Forum Upgrade - mandatory registration?

[Traci]

No no - we're not moving again!

But phpBB will be making some new features available soon.

One of them is a color change on read threads - which will be nice.

Another is the option to ban users by e-mail, and to require a valid e-mail for registration (your password would be e-mailed to you).

I have seriously been considering mandatory registration - and would like to have some discussion about it here.

Actual identities would not be seen by other users, unless you made them available. Only I as administrator would have access to e-mails - which I could use to ban abusers (or track down people in the event of criminal harrassment or in the event of a SoA exam-integrity violation.)

I do not believe the other moderators would be able to see e-mails, but will have to check to be certain. Even if they could - I trust them.

This would solve the problem of dynamic IP's. Granted, abusers could always go get another e-mail address and reregister - but we would at least be making them work a little to keep coming back in.

Also - unregistered users could VIEW posts - but would not be able to post themselves.

How do y'all feel about mandatory registration/registered anonymity?

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Yes to registered anonymity.

It was nice when one could create a pseudonym and change at will. But having only "Anonymous" as a choice is very bothersome. Can't tell who is who.

(PS: You could bias you poll by only allowing registered folks to vote.)

[The Mister]

<font size=2>I agree, though I think there should also be a separate place for non-registered anonymity. Not so much as something to give to the various anons, but more to relieve Traci and the other moderators of the burden. In other words, there ought to be some sort of "ghetto forum" for the "uncouth" among us.

(And if anyone seriously thinks I would try to apply such a philosophy to the real world, you're fooling yourself.)

[Steve White]

Yes to registered anonymity.

It seems to work well on the CAS discussion forums.

[Griffin 1]

I would agree only if I would not be stuck with a password selected by the server. I like to keep my passwords the same. Is it possible to require registration w/o e-mailing a password?

[Traci]

"""In other words, there ought to be some sort of "ghetto forum" for the "uncouth" among us. """

This request has been made many times - I'm not interested.

Also - I do not want to keep the anon posters out of this conversation - I would like to hear some legitimate concerns (if there are any) about registered anonymity.

I can see IP's - so if there are multiple anon votes, I will delete them.

I can definitely see the advantages of posting anonymously - for salary surveys and other places where you would not want your employer to know your identity.

But the only reason I can see for complete anonymity is to be abusive.

[Traci]

"""Is it possible to require registration w/o e-mailing a password? """

No - verifying the e-mail address would be the only way to require people to give SOME identifiable mark.

Otherwise - there is no benefit to making the registration mandatory - I still would have no way to trace an abuser. IP's are helpful - but becoming less practical.

But I would think that you could change your password once you logged in.

[Griffin 1]

"But I would think that you could change your password once you logged in."

That's all I would want.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Mr White has reg'd. Welcome Mr White!

[Anonymous]

Traci:

Can you just ban abusive posters by IP?

The problem w/ banning posters by email is that it only takes about 1 minute (literally) to get another yahoo or hotmail address.

There are many posters on the CAS board who have multiple identities.

[Anonymous]

BTW, I'm not one of them.

[Traci]

"""The problem w/ banning posters by email is that it only takes about 1 minute (literally) to get another yahoo or hotmail address. """

The other problem is that it often takes even less time to get a new IP.

[Anonymous]

Really?

How do you get a "new" IP?

[alex]

Traci,

I'm opposed to any restrictions on anonymous posting. No mandatory registrations, please!

Thanks

[Traci]

This isn't just a voting thread.

I'm looking for some compelling reasons.

Tell me why you are opposed.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I can't wait for this exchange. (Though I know the ending already. It's about how it gets there.)

[Anonymous]

Yes, how do you get a new IP?

[alex]

But the only reason I can see for complete anonymity is to be abusive.


