I've been browsing around some other forums last week. I noticed a lot of names of people that became members here lately, but are not posting here. They are posting elsewhere tho. Question: is it too difficult (with e-mail verification and all that) to even start posting here? I think we could well use some knowledgable active posters round here and they may be feel objected.

Quoted from Bobber

I've been browsing around some other forums last week. I noticed a lot of names of people that became members here lately, but are not posting here. [...]

Very interesting question!  

I've always been wondering why some people spend some time logging themselves in here if they wouldn't post nothing   ...

... and there was a time (last spring, for example) when we used to have a daily new member ... strange, I thought, that they never posted   ... I can't figure out why but it seems to be a problem here ... I used to think it was to avoid our "friend" from Germany was allowed to post wherever he wante but we've seen that he has done it more than once since then so I can't simply answer the question but I would like to know why ...

Quoted from Bobber

I've been browsing around some other forums last week. I noticed a lot of names of people that became members here lately, but are not posting here. They are posting elsewhere tho. Question: is it too difficult (with e-mail verification and all that) to even start posting here? I think we could well use some knowledgable active posters round here and they may be feel objected.

Well, I'm not sure what the e-mail verification is all about, but in any case, if they're already members, and not posting, one has to assume that they've already been through that part?

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Well, I'm not sure what the e-mail verification is all about, but in any case, if they're already members, and not posting, one has to assume that they've already been through that part?

I'm not so sure ... I think that after the request they have to wait till they receive the password (after that mentioned e-mail verification) however their nicknames are in the list since the first minute, I think ... but I don't think that means that they're allowed to post ... I don't know how it's nowadays but more or less it was so in the past ... mainly because an old european "friend"  

Here is the registration procedure:
A newcomer fills registration form. He becomes a new member and his nikname appears among other members right away. You can see on the forums there is a new member. He can't post until he pass two steps of validation: 1. Is to make sure he uses his real e-mail. 2. Validation by an administrator.
Sometimes when pass two steps a new member still don't post. We don't know what;s wrong with him  
If a new member don't validate his e-mail in about two weeks I delete him. You'll not see him then.

Thanks for all the info ... but how do you know that he/she uses his "real" e-mail? some people could give a "recent" e-mail, for example ...

A new member get a e-mail with a link to the forums with special code. He must follow the link so e-mail verification will be passed. If the member don't give his e-mail he will not get a link and so will not pass first step of validation.
If a new member uses e-mail that he got special for registering at forums then there is no way to find out it. He'll pass e-mail verification and will post. Nothing wrong with it until he is someone like - old european "friend" - We will delete him then.

Who is this 'old european friend' I keep hearing about?

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Who is this 'old european friend' I keep hearing about?

The same as a member who breaks forum rules and insults others  

Quoted from Dmitry

The same as a member who breaks forum rules and insults others  

He's not -let's say- very polite either ... BlueMeanie, you're lucky if you don't know him ...

Obviously, Beatlesfans who are willing to join in at a forum, register at a couple of forums at the same time. If they can start posting right away, that might be the one they keep coming back at.

That is how it used to be on here until Dirk came along and kept re-registering - that's when member validation came in.

Should we turn it back?

Quoted from Bobber

Should we turn it back?

We can put it to the vote  

I think we sshould make it as easy and welcoming as possible for people to join, and we shouldn't let one person (ie Dirke) decide for us.

I agree with Kevin here. Oh, ehm, not just here.

I suppose if we all keep an eye out for Dirk and report him to the mods as soon as he appears (which does happen already anyway) we could re-open unvalidated membership.

Only one problem though, the bootleg forums are hidden from non-members but if we open membership to anyone they will be visible straight away. Perhaps we could limit to members who have been here for one month or more - what do you reckon?

Quoted from The End

[...]
Only one problem though, the bootleg forums are hidden from non-members but if we open membership to anyone they will be visible straight away. Perhaps we could limit to members who have been here for one month or more - what do you reckon?

I'm not going to be the one who'll say what to do but I see that this point could be a problem, yep, and we've got some treasures at those forums that we should share with all the good ones ...

I don't know exactly how much time/posts we need to say if one is him or not (I guess, for example, that a month is much more than enough) but we can't lose new members because it's difficult to become one ... after all, there are only four members (two administrators and two moderators) here who can give the password to new members so they should be sure of that step and for the rest of forums: we all can take care of him ... I'm optimistic, you see  

Perhaps we should give it a go and see what happens - what say you lot?!

What about me I agree!
But where is a lot? I believe we need a support  

I have e-mailed to all registered members. Maybe any old ones will come back  

I'll be back.

I have no power to delete or ban a member (read: D) however. However, I think it's a good plan to keep our secrets to ourselves somewhat. I have noticed that I more or less act upon my intuition. I didn't hesitate to supply the password to members such as bromio and pnxo.

Yeah, maybe hold off giving out the passwords for a month for new members - what do you reckon?

I think a mod can ban someone's IP - I'm not sure if it will impact on all boards though - best to check with DM on that one.

Quoted from Dmitry

What about me I agree!
But where is a lot? I believe we need a support  

Do you think we'll need some more mods?

Quoted from The End

Do you think we'll need some more mods?

Nah. I say let it be exclusive.    By the way: I want my name in green!

Quoted from The End

I think a mod can ban someone's IP - I'm not sure if it will impact on all boards though - best to check with DM on that one.

I tried it once on behalf of Dirk. But when I clicked 'OK' it said I had no access. So it's just for the admins. I'm willing to try again though. You wanna ban someone specific?  

It wasn't difficult to join in the first place. And I had my bootleg forum password a few days later (wasn't cheeky enough to ask for it straight away!).

Maybe you could hand out passwords after 100 posts? That way you'd know that the person was genuninely interested in the forum and not joining just for the boots.

Time to turn things back like they used to be?

It seems so ... I agree!

Quoted from raxo

It seems so ... I agree!

yeah we know you have a vested interest.....f m o

Quoted from BlueMeanie

It wasn't difficult to join in the first place. And I had my bootleg forum password a few days later (wasn't cheeky enough to ask for it straight away!).

Maybe you could hand out passwords after 100 posts? That way you'd know that the person was genuninely interested in the forum and not joining just for the boots.

I like that idea. The endisgay is the new Dirk then.  

Quoted from An Apple Beatle

The endisgay is the new Dirk then.  

No, it's me - I'm outa the closet!!!

I personally don't think it has been too bad since we opened the doors - well, not as bad as it could have been!

Quoted from The End

No, it's me - I'm outa the closet!!!

Glad you've finalley done!  We'd got some short-age of pure air in-side here!LOL!  

Sure Rax.

Quoted from 366

Sure Rax.

Well, I didn't want to tell who more were here with us! LOL!