[Gregory]

I wanted to search forums for posts by someone who made a number of remarks, unregistered, and was unable to do so.

Originally posted by Ariel:
YOU ARE SO GODDAMN SICK! BUYING A COMPUTER FOR $9600.00!!! YOU ARE SO STUPID!

I'd like you to reconsider allowing people to post who are not registered, or not adding to searchable database.

Maybe they are just a kid trolling. It seems out of place and inappropriate to the forum and discussion.

Thanks,
Gregory

[wlonh]

could not find that post you refer to...

[Gregory]

wlonh,

Boy. I'm sorry I quoted it, seeing it in print.

College Student Building a G4 400 04-22-2000 Power Mac G3/G4s
http://forums.macnn.com/cgi-bin/Foru...ML/000405.html

Anyway, hope that helps. Should have included info with original.

Gregory

[Cipher13]

I have to say I second the motion to stop unregistered users from posting - I know that there are not a lot of problems with these people, but I have seen several posts like that recently...
Heres one that isn't too bad, but it is still innappropriate. It contains info on getting pirated software, ripping off Apple, and also stupid posts from unregistered users. It isn't insulting or anything, but regardless supports the motion to take away unregistered users privelages.
I have seen insulting posts directed at indivuduals, as well as the standard "Mac sucks" sort of thing. Stopping unregistered users will help somewhat with this...
http://forums.macnn.com/cgi-bin/Forum3/HTML/000264.html

Cipher13

[wlonh]

well, you have my sympathies... early on i stated my fears as regards this change in policy. i am not sure it is a bad thing though, i have seen many very useful/helpful posts from unregistered users and they far outweigh the dross that spews from the few abusers

[Gregory]

Does registering somehow prevent or discourage posting? I think not. It also allows searching and seeing profile, past posts.

A newsgroup you can kill and filter etc. not so a web forum thread. You see the whole thread.

If I post to newsgroups with my real email address I get spam, my hope was that this would be a respected forum.

I've posted couple hundred times. But I won't if this is what we see happening continues.

Gregory

[wlonh]

AGAIN: early on i stated my fears as regards this change in policy. i am not sure it is a bad thing though, i have seen many very useful/helpful posts from unregistered users and they far outweigh the dross that spews from the few abusers


so lighten up already, Gregory

[markhers]

This policy will be reviewed in the next few days due to wholly unrelated discussions internally at MacNN.com, but I don't think I like the tons of the post.

I have found that unregistered users have been very helpful in the past. They'll pop in, say something neat, and maybe take off.

Lon and I can both vouch for the fact that the trolls and idgets who appear on the boards often take the time to register - my take is so that they can claim some small degree of recognition for their evil deeds.

As I said crypticallly, this issue will have to be addressed at some point soon but I for one will cast a vote for keeping them until we find a more than ephemeral need to do away with them.

[Zwilnik]

Being able to edit registered postings is fun. For instance, why not make sure that all the admins are paid a huge sum of money for all the effort and time they put in ?

[This message has been edited by Zwilnik (edited 04-26-2000).]

[Ca$h68]

ACtually Gregory, you've only posted 155 times, NOT a couple hundred.

Ca$h

[wlonh]

Zwilnik, though you are helpful and generally have good ideas, this is not one of them

[Feathers]

I would've thought the value of unregistered posts were pretty obvious based on(to echo markhers) the quality of some of the posts.

Clearly, people who are not in a position to go public have made valuable contributions in the past, their very jobs(no pun intended) may depend on such secrecy!

This whining trend towards a desire to muzzle those with whom you disagree(in mode of expression or content), must be resisted at all costs. If you don't like the class of people that MacNN attracts on a regular basis, you can always leave.

PS - I can't find the "quote" that Gregory refers to anywhere and the only post by Ariel in that thread(url above) hasn't been edited. Interesting the way the truth can be manipulated to one's own advantage to make a point. Of course, if such a post existed and the Mod's deleted it, I'm guessing that the comment wasn't directed at Gregory anyway, so what's his deal?

[This message has been edited by Feathers (edited 04-25-2000).]

[wlonh]

chill chill...

yes the mods did some trimming, Feathers

Ariel posted several times to a thread and one of the posts had any real content the others were useless and completely lacking of any content other than the inflammatory sort

[Anthony the PC lover]

I'd say the unregistered fellows have contributed much more good than evil. Also, a lot of people really ARE discouraged by registering, and MacNN could miss out on valuable tips if they forced people to. I'm certainly no fan of registering...does anyone else here actually get a kick out of it? Who here spends their days surfing the web looking for cool places to register for stuff?

I only registered so I could edit my posts!

wlonh and markhers, you guys are doing a super-duper fine job!


[This message has been edited by Anthony the PC lover (edited 04-25-2000).]

[wlonh]

you shame me, Anthony, when i think how i dogged you

i apologize again

That's not Anthony, that's his girlfriend logging on as him...



[This message has been edited by Linda (edited 04-25-2000).]

JUST KIDDING, Anthony

[This message has been edited by Linda (edited 04-25-2000).]

I for one would like to stand up for the unregistered posters.

[Feathers]

If I chill any further I won't be able to type!

It is my considered opinion that in all things these unregistered posters are beneath contempt, are undoubtedly childmolesters and are probably up to no less than fomenting a revolution to overthrow our cherished cultural institutions and life as we know it.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

[ThinkInsane]

Hey, is that one of those creepy ass Linux penguins? Ewww...

[oscar]

ok guys It's lame now, quit posting all these sorry arse unregistered posts, we get the point =)

------------------
-See Yea!

[Zwilnik]

So, the admins don't need paying for this job (see previous posts), I admire your dedication to the cause, and future MacNN CEO's please take note of Wlonh's thinking that admins should be paid was a bad idea

[wlonh]

smooth edit there, bud! but what did your post say originally, hmmm?

Zwilnik, i take it all back... you are incorrigible, ok?

[Zwilnik]

hehe. Having thought about it though, my original idea (in the edited post) of delaying unregistered posts, would involve a lot of input from the moderators, but one limit I would like to see on unregistered posters is that they cannot post URL's or graphics. That might at least rid us of some spam posts and potential dodgy graphics.

[Gregory]

Thanks guys! I probably used wrong subject, but don't want to trample on someone's First Amendment Free Speech, the only way to deal with vulgar language seemed to approach it from the angle of registering.

I have no issue with allowing anyone unregistered to post, only that someone was abusing the message board - profanity, swearing, and attacking others - even if not myself - I don't think anyone needs to see that.

Looking back, I wish I had just emailed a moderator rather than post message here in this forum.

Gregory

[Cipher13]

I like Zwilniks idea of not allowing URL's and graphics, and also maybe run unregistered posts through a filter to help with the profanities. May help just a little...

Cipher13

[This message has been edited by Cipher13 (edited 04-27-2000).]

[Feathers]

Ok, so let's not allow unregistered posts, URL's or graphics, how about we also limit responses to 100 words, even though a helpful explanation may require more (or a helpful URL).

Get a grip, for God's sake, if not your own, especially since we've established that she's a Mac user!!!

Oh my God! Blasphemy, better cut that out too! or I might feel the twang of the bible belt on my backside cache.

Ah yes, censorship, the last refuge of the weak-minded, the ignorant and the incorrect.

[This message has been edited by Feathers (edited 05-02-2000).]