Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Lotus Land
Posts: 2434

A number of the members in our community have complained to me as of late that they're getting fed up with the "unregistered" posts that sometimes get out of hand, and these people are among an increasing number that are asking that we do something about this as administrators of this forum.

Now, Gerry and I both value the freedom of expression...(as I have mentioned before)...and we really dont want to have to "police" these boards, as we all know how heavy handed "policing" has a way to kill discussion (as other boards have experienced in the past). But we also owe it to you, our member community, to listen to your concerns and to strive to continue to make CurlingZone the best online resource and curling community around!

So, I'd like to hear what people's thoughts are about Registration to post

We'll leave this poll open for a while, so we can get as many responses as we can. I will leave it open for both guests and members to respond...but this thread will be heavily moderated...so Trolls...Beware!

We will review what people have to say, and will come to a decision for the site after much thought and consideration. We're not going to rush to this decision, and really want to hear some good discussion on this issue from y'all.

PM me if you want to discuss privately with me about this.

Cheers!

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I agree with the idea of registered posts only, in theory.

In practical application, however, I don't know that it will work. Those who wish to hide and take cheap shots will do so, anyways!

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I won't agree with only registered posters only for 2 reasons
1. I am too lazy to register
2. There are a lot more posts when you don't have to register to post. Considering how unactive this board already is, if you made it members only there would probably only be about half as much posts as there is now. I wouldn't be talking right now if I had to register.

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Too lazy ? It takes maybe 1 minute

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Location: Ontario
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quote:

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Originally posted by Unregistered
I won't agree with only registered posters only for 2 reasons
1. I am too lazy to register
2. There are a lot more posts when you don't have to register to post. Considering how unactive this board already is, if you made it members only there would probably only be about half as much posts as there is now. I wouldn't be talking right now if I had to register.

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I'd like to see the system modified, since CZ is fast morphing into a forum where slagging off curlers, curling journalists and registered members is becoming the main reason why many people visit the Website. Serious posters will soon tire of this WWF approach to debate and “discussion” (I know I am) and lose interest and leave or migrate to another chat group.

Besides its getting very difficult, if not impossible, to follow the chain of debate in many (most) threads since "non- registered" posts outnumber member posts by about 10:1.

As TennSky noted, there is no practical reason not to register. It takes less than a minute and even then you can use a "handle" or pen name, so you don't have to ID yourself by name or even location anyway.

However, as it stands there is virtually NO INCENTIVE TO REGISTER at CZ. Membership does not have its privileges at the Curling Zone. As Paul Krugman (economist) once said: “People respond to incentives. The rest is details.” And besides, the whole idea of the exercise is to get people to register as full members and to get them to log on properly.

So for what its worth:

1) I don’t feel that non-registered posters should be able to start new threads - absolutely not. This alone should cut down the number of inflamminatory posts, since most of the slagathons start when our anonymous “bravehearts” set up gratuitous or confrontational threads.

2) I would also like to see posting privileges to non-registered posters restricted to a limited number of the main forums. I’d leave the “Pit” and “Rock Talk” to all and sundry and the rest (like the Media Forum) should require a log on. Of course non-registered lurkers would be free to browse any and all forums.

3) I’d also like to see IP’s posted. This in no way identifies a specific poster as to name, but it enables you to follow the flow of a discussion and reply to a specific poster. It also works to reduce the number of posts from trolls, since listing any information, even an IP address, usually is enough to induce a cold sweat or wet Pampers to these sorts of individuals. It also prevents, what I feel is becoming an issue here at CZ, in that some posters are posting replies and retorts to their own posts.

Showing IP’s is very common in sports forums; possibly because of the intense emotional feelings and hence “spirited” debate that sports often induce.

4) Only registered members should have access to most of the excellent informational material here at CZ. “Curling Commentary,” “News,” photos, and other material that you guys spend a lot of time putting up at CZ, should be available to registered members only. And obviously, it should be strictly members only for polls.

Membership should have its privileges !!!!

I think implementing some or all of these changes would have a two-fold effect. a) There would be many more bona fide registered members; b) the gratuitous trolling would be reduced substantially.

The result: a more effective, user-friendly and informative Website - and a long term recipe for success.

Note: Are non-members permitted to vote in this poll? If so, you are asking for a biased result since non-registered posters outnumber registered members by a huge margin. Besides MEMBERSHIP SHOULD HAVE ITS PRIVILEGES!

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"It's only rock and roll (But we like it!)" Keith and Mick on curling

Last edited by Statman on 01-26-05 at 10:28PM

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Registered: Jul 2002
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Well said, Statman.

btw, we are working on putting more value on being a CurlingZone member. It will all be implemented after this season is over though, as it will coincide with our yearly site overhaul (maintenance).

Keep the good ideas coming folks. I'd like to see more constructive feedback from others on this subject, as this is one that will undoubtedly bring some interesting discussion of the pros and cons of each suggestion.

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Excellent post, Grooveh. You are right on, specially regards your last sentence. I nominate this as the post of the year.

Cheers,

Statman

quote:

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Originally posted by grooveh


Weak! That is about the lamest excuse in the book. Its not as if registering on this forum takes any time, or divulges any personal info about you.

