Going Public

Do we want this site open to the public, or private to members only viewing? What I mean by this is do we want public people viewing what we say here, or do we want only members to be able to view the forum? I have it right now so that guests can only view specific general talk sections of the forum, which would be the 'limited' option you see. We can open it up to full public viewing, however, or close it down to members only viewing. It all just depends on what you guys really want.

Closed to members. However, it would be nice to allow Anon to snoop around our threads. So allow our site to be seen publicly, but, not openly post able to the public. We would get slammed with ads and trolls. Also, you're going to want to watch out, some ad groups like to make bots for threads and they are a pain to get rid of.

I like the idea of bringing new people in, but maybe make it so they have to apply or something? Like it was in the very beginning where you would have to okay them first or make it a Fight Club sort of thing where you kind of have to know someone to get in.

First, did you honestly just break the first two rules to make a comparison to that? LOL!

Second, if you think entrance should be limited do you think the forum should still be fully viewable by guests?

Lol, were you talking to me or hippiefly?

Did you break Rule 1 and 2? I don't think so. But the second point was addressed to both of you.

I do think entrance should be limited, but, still fully viewable by guests.

Obviously we don't want just anyone jumping in here and ripping our forum apart. But this IS a forum for discussion, which is philosophy in its most basic form. What kind of participants in the "Great Conversation" would we be if we didn't allow other people to join in?

Well yes, but this is why the test is in place, so that some bot running bozo from Anonymous doesn't come on here and start trolling the place up automatically. Safeguards.

As to how exclusive, that is up to the rest of you.

Give guests equal access to Initiates, without posting rights. People who come here get a taste of what we do, determine if they want in or want out, and move on from there. If they want in, then it is the same moving process that all the rest of us have to go through. Given how basic the area that Initiates have access to is, I don't believe it would really be a complication to let anybody in once they've already joined. That is, if you still have to verify somebody before they join, as it was when I signed up.

I'm with Scottie. No matter whatever I had said before...