Member-Only Access

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
Up to this point, the forum has been fully accessible by both members and guests (except for photos).

Starting Monday, May 12, the forum will be accessible only to members.  Visitors without a forum account will not be able to browse the boards.

This means that all visitors will be presented with a sign-in box before seeing the forum posts.  If a visitor does not have an account, he or she will be prompted to obtain one.

Thanks everyone,
Matthew

 

[Brice Burrell]

Matthew, this is interesting, can explain the reason for the change?

 

[woodshopdemos]

Matthew,
  Please do explain. I am opposed to it. The FOG is a location for us, users to exchange ideas BUT is also a place where non=Festool owners can get an idea from us users how the system works.  I often reach a forum or website that asks to sign up/sign in and it is a turn off and I don't. It just represents a deterrent to my learning and one more chance for my name/information to be stored.

 

[Frank Pellow]

My guess is that this will cut down considerably on the traffic here.  

The initial effect will probably be an increase in membersship as current lurkers sign up.  But, in the long run, my guess is that it will result in fewer new members because people are used to sampling things on the internet before they sign up for them (even at no cost).

I have never belonged to a forum with this restriction, so it will be interesting to watch the experiment.

 

[Per Swenson]

Matthew,

Its your forum.

Alas I don't believe this is a good idea.

I will however entertain any one good reason why you would consider doing this.

Per

 

[vanderpooch]

Matthew,

I have to throw in with these other guys. It's a big turn off to me when I have to register somewhere just to read. Posting is another thing, however.

I'd like to hear your reasoning as well...

Wouldn't this be a lot more work for you?

- Kit

 

[jonny round boy]

For the record, I agree with Kit, Per, Frank, et al.

I don't like the idea of having to register just to read posts. I have in the past, whilst searching on t'interweb, found sites that just present you with a registration page when you're looking for information. I just ignore them, and move to the next search result. I don't like having to register on a forum I know nothing about, I prefer to see if the forum is any good before registering (since registration involves giving e-mail addresses, and I don't like giving my addresses to unknowns, who could be potential spammers).

I think this would be a backward step, IMHO.

But if there is a good reason for it, then OK, but I can't see any plus-point to this at the moment.

 

[poto]

Gotta say, I agree with the above...

 

[Matrix]

I am new to the site but I have to agree that limiting access may reduce future membership.

 

[Tezzer]

Ouch..... What a great way to stuff up a great forum.

Why on earth would you want to join a forum just to see what it contains?

Bad, bad move :'(

 

[Per Swenson]

Uh oh,

What's that smell?

Torch's and pitchforks?

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Everyone,
Up to this point, the forum has been fully accessible by both members and guests (except for photos).

Starting Monday, May 12, the forum will be accessible only to members.  Visitors without a forum account will not be able to browse the boards.

This means that all visitors will be presented with a sign-in box before seeing the forum posts.  If a visitor does not have an account, he or she will be prompted to obtain one.

My first reaction was not whether it was a good or bad idea, but that it appears to be one of the few times you haven't consulted members beforehand on a change. Although some of the discussions about forthcoming changes can result in very long threads, where some members no doubt start thinking "come on, let's stop talking, and get on and do it"), at least members can't complain that their views haven't been taken into account!

In this case, the tone has changed to "this is what's happening, like it or not, and I don't want any discussion". Now that this sort of precedent has been set, one can't being a bit nervous that in a few weeks time we'll all wake up to find an announcement along the lines of "This forum will only be available to subscribers, at a cost of ___ per month", or something radical like that.

As to whether it's a good idea, I agree with every one else so far, and if I had been asked(!), would have voted against it.

Forrest

 

[Michael Kellough]

Matthew, is this the hole in the dike I've been looking for?

If I make my contribution will you rescind this policy? 

 

[Ned]

Matthew,

Your decision to close the board to guests is troubling.

Requiring registration in order to see anything undermines one of the most important goals of the forum, that is to give people browsing some idea of what we do here, to provide a warm welcome to those curious about Festool.  Requiring registration instantly raises a wall with a closed gate.

I am interested to hear what reasons outweigh that.  I'm certain that you are addressing very real problems, but I cannot believe that this drastic step is the right solution.

Ned

 

[Brice Burrell]

Guys, lets hear what Matthew has to say first before we start getting out the torches and pitchforks. I'd guess it has to do with guests consuming a great deal of this site bandwidth, I just check the all (Festool) tools section, 15 members and 54 guests.

 

[osipbloonst]

  Mathew

 And David makes fourteen!!!!!!!!!!

I too, am troubled by this move.

I won't join any forum until I can see what the tone and nature of the
interaction is.

And, of course, all of the STUFF I must provide in order to join.

 Thanks,   David

 

[Paul Franklin]

Matthew

THis is very bad idea. I think it may affect people wanting to get into the Festool line. I just don't see why you would do this!

It seems very snooby to people looking to join.

Just my 2c

Paul

 

[monte]

I could only imagine a first time rider through the kingdom riding through the forest with his/her sustainers stacked behind.

Coming across this beautiful castle with green flags flying from the turrets.

With a drawbridge over a very wide moat, raised very high.

A sign reading "Tariff required - Even for Peeking"

......and the rider with valuable knowledge turning around going back into the forest.

Thinking " I probably would have joined if I could have seen the beauty of the castle inside"

 

[CharlesWilson]

I had noticed in the past that when I accessed the board as a non-member (from another person's computer), they were not able to see all of the wonderful photographs and other content that are posted. It is not obvious to non-members that they are missing a lot of our content.

On the plus side, this will assure that people visiting the FOG will better understand what we are talking about.

 

[Ned]

It seems very snooby to people looking to join.

I wondered if this was a typo, but the Urban Dictionary defines it as "snootiness and snobbery, combined and magnified".

It also will seem snoopy.

Ned