Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests

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Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
jannah
09/18/00 at 17:42:11
Assalaam alaikum madinites,

There's been a suggestion that we turn guest posting back on so that anyone can post even if they don't register.

The major drawback of this is that we'll get deluged with freaks. And yes it has happenned many times on the previous board.

Alternatively we could maybe make an account that is anonymous pass anonymous and then put somewhere that anyone can login to this and post, but their ip is tracked as usual.

Perhaps this will encourage more people to post?
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
Arsalan
09/18/00 at 18:20:22
Whatever you admins decide :)

Wassalamu alaikum.
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
bhaloo
09/18/00 at 18:28:07
slm

I've always liked the anonymous posting option because some people that are shy or uncomfortable about discussing things can do so.  We had a lot of those questions on the old board.  
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
Asim
09/18/00 at 18:43:03
Assalaamu alaikum,

I think we should look for a compromise. Personally, I don't like the open guest posting option. It will produce a flood of often "bad" posts and turn this board into the many other boards that are riddled by flame wars, etc. If someone wants to be a citizen s/he should register.

However, there is a need for anonymous posts as Arshad pointed out.

How about:
- have a page for anonymous posting. A form where people can type there message, indicating which forum it should appear in.

- This message goes to the moderators for approval, just like in the old board.

- This anonymous posting option should be displayed conspicously on the front page so that anonymous posters are aware. Puting this info in the help in not useful.

Just my 2 cents.

Wasalaam.
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
se7en
09/18/00 at 18:52:24
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh,

I suggested this because it seems to me like a small group of us are just having conversation, and that's all the board consists of.  A brother from the old board told me that this board was nowhere near as serious.  People aren't coming on the board for advice or help.  There used to be a lot of people on the old board who asked some tough questions, usually anonymously, and we don't seem to have that anymore.  MashaAllah, we have a lot of knowledgeable people on the board, but I feel like their knowledge and skill and time is wasted when we don't really talk about anything challenging.

I understand the fear of freaks and missionaries, but with so many moderators and addicts on, I'm sure we'll find anything that's inappropriate and be able to delete it right away.  I myself am on many times throughout the day.  Perhaps some method of approval for guest posts, like the old board had, would be good.

It seems like there is something missing on the board, and I think it has to do with the fact that people can't just come on and surf, pose a question and see what happens.  I think the ability to do that is what attracted people to the board in the first place.



Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
Asim
09/18/00 at 19:08:13
slm

I agree with you se7en. The old board did have interesting discussions.

So I think we have to include an option like we had in the old board: Anonymous posting that are pre-approved.

Or we can even try totally open guest posting and see how it goes. If it turns sour we can alway revert to the old system.

Wasalaam.
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
bhaloo
09/18/00 at 19:08:53
slm

Those are good ideas.  Why not let new users on here have to get their messages approved, when we verify that their email accounts are valid we upgrade them to medinah citizen so they can post anonymously.
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
jannah
09/18/00 at 19:15:45
hmmm arshad, i don't think it's the anonymity factor or maybe it is but the major thing is that most ppl dislike going through the whole registration process when they can just type something in and hit send...

maybe we can design a form that sends us the post they want to add and where to add it, and once we get it we post it under an "anonymous" account
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
bhaloo
09/18/00 at 19:31:35
slm

my bad, I meant to say, new people on here get to post but we have to approve their posts, and it avoids the whole registration process.

and those people with madinah citizen access can post without getting approval.

As Jannah pointed out letting anyone posting without approval of them or their post is dangerous because we used to get some really "wack" posts on the other message board, but you guys didn't see those. :)
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
jannah
09/19/00 at 00:30:09
aiite, so how do you want to do that? (and don't ask me to write something in perl cause even the makers of this board said if they wrote a moderation script their board would not be open source anymore they'd start sellin it!!)

btw what were the abbreviation things you set up.. i'll add it to the faq

Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
Asim
09/19/00 at 10:09:14
Assalaamu alaikum,

How about having a link to the old board from the new one? It could be like a folder (e.g. general forum), but links to the old board, where anyone could post.

In this way guests will have a separate "folder". The disadvantages: ads, a major reason for setting up the new board, and guests would not be able to contribute to threads in the other folders.

aiite, so how do you want to do that? (and don't ask me to write something in perl cause even the makers of this board said if they wrote a moderation script their board would not be open source anymore they'd start sellin it!!)

How about a simple html form page for collecting the info and sending to the moderators?

Wasalaam.
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
Arsalan
09/19/00 at 10:29:14
Assalamu alaikum,

You guys mind if I give my 2 cents?  Well, I'm giving em anyway :p

I think the way the board is set up is good enough.  Only some modifications need to be made to change the appearance to the user.  I'll explain what I mean:

The method of anonymous posting is already there (as explained in the "Help" section).  That is, one can instant message the admin, and they will approve the post and post it.  However, nobody wants to instant message the admin.  It's just not the same as "posting" a message!  So what needs to be done is simply make a hyperlink on the main page which indicates that those who're not registered (or those who want to post anonymously) should *post a message* from that link.  Once a person clicks that link, they should see an interface which looks very much like the normal "Write Message" interface.  This message then goes to the admins and then it's up to y'all to approve it and post it or not.

The anonymous/unregistered poster should indicate which forum and thread he/she wants to post in.  The message, when it's posted by the admins, should say "Anonymous" or "Guest" as the name of the poster, and should be posted in the thread requested.

I don't know, is this making any sense??
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
bhaloo
09/19/00 at 10:38:07
slm

ok, I think that works Arsalan.  We just
need to create a hyperlink on the main page in BOLD TEXT (heheheh) that says click here to post anonymous questions, and what happens is that it sends an IM to the admin account.  That's what you are saying?

Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
jannah
09/19/00 at 11:18:20
you have to be registered in order to send an IM, but a html form that sends to email is doable
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
Saleema
09/19/00 at 20:26:37
Salam,

I think there should be a forum where ppl can post anonymously. I used to post a lot of those type of question on the old board too. I have my problems resolved now, alhamdullilah, :),  But there might be other people on here that would like to ask those type of questions.

Wassalam
Re: Suggestion for Open Posts even for Guests
jannah
09/19/00 at 22:41:30
There is no separate forum, but there is a new link up here at the top that people can use to post anonymously or for guests too.


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