Should Guest Posting Be Turned Off?

For the last few days we've been running the forum with guest posting turned off. This has meant that anyone wanting to use the forum needed to register before they were allowed to post.

We're keen to find out whether our regular users think this is a good idea or not. Therefore, please vote in this poll and tell us what you think!

Thanks! :up:

I voted yes.

If guests don't even take their time to register (which takes a few minutes), then I doubt that most of them actually make an effort.
I often read guest threads like:
"Which one is correct? A or B?"

And most times you will never see guests again, no thanks, nothing.
You don't even know who is who.

Cheers!

Red5 said:

For the last few days we've been running the forum with guest posting turned off. This has meant that anyone wanting to use the forum needed to register before they were allowed to post.

We're keen to find out whether our regular users think this is a good idea or not. Therefore, please vote in this poll and tell us what you think!

Thanks! :up:

Click to expand...

I cast a vote for allowing anyone to post. The more posters the better.

It means more questions and more visitors to the website. It simply makes

the website more interesting and encourages more participation.

Thank you

Both sides have pros and cons and it is really tough to decide which is better.
Maybe it could be allowed for guests to freely post only on the "ask a teacher" forum.
Maybe only one or two posts could be allowed before registering (control by cookie or accessing IP).

Anyway I thank the administrators for considering the members opinions.

I'd like to register that I don't care either way. But that's not an available option.
Still, I'd support anything that keeps the riff-raff out. ;-)

One worry I have had for a while with unregistered posters is how they ever find their answers, though it was switched off as a temporary anti-riff-raff measure. ;-)

ymnisky said:

Both sides have pros and cons and it is really tough to decide which is better.
Maybe it could be allowed for guests to freely post only on the "ask a teacher" forum.
Maybe only one or two posts could be allowed before registering (control by cookie or accessing IP).

Anyway I thank the administrators for considering the members opinions.

Click to expand...

:up: I think this is a good idea. It would also reinforce the idea that the Ask a Teacher forum is different. It meets Tdol's worry as well. Hear hear. ;-)

b

Weren't most threads created in the "Ask a teacher" section?
I think that was their main "target"
Even if it's a bit "unfair", most forums I know don't allow any guest posts.
And yes, sometimes I also ask myself, "Will he ever read my answer?"
If s/he's a member you can at least check her/his last activity (normally).

Cheers!

I voted 'No'.

Anyone should be allowed to post.

One result of switching it off is that the site will accumulate a huge number of members who post 0 or 1 time. That won't affect most members.
I know this, because I've done similar on other forums where I needed a specific piece of advice but have no longterm interest in the subject. You have to register, so you do.

Those people would lose out if it stayed off- I know the feeling when you have to go through registering for a single question.

But being a registered member could be a reason to post more and more and become a real active member.
And probably you won't forget the forums.

If someone really wants to learn something, s/he would take their time and register.

Another point:
Registered members have a location.
Although it sounds unimportant, it can help other members.
Germans make other typical beginner mistakes than Italians etc.
And you don't know anything about a guest.
So maybe I (and others) would have better chances to help someone if I (we) knew their location/native language.

Cheers!

:up: Good point. A nationality and location give a potential answerer context.

b

Nightmare85 said:

But being a registered member could be a reason to post more and more and become a real active member.
I don't believe that's true. I've never stuck around a forum simply because I had to register to get the one answer I went there for. The web is littered with inactive members.

Another point is that I never assume I'm answering the question only for Unregistered. Even if unreg. never comes back, others read the post and can learn something if I give a proper response.

If someone really wants to learn something, s/he would take their time and register.
They will. They'll register, get their answer and disappear, but forever clog up the member's list (which, as I say, is not our problem.)

Another point:
Registered members have a location.
Some do. It's not compulsory

Although it sounds unimportant, it can help other members.
Germans make other typical beginner mistakes than Italians etc.
And you don't know anything about a guest.
So maybe I (and others) would have better chances to help someone if I (we) knew their location/native language.
That's true, but only half of new registrants appear to be able to read the requirement, especially for their "first language".

Click to expand...

I'm beginning to come to the opinion that switching off guests is not necessarily positive.

Let's say I create a thread with:
Which is right?
A or B?

I doubt that anyone would say something like, "Nightmare, we do not correct or make your homework.", because many members already know me very well and they know I'm not some kid who's too lazy to do his homework.

Let's say a guest makes exactly the same (creates the exact same thread).
Don't you think some members would say the sentence they wouldn't say to me?
When I see a thread created by a guest, my first impression is always a bit negative.
It's nothing personal but I've seen a lot of guest threads where I clearly had the impression someone shows no interest to do an effort.
As soon as someone has their own personality, such "bad" impressions do not exist anymore, especially if the person makes many posts, threads where it's clearly visible: This person has the wish to improve their English, not just to let us do their homework.

I do not know who the guest is, so I'm not able to know if it's always the same person or not.
And I almost never focus on guest threads.

I think it's just in the interests of the guest to register - they can only gain plus points.

Cheers!

Raymott said:

They'll register, get their answer and disappear, but forever clog up the member's list (which, as I say, is not our problem.).

Click to expand...

This is a simple setting change. Check the member list now... ;-)

Hi,
ìf it's possible I think guests must be allowed to vote this poll since they are those persons who may have to change their usual procedures.
Thank you.
H

Nice idea, but I think they're a self-defining set of people who won't even see the poll.

b

BobK said:

Nice idea, but I think they're a self-defining set of people who won't even see the poll.

b

Click to expand...

I think they saw the poll. Still they must have trouble voting as the poll is rather tricky. So do I

I voted for No.

The first time I visited here, I found UsingEnglish is very friendly unlike other forums which are keen to regulate everything. It is like a home and everyone can his/her hair down. I wish it could keep status quo.

All the best!

:-|