Members Only

So I had some people express concern over guests reading the forum, and now I have people angry that guests can't read the forum. I don't know what I can do to make both people happy, but I thought I'd ask opinions. Currently you can't read the forum unless you are logged in, I don't think it takes that long to log in so I don't really see why it's a huge hassle.

I'd prefer if you allowed guests to read the forum. i'm usually at work or school, jumpin on different computers, so my log in info isn't saved. i used to read through a bunch of threads, then log in to post...

i mean, i don't think it's a big deal to log in, but why not allow guests to browse and read through the forum? --- i don't think we have too many secretive convos going on here lol

I'm on the fence with this one. It's nice to be able to read forums without having to join, for some people that encourages them to join cuz they can see what they're getting.

I can't think of a reason why they should be kept private, but for some reason I like the idea of it being an area kept for members only. Hrm.

JamaicaSka wrote:

I'm on the fence with this one. It's nice to be able to read forums without having to join, for some people that encourages them to join cuz they can see what they're getting.

I can't think of a reason why they should be kept private, but for some reason I like the idea of it being an area kept for members only. Hrm.

Yeah, I wouldn't have joined if I hadn't of been able to read it first. Wanted to know if it was a good forum or another flaming ground.

However, with the myspace post you can afford to be more choosy, asking people to sign up isn' that big of a deal.

I'd say make it so everyone can view the forum, but members get access to certain forums (audio and video).

So pretty much... keep it like it was.

What patron said.

Yeah, I'm with Patron.

Everyone can read, but only members can post or get at the Audio/Video sections.

(What if the band was curious one day? Do you want to force them to have to sign up to read the forum?)

I've saved the username fluffybunny for Tom.

i think it should be members only
elclusive like

but thats just me. im new, what do i know

because people have pic s and links on here, so i think AM! forum members only. it would encourage people to join. i hate lurkers.

I like the idea of being able to keep some things private, like video, audio, any messages from the band or whatever. It's too bad we can't mark individual posts or threads members only. I don't think it's that big of a deal; we could always keep it members only for a trial run and see how it works And if the band gets snoopy, they can always sign up with a fake name. Of course, now we know Tom's alias already.

Zombie thread!

I remember we had it members only at one time and Lex would get weird messages from people bitching about it, because they didn't want to have to sign in every time they visited the forum. I don't know if the whole thing should be members only, a lot of people have joined after having a chance to lurk the forums a little and decide if they like what they see or not. At least lurkers can't see the video/audio, extra links, chatbox, or members profiles.

I'm always the first one to be elitist, but I say keep it open. If someone wants to steal audio/info, they'll find a way regardless.

I want to say everything private just for the whole fact with AP stealing drumma's story and everything, but then again if everything was private like some people said new mambers might not join... I think more sections of the forum should be private, but not everything.

JAPSoccer13 wrote:

just for the whole fact with AP stealing drumma's story and everything

Wait, what? When did that happen?

I'm still missing a few things after my absence. Anyone care to explain? :/

yahh drumma just posted about what warren told her about the bus accident, and within hours AP had a story out quoting her account from the forum.

damn the man.

im on the fence over the issue also though.

i could understand the reasoning either way.
i think a private forum would be cool though.

maybe have some certain areas of the forum only visible by members. ? just a thought.

vb wrote:

I like the idea of being able to keep some things private, like video, audio, any messages from the band or whatever. It's too bad we can't mark individual posts or threads members only. I don't think it's that big of a deal; we could always keep it members only for a trial run and see how it works And if the band gets snoopy, they can always sign up with a fake name. Of course, now we know Tom's alias already.

I agree with her. Someone sent me the link for the forum and I was able to check it out a bit before I signed up and became a member so I think it would be nice for other people to have that opportunity, but maybe have some things private?

It's a bit hypocritical I know, but it's kinda nice to have a strictly private forum, too, haha.

I definitely say just keep Audio/Video private. I mean, I was kind of thinking maybe Spam/General Chat, due to people posting pictures of them and all that on there, but I think that you're taking a risk anyways, by posting them on the internet, in general.

i own three members only jackets.

Don't you have a pink one?

AnnaIsAFuckingStoolPigeon wrote:

I definitely say just keep Audio/Video private. I mean, I was kind of thinking maybe Spam/General Chat, due to people posting pictures of them and all that on there, but I think that you're taking a risk anyways, by posting them on the internet, in general.

yeah maybe tahts a good idea. I dunno...has anything changed since?

Nope. It's the same as I said before, the sections that are private are the video/audio section, extra links, the chatbox, guests can't view profiles or look at the memberlist and lurk somebody's old posts. I think it's fine the way it is, we get a lot of our users after they have a chance to check some things out and a lot of people sign up after realizing that they'll be able to look at the extra links section if they do.

Smart move. And I agree it's best as is.