Should Guests Be Allowed To Lurk?

If you are a registered member of Aqua-Soft please vote.

I believe Guests SHOULD NOT be allowed on the boards for the following reasons:

They take things like icons, skins and advice from the community, yet give NOTHING back to it.

Recently Aqua-Soft has been required to add advertisements to help pay for bandwidth. At this moment, there are 27 Guests & 35 members online. The Guests are almost doubling the bandwidth used, thus endangering Aqua-Softs existance. Do you, a registered member, want to have to work twice as hard to keep the site going because someone can't be bothered to take part in the community?

They endanger Aqua-Soft in other ways as well. At any time a Guest could be following developing skin applications and reporting them to Apple. Without solid information on people it makes it that much harder to double check information on people in case there is a leak.

I just think it's rude to lurk. Let's insist these people register and become part of the community or flat out leave!

Feel free to give your very own opinion. If you are a guest viewing this, feel free to register as a member and give your own opinion about this.

#44929

Well, I selected NO, but I do have something to add to it. I was a guest here for a bit before I joined. I think guests would be turned on by the place if they were allowed to look around. I do, however, think that if it were somehow possible to limit downloads, or pics or something to guests that might be somewhat beneficial for the community. Doing this may avoid the all too common "bandwidth exceeded" messages.

On another note, one of the sites that I was a mod for was a computer hardware type forum, that turned into a warez type place (hence my leaving the site) long story short, they caught some heat for offering warez, and they way they combatted this was to "hide" certain forums from guests and even newer registered users. THe idea was that a new user had to have 30 QUALITY posts and then request acces to these forums. This, in my opinion, was a good idea, it stopped alot of the leeching, because people that were around long enough to make 30 quality posts, had a tendency to stick around and really contribute to the community.

i dont think this place needs anything that drastic, but I should note that it seems there are a few too many one time posters, that sort of register, get the goods and run.

In conclusion, some sort or restriction might be beneficial to keep the leeching to a minimum, and the thought of sort of keeping all the aqua related stuff in a hidden forum, to keep prying eyes away might also help.

Just some thoughs

#44935

OK, so people would take the 5 minutes to join, and never contribute.

Just look at me, Ive never contributed anything to this community, but im not a "guest".

It makes no difference. Just let 'em lurk.

#44940

Yet at least we have the oppurtunity to make fun of you now. Isn't that something?!?!

:woot: (Y) :6

#44944

I voted no. If people really are interested in what we do, they'll register. Others can go away.

#44952

I would also say no.

I realise the extra strain lurking puts on AS, however, If I didn't start out here lurking I would never have joined (3 times now ). I don't join anything unless I can see whether it's worth joining. There is also the added hassle of people who belong to other sites getting referred to this one.. personally I don't wish to be forced to join any forum just to see what it's about. I have joined a lot of forums, I don't participate in them much but that's just me. If I think it's worth joining, I will, others may not if it's just a peripheral interest to them.

I lurk in a large number of forums as I have many interests. Many of those interests aren't deep enough for me to bother joining as I know I would never contribute in any meaningful way, but I like to glean useful info all the same. Call me a leech if you wish, there are only so many forums I want to join formally. I stay with AS as my primary yacking place as the people here are cool, the forum is well laid out and easy to navigate, I have and will continue to contribute in goods and cash where I can to try and keep this place afloat. I don't feel this way about any other forums I've joined, I guess I just like this place.

I'm sure a number of the current lurkers will become members just like I did and will hopefully contribute to make this an even better place. As Photo said, maybe some way to limit what they can access would be an idea :canadian:

See? Now you made me get all serious and stuff *steps off soapbox*

#44953

I voted no, but I would like to clarify. I think guests should only be allowed to view the news forums. Doing so would let them see the products of our community, but would not let them reap the benefits unless they registered. And Contra, even though you haven't contributed an app or graphics or anything of that sort, you are our resident linux/unix guru, and provide many a helpful insight for those who need technical help.

The fact is, when people register, they post. If they have to register to reap the fruits of this community, then perhaps they will feel more inclined to give back to it.

$0.02- take it or leave it. :godpunk:

-godpunk

#44973

i voted no.

And i even go beyond it.

I say we should delete accounts to memebers not being active for over 60 days.

just dare to hit the "members" button at the top to see how many freaky-never-seen-user-names registered as in "just incase".

I think we should leave guests something to browse, but just the basics with a lot of limitations.

regarding the members who arent active, yeah it doesnt hurt to leave it like that, but it definitely will not be bad to remove them and minimize the blown up numbers of members registered, cause its seriously 50% "offline list".

