can put on ignore. My list is growing rather large :).


How do you have an ignore list and arent registered?

[jedix]

Originally posted by Unregistered
but not everyone uses static IPs. People posting from AOL, for instance will have numerous IPs listed in one session posting to several forums. I suppose the AOL people could track down the member.

That's true, but like you said, AOL could track them down. Anyway, it would still limit the "crap"

[nx70]

I admit that there is a psychological point- hindering them from 'crapping'.
I wouldn't register to post something rude.

[nx70]

Tatatata.
My anniversary.
100. Champagn for all finally I did it!!
Party people.
Yippie ay jeh.

err. Sry

[jedix]

Originally posted by nx70
Tatatata.
My anniversary.
100. Champagn for all finally I did it!!
Party people.
Yippie ay jeh.

err. Sry

Congrats!!:)

[jedix]

Originally posted by Reggie
Sorry I just saw all the reported posts just now and was able to delete all the other posts that other moderators haven't deleted yet. The IP (actually a range of IPs) of the unregistered user has already been banned.

Thanks to everyone who reported the warez posts.

He's at it again

Clie Apps: Read this. Important

[nx70]

LOL
If you say that it feels like I am a little small tiny rat.
1091. You must have spent many nights on that...

[jedix]

Originally posted by nx70
LOL
If you say that it feels like I am a little small tiny rat.
1091. You must have spent many nights on that...
Yes, I am THAT pathetic! Actually, once you start blabbing, it doesn't take that long.:) :D

[nx70]

Like this now?
lol :)

[jedix]

Yup! But we better watch it, or they will send us to the OT area!

[lthwc]

Originally posted by jedix
Yup! But we better watch it, or they will send us to the OT area!
It's dark and scary over therehttp://www.sff.net/people/lthwc/shocked.gif
 
 

[jedix]

Originally posted by lthwc

It's dark and scary over therehttp://www.sff.net/people/lthwc/shocked.gif
 
 

LOL! And YOU know it! I guess that's why I keep on going over.

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Molerat
I am emphatically against required registrations, for reasons stated in this thread:

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3853 I am emphatically FOR required registrations, for reasons stated in that same thread.

Requiring registration will help limit the crap.

Registration is quick and easy. If someone has an important question they would like answered, they should be willing to register in return for an answer. Otherwise they can search and read through all the posts they want without registering.

[Ditch]

I've been an unregistered contributor here since the acquisition of my NZ90 the day it was released. I have always been highly respectful of others opinions and have tried to make contributions that were thoughtful and beneficial.

My point is that abuse (and worthless diatribes on unrelated and irrelevant topics) is no more limited by registration requirements than the different kinds of people who ultimately register. With the abuses of e-mail addresses and personal information these days, I prefer to avoid registration whenever possible for simply privacy reasons but am not opposed to registration either within the scope of a meaningful and well respected privacy policy (if such a thing truly exists in cyberspace). Since I had my identity stolen a couple of years ago, my approach to such matters has been drastically altered.

While I do agree that certain "types" of generally loud and abusive lurkers will never register and their for be filtered out from an open forum such as this (at present), abuse will always take place and can only be truly managed at the host level (sysop). Also by requiring registration, you limit the ultimate flow of information with is the primary purpose of a forum such as this. Registration should provide one with privileges such as downloading capabilities, poll access and perhaps starting threads.

Just one humble man's opinion... thanks for providing a forum for an unregistered interested party to contribute his thoughts.

P.S. Congratulations (and thanks) for a truly useful and topical web site!

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Ditch
Registration should provide one with privileges such as downloading capabilities, poll access and perhaps starting threads.Like I said, let the "unregistereds' search and read to their heart's content... but make posting a "privilege" for those that register.

Sorry to hear that you had your identity stolen, but I don't see how registering here should worry anyone. All you need is an e-mail address. It's not like you have to provide your social security and credit card numbers.

And thank you, Ditch, for being respectful and not abusing the forum. Too bad a few bad apples spoil things for the rest of us.

[Molerat]

Okay, here's my position...

The call for registrations seems purely reactionary. All I see are arguements that it will "limit crap" or "stop trolling." These are only proposed solutions to "problems" with the board. Unlike new fora, new software, or new features, registration does not *add* to ClieSource. It only attempts to solve perceived problems.

