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Lee Schierer
02-21-2003, 8:47 PM
Kieth suggested that I submit this question to the group.

Currently you can only post as a member. Many of us came to the Pond and lurked from some time before stepping forward to post a question. When we saw the number os responses and helpful information that was provided to our question, we decided to join up. So here are my questions:

1. Should the forum be members only for posting?

2. Should the forum be set up so that members are displayed one way and non members are displayed differently, but everyone should be able to post.

3. Should both members and non-members be alowed to post with no difference?

4. Don't really care either way.

Mike Brewster
02-21-2003, 9:23 PM
Lee,

I voted for members only. Although I really enjoy the open nature of the web and I would encourage all to participate, this software allows easy posting of pictures and links that don't belong here. There is an example of what I'm speaking of on the WC board as I wright this. Allowing only members to post would at least slow some of these idiots down a little, and might provide better tracking so that problem individuals can be tracked and reported to thier ISP.

Mike

Ted Shrader
02-21-2003, 9:30 PM
Originally posted by Mike Brewster
Lee,

I voted for members only. Although I really enjoy the open nature of the web and I would encourage all to participate, this software allows easy posting of pictures and links that don't belong here. There is an example of what I'm speaking of on the WC board as I wright this. Allowing only members to post would at least slow some of these idiots down a little, and might provide better tracking so that problem individuals can be tracked and reported to thier ISP.

Mike

Mike is exactly right! Members w/ names, not handles, help to keep it a friendly place. The ease of posting pictures makes the board more vulnerable to possible inappropriate ones. Requiring registration will also help deter a "drive by" flaming.

Ted

Walt Drummond
02-21-2003, 9:51 PM
Lee,

I agree with Mike. Takes 2 seconds to register, and maybe it will keep the family flavor a little longer. My $0.02.

Ken Salisbury
02-22-2003, 7:02 AM
I voted for members only. To allow everyone to post would be a disaster. With the ease with which it is to post pictures you would have every weirdo in cyper space posting God knows what. We would even be inindated with porno pics, ads, politcal statements and on and on. It would take "real time" moderators with supersonic typing speeds to keep the board clean.
<p align="center"> Definitely Members Only
<p align="center">
<IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/indianwarrior.gif">

Dave Anderson NH
02-22-2003, 8:00 AM
We can prevent most flames, irritating advertisements, and other forms of aggravation by allowing only members to psot. I think it would also make life far easier for the administrators and moderators. Keith, Aaron, etc don't need a bunch of extra work and we can keep it to a minimum by allowing posting only by registered members. Registration is a rite of passage and I don't particularly like having folks use only "handles" to identify themselves. There is also the advantage of having a little knolwdge about the psoter by looking at their info in the left column or by going to the member section and looking them up. This advantage also accrues to the person posting since responses can be tailored to their location, age, and their particular interests.

Dave Hammelef
02-22-2003, 9:22 AM
Hey, I did this poll before, Before the core dump that is. And it looks like your results are running the same and I have to agree. its easy to register, and should make life easier on the moderators. If you have an open forum your moderators have to watch things alot closer. How does that comercial go Membership has its advantages. I think it also helps with the sense of community

Jason Roehl
02-22-2003, 10:45 AM
I have to jump on the bandwagon here. The simple, extra step of registration will inevitably weed out a plethora of inappropriate posts, thereby easing the load on the admins and moderators, and keep this board nearly as clean and inviting as the Pond.

Jason

John M. Cioffi
02-22-2003, 12:04 PM
MEMBERS ONLY!!!

Thanks to Keith & co. we now have a "Haven" for the Pond.
A clean,close-knit,comfortable place to live & swim freely in.
I'm thankful to have such a place;or I would have vanished like the pond will.

Wayne's goal & objective was to provide a place to learn & grow,no matter what your level,experience or ability may be.
The rules he set & abided by,gave us a near perfect place to be a part of. YOU CAN'T GROW & DEVELOPE W/O RULES!!!

