6 replies to this topic

[misiek]

Hello,

Why guest's don't have access to various subforums? Like:
XCOMUFO & Xenocide > XcomUFO Main Forums Category > The Xcom Forums > Xcom 1: UFO Enemy Unknown > Xcom 1: General

http://www.xcomufo.c...hp?showforum=20

You can see topics as guest, but you can't enter any.

[Zombie]

The reason is simple: the admins want you to register to view and post in certain forums. If you are a fan of the series, it makes sense to become a member. It only takes a few seconds to register and none of your personal information is used either. After becoming a member, you can view any forum and post just about anywhere as well.

- Zombie

[misiek]

I understand, but still i think it's strange do block read access for guests users. I think that it's better if guests can see what forum offers before registering.

But of course it's only my opinion.

[kafros]

I also guess it's a matter of security, and makes administration easier. Imagine someone opening a new thread and posting links (i.e. to warez sites). Then you have automated agents (i.e. search engine bots) grabbing that information. That puts a stress on the moderators.

If you have to register first, there's no such problem. In addition, only someone who really has something to say/is interested will join.

After that, I guess it's just a matter of taste. And we go with the administrators' taste .

[misiek]

I also guess it's a matter of security, and makes administration easier. Imagine someone opening a new thread and posting links (i.e. to warez sites). Then you have automated agents (i.e. search engine bots) grabbing that information. That puts a stress on the moderators.

If you have to register first, there's no such problem. In addition, only someone who really has something to say/is interested will join.

Exactly. I also think it's ideal solution. Guests shouldn't be able to write post, but i don't understand why they can't read topics.

[Zombie]

I guess it's considered a perk of registering. Though to be honest, I didn't register here because I couldn't read the hidden topics, I registered because I knew I was going to post. The main idea is to get more members and it has worked. So it may be a pain for guests not to read everything, but if they like what they see, they will register.

StrategyCore has the opposite philosophy: a completely open forum (open in terms of reading, with posting there are restrictions for guests). Of course, SC has fewer members because of this. Fewer members doesn't necessarily mean less activity, but people want to join forums where there are a lot of members.

- Zombie

[stewart]

There is a trick for viewing these things. Googlebot and such have member level access. So you should be able to see the topics in google cache.

"Hey why does googlebot get better access!"

It has something to do with carrots.

MWA HA HA HA