Now I have two comments on that:

1) It will not work. There is nothing to stop someone from registering a second hotmail account, registering a "dual" and posting warez. Without flood control, that one account can cause plenty of trouble before the administrators deactivate it. If you don't think anyone would go to that "trouble," you haven't been to many other boards...

2) ...ClieSource really has it pretty well. This is a bit more subjective than my first post. I've been to boards with troll problems much worse than here: all it takes is one disgruntled user to bring about registrations, restrictive flood control, moderator queues, and complicated warning/ban systems. ClieSource doesn't have those problems. Indeed it seems like the Old Guard drives most of the complaints. To the casual visitor, and to the unintiated, ClieSource is a wealth of information. If the purpose of this site is to further the CLIE platform, and it does so as is without major troll problems, why make things more cumbersome for the first-time visitor?

Now a suggestion:

Rather than blame Unregistered, the ClieSource community bares some of the blame.

Trolling is a problem as old as the Internet itself. But the solution isn't liked: ignore the trolls. All these threads end up doing is stroking the ego of some bored teenager. Instead of restricting well-intentioned CLIE newbies, we should do a bit of self-policing. Not a lynch mob, but smart posting. Report questionable threads to the moderator. Don't give it the exposure and bump up that comes with your reply. You're not going to accomplish anything. The best way to grow our troll population is to bump their threads and whine about the destruction of ClieSource.

[dúnadan]

for now i am against requiring registration here. however, if it gets to the point where the forums are being dominated by crap, i would chang emy stance on that. requiring registration is the reason why palminfocenter discussions are once again respectable.

[Mr. Clie]

Originally posted by nx70
Oh yeah this is a good point. Our V-Men. how could they post if they had to register? They would loose their status.
Its like in the movies. I couldn't imagine a registered V-man.
Anybody else??

What is a "V-Man"?

[Mastervtec]

I think unregistered posters should have to have their post "approved" beofre it is actually posted. Don't know how much work this would require, but it would help limit the "crap."

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Mastervtec
I think unregistered posters should have to have their post "approved" beofre it is actually posted. Don't know how much work this would require, but it would help limit the "crap." Well, now that's a nice twist on things! I like it.

[birick]

75% of those who responded to the poll last month thought that unregistered users shouldn't be allowed to post.

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3853&highlight=poll

[ballistic]

Unfortunately, I think it is becoming obvious that ClieSource needs to restrict posting to registered users only.

I just saw the 'Read This: Important' thread in the Apps section where an unregistered *&#$@#@ posted links to warez and cracks, while going on an incoherent tirade about greedy developers.

99.9% of the problem posts on this site are from unregistered user; trolls, flames, warez/cracks links, blatant off topic posts, vulgarity, shameless plugs for software, etc.

[r2d]

I think it's a good idea to limit polls to registered users, but I say let the unregistered users post. Anyone really intent on posting crap will do so anyway - it takes only a couple of minutes to register. On the other hand, an unregistered user who knows the answer to a question you post may not want to go through registration just to answer your question...

[Ubik]

I think anyone should be allowed to post,most of the unregisterd posts i'v seen are quite helpful

[nx70]

To Mr. Clie:
I thought a V-men was/is a information man. Someone who has inofficial information. Providing us with them means we know something first before the "whole" world knows.
Correct me if this is not the right terminus. (gto it from the GTA3 mission V-man Tanner... ;) )

[mrdeucie]

Originally posted by Mastervtec
I think unregistered posters should have to have their post "approved" beofre it is actually posted. Don't know how much work this would require, but it would help limit the "crap."

I think that would require the staff here at this forum to sit there and read every post made by an unregistered poster. I know that I wouldn't want to do that at the forum I moderate. There would be too many posts to read.

[jimod]

I think registration would be a plus, but for the most part if you report the warez and pretty much ignore the off topic threads, where is the problem?

[wilsonch_98]

I think those crap poster would not be bothered to post crap if they need to register another email and register again for this forum.

I am FOR to REGISTERED only posting

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by jimod
I think registration would be a plus, but for the most part if you report the warez and pretty much ignore the off topic threads, where is the problem? The problem is that you usually don't know the post is full of crap until you open it up and read it. By then it's too late and you've already wasted your time... not to mention the additional time required to report it. Plus, these posts certainly aren't confined to the off-topic area.

