02-13-2010, 08:12 AM
Cons:
Attracting potential members
Most web surfers like to sample a site before joining. Without a few random new members here & there, the forum may begin to stagnate because new members will only be those referred by folks already here or folks with a specific agenda.
Pros:
Really can't think of any.
OP commented on people's concern about "private info". Truthfully, no info we post in discussion area of forums is private. The "private info" is really in the member profile...for example: email address, location, b-day...
A happy middle ground may be making the newbie hell public and the rest private, but then some visitors may not understand that there's more to see than the newbie hell. To address that you could allow guests to see the various rooms but not read the threads inside.
Attracting potential members
Most web surfers like to sample a site before joining. Without a few random new members here & there, the forum may begin to stagnate because new members will only be those referred by folks already here or folks with a specific agenda.
Pros:
Really can't think of any.
OP commented on people's concern about "private info". Truthfully, no info we post in discussion area of forums is private. The "private info" is really in the member profile...for example: email address, location, b-day...
A happy middle ground may be making the newbie hell public and the rest private, but then some visitors may not understand that there's more to see than the newbie hell. To address that you could allow guests to see the various rooms but not read the threads inside.
I will not be participating at this forum.
This is a toxic place. Goodbye.
This is a toxic place. Goodbye.