This place is already all that & is getting even BETTER by the day,thanks to Keith & CO.

My vote is for members only,because being a part of something good, makes a good difference in your whole life. That's the kind of "sawdust" we want to see in EVERYONE.

Rules are not to eliminate.....but to expose the very best in all.

Keith,
Thanks for stepping up to the plate;at just the right time!
Thanks to you & your Staff, for working so feverishly to provide that Better Place......where Sawdust is Golden!! YAHOO!!!

ALL of you are the greatest!!!

"The Rookie,who IS improving"!

W.C. Turner
02-22-2003, 12:29 PM
Lee,

I voted for members only. While I dislike a lot of rules, we have to be able to keep everythng civil, and family like, for this to work like we prefer it.

Rick Potter
02-23-2003, 1:11 AM
It only takes a few minutes to join. Names keep us honest.

Rick Potter

Chris Damm
02-23-2003, 6:24 AM
Members only! Cuts down on the Trolls.

Jerry Todd
02-23-2003, 12:08 PM
I voted for members only. It makes for a more kinder, open minded & receptive forum.
Jerry

Bill Murphy
02-23-2003, 12:14 PM
I also voted "members only", for all of the reasons listed above.

Mike Cutler
02-23-2003, 1:26 PM
I'm not being an elitist here, But I agree that only members should be allowed to post. I like the civility here and would prefer to see it stay as such, so I like the full name requirement also. I don't believe that either of these requirements are overly burdensome to alllow participation.

Ron Jones near Indy
02-23-2003, 1:40 PM
for all of the above reasons

PeterTorresani
02-23-2003, 3:54 PM
It seems like I am on the short side of the teeter-totter, but I don't think an open forum would be as big a problem as the earlier posts envision.

Registration gives the appearance of a closed community. It may be very tight knit, but for a novice woodworker, web browser or both, the registration "hurdle" may be a big one. Not a physical hurdle, but a psycological one.

One of the nice things about the pond was that you could lurk and reply to a message or two very easily. If there are lurkers here who have some real insight, but do not want to register, we would lose (or never gain) that knowledge base.

It would be pretty easy to change the rules in the future if the board was littered with porn, politics, and pontifications (pretty good alliteration, huh).

JMTC

P.S. I agree that names should be required for posts.

Lee Schierer
02-24-2003, 8:11 AM
Originally posted by PeterTorresani
It seems like I am on the short side of the teeter-totter, but I don't think an open forum would be as big a problem as the earlier posts envision.

Registration gives the appearance of a closed community. It may be very tight knit, but for a novice woodworker, web browser or both, the registration "hurdle" may be a big one. Not a physical hurdle, but a psycological one.

One of the nice things about the pond was that you could lurk and reply to a message or two very easily. If there are lurkers here who have some real insight, but do not want to register, we would lose (or never gain) that knowledge base.

It would be pretty easy to change the rules in the future if the board was littered with porn, politics, and pontifications (pretty good alliteration, huh).

JMTC

P.S. I agree that names should be required for posts.

That was my thinking exactly. It is just as easy to sign up with a phoney name and email as it is to post using your real name and registering might scare off newcomers who may be afraid of what they are really getting into by signing up. Far too many sites out there add you to a junk mail list and you get swamped with junk mail and can't get off the list. While we all know that doesn't happen here, newcomers don't.

Lee

Mike Grennier
02-24-2003, 9:17 AM
All.

We're in a building stage right now. I think if we only allow "members" to post, that might dissuade some folks for coming on board...

This isn't a country club, is it?

Mike

Kneale Brownson
02-24-2003, 10:25 PM
I'd favor members-only posting rules with full names required.

While the apparent openness of Badger Pond was attractive, it meant that Wayne had to spend most of his waking hours watching for bad postings/posters and tracking down their internet access in order to bar future intrusions. That's probably part of the reason he's "moving on".