[thenightfly42]

Here's a completely different reason for restricting posts to registered users. In nearly every long thread is a registered user who double-posts, because they forgot to log in when they made their first post. And, if you don't log in, you don't get the notifications, etc. Restricting posting to registereds will prevent this.

[Unregistered]

I am against required registration because quite simply... I *am* registered. Yah I know, you are saying to yourself "Sure buddy, I see *Unregistered* there..." But I am.

I just use like 3-4 different workstations here there and wherever and I don't always want to go back to my email, and dig out whatever my login and password are. So sometimes it's just nice to post something... I don't care if people don't see my swirly little icon or whatever my avatar is.

Required registration often turns me off using a site altogether... it's like you have to register for everything nowadays.

Anyway, thanks for giving me the option to be registered or not.
So if I got to the library or something I can still post...

Woo!
DukeTogo

[Reggie]

How about this, disallow unregistered users from posting in all forums except for a forum called: "Rumors, Rumors, Rumors". What do you all think?

Of course unregistered users can still read threads and search the whole forum.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by Reggie
How about this, disallow unregistered users from posting in all forums except for a forum called: "Rumors, Rumors, Rumors". What do you all think?

Of course unregistered users can still read threads and search the whole forum. Sound good to me! Go for it.

Duke Togo--maybe you should change your user nic & password to something easier to remember . . .

[Unregistered]

I think unregistered users should be burned at the stake!

No, wait! Aaaaaaahhh!

[jedix]

Originally posted by Reggie
How about this, disallow unregistered users from posting in all forums except for a forum called: "Rumors, Rumors, Rumors". What do you all think?

Of course unregistered users can still read threads and search the whole forum.


Sounds great!!!

[wilsonch_98]

Sounds great :)

[Rick 098]

Unregistered posters dont register because they dont want cliesource on them for insulting people and lots of other stuff.

#199(one more.......)

[Mastervtec]

Originally posted by mrdeucie


I think that would require the staff here at this forum to sit there and read every post made by an unregistered poster. I know that I wouldn't want to do that at the forum I moderate. There would be too many posts to read.

If that is what it takes sobeit. Or, maybe just "approve" NEW THREADS by unregistered users.

[Molerat]

Originally posted by Reggie
How about this, disallow unregistered users from posting in all forums except for a forum called: "Rumors, Rumors, Rumors". What do you all think?

Of course unregistered users can still read threads and search the whole forum.

Say it ain't so, Reggie... say it ain't so. :(

[alms42]

I registered on 3-9-03 and still have not received email to complete my registration. I have sent email to cliesource 3 times to inquire about it, but still have not received a reponse. Any tips on what I can do to complete registration would be appreciated.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by alms42
I registered on 3-9-03 and still have not received email to complete my registration. I have sent email to cliesource 3 times to inquire about it, but still have not received a reponse. Any tips on what I can do to complete registration would be appreciated. You can check in your profile to see your email addy. Make sure it's correct. If not, you can change it, or even change it to another one, and the letter will be re-generated.

[TheSpies]

How about only allowing unregistered users to post to the UDT :D

[kdn102]

I have to say I too hate registering for everything. However, there are some sites that have good reasons. Luckily we don't get too many 'bad' unregistered users on here, but they seem to be increasing recently.

On a forumn I think registration should be mandatory. Of course the unreg's should be allowed to do everything except 'add' to the board. And, on top of that there should be a minimum number of posts(replies) before the user can start a new thread. That way newbies can't abuse a quick registration using a phony email from hotmail and waste our time.

[MaceList.com]

I have registered 2 weeks ago, and yet I still have not received a confirmation email. I can't see any way to resend the initial confirmation email either. So right now I am limited in what I can do. I suggest we help people BECOME registered users before discussing whether they can post! :)

[MaceList.com]

And I too have sent 3 emails to webmaster@ with no response...

[mjhamilton]

If people want to have an opinion then they should at least be polite enough to register and let everyone know who they are........................

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by mjhamilton
If people want to have an opinion then they should at least be polite enough to register and let everyone know who they are........................ That's how I feel. If they want their questions answered or want to share their opinions, the least they can do is register.

[Unregistered]

the first ammendment

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Unregistered
the first ammendment What about it?

Nobody is denying your freedom of speech, we're simply suggesting some accountability by first requiring registration.

