registration --- now that we have more problems

[Scenaria]

the bigger this place becomes the more people its going to attract... this is simply a fact.. I would hate to discourage new member from coming here or reduce our "profile" by not being on search engines as there are many out there who I think would make wonderful contributions...

you always have to take the bad with the good... just the way it is...

I agree with a form of registration... but I would not want to see it have a fee..just mho..

I think as we see more kats coming in off the street.. both good and bad... it really comes down to a little bit more moderation... that doesnt mean that threads need to be locked etc.. but I have seen a few threads lately that perhaps should have been locked as to reduce the amount of tension that built up...

lastly as PRR suggested in the past... it might be wise to setup a forum in which heated debate/discussions can be moved too... perhaps even only allow the partys involved to get into that thread? that way its more private for the folks involved...

other than that...

move on... :razz:
:guinness: :guinness: :guinness: :guinness:

 

[Ethan]

I'm not sure that paying for forum access is the answer, but I do think there should be something done to keep the peace and riff-raff out. As long as I've known this "Group" as in "THE GROUP" we've always treated eachother with a great deal of respect. People were humble, and incredibly generous. What happened? I make reference to the latter point in the FIRST POST in this forum titled: "PLEASE read before posting--for everyone's benefit."

Maybe this will be one of those things that just blows over, if not, some changes might have to be made.

 

[alk509]

[quote author="Scenaria"]I agree with a form of registration... but I would not want to see it have a fee..just mho..[/quote]

I agree.

Peace,
Al.

 

[Steve Jones]

it does finally seem that some kind of tightening up is needed after recent events. Perhaps some kind of serious registration to post is in order, as long as that is not too technically difficult for the Administrators.

As for paying, I don't know how it would best work, perhaps a small one-off payment to register just to put the forum in the too hard basket for troublemakers. This really is a serious technical forum, with lots of huge technical brains here who give freely and in good spirit. But the other really cool thing about it is there is also a lot of not so technically proficient folks here who bend over backwards in other ways to help everyone out with things such as PCB's, group orders, picture hosting, giving away bits and pieces, helping out by relaying stuff when freight is difficult to some countries, Ebay heads up's, posting schematics, chipping in with locations for buying stuff, and so on. So many people have shown that you don't have to be a tech head to really add to the richness of this community.

I am all for keeping a tight ship so that we don't sucumb to trolls, if paying a small fee is the price I have no problem. I would be happy to kick in a couple of extra fees for anyone who really can't afford it or has no credit card or whatever. Hopefully it won't come to being a paid registration, but even if it is only a few bucks it will stop most trolls bothering.

 

[asm]

hmm... this is a touch area to go off on.
a fee would be good, but it would depend on where the money went, back in the board, hosting fees, more resources, thats all cool. but i think yoiu would loose ALOT of incoming visitors. thats why people come here rather than go to the library, cause the info is free (i know a library is free but gas money, time, copies, ect dont ride me for that one plz ) and easy to get, and soical during the time yoiu get it. i would be scared that it would turn into a big paying 'archive' of information.

also, i dont see where the problem with the 'noobs' here are. maybe cause im one of them but i only post when i cant find something that is 100% what im looking for (or i didnt know what a META was when i got here).
but im a member on some really big boards, getting about 30k post a week, and going from that to here seems like im in slow motion. now, that isnt a bad thing, but i think you guys are taking this a bit for granted. its a public forum, sure your going to get a bit sketchy with people here and there, but its not like your dealing with hundreds of post of useless topics.


just my .02

 

[alk509]

[quote author="Steve Jones"]it does finally seem that some kind of tightening up is needed after recent events.[/quote]

I really don't mean to offend anyone by asking this. I'm aware of the tragic loss of NewYorkDave and have read all pertinent threads at the Lab and the Brewery, but still can't really get to the bottom of this. As far as I can tell, NYD's departure was caused by a misunderstanding... So my question is: what exactly are those recent events?

Maybe we should start a "Fights & Misunderstandings Meta"... Just joking!

Peace,
Al.

