"Guests" to be "read" only

[Chez]

My sentiments entirely Robin. The past few weeks have been pretty hectic on both the work and social front lately and for this reason I have whittled down the list of website/forums I visit regularly. I too, give priority to the GYO (and other gardening sites) over KG now, for the reasons you have outlined. And with a greater number of members there is a higher response to threads, with a wider variety of experience too. I haven't yet noticed any self-appointed Great Protectors coming in to save members from thread topics they deem unsuitable either.

I also see no validity in the argument that allowing registered users only to post, discourages newbies. Of the forums I visit, KG has the lowest number of members and as I have said in my previous post, is the only one that allows guest postings. I would suggest the mean-spirited responses to some posts has rather more to do with it, than a policy of allowing only registered users to post.

I notice some 'old' regulars seem to have dropped off too. The two who spring to mind are 'Sally Wright' and 'Mole'. I always welcomed their knowledgable advice and miss their input.

[KGAdmin]

It could be that Guests are limited to ONE section of the Forum for posting, but we did initially allow Guests because as someone has mentioned - originally the old Forum was nothing but Guests in a way!

There is a slightly higher danger of abuse coming from Guests, but it does also allow those who just want to ask one question to post easily.

Then again, its also easy for someone to register an account and still post abuse, its never a fail-safe system (oh apart from PAYING to be a member - not something we would consider EVER!)

So I'm/we're open to what others think.


KGAdmin

PS - Welcome to our new, faster web server - no more 'dying' and no more downtime!

[maureenc]

Those of us who were regulars on the Old Forum will remember fondly the "good old days" when there were no moderators, when none of us had to register and there was precious little in the way of "dodgy" postings.... unless you include the predictable responses when certain subjects usually beginnning with a large or small letter "O" were mentioned.

We also remember the days when there were very few pages of adverts in the TKG magazine and no full-page glossies of Pizza recipes, but that's another matter.

Some of us, myself included now only visit this new forum occasionally and have absolutely no desire to register here, but if a fellow vegetable gardener has a very sepcific problem about which we have first-hand knowledge we will gladly help them out.

Do as you will, but you will loose more than you will gain.

Maureen

[Sue]

I think it is a shame if guests are unable to post, but it's the same old story. A few unpleasant characters use this as an option to lob sniping posts at forum members, so therefore all guest posts are in danger of being stopped.

If you are a guest reading this thread, then please add your input and your vote.

Sue

[Beccy]

I have bought KG since it was first published. It has more ad's now, but it also has more articles, I think the balance is about the same. I may be wrong, but as the ad's pay for the articles and there is a relationship between the proportion of each that you get. Magazines do not make enormous profits, anymore than newspapers do, and niche magazines make less than general magazines.

And as for the rosy view of the old forum, some of the disagreements became very bitter and got pretty personal too. Quite apart from including postings that were simply not appropriate for a strictly garden forum. With the current structure if you don't like eg posts about machinery, you just don't read that section.

I'm with the register to post group.

[Gill B]

I plucked up courage to dip my toe in the water and make a posting, because I wanted to support the ex-smokers, only to have it bitten by a piglet-shark.I just wanted to post a reply and this is where it got me.

[lizzie]

Don't worry about it Gill. I don't. People are allowed to express an opinion. I just feel that they should put their name to that opinion. I belong to other forums, one fee paying, and you have to register. On the fee paying one people have been kicked off because of their attacks on others. That's fair enough. People can express themselves without being nasty.

Thanks for the support, by the way. Much appreciated as i'm starting to find it a bit difficult at the mo. Still, it will pass. It's just a moment i'm stuck in.

[Clive.]

Hello,
In some replies I note a few thoughts regarding a suggested drop off in new subjects/postings/members....
Could this relate to this sites rating within search engines.??

Previously the forum had the most amazing rating with search engines... this meant that if you typed into a search engine "Parsnips", "Carrots", "Charlotte Potato" "Flame Gun" ,etc, etc...and even, rather embarrassingly, Suffolk 75g14 Engine it was this forum that came top of the find list on the search engines.

To highlight this incredible search engine rating it was the case that all the Suffolk engine questions appeared following one single posting in which an allotment holders Merry Tiller engine was identified as a Suffolk 75g14. Once the Suffolk 75g14/Qualcast/Atco/Zenith and later Homelite names were on the forum pages.. hey presto..they were found by subsequent searchers from Worldwide. Likewise for any other subject.

Not knowing or I suspect ever being able to understand the workings of a search engine I still puzzle over how this search rating was so achieved...but it must have lead to many new posters discovering the forum and finding valuable discussions to further their hobby.

All the best,
Clive.

Meanwhile,...today has been the most glorious Spring day...a delivery of Asparagus crowns arrived which are now planted and all is well...(because in reality I could not remember if I had actually ordered them.??!!.. but obviously I had..!!)

[The Grock in the Frock]

well as usual im the mad one,ive just read some of the first page and everyone seems to agree with mr piglet,well im sorry hunny chop,but were gonna have our first domestic.how can you not let the guests view their thoughts and have a good old rant and rave and get nasty.personnaly i think its a good laugh waiting for some of your replies piglet....what was the last one.........you scrote ,if i remember correctly.laughed me t..s off

and that t..s was me TOES!

[miffed]

I visit this site a couple of times a week and used to read the old forum regularly and infinitly prefered the old format. I feel that this forum has become cliquey (?) and self oppinionated. I am interested in growing vegetables and thats why I visit. I may occasionally want to help with a query or post a problem if I have one. I have no objection to registering but dont like being told I have to. Its no deterrent against offensive nonsense. Thats what you have moderators for.

[pigletwillie]

As it stands "miffed Guest" nobody is forcing you to register on this forum, however almost every other forum makes you register to post so this site is one of a kind.

Unfortunatley the offensive nonsense comes in the main from guests, some of which I am very certain are members who use the facility to score cheap shots.

As for the moderators, they I am sure are only allowed to intervene if something is offensive in nature or language and not just nasty.

I hope that the forum does not appear cliquey and I for one never try to discourage discussion or posting of threads, in fact lively debate on here is one of its greatest features. We need more members and indeed members who contribute because the more there are surely the more balanced but certainly varied discussions become and the knowledge base increases. I visit the GYO forum quite a lot and would say that like our forum, they have a small hardcore of perhaps 6-8 members who post 50% of the threads. I do not feel that they are a clique, just very active.

[A Guest]

I see no problem in making posters register - not 100% foolproof but at least should allow pause for thought before someone posts personal abuse.

I wonder how many guests do not register because of the 'threat' of anonymous posters?

Register and be damned!

[Chantal]

So why haven't you

[sally wright]

Dear Chez,
I am still about, but I have had some big personal problems recently and they have put me off schedule and I have been very busy trying to catch up. By the time I look at the forum the questions already have the right answer so I tend not to bother.
It is nice to be missed though.
Regards Sally Wright.

[Malk]

It won't stop the occassional rogue. They can still register and leave problem messages and then if their name gets blocked reregister under a different name with a different email. I've seen it done on other forums.

But hopefully it will stop the hit and run posters.