[ayasin]

Originally posted by Unregistered
the first ammendment

The first amendment doesn't give you the right to spew garbage on servers you don't own. It prevents the _govenrnment_ from censoring you, not private owners. If ClieSource doesn't want you to post something on their site, they have an absolute right to stop you (moral and legal). If you still want to yell it, get on a soap box in front of your house and go to town.

[MerlinW]

Freedom of speech, does not apply on a private board, such as ClieSource,

As a owner of several Amateur radio lists, I have a right to decide if the post will hurt others on the list, and I do require people to sign up first, before they can post.

[Rizal]

You're right the 1st Amendment may not apply here but from what I've seen the owners seem very supportive of free speech in the sense of an exchange of ideas with minimal restrictions. whichever side of this debate you fall on it's hard to deny that registration is a restriction. Only the owners can decide if they want that.

[dorianne]

Originally posted by Molerat
Okay, here's my position...

The call for registrations seems purely reactionary. All I see are arguements that it will "limit crap" or "stop trolling." These are only proposed solutions to "problems" with the board. Unlike new fora, new software, or new features, registration does not *add* to ClieSource. It only attempts to solve perceived problems.

Now I have two comments on that:

1) It will not work. There is nothing to stop someone from registering a second hotmail account, registering a "dual" and posting warez. Without flood control, that one account can cause plenty of trouble before the administrators deactivate it. If you don't think anyone would go to that "trouble," you haven't been to many other boards...

2) ...ClieSource really has it pretty well. This is a bit more subjective than my first post. I've been to boards with troll problems much worse than here: all it takes is one disgruntled user to bring about registrations, restrictive flood control, moderator queues, and complicated warning/ban systems. ClieSource doesn't have those problems. Indeed it seems like the Old Guard drives most of the complaints. To the casual visitor, and to the unintiated, ClieSource is a wealth of information. If the purpose of this site is to further the CLIE platform, and it does so as is without major troll problems, why make things more cumbersome for the first-time visitor?

Now a suggestion:

Rather than blame Unregistered, the ClieSource community bares some of the blame.

Trolling is a problem as old as the Internet itself. But the solution isn't liked: ignore the trolls. All these threads end up doing is stroking the ego of some bored teenager. Instead of restricting well-intentioned CLIE newbies, we should do a bit of self-policing. Not a lynch mob, but smart posting. Report questionable threads to the moderator. Don't give it the exposure and bump up that comes with your reply. You're not going to accomplish anything. The best way to grow our troll population is to bump their threads and whine about the destruction of ClieSource. What is the warez thing you guys are talking about?

[Unregistered]

I am so bad, I wish I would have enough guts to register, but I am spineless and worthless, so someone please take my voice away before I say something else that offends the noblemen of the board. :)

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Unregistered
I am so bad, I wish I would have enough guts to register, but I am spineless and worthless, so someone please take my voice away before I say something else that offends the noblemen of the board. :) Too late

[X Destruction]

You're telling me :P Way too late..

[ayasin]

Originally posted by dorianne
What is the warez thing you guys are talking about?
Warez are illegally distributed (often cracked) pieces of software that float around the internet. They are typically a breeding ground for every kind of virus and worm infestation out on the net, but people download and use them because:
a. They are dishonest
b. They don't see it as stealing (wrongly)
c. They are stupid.
When most Palm software sells for 5 - 25 dollars and the developers are _hardly_ getting rich off it, to steal from them is contemptable (I don't just say this because I'm a developer myself). If you wouldn't dine and dash, don't pirate software, its the same thing.

[jedix]

Originally posted by Unregistered
I am so bad, I wish I would have enough guts to register, but I am spineless and worthless, so someone please take my voice away before I say something else that offends the noblemen of the board. :)



Oh sure, stay around. We love being insulted by those that can't identify themselves!:D At least you are honest!

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by Unregistered
I am so bad, I wish I would have enough guts to register, but I am spineless and worthless, so someone please take my voice away before I say something else that offends the noblemen of the board. :) "noblemen of the board" ... I like that, I think I'll change my sig!

[ballistic]

To date, I have not seen an argument that has changed my opinion that posting should require registration.

1. Posting should require registration. IMHO, if you want to contribute to this community in a constructive manner, registration is not an inconvenience that will deter true Clie devotees.

2. When registering, require a non-anonymous email account; no web email accounts such as hotmail, etc. As long as a strict privacy policy is in place that protects member information, most people will not have a problem with this.