 

[Scenaria]

how about something simple...

create one additional forum a "public forum" that anyone can contribute too.. and require a registration to access the others.. (im not talking a fee but rather some form of registration with email validation etc..)

that way trolls who are too lazy to register can simply crap in the public forum :grin:

 

[Ethan]

I just got done sending a few emails to people that have been very generous to me in taking the time to educate me over the year(s) without condescension, many times going out of their way to do so. It has influenced me so much that I have decided to go back to school and start taking classes in EE.

So, sure some may say this is JUST an internet forum, whats the big deal, but to me it is a little bit more. I'll do my best to keep this place going in the same spirit that it always has; let's just try to be kind to eachother.

-E

 

[PRR]

> i believe that registration can make boundaries to disuade certain people from coming in just to make problems.

NO. IT WON'T.

Trust me on this: I've participated in and managed forums for a very long time. ANY registration is a turn-off.

The only way I'd support it is to allow effective Lock-Out.

And it would have made the recent ruckas worse.

Don't knee-kerk.

 

[hitchhiker]

I think you are right Ethan... this is more than a forum.

I see it to be something like a university with some great teachers.

These teachers don't tend to lead the focus into strange and
confusing areas and of course they are the treasure of this forum.If I were to go to school I would make my choice by finding the best teachers.

If this were a school it would be hard to beat IMO.

As Blakes great quote warns...

"when nations grow old and the arts grow cold ,commerce settles on every tree"

As long as we can keep pulling our thoughts back to the priority of learning and not let profits and world market place concerns become a topic ...Because this is not a forum about how to make a living or getting rich.

I don't see how having people sign up or guarding entry somehow is gonna keep people from submitting the strange or miss guided ideas.(including me)

I sure hope NYD the teacher finds his way back.

cheers,
Lance

 

[PRR]

> i'm not sure what you mean by 'lock out'

No. Locking out a specific member. Like when I make too much trouble, Admin could flag my account for "No Access". But I'm not sure it would be helpful in any recent friction. And under the current registration scheme, even that is a weak sanction: a new account is easy to make. (Much of my forum moderation was on PAID forums, where new accounts were very difficult to get.)

> i hope Ethan and Jakob don't get weird or tyrannical...

It can also be bad if they are not tyranical enough. It sometimes takes nerves and surgical skill to knock-out trouble for the good of the community.

 

[daArry]

hmmz, as was asked earlier in this thread what other trouble other then NYD leffin has there been? I dont think paying for registration will help - as PRR said, I think it may turn more peeps away then bring to the table (say another NYD type who thought about joining in but was put off by the reg fee and whilst also lurkin they saw locked threads etc - wudnt that put ppl off? As it might suggest an click within the group who only let in those they know or can bring summin in...where does this then also leave noobs (like me) and the I'm guessin a large amount of other ppl looking to learn and be intrigued by the wealth of info an open and free forum provides...

I think it just comes to the fact, no matter how much you know and how much you help others here - theres always gonna be sum1 posting summin that rubs u up the wrong way...just gotta let it go over ya and take stock in the fact ur knowledge is helpin others around the world on a daily basis - now aint that a special feelin!

Peesh ppl :thumb:

 

[tony dB]

just on the subject of paying for membership of the LAB...

Most of us having a decent income can easely affort spending a few bucks for the enormous amount of knowledge we can get here.

People with poorer backgrounds could become discriminated for the simple reason that it takes them way more efforts to register.
Imaging having to work a week to pay to get registred here?

As a believer in the democratic ideology of this board, that can never be a good idea.

Tony dB

 

[slash14]

I haven't been here for a while and haven't read everything about the problem you've been through right now. So excuse me if this post has already been discussed.


Anyway, concerning registration on this forum, I think that registration should be mandatory. But a fee would kill lots of members who can't afford it.

I'm the administrator of a few boards and the solution I use is following:
registration of all members is mandatory. I authorise (or not) each new member to access a subforum.
Then I just look at how the new members are acting (passive or active members). If members are quiet active then they can access the best part of the forum but they are warned: accessing this hidden part of the forum imply they must stay active members and keep in mind that they can be banned for any bad actions they could make.

An other option could be an "Invite only" subforum.
Then the last solution could be moving the forum often.