Its funny...most BB's on the internet REQUIRE only registered posting, and they do not suffer much from that.

I find it funny that curlers are too lazy to even sign up for a curling BB....this laziness and apathy among curlers is exactly the reason why others see curling as such a joke sport!

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Summerside, Prince Edward Island Canada
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Absolutly. As a curling fan who just left another site where it was getting really bad and nothing good seemed to happen. I would love this site to become only registered members. This site is much more posttve than the other site though.

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Why not have the best of both worlds.....

Have mandatory registration to post messages, except, for the 'The Pit'. That way those 'Trolls' as they have been aptly named can still shoot off their mouths and keep the traffic up on the site.

Also, messages from The PIt shouldn't show up on the home page under recent posts. Why would you want direct links to the garbage for all to see? Including potential members, advertisers, etc.

Just a thought.

PRW

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The reason I am not registered is there is no point. No benefits. All it is, is a waste of time.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Unregistered
The reason I am not registered is there is no point. No benefits. All it is, is a waste of time.

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Location: Kitchener
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quote:

---

Originally posted by PRW
Why not have the best of both worlds.....

Have mandatory registration to post messages, except, for the 'The Pit'. That way those 'Trolls' as they have been aptly named can still shoot off their mouths and keep the traffic up on the site.

Also, messages from The PIt shouldn't show up on the home page under recent posts. Why would you want direct links to the garbage for all to see? Including potential members, advertisers, etc.

Just a thought.

PRW

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Excelsior!

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Registered: Jul 2002
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Yeah, we've been toying with that idea, so it could in essence give us "best of both worlds". I think you'll find that it will be even more advantageous to be a CZ member after this season...so it will undoubtedly lead to more people registering.

We will also entertain the possibility of having more dedicated moderators, from within the CZ community.

Keep the thoughts (and votes) a-comin!

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I feel the only that only reason that some want everyone to be registered is to try and find out who is bashing someone, Im am registered and some of my posts are unregistered because I am scanning through threads which I find interesting and also surfing the net to different sites, I dont login in most of the time because I am doing a quick read, It is faster to reply to a thread while zipping through the threads, then back to work
Just Lazy I guess

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Another idea is to limit the number of treads from the same category on the 'Recent Posts' on the home page.

For some reason, I feel that the clean-up of the teenage drool over Team Morris will take up most of the good conversation today.....

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Publishing the IP addresses is probably the low hanging fruit as it requires no work and but yields some benefits. The anonymity of posting is reduced, but not so much that I think a significant porting of the users would stop posting.

The reduced anonymity may be enough to deter these alleged "trolls" from posting inflammatory remarks on the site. The anonymity which remains may still be enough to fuel some potentially heat, yet civilized, discussions in the various forums.

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Registered: Sep 2002
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Here's an idea that I have been floating lately. Registered users will not have their IP address reported when posted, but Unregistereds will.

It will allow users to protect their IP address if they don't want it shown.

Thoughts?

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Personally, I dont like my IP address shown as its nobody's business what my IP is.. And even if I did say something disparaging,anyone can feel free to send me a private mesage or email me and tell me off ( if they choose) or agree with me.
I dont understand what all this fuss is about signing up......
I Imagine that quite a few of the unregistereds are indeed WCT players and would prefer to be anonymous, and thats understandable.
But what I cant understand is why they cant just make up some name that gives no hint of who that person is.
Is it possible that they think CZ is going too look at their IP and try and figure out who that person is ? I cant see that, Im sure you guys have better things to do with your days than finding out who said what about who........

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Another thought is to give the person who starts the thread the option of allowing or not allowing 'unregistered' responses.

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quote:

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Originally posted by TennSky
Personally, I dont like my IP address shown as its nobody's business what my IP is..

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I also disagree with posting an individual's IP address, instead CZ could just assign a number to each address.

For example, if I decide to post as an unregistered then CZ could assign my IP a name like Curler_57, then every post from then on at that IP is Curler_57, unless someone different signs in at that address.

It is a lot of info to store, but that's why they invented computers to do the tedious tasks.....

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Unregistered
I also disagree with posting an individual's IP address, instead CZ could just assign a number to each address.

For example, if I decide to post as an unregistered then CZ could assign my IP a name like Curler_57, then every post from then on at that IP is Curler_57, unless someone different signs in at that address.

It is a lot of info to store, but that's why they invented computers to do the tedious tasks.....

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Unregistered
I also disagree with posting an individual's IP address, instead CZ could just assign a number to each address.

For example, if I decide to post as an unregistered then CZ could assign my IP a name like Curler_57, then every post from then on at that IP is Curler_57, unless someone different signs in at that address.

It is a lot of info to store, but that's why they invented computers to do the tedious tasks.....

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I think your idea of posting the IP addresses of unregistered, but not members is a fantastic idea! Already, unregistered can input a "guest name" when submitting a post as unregistered...but nobody bothers to even do that....and it doesnt take any extra steps to do.

I personally dont see why its such a big deal to register. I am a crackerhead at times, and post "off the cuff" replies at times...but it takes no effort whatsoever to sign in. At least people who rebut what I have to say know who to respond to!

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