I disagree with this, Traci.
I think complete anonymity provides a comfort zone that permits more open expression. People clam up for other reasons than not to be seen as abusive. Having a nickname often invites ad hominem attacks - look at some of the responses to laoc, anon and eb and andy. If you want your ideas, and not your persona, discussed, anonymity is a way to go. If, on the other hand, you feel your name, and you, will be evaluated instead of your possibly valid points, you probably will be reluctant to contribute. Also, what's the security of the email info? can it be guaranteed? this is another reason for anonymous posts. there could be reprisals from a nut.

[Jowler Nojsen]

While I think there are many valid reasons for complete anonymity, I am also tired of seeing "Anonymous" argue with himself. Make registration manditory. (Besides, with all the free e-mail services available, manditory registration can easily be completely anonymous.)

[Don Quijote]

The only "problem" of unregistered anons is the strange conversation pattern of various anons responding to each other. If it gets too confusing, it is self-correcting as the various anons start placing identifiers in their first line or in a signature line.

Abusive language can be ignored or deleted, and anyway, some of our well known names can be pretty abusive themselves.

I think mandatory registration is an excessive response to a minor issue.

[Patience]

I vote Yes for Registration.

[No Buts]

If the point of registration is to make it easier to get rid of abusive posters, then registration won't accomplish much. Unless you are thinking of something more along the lines of what the CAS just did, which was to temporarily suspend new registrations to stop a problem before it grew.

If the point of manditory registration is to make discussions less confusing, then I'm all for it.


"I think mandatory registration is an excessive response to a minor issue."

The issue may be minor, but the response is hardly excessive.

[Rockhound]

I vote yes. It's too hard replying to "third anonymous after the second Tuesday", and then finding that by the time you posted another anonymous snuck in there.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I vote yes again.
Because I really, really mean it.

[IHope2Pass]

I vote to ban anonymous... I'm tired of seeing anonymous talk to anonymous.

[Traci]

Wow! I was expecting a big protest.

I am currently putting together a "policy and procedure statement" to allow advertising here - and I was going to come back and say that I would not make registration mandatory - because I didn't want to turn away any traffic from advertisers.

However - I think what I will do is go ahead and make it mandatory - but I will not implement the feature that forces you to use a real e-mail address (you can still use a fake one - you just have to put something in that field and pick a nickname).

Also - I think I will not make registration mandatory in the Surveys section - nor in this section.

Sound ok?

[Traci]

I think I will also keep the Careers section open to anonymous posting.

ALSO - PLEASE NOTE:

You can change your nickname by clicking on the [Edit Profile] link above!

Please do not re-register for this purpose.

I would also appreciate it if people would limit themselves to ONE registration.

If you have registered more than once and need to have a profile deleted - please e-mail me at the address below.

Thanks

[E. Blackadder]

I'd settle for a filter of anonymous posts. And doubtless there are others who would appreciate a filter of my posts.

......................................
It's not the dispair; I can handle the dispair.

[glenn]

Requiring registration means you can still remain anonymous, just use a fake email.

I think anonymous postings may allow for more impulse posts. This is the only drawback I see to requiring registration. The few other similiar forums that I visit also require registration.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

A little reflection before posting will be an improvement.
Why would inpulse-posting be preferable? Nothing we're discussing requires it.

[The Mister]

You take that back, Non-Fan!
Yeesh!

[The Mister]

<font size=2>Oh, sorry. Guess I flew off the cuff there, didn't I. :smile: :wink:

[Traci]

Okay - I'm done

The only sections that allow for anonymous posts are the Surveys, Careers and Website Ideas Sections.

Remember - you do not need to give your real e-mail address in order to register.

I have no more info about registered users than I do about unregistered unless YOU provide it.

The only thing this does is help keep nicknames straight and allow better communication.

You can change your nickname anytime by clicking [Edit Profile]. Please do NOT reregister for this purpose.

Traci

[Anonymous]

Since Registration has been applied in the middle of the discussion on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, I can only post this here:

It was three days 8/6 and 8/9.

Much more thoughtful discussion of the decision process:

<a href=http://users.erols.com/goodmank/>Here</a>

[Griffin 1]

Or you could just do something drastic like register.