But any solutions would require a HUGE work from the administrator of this forum.

I keep reading your posts and I'll edit this post if necessary

EDIT:
an other solution to prevent illegal black market and to protect all the works that have been done here: what about tagging the PCB ? I mean printing something like "This device is a DIY project and should not be sold with benefits"

It won't stop black market but customers will be warned about what they're really buying ..

 

[tony dB]

with all respect to you and to your post Slash, but this seems a bit too much Big Brother to me...

 

[jensenmann]

My experience with troublemakers is that you get rid of them when you ignore them. They are punished by their own way of being because all they do comes back to them - anyhow. I don´t think there´s a need for judging them in here cause that´s what causes trouble in here. Life will take care of this. So ignoring them just leaves them alone with their poor lifes. Maybe this is a possible way to handle certain problems in here.
What about this:
When a new user submits his registration a page pops up (for a minute, not being able to close it) where he´s told about the spirit in this forum. He has to submit that too.
This might be a way to give people some awareness of the positive spirit in here and might save us from a fee which - in my opinion - won´t help getting things better.
All the best to everybody - keep this place rockin!
Jens

 

[thermionic]

I can't believe that I log off for 18 hours, and return to see about 3 or 4 threads relating to such negative issues...

PRR's experience in these matters should be noted. Statistically, somewhere around 1 in 10 human beings are a sociopath - these are the kind of people that sit an inch from your bumper in a stream of traffic, knowing there?s no way to get around you, and just do it for a power trip; unfortunately these animals now have internet access, and YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH THEM - their emotional response is wired differently: whereas the regular contributors seek to elicit positive response, they get the same kick from negative responses, THE ONLY POSITIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM IS TO IGNORE THEM, if you acknowledge them in any capacity you are only giving them what they want, regardless of your intentions, however noble.

If a troublemaker shows up, The BIGGEST blow of all to their egos you can possibly inflict is to ignore them. Let me ask you this: do you see George Massenburg or John Klett getting into arguments with trolls? It?s unprofessional, GM or Klett aren?t going to get into a street gutter brawl are they? Just ignore the trolls and CONCENTRATE ON THE POSITIVE MEMBERS, such as NY DAVE and all the other knowledgeable folks.

If you bite every time a sociopath baits you, you will end up having a very miserable life, they?re all over the place unfortunately.

(Maybe ?Troll? is the wrong description here, substitute ?people with blatant commercial agendas?)

Looking further down the topic listing I see all kinds of wonderful educational discussions, no-one wants to lose that do they? To quote PRR: DON'T KNEE JERK.

Best regards,
Justin

 

[tony dB]

positive vibes to you all

peace,

Tony

 

[kvintus]

I am one of the people who wonder what the hell happened so suddenly. I really don't understand what is such a big deal.

I really don't mean to offend anyone by asking this. I'm aware of the tragic loss of NewYorkDave and have read all pertinent threads at the Lab and the Brewery, but still can't really get to the bottom of this. As far as I can tell, NYD's departure was caused by a misunderstanding... So my question is: what exactly are those recent events?

I don't understand this either. What is the problem really about?

I love this forum. I come here (almost) every day. I read (almost) every thread. I'm very thankful for all the help and inspiration I've recieved from this forum and its members. If you want me to pay for it - no problem. I'll pay. I don't know if it's a good solution, but on the other hand, I don't know what the problem is either. What I do know is that the knowledge I've gained here is worth alot. So do what you want to do. I don't really care as long as I can continue to come here and learn all the things I've always wanted to learn.

Let's all forget about this and build something, ok?

/Anders

 

[FrankSL]

Even if I don't post often (because I'm not an expert and mostly have more questions than answers about diy) I've been around this place (and the older one) for a long time now.
I absolutely agree with the "ignore way".
A riot requires at least two persons, so leave the bad thinking persons alone, and, most important, think twice before writing anything.
A forum is not like spoken language, one word is sufficient to create misunderstandings, so people have to think carefully what they are writing.

As for the fee I don't think it's a solution.. Yes, it takes bad persons out but there are a lot of arguments that could come out...

Amen :grin: ,
Frank