Guest (Unregistered) Policy Change

[John Clare]

As of today, 8th April 2012, we have instituted a new policy for guests (that means people who have not registered but view the site anyhow). Unregistered people have a limited number of page views for the advanced section topics. The beginner/help and general topics will remain unlimited access. How does this affect you? If you are registered, then it doesn't affect you at all!

Thanks!

PS: Unlike the last announcement, this is not an April Fools !

[Jacob Bidinger]

Originally Posted by John

How does this affect you?

It affects you because the less people on the outside can see, the less desire there is to join the site.

Think about it, if outsiders can mostly see the repulsive "HELP! Spanky is bloated and hairy!" threads they most likely will not want to join.

[Jesse]

Also, if they are limited, what of one of their animals has an emergency? Something dire. They need to be confirmed to join the site and that takes up to a day. If they can't view threads with possible solutions to the problem due to a limit, their animal could lose its life.

[Kaysie]

I had similar concerns. John has allowed a generous numbers of 'free views', and again, this does not limit availability of the 'help' and 'beginner' sections.

[Jesse]

Ah, ok I seemed to have overlooked the part concerining the help section.

[John Clare]

Originally Posted by Jake

It affects you because the less people on the outside can see, the less desire there is to join the site.

Think about it, if outsiders can mostly see the repulsive "HELP! Spanky is bloated and hairy!" threads they most likely will not want to join.

Hi Jake,

You know, a few years ago I would have agreed with you on this, but we have years of experience that proves it not to be the case. We have, for years, had 10-15% of users on the site at any given time actually signed in. That's terrible.

The site moderators and admins used to agree with you too by the way. Now they've seen the numbers long enough to change their minds.

[Jacob Bidinger]

Originally Posted by John

We have, for years, had 10-15% of users on the site at any given time actually signed in. That's terrible.

So you think shutting the ones who lurk out will solve that?

[John Clare]

Well, the idea is that they join the forum and hopefully contribute to the discussions rather than living vicariously through the rest of us.

[Jacob Bidinger]

If they haven't joined they probably don't want to join the conversation. The ones who are forced to join because they want to see more than just the bloated and hairy threads may not post anything after they join (remember they weren't talkative in the first place).

[Rodrigo]

Or they might decide to participate after having taken the trouble to register. Sometimes people need a little push. Clearly this won´t work for everybody, then again, nothing does.

[Jacob Bidinger]

If there were more interesting/intelligent conversations going on here, that would certainly be a way to get people to join...without blocking them out if they don't join.

Just a thought. :)

[Rodrigo]

I´m all for that! More interesting conversations. We do have a problem with users who don´t contribute anything.

[Mark]

Nobody is being shut out here. It takes less than a minute to complete the registration form and click the submit button. The new policy isn't going to affect the majority of guests that are just passing through with a fleeting interest in our hobby.

Is it any great loss if a guest who regularly enjoys reading the content of the forum but has no intention of contributing refuses to sign up? A forum is only as good as the contributions its members make. Lurking in the shadows does not benefit the community.

However, those that do feel it's worth spending a minute registering to continue enjoying the forum are more than welcome on board, even if they don't contribute to discussions, and who knows, once signed in they may be more inclined to click the reply button.

[John Clare]

Well said Mark.