#45002

I didnt vote but I will give the reason in this post. I really think its very nice how the staff here shows that they care about what people think by making these kinds of posts. It shows that contrary to some peoples belief's, Aqua-Soft is not a dark and scarry dungeon that only hard-core fanatics lurk to. I have always knows that this place was happen and open to ideas, im just trying to prove to some of the dis-believers that this place really is more of a place where the staff listens and cares than they think

With that aside, I will have to say that whatever makes this place what it is should be the ones who decide. For example, Developers, Mods, Admins, and people who just in general contribute in some way (Contra is a great example, he may not create anything, but his help in knoweldge of Linux is nearly 3 times that of any simple wallpaper or icon creation. I mean comon, I think I speak for a large majority when I say I would be "Linux Wha?" without him). I also in fact have to agree with Goku. 60 days of inactiviy should show that you really dont give a crap. I do believe that news should stay open to the public like what GodPunk said, becuase it would almost be like a sampler, and if you willing to make the simple commitment, join up for the goodies. Hotmail works the same way, I mean, if you dont log-in for awhile, I cant blame them if they throw out your account. and I mean, if you KNOW your not going to be on for awhile, simple let one of the great mods or admins here knows. I know damn well they if I told goku im Foreign Exchanging for the next couple months, he'd know to leave my account on hold till I got back. Its all just people skill. So in conclusion, whatever the Mods, Admins, and Developers/Aqua Guru's/People with member badges say is what should go. Its worked pretty well so far, And I trust it still works like that now.

#45061

TheRaginAsian:That was an excellent post, and thank you for the compliments of both this thread and the Aqua-Soft staff.

You should be aware, however, that whenever Goku posts something, Aqua-Soft admins normally do the opposite - it's just the way the site works.

You know I think you're tops Goku-San!

#45067

I voted yes from personal experience. I lurked only to Gain knowledge about modding. I Lurked for probably 3 months, felt comfortable and joined. I would be lost without this board and the mods our artists craft.

As far as lurkers downloading I vote no.

#45243

So linux is all I know? I have other qualities.

Watch this space.

When I think of some, I'll be sure to post up.

damn, Im pathetic. Does an extensive amount of knowledge on infomercials count as a "quality"?

#45245

Originally posted by contrasutra@Aug 5 2003, 04:08 PM

Does an extensive amount of knowledge on infomercials count as a "quality"?

Only if it's $29.95 plus shipping and handling.

-godpunk

#45248

Screw those hippies!!!

I vote NO!

#45256

I also voted no, though like tmont i lurked, but only for about a week till i was comfortable enough to join (jeez 3 friggin months, thats not lurking, thats leeching ).

Anyway i feel the developers of the great apps/icons/walls/etc on here deserve something, even if its just a thanks just to let them know there work is appreciated. (Y)

#45261

I don't get why people had to lurk for so long because they didnt feel "comfortable". I joined the minute I saw this forum. It was just what I was looking for.

I mean, what is there to be afraid of? If everyone flames you, just leave.

#45266

today i went to eat in subway.

it was tasty. Good boy.

I love the donald and the texan somdom.

I say No for visitors. what about a jiraff? :baby:

#45291

Guest are staying on, they do not hurt anything at all, there is no diff from someone regging and getting the crap and never use teh account again, guest cant view images (well they can but they have to click em) they cant download attachments, they cant see avatars and sigs and all, they cant see some forums so whats the big deal?

i know i hate sites i find on the web where i got to fecking reg just to read a line of text, i dont want sh## in my inbox, i just want to see this 1 thing why must i reg? dont need to.

#45297

I agree with Timan. Gooooo Timan. The admin with a plan.

#45300

Originally posted by Timan@Aug 5 2003, 07:32 PM

Guest are staying on, they do not hurt anything at all, there is no diff from someone regging and getting the crap and never use teh account again, guest cant view images (well they can but they have to click em) they cant download attachments, they cant see avatars and sigs and all, they cant see some forums so whats the big deal?

The big deal is that there is leeching going on. No, it doesn't hurt bandwidth or anything like that by having guests/zero posters. It's all a matter of principal. They take from the community without giving back. So they can't download attachments...so what? Attachments are rarely used anyway- 99% of the time, there are links to the goods. Apps, icons, wallpapers, themes, etc.- all these things are usually hosted on a seperate server, with links provided in the text of the thread, which means that guests can download the same things that members can. This doesn't make sense, at least not to me.

-godpunk

#45321

so its better for someone to join, then never post?

I think Gokus idea was good though. No reason to have inactive members.

EDIT:\\ GP: Funny sig. , its really a shame that I recognize cartoon women.

#45323

Originally posted by contrasutra@Aug 5 2003, 08:45 PM

so its better for someone to join, then never post?

Better than them not having to do anything at all.

I am confused as to why you think guest access and leeching is OK, but zero posters concern you. Weird.

-godpunk

#45326

No, it doesnt bother me, but it seems just as pointless as never talking.

We dont like 20 page "Thank You" threads, so what are the "norms" gonna do if they do join?

Nothing.

And thats my point.

#45329

Guest off = Here come popups. (Y)

#45331

Originally posted by Timan@Aug 5 2003, 08:58 PM

Guest off = Here come popups.  (Y)

Yeah, great idea- punish leechers and members. <_<

-godpunk

#45333