Make forum register only? - Page 3

The Cat Lady · 05-12-2008, 06:48 PM

I agree with the majority. Leave it open so people can see what AH is about and decide to join or not. A totally closed forum would be like shopping for something and being unable to see the product or the price tag. How can you hope to buy under conditions like that?

If you can't see the product, in this case, the conversations that takes place on the forum, what people talk about, the personalities that hang out there, how could you know if you wanted to buy it?

If you can't see the price tag, in this case, the fact that it is User Supported via donations, and thus FREE to the Great Unwashed Masses, how can you decide if you can afford to buy it?

I see this kind of thing increasingly in stores all the time. The product is packaged so securely and locked down so tightly that you can't even look at it to determine if it will even vaguely meet your needs. And to make it worse, it's priceless. No price tag on the item itself, nor the shelf or hook that it is on. Even if I REALLY, REALLY think that I want it, if it's offered to me under those conditions, I turn my back and walk away. I obviously DON'T want to buy it from them.

Leaving it open gives an added bonus that you do NOT generally see in stores, Try-It-Before-You-Buy-It. It's how I joined. Someone told me about it and I came and listened and browsed the threads. Yeah. I liked it, so I joined. Granted, I didn't become ACTIVE until Certain Events occurred, but nonetheless, I joined because I was able to look at the Threads to get the overall "tone" of the Forum, which I liked very much, and because the music WAS/IS MY STYLE. If the Forum had been closed, my "shopping" visit here would have lasted all of 10 seconds, if that.

No. It's exactly perfect just the way that it is.

Tarek · 05-12-2008, 07:38 PM

Most of the time I join a forum because I am reading something and get an urge to respond. On extreme occasions I join because I KNOW exactly what it's about, or I'm already impressed.

In Ah.FM's case, I was already impressed, and I hadn't even seen the website yet (had a stream link I found..)

KasieX · 06-12-2008, 02:47 PM

Leave it open. For the same reasons as Cat Lady.

angel · 06-12-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KasieX

Leave it open. For the same reasons as Cat Lady.

same here

go AH go

Diane · 07-12-2008, 09:59 AM

guys... question was asked 2 years ago and they had their answers ... so no need to reply 2 years after imo ;)

90degrees · 08-12-2008, 04:41 PM

oh is it?
as it seems not, I tried to check just one thread today and was greeted by "no permission" and the log in box. tried a couple of other threads - just the same.
well, so I did log on and didn't mind but if this is how it will be, forums members only, it will backfire, a lot of lurkers who watch the threads and then when the right time/set/circumstance arrives they eventually sign up.
this opportunity is gone now and some peeps just won't bother and read somewhere else.
maybe some will sign up but still not post.
looks great on the members count but it's nothing but a statistic.
two german words spring to mind for which I don't have a translation - "Ausgrenzung" and "Karteileiche".

PhillipAlpha · 08-12-2008, 11:35 PM

keep certain areas "hidden" non-registered users can watch announcements and showthreads - for the rest they need to register?

Giedre · 10-12-2008, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillipAlpha

keep certain areas "hidden" non-registered users can watch announcements and showthreads - for the rest they need to register?

as far as am working with php based forum there's a possibility to make some topics only for users and some to leave for everybody. 50/50

JayCan · 10-01-2009, 02:36 AM

Hi

Leave it open!!!!!!!

If guests see the great community and how ppl do together here in a family way they may decide to join...if its register only ppl will stay away coz of thinking "elite-community" no thanks

piccoli · 10-01-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCan

Hi

Leave it open!!!!!!!

If guests see the great community and how ppl do together here in a family way they may decide to join...if its register only ppl will stay away coz of thinking "elite-community" no thanks

i'm with you on that Jaycan

angel · 10-01-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piccoli

i'm with you on that Jaycan

maybe they will register.. for example in time of the EOYC was so many neeeew ppl here

and.. just wondering..
Currently Active Users: 150 (44 members and 106 guests) <--- why they didnt register yet?

and i like to be here with my other family

SUNNY TOMORROW · 11-01-2009, 07:29 PM

Very few people that actually register become regularly active on the forum. The amount of new people coming on the forums is very small and those that stay for very long even smaller. Each day you will see the same people posting on the forum and just once in a while somebody else becomes a regular active member too. But despite the substantial amount of members we have the vast majority who join have a look and then don't bother again if they ever did at all post. Maybe someway of encouraging them to post more could be devised. Don't know what that might be, but we could do with more people taking a more active part in the forums. Its pointless really as far as i can see in joining, telling us in the new peoples thread how wonderful the place is and then you never hear of them again.

SciLog1c · 12-01-2009, 05:18 AM

I've been thinking about registering for a VERY long time, cuz my english is so bad

I dont understand 50% of discussion, but its very nice here and friendly community

98% of ppl in my LAN are inactive, cuz of language barrier

ps
My vote for
leave it the way it is

t r a n c e a h o l i c · 24-05-2009, 07:58 AM

Part of Trance is about being welcoming to people who have a curiosity to the genre. Plus it's a nice teaser to get them to join, as implied in previous posts. Keep it open

Jiffy Pop · 01-06-2009, 08:41 PM

Darn it i had a big long thing all typed up but took to long and timed myself out

, so ill keep it shorter and a little sweeter.

Keep it the way it is! From my own experience i never would have found this place if a google search hadnt landed me in a AH.fm forum thread about local events in the Seattle Area (of which there are too few sadly).

when i finally started listening and then started following the 3YAMC thread, i was overwhelmed by the sense of community this site has and how well everyone treats one another, unlike many other forums ive seen in the past. when i finally took the plunge and registered and began to post everyone was very friendly and made me feel right at home, despite the fact that i know very little substantial info about the genre (only recently started listening to it as anything more than club dance music). Already i feel part of a community here, maybe the slow kid in class

but a part nonetheless.

I think that by leaving the forums open you give people like me (who cant really learn about AH.FM at shows or by word of mouth) a chance to find this awesome place. As SUNNY TOMORROW pointed out, they might not be active posters an contributers, but leaving it open to everyone gives them the chance to be so at their own pace.