Should Guest Posting Be Turned Off?

[Red5]

For the last few days we've been running the forum with guest posting turned off. This has meant that anyone wanting to use the forum needed to register before they were allowed to post.

We're keen to find out whether our regular users think this is a good idea or not. Therefore, please vote in this poll and tell us what you think!

Thanks!

[Nightmare85]

I voted yes.

If guests don't even take their time to register (which takes a few minutes), then I doubt that most of them actually make an effort.
I often read guest threads like:
"Which one is correct? A or B?"

And most times you will never see guests again, no thanks, nothing.
You don't even know who is who.

Cheers!

[TheParser]

Originally Posted by Red5

For the last few days we've been running the forum with guest posting turned off. This has meant that anyone wanting to use the forum needed to register before they were allowed to post.

We're keen to find out whether our regular users think this is a good idea or not. Therefore, please vote in this poll and tell us what you think!

Thanks!

I cast a vote for allowing anyone to post. The more posters the better.

It means more questions and more visitors to the website. It simply makes

the website more interesting and encourages more participation.

Thank you

[Abstract Idea]

Both sides have pros and cons and it is really tough to decide which is better.
Maybe it could be allowed for guests to freely post only on the "ask a teacher" forum.
Maybe only one or two posts could be allowed before registering (control by cookie or accessing IP).

Anyway I thank the administrators for considering the members opinions.

[Raymott]

I'd like to register that I don't care either way. But that's not an available option.
Still, I'd support anything that keeps the riff-raff out.

[Tdol]

One worry I have had for a while with unregistered posters is how they ever find their answers, though it was switched off as a temporary anti-riff-raff measure.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by ymnisky

Both sides have pros and cons and it is really tough to decide which is better.
Maybe it could be allowed for guests to freely post only on the "ask a teacher" forum.
Maybe only one or two posts could be allowed before registering (control by cookie or accessing IP).

Anyway I thank the administrators for considering the members opinions.

I think this is a good idea. It would also reinforce the idea that the Ask a Teacher forum is different. It meets Tdol's worry as well. Hear hear.

b

[Nightmare85]

Weren't most threads created in the "Ask a teacher" section?
I think that was their main "target"
Even if it's a bit "unfair", most forums I know don't allow any guest posts.
And yes, sometimes I also ask myself, "Will he ever read my answer?"
If s/he's a member you can at least check her/his last activity (normally).

Cheers!

[Offroad]

I voted 'No'.

Anyone should be allowed to post.

[Raymott]

One result of switching it off is that the site will accumulate a huge number of members who post 0 or 1 time. That won't affect most members.
I know this, because I've done similar on other forums where I needed a specific piece of advice but have no longterm interest in the subject. You have to register, so you do.