3. The vast majority of flames, trolling, warez/cracks linking is done by unregistered users. If a registered member participates in these types of activities, it is easier for the moderator to take action by putting the offending member on notice or cancelling their account, thus reducing these types of behavior. Otherwise, moderators will spend much more time responding to complaints and locking or removing improper threads and links. Moderators will have much more time to contribute constructively, participate in threads,and keep people on topic.

Everyone else is free to browse these forums to look for news, information and solutions to common problems and issues. This is the best site for Clie owners and potential buyers. Registering is FREE and is a small 'price' to pay in order to become a contributing member of this community and keep this a focused, clean site.

[ballistic]

Originally posted by dorianne
What is the warez thing you guys are talking about?

The offending threads/links usually get removed ASAP as they violate forum policy. Therefore, you will not find them by doing a search.

[mjhamilton]

is there actually anyone with 'teeth' in this forum that can actually do something about what we are discussing??....

.............. at the end of the day we can whinge and moan but if god says 'no' then 'no' it is going to be!!!

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by mjhamilton
is there actually anyone with 'teeth' in this forum that can actually do something about what we are discussing??....

.............. at the end of the day we can whinge and moan but if god says 'no' then 'no' it is going to be!!! Sure, the moderators can make these changes and require registration... though I haven't heard them "weigh in" yet on what they think about all of this.

[mjhamilton]

anyone got a mod handle so that we can get them to 'weigh in'??

[ballistic]

Look at the top of the forum page (not an individual thread). The moderators are listed.

This one is moderated by *YellowRose*, fireball, Reggie, rldunn

[ballistic]

Just an observation; go through the all of the forums and I'd like to point out that the vast majority of the thread starters are registered members. Then go through each thread and you will find again that the vast majority of replies come from registered users.

Then go through THIS thread and I'll think you'd be surprised by the number of unregistered users that have replied. 7 out of 80 replies were from unregistered users, less than 10%.

[mjhamilton]

.. this may be true but in some of the treads they start some controversial arguments....... sometimes it is a bit like lighting the blue touchpaper and just walking away!!!!

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by ballistic
Just an observation; go through the all of the forums and I'd like to point out that the vast majority of the thread starters are registered members. Then go through each thread and you will find again that the vast majority of replies come from registered users.

Then go through THIS thread and I'll think you'd be surprised by the number of unregistered users that have replied. 7 out of 80 replies were from unregistered users, less than 10%. I'm not sure what's your point.

I will interpret this as being another argument in support of registration (since you've already indicated that). Since the majority of thread starters and repliers are ALREADY registered, then requiring registration is of minimal impact.

[ballistic]

Originally posted by mjhamilton
.. this may be true but in some of the treads they start some controversial arguments....... sometimes it is a bit like lighting the blue touchpaper and just walking away!!!!

Good point. I'm a firm believer in constructive debates and discussions; people can argue their point of view or voice their opinion in an eloquent, civilized, constructive manner.

What I don't believe in is starting an argument by posting an inflammatory statement.

My point is that the majority of problem posts come from unregistered users. The majority of unregistered users do not participate in this type of behavior, and in fact unregistered users do contribute a lot of constructive material, ideas and discussions. However, if requiring registration in order to post will significantly reduce the majority of problems in these forums as I have discussed my previous posts, I feel that it will not significantly discourage people from registering.

Just look at how many registered members there are and how many are actively posting.

Miscellaneous Stats

Registered Members 19384
Non-Active Members 11392
Active Members 7992
Admin/Moderators 24
News Articles: 100
Comments to News: 2517
Total Threads 9048
Total Posts 140015
Links in Web Links: 94
Categories in Links: 7
Total Forum views 2,717,890

41.2% of the people that have ever registered are actively contributing to this community. I think that is a pretty high number that speaks volumes as to the interest, dedication and longevity of people in this community.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by mjhamilton
anyone got a mod handle so that we can get them to 'weigh in'?? Well, I do, and I have (posted a couple times in this thread). ;)

I like Reggie's idea (mentioned earlier in this thread) of having one forum 'open' for unregistered posters, they rest being readable/searchable ONLY, although, I admit, I like the fact that Off-Topic is for registered only.

Closed/limited forums are the 'norm' for a large number of the boards I frequent.

Just my .02. :)

[Trick]

anyone should be able to post, nothing bothers me more than when i go to try and test out some forums and they make me register first.