Opening up the forum.....

**PDXnative** · 01-18-2007, 05:48 PM

I don't think any part of this forum should be hidden. I know that you have it set up so that you must post 5 messages before you can see some of the other forums. But that is just going to keep people away. They will drop in, see no activity or not see what they are looking for, and go back to another website. Who cares if C-D has spies over here. Maybe they will see how much cooler it is over here and jump ship and possibly take a few friends with them. People are coming here for the freedom to speak and lack of authoritarianism. But by hiding these forums, are you not also acting in an authoritarian way?

**MyAzi** · 01-18-2007, 06:04 PM

I am going to disagree. If some people come and read about all that is going on and don't have a clue...that could scare them off before they know anyone or how great this site is.

I for one would go away and find something else rather than come into a situation I am not familiar with and not want to get involved in, when I am just looking for info on a certain state or city. Need to break them in gently!

**PDXnative** · 01-18-2007, 06:06 PM

There is a greater chance that they won't even stay as they won't see what fun we are having in the limited areas.

**MyAzi** · 01-18-2007, 06:22 PM

then I guess we better start having some fun in those "limited" areas!

But keep the CD etc...stuff for the rest of us... besides... it's only 5 posts. If they can't do that in one day.. maybe they won't stay around anyway...

Your thoughts?

**CandyApple** · 01-18-2007, 06:54 PM

A potential member won't even realize those forums exist, so not being able to access them won't irritate them. They might be annoyed with having to be logged in once they are a member, though. Some of these forums probably wouldn't be interesting unless you were a member anyway, like the testing zone. But I see what you're saying.

On another site I go to they have a "rant and rave" section that only registered members can see. It's specifically designed as a place where the users can "talk amongst themselves" without it being broadcast to the whole internet. Maybe we could do something like that, too, and open up everything else to the public.

I think one reason to keep certain parts off limits is to protect members that come over here but don't want to be banned from city-data. Another reason is to keep city-data from knowing about certain workaround methods. Other than that, I don't know why we'd restrict certain parts of the site. I'd have to log out to see, but isn't every general section except general US blocked off? I don't see why it's necessary to keep people from seeing the gardening forum.

**MyAzi** · 01-18-2007, 07:00 PM

I understood that all the state and general forum can be viewed. That the off topic forum couldn't.

Admin can you refresh our memory!!!

**the dufferz** · 01-18-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyAzi

I understood that all the state and general forum can be viewed. That the off topic forum couldn't.

Admin can you refresh our memory!!!

The restriction on new members really was something that came about after I was banned. It was expanded when just being a member would allow C-D spies to see who as here.

I am going to pm the admin about a couple of things regarding this.

**CandyApple** · 01-18-2007, 07:11 PM

Ok, I logged out and saw which forums are visible. I didn't count them, but I assume all 50 of the states are there. :)

In the site section only the rules and site news are visible. In general discussion only general US and International (Link) is visible.

01-18-2007, 05:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
PDXnative Omnipotent Join Date: Jan 16th, 2007 Posts: 1,823	Opening up the forum..... I don't think any part of this forum should be hidden. I know that you have it set up so that you must post 5 messages before you can see some of the other forums. But that is just going to keep people away. They will drop in, see no activity or not see what they are looking for, and go back to another website. Who cares if C-D has spies over here. Maybe they will see how much cooler it is over here and jump ship and possibly take a few friends with them. People are coming here for the freedom to speak and lack of authoritarianism. But by hiding these forums, are you not also acting in an authoritarian way?

01-18-2007, 06:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
MyAzi Slave to Sir Azi Join Date: Jan 14th, 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 1,306	Re: Opening up the forum..... I am going to disagree. If some people come and read about all that is going on and don't have a clue...that could scare them off before they know anyone or how great this site is. I for one would go away and find something else rather than come into a situation I am not familiar with and not want to get involved in, when I am just looking for info on a certain state or city. Need to break them in gently! __________________ FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY

01-18-2007, 06:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
PDXnative Omnipotent Join Date: Jan 16th, 2007 Posts: 1,823	Re: Opening up the forum..... There is a greater chance that they won't even stay as they won't see what fun we are having in the limited areas.

01-18-2007, 06:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
MyAzi Slave to Sir Azi Join Date: Jan 14th, 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 1,306	Re: Opening up the forum..... then I guess we better start having some fun in those "limited" areas! But keep the CD etc...stuff for the rest of us... besides... it's only 5 posts. If they can't do that in one day.. maybe they won't stay around anyway... Your thoughts? __________________ FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY

01-18-2007, 06:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
CandyApple Back Online! Join Date: Dec 23rd, 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 313	Re: Opening up the forum..... A potential member won't even realize those forums exist, so not being able to access them won't irritate them. They might be annoyed with having to be logged in once they are a member, though. Some of these forums probably wouldn't be interesting unless you were a member anyway, like the testing zone. But I see what you're saying. On another site I go to they have a "rant and rave" section that only registered members can see. It's specifically designed as a place where the users can "talk amongst themselves" without it being broadcast to the whole internet. Maybe we could do something like that, too, and open up everything else to the public. I think one reason to keep certain parts off limits is to protect members that come over here but don't want to be banned from city-data. Another reason is to keep city-data from knowing about certain workaround methods. Other than that, I don't know why we'd restrict certain parts of the site. I'd have to log out to see, but isn't every general section except general US blocked off? I don't see why it's necessary to keep people from seeing the gardening forum.

01-18-2007, 07:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
MyAzi Slave to Sir Azi Join Date: Jan 14th, 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 1,306	Re: Opening up the forum..... I understood that all the state and general forum can be viewed. That the off topic forum couldn't. Admin can you refresh our memory!!! __________________ FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY

01-18-2007, 07:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
CandyApple Back Online! Join Date: Dec 23rd, 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 313	Re: Opening up the forum..... Ok, I logged out and saw which forums are visible. I didn't count them, but I assume all 50 of the states are there. :) In the site section only the rules and site news are visible. In general discussion only general US and International (Link) is visible.

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