Mods/Admins - New Postings

[Hammer]

Dear Mods and Admins,

Since a new year has arrived with a new board for the most part, I would like you all to consider a new direction for this forum. I feel that the following rules for the Forum would make a difference in the quality of postings here:

1. Only members of the Net Registry should be allowed to post here, there is the CF for those that aren't members.
2. All members and visitors should have their profile correctly filled out

Others can visit and read all the posts they want, but if you want to add to this Forum, join the Club.

Thanks

[Tom]

I disagree with #1, I believe it would only reduce the number of replies and postings and therefore reduce the usefulness of this forum. I believe at one time there was a members only forum and it was eliminated. CF already has more postings and replies than this forum.

On #2, I don't pay any attention to the profiles so I don't care if they are filled out or not.

[guinnessdood]

It would be sweet to get more folks to "live" here rather than CF if they are ZR-1ers....One way to begin accomplishing that is to answer the CF questions on this forum and paste a link to the answer in the CF. CF may have some issue with that though...I don't really know.

[Hammer]

Only two posts to this in 7 hours. I know it's a work day, but maybe that's why the CF is the place people go now. Come on, chime in.

Maybe it's posted in the wrong place.

I'll be back tomorrow.

[bobbyhi]

Ok John, here is my $.02 worth.

There are times that I feel like you regarding only members can post. But in reality, there is competion from CF. I am a "lurker" at CF but my real "family" is here. Although I haven't met many of the members I feel that I can ask any questions and always have a good response here. I don't get that feeling at CF. Our members here, I feel, have a better bond with each other than at CF. I would like to see the profiles at least put the location of each member. There are still a few that don't have where they reside. This information is very helpful in answering questions that arise. Enough of this - got to get back to work. Rember that it is our quest to keep the KOTH alive!!!

[GrayZ]

It's be nice..if it was only zr1 members..JOHN>>BBUTT..
there wouldn't be anyone here...

i tried to get the boys to post more over here..

more than once...

how'd that make me feel??
they are still over there..in force...
and it's a great place...it's just well...this is ours...and i think we should
use it ...or we'll lose it....ya know? so i promise to post something
everyday...whether i need to or not...

[Z Factor]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Dear Mods and Admins,

Since a new year has arrived with a new board for the most part, I would like you all to consider a new direction for this forum. I feel that the following rules for the Forum would make a difference in the quality of postings here:

1. Only members of the Net Registry should be allowed to post here, there is the CF for those that aren't members.
2. All members and visitors should have their profile correctly filled out

Others can visit and read all the posts they want, but if you want to add to this Forum, join the Club.

Thanks

We are always open to suggestions, and as you know the profile issue regarding location is now a required field to register.
However not everyone would be willing to fill out all the fields in the user profile, so we might wind up losing some potential posters. Very few forums require all profile fields to be filled in and for now I think we strike a good balance in that regard. As to the majority of the members who are already registered and do not list their location, we cannot go back retroactively to require it. We have however run a few contests with the stipulation that to be eligible a location must be listed. Friendly encouragement from fellow posters can also help to get more people to list their location.

As to the issue of restricting the forum to ZR-1 Net Registry members only, I think we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face. For starters, we have new registrants who are looking to buy or find more information about ZR-1's and this is a great place to do so. Limiting their ability to interact and asks questions of the rest of us would only lead to them going to other sites. Furthermore the forum serves as a recruitment resource for membership to those who buy ZR-1's or are enthusiasts.

We would certainly like to find more ways to have people posting here rather than on CF, and any and all suggestions/recommendations are welcome. We have hit on a few good ideas over the years and hopefully we will continue to do so.

[DaveK]

As one of the some time 'lurkers' I have to disagree with the first point. I don't have a Z yet - I plan to buy one soon (thought I had one lined up but that's a different matter) but until then the need to join is a little low key. To me making this a 'members only' forum would only likely discourage potential members/owners.

In terms of the profile I don't have a problem with making it as 'tight' as is required - though speaking from experience (I'm a professional web systems developer) - making sign up forms and profiles require too much information is another sure-fire way of putting people off. If the intention is to bring more discussion here I can't see those things helping.

On the other hand if a 'members only' forum is required for some reason then go for it.

[Z R 1]

Being one of your newest members I was very put off reading the original post. I too am in the market for a ZR-1 and migrated over from CF to learn more about the Z and was hoping to find more/better questions to my question here. If I would have had to become a paying member to ask questions about the Z to help with my purchase I immediately would have and will look elsewhere! I had no problem with filling out my profile as much as I could. Being that I do not own a Z as of yet I was not able to complete that part about year, color, and such. It was degrading to learn you have members here that have the "if you are not a paid member of the club you don't belong here and your voice should not be heard" snotty type attitude. As far as only "paid members" being able to post yeilding better quality posts, well learn from this: As a result of this thread I am going to stay over at CF. You not only lost a fourm lurker/poster you lost any chance of a future paid member. I would think twice before you let your "paid" members post insulting proposals of the such! Please feel free to remove my profile as I will not be back!

[Z Factor]

Originally Posted by Z R 1

Being one of your newest members I was very put off reading the original post.

Though I can understand you being somewhat put off by the suggestion, I think you are going a little overboard in your reaction to one persons idea.

I think you will find that there are many different points of view regarding how people go about things regardless of where you hang out. The common bond of our forum is the love of ZR-1's. Among us there are no doubt many different perspectives politically, spiritually, and varied ways of living our lives. That does not mean you should take such an extreme position by wanting to leave based on one opinion/view. The CF has many more posters and given time you will no doubt find some of them will also put you off. It is unlikely that you will find any forum that exactly mirrors your point of view, so to consider leaving over such things will probably result in you not finding a place to feel comfortable in.

As you can see if you read the responses, most of your fellow posters do not think it would achieve the results the OP would like to see come about. I would suggest you reconsider leaving with the understanding that the OP's suggestion regarding paid membership is not something we are planning to do.

Any suggestions you might have on how to increase participation on the forum will be welcome.