Non-Members
 

Why are threads closed for reading by non-members?

I believe it's because this is a community based on the participation of it's members.

The members here work hard at making this a good place for discussion on any topic. Because of this, there are a number of topics which are not suitable for underage observers or involve personal information. While we can really never know who the members here really are, I know I am a little more open with personal information knowing that someone just can't stop by, read and leave without being a member.

Why don't you just keep certain forums shut, then? Part of the reason of having a forum is to attract new people to your fray. Usually I just close a site that demands membership before I can read the quality of posts. < link removed for site plugging > I were to have one of my debates on your site it would be futile, because readers from other sites would not be able to read my debate on your site and hence I would never hold a debate on your site (unless, of course, you could open my threads for that purpose)

All threads and forums used to be opened for everyone, until the site started to slow down due to all of the people on at once. The reasoning was, why slow down the site for contributing members just for the convenience of people who don't want sign up?

It really does not matter to me, as I will simply not post on your site. Keep in mind, though, if you will open my thread to non-members, I will post. It is really no biggy for you if you refuse, since I am just starting out, but your site is most likely stale due to the roof, locked door, boarded up windows and secret handshake. There are much better developed sites out there that offer non-members the right to read. Just check out my site for Internet Infidels and Philosophy Forums.

I don't love your site.

How was that "site plugging"?

Saying we have a good membership amount , then linking to the site and talking about bringing some over for discussions there would constitute a site plug.

From our Policy and guidelines thread:

Is this a Christian site?

This has nothing to do with religion or anything else. We have rules stated in those guidelines. We don't allow site plugging because it took quite a while to build this large membership, it doesn't exist to boost membership on other sites.

Er, but if you don't interconnect you do not get a healthy diversity of content. Your mentality is corporate.

it's pretty simple, boris. if you don't like it, you're free to leave. we have our rules, and there are a whole lot of people who have no problem with them. it's a forumla that has worked for years, and we're not going to change things up because you don't like it.

I sorta like my lil' forum and all of it's odd little rules. Confusing to some, but to those who dance along with the beat, it seems to make all too much sense. Don't knock it until you try it. If you can't be bothered to even try, then perhaps you forgot to check your ego at the door.

and.. Christian site? Mwuahahahhahaha... no.

it would behoove you to read the charter before you start posting. If you have any questions after reading the rules and goals of our forum, you should post them in the newbies forum: that's where questions of this calibur belong.

it's not extremely difficult to register here, even you managed to do it; apparently for the sole purpose of asking this asinine question. Yet you call our site stale because we don't let unregistered guests read threads anymore. We have plenty of members using our bandwidth; we're willing to inconvenience a few random people who aren't willing to actually make a contribution so we can dedicate that bandwidth to people who are.

So you're unwilling to make a contribution unless we make an exception to our rules so you can link other people to "your" debates. Are you too lazy to copy and paste your arguments? I'm sure you realize that in order to make a solid argument you should do a little research first... I feel the need to inform you that our public threads ARE archived on google. Not that we care if it makes a difference, just letting you know how pointless your question was in the first place.

As for whether this is a christian site: of course, all christian forums have the word "sexuality" in the tagline. If you bothered to read anything other than your own run-on sentences you might not have needed to ask.

So if you're done wagging your finger at us for being a secret clubhouse with the steep requirements of a two-minute registration process to join, be on your way. you'll be missed!

besides, by the way you type, i'm guessing you don't have the dexterity to learn our secret handshake.

Ummm...do I need to change religions now....

Maybe he saw the new logo and got a little confused.. eh... Hal... eh?

the new logo..

http://img139.exs.cx/img139/6361/top7yd.jpg

stale? how in the world could anyone call this board stale?

Mods, I recall stumbling across tfp accidentally after google turned up an interesting thread. The breadth baffled me initially (WHAT IS THIS PLACE ABOUT?!) but it didn't take long to realize there's a very cool collection of people & thinking taking place here.

Of course that was accidental in every way, and only you can judge if new members fit your target, but it makes me wonder if you track new visitor entry points & referrers? I'm curious how many people arrive here "sideways" vs. being invited, and if a liberal application of .robots might keep we barbarians at bay?

