The forum is dieing, what will be done to save it???

**Ya_know** · February 11th, 2005, 08:37 AM

Currently Active Users: 235 (4 members and 231 guests)
Most users ever online was 826, 12-13-2004 at 07:09 PM. | 60 users have visited today.
Ya_know, fosterboy, TripleRLtd, tyamada

This is at 8:30 AM EST. That's just sad!

What is being done about this!!! There used to be anywhere from 20 to 40 active Members at any time, and over 350 guests, even this early in the day. It almost feels like it's a holiday where attendance is typically down...but that's been every day for weeks!

**TripleRLtd** · February 11th, 2005, 08:58 AM

Well, the great controversies and grand debates (as well as the occasional fight

) have a way of drawing members back ...at least temporarily.

**Ya_know** · February 11th, 2005, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

Well, the great controversies and grand debates (as well as the occasional fight

) have a way of drawing members back ...at least temporarily.

Is that you're way of challenging me to a duel???

**confus-ed** · February 11th, 2005, 10:03 AM

Why the hell are you asking this ? I know, ya know why there aren't many 'regulars' here as often as before

.. or perhaps its because we have an admin who sends them other places ?

Reply six on this thread

Which I must say seems bizarre even for here ! (well from the sites admin it does, I could have understood a member doing this as we generally want to just help folks quick, any admin I'd pressume would want that done 'here' if possible ?)

Or it might be to do with this ...

"Your account has been activated but you are currently in the
moderation queue to be added to the forum. "

(which I've picked up on from a seperate but related topic about ..well you know who !)

When did that start ? That'll hit 'casual' enquiries & thus new technical threads
hard !!

**Ya_know** · February 11th, 2005, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by confus-ed

Or it might be to do with this ...

"Your account has been activated but you are currently in the
moderation queue to be added to the forum. "

(which I've picked up on from a seperate but related topic about ..well you know who !)

When did that start ? That'll hit 'casual' enquiries & thus new technical threads
hard !!

Hit very hard indeed. I understand the premise, stop people from generating multiple users and causing trouble, by scrutinizing details of the new account that only the moderators can peruse. But let’s face it, that’s something that should not be in place. If a guest wants to register to answer a question he sees in here, does he really need to wait for a moderator to “authorize” his presence? He’s going to move on. And what of the guy frantic, posting on 10 forums for some help, do you think he’s going to come back here after being “authorized”? We need to make this place immediately available to new members, end of story.

If this is indeed a new policy for all new users, (and not just setup for a specific address range) this is going to take a percentage of new users right out of the mix. I’m guessing as high as 20% of new users will be turned off by this feature, that’s 1 in 5, and never come back to post.

**confus-ed** · February 11th, 2005, 10:44 AM

The simple answer is of course to have '24/7 modding' as a few of us have ventured before ..

This I think is not a smart move for the folks of windrivers themselves & for the sites 'well being' - an active & busy forum with hopefully good advice given (see whatever spin off thread is still running, as I think a few are gonna get shut) will do like its always done & generate subscriptions for the pay bit - if you make it harder to get into the forums then that effect will diminish & so will subscriptions !

**DocPC** · February 11th, 2005, 10:53 AM

What can be done? Nothing. This place just plain sucks anymore...

**TechZ** · February 11th, 2005, 11:37 AM

I'm here around 18/7 a day.
I post round the clock, except when I'm sleeping, prolly dreaming of posting too

**TripleRLtd** · February 11th, 2005, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by DocPC

What can be done? Nothing. This place just plain sucks anymore...

So, your idea is to just give up and move on?

Geesh, I expected more from you...

***DonJ*** · February 11th, 2005, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by DocPC

What can be done? Nothing. This place just plain sucks anymore...

Come on, doc. Quit beating around the bush and tell us what you really think.

My personal feeling is that things aren't that bad. People still come here for tech help which is our primary function.

All of the other junk is just that: junk.

**TripleRLtd** · February 11th, 2005, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by DonJ

My personal feeling is that things aren't that bad. People still come here for tech help which is our primary function.

All of the other junk is just that: junk.

And thank goodness that most of the new members that do come here looking for tech help don't care about or even ever notice all the "junk".

btw Don, about that new policy of moderators approving new members? Could you tell us about it?

**NooNoo** · February 11th, 2005, 01:19 PM

Unfortunately Freddy has threatened to create spam the forums, create mass new accounts etc etc. The lock down will allow filtering for Freddy accounts.

***DonJ*** · February 11th, 2005, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by TripleRLtd

btw Don, about that new policy of moderators approving new members? Could you tell us about it?

I must admit that is a new one on me. I never get involved in that type of stuff. But I will ask about it.

EDIT: Looks like Noo answered it.

**TripleRLtd** · February 11th, 2005, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

Unfortunately Freddy has threatened to create spam the forums, create mass new accounts etc etc. The lock down will allow filtering for Freddy accounts.

Un_freaking_believable!!!!

I wonder if confus-ed will stick up for him now?