Should this be a members only board

Very Very Close, 4 months ago it was 80% Wanting it members Only

Annis you should do what you want seen as its ur site......im staying i hear you say "OH NO"

It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned:

Only members should be able to post but everyone should be able to view. Which, I believe, is exactly the way things are now.

Some of the debate on this message board is excellent, but there are a number of things that often spoilt it. One of them is the belief that some of the regular contributors seem to harbour that this place is a kind of exclusive lads club. I'm talking about the dreaded 'us and them' attitude which surfaces so regularly. Frankly, it's pathetic and genuinely embarrassing at times. This is just an internet message board - nothing more, nothing less - but there are those who seem to believe it is far more important than it actually is. They need a reality check.

As far as I can see, exclusivity has no benefits for a board such as this. If Annis and the other moderators want this board to become better and more influential than it already is, then it needs to remain open for all to view. Many people, including members of the press, just can't be arsed to register on forums such as this and then log in just to read them. It's too much hassle for a fair percentage of internet users. The fewer people who view this site, the fewer will talk about it. Is that what the moderators want?

I'm sure Mr Abraham will also be mindful that he has two new books coming out in the near future. He knows from experience that message boards can help to shift thousands of copies of such publications. Being as Annis no longer uses CCMB, does he really want to further restrict the advertising his new books will get by making this board a members-only affair? Can't see any sense in that myself as I'm sure sales would suffer significantly as a result.

It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned:

Only members should be able to post but everyone should be able to view. Which, I believe, is exactly the way things are now.

Some of the debate on this message board is excellent, but there are a number of things that often spoilt it. One of them is the belief that some of the regular contributors seem to harbour that this place is a kind of exclusive lads club. I'm talking about the dreaded 'us and them' attitude which surfaces so regularly. Frankly, it's pathetic and genuinely embarrassing at times. This is just an internet message board - nothing more, nothing less - but there are those who seem to believe it is far more important than it actually is. They need a reality check.

As far as I can see, exclusivity has no benefits for a board such as this. If Annis and the other moderators want this board to become better and more influential than it already is, then it needs to remain open for all to view. Many people, including members of the press, just can't be arsed to register on forums such as this and then log in just to read them. It's too much hassle for a fair percentage of internet users. The fewer people who view this site, the fewer will talk about it. Is that what the moderators want?

I'm sure Mr Abraham will also be mindful that he has two new books coming out in the near future. He knows from experience that message boards can help to shift thousands of copies of such publications. Being as Annis no longer uses CCMB, does he really want to further restrict the advertising his new books will get by making this board a members-only affair? Can't see any sense in that myself as I'm sure sales would suffer significantly as a result.

Cant argue with that view dave i think everybody should be able to view topics and then if they have a beef with anything they can register and respond accordingly.
do they actually advertise books on this site then i must have missed that

Interesting to see where this is going. When the thread started the member only campaign took an early lead and well established lead. Then the arguments started to be posted and the open forum group quickly pulled that lead back. I just wonder how many of those who posted for member only at the start of the thread would change their vote if they could.

I've already voted but wished I had not now. A bit premature I was.

I can see both sides to the argument. This board is getting a good reputation for its information so why not allow everyone passing by to read it and improve that reputation. That to me is a pro side of having an open board.

I have noticed on other boards regardless of what is posted here some goes running back to their "own" board and slag us off. Basically these sort of peeps are going to have a go regardless so I say lets make it difficult for them and make it a members board.

Ian, You can change your Vote

any one to view but only members can post

Elwood I am glad that you started this thread and I enjoy seeing such a close debate and vote. I want a members only board to hopefully encourage people to post, I know you have stated that when it was a members only board that most didn't post but I would like to see this go further again and create threads that can only be seen by people who have posted a certain number of times, not a massive amount of posts, just a few.

It is not about stopping peolple from seeing posts but more in encouraging people to interact, hopefully when people post they will become more involved with this board and help create the biggest and the best Cardiff City messageboard too.