Cyrnel:
I think that the diversity here is greater than one might assume - there's no standard attitude and people can lock horns with little difficulty. As a result one of the main excluding factors seems to be an ability to abide by the basic rules. The folk that aren't capable generally come out in the wash and aren't stopped from joining initially. (I think!)

Anyone who has taken the time to review this site would see just from the forum categories and posts that diversity of content is not an issue here. I see your interconnection idea as a way to try and take members from a healthy & functioning society to boost activity at your own site.

Bottom line, those who are here like the way things are. If you do not and your site is so much better, leave.

Hal, you, truly, are the man.

but anyways, i don't see whats so unreasonable about filling out some information in order to read ours. is signing up really that much of a pain in the ass, cause it wasn't for me... :rolleyes:

spectre
WRONG. It means that I am interested in posting on your site because a) your stated objective in the title caption and b) you have a healthy readership. I posted a link to my site so that you could understand my strategy. It would be pretty silly if I didn't post a link to my site and talked about it at the same time.

phredgreen
Ah, the classic tough guy dodge: Do it my way or the highway. Simpleminded, to the point, and void of any true content.

Halx
I am not suggesting opening all the threads for non-member viewing, just my "love of wisdom" threads.

ermuDa
"Behoove" is such a silly word. I always imagine horses having hooves glued to their hoofless legs.

I simply do not have the time to read every charter for every board I click on. I am slowly canvassing the internet for good forums to post on. The fundamental criteria includes a healthy readership, an open thread policy, or a willingness to open my specific threads to the general readership.

Again, "asinine" = silly word. I always imagine nine asses.

No thanks. Part of my idea is the linking of different perspectives. This would be accomplished by having a few good sites of different essence.

This my research. Intimate interconnectivity is much better than reading a stuffy charter.

I am so embarrassed! Now I will have to stick my tail between my legs and submissively apologize.... Fat chance!

jwoody
No, it was a rhetorical question I asked to shake the community gourd.

cyrnel
Well then, there should be no problems in allowing my "love of wisdom" threads to be non-member viewable.

greedy75
Could it be? Am I using the word "stale" to point out that you could have more diversity?
If you think a majority of my Love of Wisdom threads will appear on one forum you are sadly mistaken. That would defeat my purpose!

PLEEASE let this person stay!! They're brilliant!!!

LOL.

i've subscribed to this thread it's sooo funny!!!

The butler hurriedly runs up to blueskyboris and taps him on the shoulder. "Sir," he says, "you forgot to check your ego at the door. I can help you with that if you'd like."

An ego in the TFP... much like a coat; if you keep it with you, it means you'll be leaving quite soon.

Haha... it's all so true, I'd hate to ridicule this guy, but he's totally asking for it.

It does seem an incredible pity, to waste such obvious intellect on senseless goading. Then again, perhaps you suffer from the curse of expecting others to be stimulated by your desire to hear yourself type.
To be completely honest, I would likely place you on ignore were I allowed to do so, as your ego began to bore me around the third time you mentioned the pretentious title of your incredible threads. Be that as it may, we are an open community to all who abide by the requisite membership guidelines......which you really should read, unless you wish to continue to break them.

tecoyah
Your site is one of thousands. Communities are forming for every topic.
Why would I want other people to hear me type? It is a rather loud "tap-tap-tap-tap" noise. I don't think others would like to hear "tap-tap-tap-tap".

Thanks, complete dishonesty would have been rather nasty.

"Ignore" is for five year olds.

Those who mention their opponent's ego, while on the attack, usually have huge egos.

I am breaking your rules by speaking freely? Apparently you lie about being an open community!



Halx
No one can escape from their ego.



Zephyr66
Come on dude, show your real colors. Do not act maturely and debate me proposition to proposition. Attack me ad hominemly. Act like the child you supress.

Now that's a cool word. I'm keeping that one.

okay, this game has gone far enough. blueskyboris, you seem like an intelligent enough individual, even if those energies are really poorly utilized in your continual "cleverness." you can use that intellect to contribute to our community or you can go elsewhere, but if you keep this contentious bullshit up, you will be removed. that is not a point of argument to be debated, that is the final word.

/me raises an eyebrow while getting ready to pull the "Welcome" mat out from under blueskyboris..