Lurkers still can read. If they really want to contribute, it's easy enough to join in.

Roger Myers
02-25-2003, 6:25 PM
My vote is for members only - it was the civility of the pond that really made it distinctive from so many other places on the web. In many cases the worst in people appears when they can keep their identity a secret.
Just my 2 cents worth...

by the way, to Keith, Aron et all...this place is really shaping up great! Thanks so much for your efforts!!

Roger

Ernie Kuhn
02-28-2003, 4:02 PM
Please count my vote toward "Members ONly", for all the reasons already stated.

Ron McNeil
02-28-2003, 9:13 PM
I cast my vote for members only to have the right to post. Vistors I believe are truly welcome. However, after lurking for so long I would think one would make a decision to jump in and get wet or go inland and stay dry. No, Sawmill Creek is not a Country Club but it will be home to a lot of members and the community is growing all the time.:p

Peter Stahl
02-28-2003, 9:33 PM
I vote members only to post.

bob stotts
02-28-2003, 9:49 PM
Members only, to much could go wrong being any other way. Murphy,s law you know.
bob stotts

Willis Dennis
03-02-2003, 7:32 PM
My first thought was to let anybody post, but having given it some thought, I voted members only. Hopefully, it will keep things clean. If the content of the messages deteriorated to the level of some forums, I would become disgusted and drop out. I've enjoyed the Pond so much over the years that I would hate not having a decent place to roam around and enjoy. Let's keep it pleasant for all!!

Dennis

Mike Grennier
03-02-2003, 9:12 PM
I also originally reconsidered letting everyone post. After seeing how quickly this has grown, I vote for members only also..

Mike

Phil Phelps
03-02-2003, 9:56 PM
When I first saw the "members" I was turned off. Ten seconds of searching and I realized it was nothing more than a confirmation. No dues no secret hand shakes. If it keeps things running smoothly, then "me too". Let 'em register. If they don't like it, they can leave. Does sound a bit like a country club, though. :p

Ted Shrader
03-03-2003, 8:34 AM
Keith -

Any decision yet on this issue and the "rules" per the other thread?

Ted

Bart Goldberg
03-03-2003, 5:33 PM
I agree with my other members- members only posting!

Hal Flynt
03-05-2003, 6:17 PM
Members, otherwise why join. Just be anonymous and take jabs, like I find on most message boards. Seriously, giving the administrator access to the membership data and email will prevent a whole lot of “flames”. Also, I get enough spam without letting others get my email address any way they can.

Membership has its privileges!

Dr. Zack Jennings
03-05-2003, 6:57 PM
Full Names and Location. My mother always said "When you call someone on the telephone say: "Mrs. Jones, This is Zack Jennings. May I please speak to____?"

Shouldn't the same etiquette apply here? My mother passed away 36 years ago and trained me, phone in hand to do this @ 1955. Times haven't changed. This is not being "Prim & Proper" or "Stuffy". This is just Common Courtesy . It should not go out of style.

Stan Smith
03-06-2003, 11:09 AM
Hey Lee, nice to see you on here. I just started in the past 2 days. I think this will be my primary hangout. I voted for members only because of the problems that Wayne had with policing the pond. I think that there are plenty of folks who would just like to see the forum with decorum (how's that for a slogan?). Personally, it wouldn't bother me if there were no O.T posts either. However, I realize that there are some who come for the fellowship so my opinion about O.T. posts may be a bit extreme. Being registered and logging in does provide for a modicum of control for the site administrator. Since the site is free, anyone can join. It didn't bother me to do so. As you know, collections were given to Wayne from time to time. Many of us really benefitted from the Pond over the years....so much so that an annual membership fee would not be unreasonable to ask. I'm ducking as I write this though because I'm sure that most do not want to pay any fee....some because they're frugal and some because it's a matter of principle. Just my 3 cents FWIW

Stan