Elwood I am glad that you started this thread and I enjoy seeing such a close debate and vote. I want a members only board to hopefully encourage people to post, I know you have stated that when it was a members only board that most didn't post but I would like to see this go further again and create threads that can only be seen by people who have posted a certain number of times, not a massive amount of posts, just a few.

It is not about stopping peolple from seeing posts but more in encouraging people to interact, hopefully when people post they will become more involved with this board and help create the biggest and the best Cardiff City messageboard too.

as long as it's 20 posts and over I'm getting there slowly, but surely

There are some boards that are open but to start a thread you obviously need to register then reply to say 5 other threads. Thinking about it I'm quite warming to this idea.

There are some boards that are open but to start a thread you obviously need to register then reply to say 5 other threads. Thinking about it I'm quite warming to this idea.

This ' members only ' idea came from an idea I had weeks ago Ian and I want this site to build on it's success and for that we need more people posting and offering variety and different opinions. The idea of having to reply to a thread prior to viewing some threads comes from other boards I use, especially when there is something to be learned from it.

you have loads of people who have signed up on this group and more than 40% of them have never posted on here......have you had a look at the members above and gone through them all.......i am under H (of course) and nearly all my page was 0 and i was the only one who had posted!!! weird i thought!

Elwood I am glad that you started this thread and I enjoy seeing such a close debate and vote. I want a members only board to hopefully encourage people to post, I know you have stated that when it was a members only board that most didn't post but I would like to see this go further again and create threads that can only be seen by people who have posted a certain number of times, not a massive amount of posts, just a few.

It is not about stopping peolple from seeing posts but more in encouraging people to interact, hopefully when people post they will become more involved with this board and help create the biggest and the best Cardiff City messageboard too.

Carl

Thanks for this. The thread actually started with another where I asked why people wanted a members only board which as you know I don't feel is neccessary. I expected a couple of replies but when Annis asked for a poll I thought well why not and it seems to have grown a bit from there.

Yours is a view I hadn't thought of and whilst I still disagree with the need to change to members only personally I certainly respect your view and can see what you are getting at . I still prefer that things are left as they are, but as Annis says the majority view will prevail and this is obviously as it should be.

I always enjoy your posts and exclusives incidentally. My late dad would have enjoyed this sort of forum as he used to be the insurance agent for the club back in the sixties and on a few occasions was able to tell me things regarding transfers etc before they became common knowledge. He'd never eveal his sources even to me mind!!

Regards


Elwood

Elwood I am glad that you started this thread and I enjoy seeing such a close debate and vote. I want a members only board to hopefully encourage people to post, I know you have stated that when it was a members only board that most didn't post but I would like to see this go further again and create threads that can only be seen by people who have posted a certain number of times, not a massive amount of posts, just a few.

It is not about stopping peolple from seeing posts but more in encouraging people to interact, hopefully when people post they will become more involved with this board and help create the biggest and the best Cardiff City messageboard too.

Carl

Thanks for this. The thread actually started with another where I asked why people wanted a members only board which as you know I don't feel is neccessary. I expected a couple of replies but when Annis asked for a poll I thought well why not and it seems to have grown a bit from there.

Yours is a view I hadn't thought of and whilst I still disagree with the need to change to members only personally I certainly respect your view and can see what you are getting at . I still prefer that things are left as they are, but as Annis says the majority view will prevail and this is obviously as it should be.

I always enjoy your posts and exclusives incidentally. My late dad would have enjoyed this sort of forum as he used to be the insurance agent for the club back in the sixties and on a few occasions was able to tell me things regarding transfers etc before they became common knowledge. He'd never eveal his sources even to me mind!!

Regards


Elwood

Elwood

Thank you for the compliments, I still feel we need to become a members only though, not forever, but until the board has more regular posters and more often not the hit and run guests we have at the moment.

For now it will stay as it is, as its virtually EVEN STEVENS in the Poll